A Famine Not of Bread

"The Offering of Abraham" by James Tissot Click here to listen to this sermon. “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, ‘Abraham!’ And he said, ‘Here am I.’ He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you” (Genesis 22:1-2). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The temptation of Abraham lasts three days. It is not the only time he is tempted, but this is brutal. He journeys through the wilderness with Isaac, his only son from his beloved Sarah. This miracle child was born when his mother and father were ninety and one hundred, respectively. Isaac’s name means “he laughs,” he is their laughter in their old age. But even more than that, he’s the child of the promise. The Lord has declared that Abraham will be the father of a great nation through Isaac. All of that seems in jeopardy now, endangered by ...

"The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-Law" by James Tisso t Click here to listen to this sermon. And immediately [Jesus] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told Him about her. And He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to Him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He departed and went out to a desolate place, and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him, and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” And He said to them, “Let us go on to the nex...

"Jesus Heals a Possessed Man" by James Tissot Click here to listen to this sermon. “And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him’” (Mark 1:27). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Today is the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany. Epiphany means “manifestation” or “shining forth.” The readings appointed in the Church’s lectionary for this season focus on the truth that God Himself has come to visit us in our Lord's incarnation. If Christmas is the season to celebrate that the Word became flesh , Epiphany celebrates that it is the Word that became flesh, and we beheld His glory . In last week’s Gospel, Jesus began His ministry and called His first disciples in Galilee. Today, He takes those disciples with Him to worship in Capernaum. On the Sabbath, following their selection to become fishers of men, Pet...

Click here to listen to this sermon. After John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the Gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel” (Mark 1:14). Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Herod is in a tough spot. He’s just put John the Baptist in prison. He’s not happy about it, though. He’s afraid of John, who has attracted quite an enthusiastic following. But Herod can’t have John running around preaching that Herod’s new marriage is a sinful one. What John is saying is all true, mind you—and he’s not preaching it to stir up trouble or cause rebellion but to call Herod to repentance. But a king can’t have his critics speaking inconvenient truths, so he’s imprisoned the famous prophet. How will the people react? This is a tense moment for Herod, and you can bet he’s got his spies working overtime to see if the people will rise up or just accept John’s arrest. An...

"St. John the Baptist Sees Jesus from Afar" by   James Tissot Click here to listen to this sermon. The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, “Behold, I send My messenger before your face, who will prepare Your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight,’” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes H e who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. I have baptized you with water, but H e will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:1-8). Grace to you and...