Month: January 2018

Text: Mark 1:21-28
Date: Epiphany IV + 1/28/18
At the beginning of the Epiphany season it is a time of “epiphany,” that is, revealing the Savior who has come, born at Christmas and grown up in Nazareth. After His baptism by John in the Jordan St. Mark gets right down to business telling us of Jesus’ calling His first disciples to follow Him and become fishers of men, and then the beginning of His ministry of preaching, teaching and healing. He told us, “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’” (Mk1:14-15). Continue reading “Called to Cleanse”

Text: Mark 1:14-20
Date: Epiphany III + 1/21/18

A main theme of this liturgical year is a new creation, that in Christ you are a new creation. Because Jesus was baptized He began to fulfill God’s Law and defeat sin, death and the devil for you. Because Jesus is truly God and truly man He is the door to salvation for you. Because Jesus called disciples the Church’s mission is His mission. This new creation is called the kingdom of God. Continue reading “The King's Kingdom”

Text: John 1:43-51
Date: Epiphany II + 1/14/18

In this year of St. Mark’s Gospel, we rejoice that his is the shortest of the four. We rejoice primarily because it gives us a chance to hear also from St. John’s Gospel. The two go together for many reasons. We notice for instance that neither Mark nor John have an historical account of Christmas, the birth of Christ. John begins with an extended prologue quickly moving to John the Baptist and, as we hear today, the calling of the first disciples. So does Mark. Our Gospel from the first chapter of John this morning takes us, as does his entire work, deeper into not only the history but the spiritual meaning of what it means to have faith in the Son of God. Continue reading “The Lord Calls”

Text: Propers for the Day Series B
Date: The Baptism of Our Lord + January 7, 2018

I have two questions for you today. First, have you been baptized? Of course, I could look at the church records and find the baptismal date of all of our members. Do you remember the date of your baptism? The second question may sound a little strange at first, and that is this, are you baptized? To ask these questions in these two ways helps us discover why we celebrate The Baptism of Our Lord today. For the first question asks only for an historical reference of a past act, that is, the date on which the Sacrament of Holy Baptism was administered to you. We only baptize once because it is God’s own permanent work. He doesn’t go back on His word. The second question, however, asks if your baptism (so long ago) still makes any difference in your life today, now! Yes, Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River. His baptism has a number of important meanings for Him. And we will briefly review those. But it is of greater meaning and importance if today we emphasize the fact that Jesus was baptized for you. “For you” meaning not instead of you or in your place, but for your benefit. That is, we are saying that when you were baptized into Christ you were changed, born anew from above, a new you, for you have been and are Baptized in His Name. Continue reading “Baptized In His Name”