Pastor Sullivan's Blog

Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Most people think that all religions are basically the same and the common denominator between them all is that they teach people how to be good. Not only do they teach morality but they teach it for the purpose of earning salvation and eternal life of some type or another. This was the mindset of the Jews at the time of Christ, and this mindset is why the lawyer stands up to test Jesus in today’s Gospel lesson. His question runs the way of the law and morality. “ Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? ” In order to achieve this lofty goal what do I need to be doing and how do I need to be living? His question resonates with us and will all mankind because his question sums up how mankind thinks of religion: it’s a moral system by which we earn future in paradise. The question is a law question so Jesus directs him to the law. “ What is written in the Law? What is your reading of it? ” ...

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. The expert in the Law of Moses had asked Jesus, “ What must I do to inherit eternal life? ” “ Go and do likewise ” is Jesus’ final answer to that question. Don’t be like the robbers in the parable who fall upon others, strip them of their clothing, wound them, and leave them for dead. That much is obvious. But neither are you to be like the priest or the Levite, who know every line of the law but imagine that it only applies to the outward act. The priest and the Levite think they don’t break the commandment because they weren’t the ones to harm the man, steal his things, wound him, and leave him half dead. Even though they did no harm, they missed wide the mark of the Law which reads: “ Love your neighbor as yourself ” (Leviticus 19:18). Instead, Jesus says if you want to inherit eternal life, be like the Samaritan. He saw his neighbor in need. He went to the man, bandaged him, treated his wounds, se...

Order of Holy Communion  - Pg. 15 Hymn # 548 My Inmost Heart Now Raises Hymn # 384 Oh, How Great is Thy Compassion Hymn # 344 Come, Let Us Join our Cheerful Songs Introit HAVE RE- || spect to Your covenant, O | Lord; | - *             Oh, do not let the oppressed | re- | turn | a- | shamed! || Arise, O God, plead Your own | cause; | - *             Do not forget the voice of | Your | en- | e- | mies.  (Psalm 74:20a, 21a, 22a, 23a) || O God, why have You cast us off for- | ev- | er? *             Why does Your anger smoke against the sheep | of | Your | past-| ure? || Remember Your congre- | ga- | tion, *             Which You have | pur- | chased | of | old, || The tribe of Your inheritance, which You have re- | deemed | - *             —This Mount Zion | where | You | have | dwelt. || Do not forget the life of Your poor for- | e...

Order of Holy Communion - pg. 15 Hymn # 548 My Inmost Heart Now Raises Hymn # 417 How Can I Thank Thee, Lord Hymn # 344 Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs Introit (Antiphon) Have respect, O Lord, unto Thy covenant: oh, let not the oppressed return ashamed. Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause: and forget not the voice of Thine enemies. (Psalm) O God, why hast Thou cast us off forever?: Why doth then anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? Readings Leviticus 18:1-5 Galatians 3:15-22 Luke 10:23-37 Collect for Trinity XIII Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain that which Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. Sermon on the Holy Gospel Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Chr...

Order of Holy Communion - pg. 15 Hymn # 548 My Inmost Heart Now Raises Hymn # 417 How Can I Thank Thee, Lord Hymn # 344 Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs Introit (Antiphon) Have respect, O Lord, unto Thy covenant: oh, let not the oppressed return ashamed. Arise, O God, plead Thine own cause: and forget not the voice of Thine enemies. (Psalm) O God, why hast Thou cast us off forever?: Why doth then anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? Readings Leviticus 18:1-5 Galatians 3:15-22 Luke 10:23-37 Collect for Trinity XIII Almighty and everlasting God, give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and that we may obtain that which Thou dost promise, make us to love that which Thou dost command; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. Sermon on the Holy Gospel Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Chr...