A Famine Not of Bread

"My Soul Is Sorrowful Unto Death" by James Tissot Click here to listen to this sermon. Every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.    So also Christ did not exalt Himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by Him who said to Him,       “You are My Son,               today I have begotten You”; as He says also in another place,         “You are a priest forever,               after the order of Melchizedek.” In the days ...

Click here to listen to this sermon. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Three-Year Lectionary devotes this Seventh Sunday of Easter to what is called Jesus’ “High-Priestly Prayer.”   Our Gospel text for today from John 17 is part of that prayer.   It is certainly fitting to consider this prayer on this Sunday after the Church has remembered Christ’s ascension, for our heavenly High Priest continues to pray for His Church before His Father’s throne of grace and glory.   In this section of the prayer, Jesus prays not only for His disciples who are gathered with Him that night, but also “for those who will believe in Me through their word.”   Jesus prays for all of those who will receive His Word through His apostles.   The Father had given His Word to Jesus.   Jesus gives the apostles’ His Word by the Holy Spirit.   That Word works faith in Jesus for eternal life.   Jesus sees this process as ongoi...

One in the Spirit, composite digital image by L. Lovett, 2006 The text for today is John 17:11-19, which has already been read. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God the Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! What has kept the Church going for the last two thousand years?   How do you explain it?   The Church has survived persecution, false teaching, and gross mismanagement.   It has survived dictatorships, demagogues, and democracies.   It has survived popes and councils, voters’ assemblies and synodical conventions, and the meetings that go on after the meetings.   Any human organization that operated this way would have long since disappeared, but the Church goes on.   What is the key to the Church’s survival?   How could a ragtag band of 120 Jewish followers grow into a Church that quite literally embraces the world across all national and ethnic boundaries?   How could a Church whose first recorded official act is to c...