Pastor Sullivan's Blog

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. The Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. This expression is different than what we are used to hearing about the Kingdom of God. Jesus isn’t saying that the kingdom suffers the violence of persecutions, crosses, and trials. Although that’s true, that isn’t what Christ speaks of in the Gospel lesson. Nor is Jesus saying that you can enter the kingdom by violence and physical force. That would go against the rest of Christ’s teaching. So what does He mean when He says the kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force? Perhaps a better way to translate Jesus’ words go like this: “ The Kingdom of Heaven advances forcefully and forceful men lay hold of it. ” That’s a bit better and it makes sense with how Jesus says it in Luke 16:16, “ The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it. ” The ki...

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Jesus tells His disciples that He goes away to God the Father. He speaks this on Maundy Thursday, the night in which He was betrayed. Sorrow fills the disciple’s hearts, and understandably so. But Jesus consoles their troubled hearts, “ Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ” Jesus promises the Helper, who is God the Holy Spirit, whose coming we will celebrate in three weeks on Pentecost. In some translations the word is translated “Comforter,” while others transliterate it: “Paraclete.” As Christ says this to His disciples, He approaches His suffering and death for the sins of the world. He will accomplish the atonement and declare from the cross “ It is finished ” (John 19:30). Christ runs His course. He atones for the sins of the entire world. But then He must go ...

Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. “ This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory. ” It is tempting to despise this first miracle of Jesus and think little of it. When we compare this first sign of Jesus to the miracles He would later perform, this one feels different. Healing a leper by touching him, exorcising demons from people, healing a paralytic with just a word, raising Lazarus from the dead, all these seem to be more in line with Jesus’ divine power. It also seems that the need that Jesus meets in this miracle is different from His later miracles. The leper, the demoniac, the paralytic, and the mourning sisters of Lazarus all have dire need of Christ’s help. They struggle against deformity, decay, and death. At this wedding in Cana, the need appears less serious. A man and a woman were married. They are so poor and destitute that they run out of wine during their wedding feast. This is a t...

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 1)         A lawyer of the Pharisees proposes a question about the Law in order test Jesus. The Pharisees were always malicious toward Chris and always wanting to disprove and discredit Him. And though Christ knows what is in men’s hearts and perceives their malicious motivation, He is gentle and compassionate with them. He ever desires to teach sinners the way of repentance and faith, so Christ answers the Pharisee’s question. “ Which is the greatest commandment in the Law? ” Christ distills the entire Law of Moses down to two commandments. He says, “ ’You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’  On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. ” Everything that has been...

Order of Holy Communion  - Pg. 15 Hymn #  295 The Law of God is Good and Wise Hymn #  287 That Man A Godly Life Might Live Hymn #  500 May God Bestow on Us His Grace Introit THE LORD || is the strength of His | peo- | ple *             He is the saving Refuge of | His | a- | noint- | ed. || Save Your people, and bless Your in- |  her-i-   ∙  | tance; * Shepherd them also, and bear them | up | for- | ev- | er.  (Psalm 28:8 paraphrase, 9) || To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock; do not be silent to | me, | - * Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go | down | to | the | pit. || Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to | You, | - *             When I lift up my hands toward Your holy | sanc- | tu- | ar- | y. || The Lord is my strength and my | shield; | - *      ...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 125 The Old Year Now hath Passed Away Hymn # 115 O Blessed Day When First Was Poured Hymn # 311 Jesus Christ, our Blessed Savior Hymn # 116 To the Name of Our Salvation Introit O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth,                 Who have set Your glory above the heavens! What is man that You are mindful of him,                 And the son of man that You visit him? (Psalm 8:1, 4) You, O Lord, are our Father;                Our Redeemer from everlasting is Your name. O Lord, why have You made us stray from Your ways, and hardened our heart from Your fear?                Return for Your servants’ sake, the tribes of Your inheritance. Your holy people have possessed it but a little ...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 545 The Morning Sun is Brightly Beaming Hymn #3 43 How Lovely Shines the Morning Star Hymn # 247 God the Father, Be Our Stay Introit - pg. 80 Readings Deuteronomy 10:12-21 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 Matthew 22:34-46 Collect for Trinity XVIII O God, forasmuch as without Thee we are not able to please Thee, mercifully grant that Thy Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; 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 Christ. Amen. 1)         The Pharisees hear that Jesus has silenced the Sadducees. The Sadducees were your Jewish elites of the time. They had money and prestige. Their piety was entirely wrapped up in the temple ritual. They were also quite Greek in their thinking. They didn’t...