Jesus’ death and resurrection is God’s way of swallowing up death and removing the veil of it from over the people. His resurrection is the acceptance of his sacrifice that brings forgiveness and rejoicing to all people. Find out more from Father Jeremiah now.
The King Who Saves from Sin, Mark 11.1-11
When Jesus entered Jerusalem upon the back of a donkey, the people cried out “Hosanna!” What was the meaning of this cry and what do we realize about it today? Father Jeremiah brings forward the impact of this entrance with palms and how it reveals the reality of the work of Jesus for us.
Image: Palm Sunday Icon, Picture taken by Ted. Licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/12801075263
God's Promises through Suffering, Mark 8:31-38, Romans 8:31-39
As Jesus begins teaching his disciples directly about his crucifixion, St. Peter rebukes Jesus for thinking that the Messiah must suffer. However, Jesus turns the tables on St. Peter and points out to him and all that we all must suffer and die in light of his own death and resurrection. Through this, we come to know more deeply the love of Christ for us.
Image: The Crucifixion, unknown artist, public domain, from the J. Paul Getty Museum. Image location: https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/107TX5#full-artwork-details
Resisting Temptation for You, Mark 1:9-13
When Jesus receive the Holy Spirit in his baptism, that very Spirit drove him into the wilderness. There Jesus resists Satan for his people and brings to us who trust in him, deliverance from temptation and, ultimately, sin itself through his death and resurrection.
Image: The Temptation by the Devil by Gustave Dore, engraving, 1865. Public Domain. Image location: https://www.artbible.info/art/large/18.html
The Low Whisper that Brings Mercy, 1 Kings 19:9-18, Mark 9:2-8
What does Elijah meeting the Lord at Mt. Sinai and Jesus’ transfiguration have in common? Why is it important that the Lord isn’t in the wind, the earthquake, the fire? Why is it a low whisper? Father Jeremiah reflects on these questions
Photo by form PxHere. Public Domain.
Rebuking Ourselves, Mark 1:21-28
In Mark 1:21-28, Jesus enters a synagogue to teach and then rebukes and casts out a demon. What does this mean for his day and what does it mean for us today? Father Jeremiah considers that Jesus’ authority is one that enables us to rebuke ourselves and embrace the transformation that he brings to us through the Holy Spirit.
Image: Die Bibel in Bildern [Picture Bible] von Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld. Leipzig: Georg Wigands, 1860. Hathi Digital Trust Library online version of a copy in the Getty Library. Web. 30 June 2016. Location: https://victorianweb.org/art/illustration/german/schnorr/82.html
Called into New Life and Service, Mark 1:14-20, 1 Corinthians 7:17-24
Jesus went forth preaching about the Kingdom of God being at hand and calling disciples to follow him. Are we all called to drop the work we are doing to follow Jesus or can he call us to follow him in the midst of the work he has given us? Father Jeremiah considers this as he teaches about the change that Jesus brings to us through his work.
Image: Calling of Peter and Andrew, by Duccio Di Buoninsegna. Public Domain. Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Duccio_di_Buoninsegna_-_Calling_of_Peter_and_Andrew_-_WGA06774.jpg
United to Christ in His Baptism, Mark 1:7-11, Isaiah 42:1-9
Jesus came to be baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist so that the Holy Spirit would descend upon him. Now, through Jesus, we receive the very same Holy Spirit. Father Jeremiah helps us to see the connection between Jesus’ baptism and our own baptisms, that we might be more and more renewed by Jesus.
Image: The Baptism of Christ, James Fuller Queen. No known restrictions. Image location: https://www.loc.gov/item/2003677556/
Preparing the Way, Mark 1.1-8; Isaiah 40
As St. Mark opens his Gospel he reveals just what he thinks of Jesus Christ. Along with that we are directed in how to prepare the way of the Lord through the words of John the Baptist, who is the Elijah to come predicted by the prophet Malachi.
Image: Saint John the Baptist Bearing Witness, by Annibale Carracci, CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication. Image location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Saint_John_the_Baptist_Bearing_Witness_MET_DP220449.jpg
Escape to Salvation, Mark 13.14-23
In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus is telling his disciples about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple. What does this have to do with us today? Father Jeremiah walks through what the passage is about and what it’s purpose is. Listen now to find out more.
Image: David Roberts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/11/14/escape-to-salvation-mark-1314-23
The Might of a Mite, Mark 12.38-44
What makes us think of the Widow in the Temple so highly? Is it her gift? Is it her faith? Or is it the reality of the glorious promise keeping God that she was worshiping? Father Jeremiah looks at this story from St. Mark 12 and asks what was the might of the Widow’s Mite?
