Undoing Our Unruliness, Luke 20:9-19

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Undoing Our Unruliness, Luke 20.9-19
0:00 / 0:00
Download

When Jesus tells the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, he is confronting the wicked leaders of the Jewish people with the reality that they had neglected how they came to be in the vineyard in the first place. The tenants were chosen and brought into the vineyard by the owner that they might care for it while he was away, but they rejected him and wanted to keep everything for themselves. Father Jeremiah explains how this relates to our very salvaiton.

Image: Phillip Medhurst, Photo by Harry Kossuth, FAL, via Wikimedia Commons

Sin and Shame Taken Away, Luke 15:11-32

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Sin and Shame Taken Away, Luke 15.11-32
0:00 / 0:00
Download

When the younger son returns from his shameful life and the older son refuses to come to the party for his brother, the father chooses not to reject his sons, but instead bears their shameful actions upon himself so that they can be reconciled to him. The father in this parable is a picture of what Jesus does for us through the cross in his bearing of our sin to restore us to God the Father.

Image: Pompeo Batoni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pompeo_Batoni_003.jpg

Protection from Presumption, Luke 13:1-9, 1 Corinthians 10:1-13

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Protection from Presumption, Luke 13.1-9, 1 Corinthians 10.1-13
0:00 / 0:00
Download

When Jesus is questioned about terrible events that happened to others, he turned the question back on the questioners. He saw the heart of their question came out of presumption that they were not as bad as the others that these terrible things had happened to. How do his words lead us to know a path away from presumption and guide us into true salvation through Jesus?

Image: James Tissot, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Brooklyn_Museum_-_The_Tower_of_Siloam_(Le_tour_de_Silo%C3%AB)_-_James_Tissot_(cropped).jpg

The Narrow Gate and Faith, Luke 13:22-35

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
The Narrow Gate and Faith, Luke 13.22-35
0:00 / 0:00
Download

Jesus tells us that salvation is a narrow gate that we must strive through at the right time. To ignore the gate can be disastrous. Father Jeremiah leads us through this parable and Jesus’ words about Jerusalem and his desire to gather the people to himself in Luke 13.

Image: Public Domain. Image location: https://pxhere.com/en/photo/916822

Unable to Overcome but in Jesus, Romans 10:4-13, Luke 4:1-13

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Unable to Overcome but in Jesus, Romans 10.4-13, Luke 3.1-13
0:00 / 0:00
Download

St. Paul speaks of the word being near to our hearts that we might not have to bring it down from Heaven or raise it up from the abyss. This word is Jesus himself and he is revealed as the one who resists temptation and sin for us that we might follow in his steps and receive him.

Image: The Temptation of Christ, by Augustin Hirschvogel, public domain. Image location: https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.39380.html

Transfigured Toward Our Glory, Luke 9:26-38

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Transfigured Toward Our Glory, Luke 9.26-38
0:00 / 0:00
Download

An important part of Jesus’ Transfiguration is that his divine glory is revealed to his disciples. Another aspect of that event is that in our union with Christ, we become partakers of that glory in the resurrection. We too will shine with the light of the glory of God through the grace of Christ to us.

Image: The Transfiguration, Giovanni Bellini, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The-Transfiguration-1480-xx-Giovanni-Bellini.JPG

New Standing, New Purpose, New Creation, John 20:19-31

Bishop Terrell Glenn joined us to preach on John 20, walking through the first evening after the resurrection. He directs us to recognize that Christ’s peace gives to us a new standing, his commands give us New purpose, and his breathing upon us gives us new creation.

Image: The Risen Christ Appears to His Apostles, photo taken by Lawrence OP. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/49780661251/in/pool-our_lord_and_savior_jesus_christ

The Deceitful Heart and God's Blessing, Jeremiah 17:5-10, Luke 6:17-26

In the lectionary for this Sunday, we heard from Jeremiah 17, Psalm 1, Luke 6, and 1 Corinthians 15. All of these passages over lap as they direct our eyes and hearts toward Jesus of Nazareth and the work he accomplishes for us upon the cross and through his resurrection. What do we treasure in our lives above all else? Is it Jesus and his word or what our own hearts tell us? Father Jeremiah brings all of this together in his sermon today.

Image: The Sermon on the Mount and the Healing of the Leper, by Cosimo Rosselli, picture taken by Frans Vanderwalle, license CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/snarfel/4287572119/

The Blessing of the Light, Luke 2:22-40

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
The Blessing of the Light, Luke 2.22-40
0:00 / 0:00
Download

When Jesus was presented at the Temple, Simeon saw him for who he truly is, the Messiah that enlightens the nations and who is the glory of Israel. What does this mean? How is Jesus fulfilling prophecy with this action of being brought by his parents to the Temple? How does it affect us today?