Image: An etching by Jan Luyken, Phillip Medhurst, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/11/7/the-might-of-a-mite-mark-1238-44
Reforming Our Love of God, Mark 12.28-34
When a Scribe came up to ask Jesus about the greatest commandment, Jesus gave him a two for one deal. The Scribe saw the great truth in what Jesus said and Jesus said that he was close to the Kingdom. What does this mean? How are we to understand Jesus in this passage? How are we to be changed by Jesus’ words? Father Jeremiah reflects on these things and helps us all to understand a little better Jesus’ summation of the Law.
Image: Artist unknown, Christ disputing in the Temple, from manuscript Vaux Passional, National Library of Wales, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/10/31/reforming-our-love-of-god-mark-1228-34
The Model Disciple, Mark 10.46-52
What does a blind beggar have to tell us about true discipleship? Quite a lot! Father Jeremiah looks at Bartimaeus, the blind beggar outside of Jericho, and what he can teach us about being a disciple of Jesus.
Image: Jesus Healing the Blind, Church of Britain, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/10/24/the-model-disciple-mark-1046-52
Humbling that Brings Glory, Mark 10.35-45
When James and John come to Jesus with a request to sit on his right and left in the kingdom, Jesus tells them that while they will follow in his footsteps and make him known, they cannot sit where they desire. To cling to glory is to miss the humility necessary to walk with Christ. To receive glory means one must be humbled to the service of others.
Image: St. John and St. James the Greater, part of The Twelve Apostles: Saints Bartholomew, Andrew, Matthew, James the Greater, Thaddeus, Philip, James the Lesser, Simon, Peter, Paul, Thomas, and John, by Bergognone. Image location: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/435657
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/10/17/humbling-that-brings-glory-mark-1035-45
Stony Hearts and the Only Good Man, Mark 10:17-31
What should we make of the rich young man who asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life? Isn’t there something wrong with the idea of “doing something” to inherit something else? What is the condition of this man’s heart? How does Jesus show him compassion? These questions are thought about in this sermon from Father Jeremiah.
Image: Woodcut illustration of man rejecting the devil in the form of a serpent used by Heinrich Stayner of Augsburg. Public Domain. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/58558794@N07/6581247221/in/photostream/. Posted by POP
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/10/10/stony-hearts-and-the-only-good-man-mark-1017-31
Hardhearted Realities, Mark 10:2-16
When the Pharisees asked Jesus about divorce, he led them to the beginning of the Scriptures and revealed that divorce ultimately flows, not from the command of God, but out of the hardheartedness of humanity. Our hardheartedness toward spouses is the outworking of our hardheartedness towards God himself and our very idolatry by which we forsake God.
Image: Undergrowth with Two Figures, Vincent Van Gogh, from the Cincinnati Art Museum. Public Domain (no changes made). Image Location: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vincent_van_Gogh_-_Undergrowth_with_Two_Figures_(F773).jpg
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/10/3/hardhearted-realities-mark-102-16
A Matter of Life and Death, Mark 9:38-48
Bishop Terrell Glenn helps us to understand Jesus’ admonition to cut off our parts that cause us to sin. It is a matter of life and death because life in the Kingdom is so much more important than anything else in this world.
Image: skull human anatomy vintage, uploaded by Andrea Stöckel, public domain, from https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/view-image.php?image=404637&picture=skull-human-anatomy-vintage
www.gracegastonia.com/sermon-blog/2021/9/26/a-matter-of-life-and-death-mark-938-48
Unexpected Resurrection, Mark 16.1-8
Jesus’ resurrection took the people by surprise despite his announcing it multiplies to his disciples. Why was this? What does it mean? How can we fully embrace what the resurrection does for us? Father Jeremiah helps us lay hold of the great truth of Jesus’ bodily resurrection and rejoice that Christ is risen.
Image: Saint Julie Billiart Catholic Church (Hamilton, Ohio) - stained glass, Resurrection of Christ, photo by Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons. No changes made
The King Who Overthrows, Mark 11.1-11
On Palm Sunday, we remember the coming of Jesus into Jerusalem to the accolades of the people. They shout, “Hosanna” to the Lord and acclaim him as king. This Jesus who has kept aspects of his identity hidden from the masses and avoided them whenever they attempted to hail him as king, now enters Jerusalem in the most public of ways. What does it mean? How does this coming touch on various Old Testament writings? How do we respond knowing in advance where this week is going to end up? Listen now to hear Father Jeremiah’s thoughts on all of this.
Image: Photo taken by Ted. Entry into Jerusalem, from St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Toledo, OH. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, no changes made. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/frted/5713013694/in/photostream/
Unable to Help Myself, Mark 8.31-38
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After hearing the confession of Peter regarding Jesus’ true identity, Jesus begins teaching them about what the Messiah must do. But Peter rejects this only to be rebuked by Jesus and confronted, alongside the disciples and others, with the reality that we are to take up our own crosses. How does this truth connect to our Collect of the Day that says that God knows that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves? Father Jeremiah brings these together revealing the work of God in us.