Image: The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Nazareth Confrontation, Luke 4:14-32

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Nazareth Confrontation, Luke 4.14-32
0:00 / 0:00
Download

When Jesus returned to Nazareth and went to the synagogue, the others there were angered by his words. What did he say? Why did he say it? How are we to be received by God the Father? Jesus’ confrontation is an important moment in his ministry for them and for us today.

Image: Jesus Unrolls the Book in the Synagogue, James Tissot, no known restrictions. Image Location: https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/4471

Transformed Water, Transformed You, John 2:1-11

Transformed Water, Transformed You, John 2.1-11
0:00 / 0:00
Download

When the wine ran out at the wedding in Cana, Jesus’ mother told him about it. She then left it up to him to act, and act he did! Sometimes our prayers can only be telling Jesus what the situation is and letting him act when he will, and trusting that he will transform what we are to be ready for where we are.

Image: Jesus makes wine out of water at the marriage at Cana, etching by B. Bertoccini, after J.F. Overbeck, public domain. image location: https://wellcomecollection.org/works/pbbenjm2/images?id=qbv9kwwp

Jesus' Baptism Changes Everything, Luke 3.15-22, Acts 10:34-48

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Jesus_ Baptism Changes Everything, Luke 3.15-22, Acts 10.34-38
0:00 / 0:00
Download

Jesus went to John to be baptized in the wilderness. In that baptism, the Father spoke and the Holy Spirit descended. This signals a change, not only in Jesus’ life, but in the life of the world.

Image: Baptism of Jesus, Andrea del Verrocchio, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Pursuing the Star to the King, Matthew 2:1-12

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Pursuing the Star to the King, Matthew 2.1-12
0:00 / 0:00
Download

What were the Magi following? Was it just an ordinary star? What were the Magi? How did the star lead them to the exact house where the Holy Family were? Father Jeremiah explores these questions in his sermon on Matthew 2:1-12

Image: Adoration of the Magi (detail), Gentile de Fabriano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

God in the Flesh to Redeem, John 1:1-18

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
God in the Flesh to Redeem, John 1.1-18
0:00 / 0:00
Download

Why are St. John’s words, “He became flesh and dwelt among us,” so important to us Christians? Father Jeremiah looks at this verse and how St. John leads us to this beautiful moment in John 1.

Image: Nativity, Sandro Botticelli, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Christ is Born to Forgive

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Christ is Born to Forgive, Christmas Eve
0:00 / 0:00
Download

At our Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols, we heard of the promises of God to his people throughout the Old Testament. Father Jeremiah explains that Jesus is the fulfillment of God the Father’s desire to make a people for himself and that he does so through forgiveness of sins.

Image: Nativity, Giotto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Greetings, Magnifying, and Mercy, Luke 1:39-56

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Greetings, Magnifying, and Mercy, Luke 1.39-56
0:00 / 0:00
Download

After the angel appeared to Mary, she went immediately to visit her relative Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s greeting and Mary’s response tell us a great deal about the reality of the babies in their wombs. We also learn a great deal about the God of promise that is bringing about his promises through them.

Image: La Visitation, miniature des Heures Huth, Master of the Houghton Miniatures, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Visitation._Mary_and_Elizabeth_in_the_garden_of_a_country_house_-_Huth_Hours_(1485-1490),_f.66v_-_BL_Add_MS_38126.jpg

Joy through Repentance, Luke 3:7-20, Zephaniah 3:14-20

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Joy through Repentance, Luke 3.7-20, Zephaniah 3.14-20
0:00 / 0:00
Download

In our Gospel lesson from Luke 3, we hear of John the Baptist’s preaching to the crowds and his calling them to repentance in preparation for the coming of the Messiah. How does this preaching of repentance bring to the joy of the Lord? Is joy something we create in ourselves or is it something that God brings to us?

Image: Christ with the Winnowing Fan, photo taken by Lawrence OP, license: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/52541480597

Messenger of Peace that Brings Refining, Malachi 3:1-5, Luke 3:1-6

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Messenger of Peace that Refines, Malachi 3.1-5, Luke 3.1-6
0:00 / 0:00
Download

Advent is a season of repentant waiting for our Lord to come. The process of repentance is one that leads to us knowing the peace and refining work of God through Jesus for us.

Image: Molten Metal, picture by Pixabay, CC0. Image location: https://www.stockvault.net/photo/202116/utils/lib/utils/strings#

Hope toward the Future from the Past in the Present, Zechariah 14:1-9, Luke 21:24-33

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran
Hope toward the Future from the Past for the Present, Zech 14, Luke 21.25-33
0:00 / 0:00
Download

As we consider ‘hope’ in Advent, Father Jeremiah points out how it looks to the future while being rooted in the past that we might be sustained in the present. Advent helps us continue forward in this world knowing that God the Father will fulfill his promises.

Image: Second Coming icon, public domain, location: https://garystockbridge617.getarchive.net/media/icon-second-coming-d49e6f

Grace Anglican Church, Sundays @ 10 AM, 800 Robinson Rd, Gastonia, NC
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 551081, Gastonia, NC 28054