Pastor Sullivan's Blog

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If you were to poll the general population with the question: “What did Jesus teach about the most during His ministry,” you’d probably hear answers like “Judge not, lest ye be judged,” “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone,” or maybe “Love one another.” And while those are all teachings of Jesus, they aren’t what Jesus taught about the most often. Jesus taught most often about His suffering, death, and resurrection. On five separate occasions recorded in the Gospels Jesus speaks to His disciples about His coming suffering, death, and resurrection. The first is eight days before His Transfiguration, after Peter confesses Him to be the Christ, the Son of God. The second is immediately after He is transfigured. The third is shortly after that, later in the same chapter of Matthew’s gospel. The fourth is today’s Gospel lesson and the fifth is two days before His crucifixion. Why did Jesus speak so fre...

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Jesus tells His twelve disciples privately, “ Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again. ” Jesus is blunt about it but He has always been quite to the point about His purpose. Why does He tell the disciples this one more time as He makes His final approach to Jerusalem? To fortify their faith so that in the coming days they may not fall away when they witness the scandal of the cross. He wants to teach them first that it is His will that He enter into these sufferings. The events of Passion Week are not haphazard or coincidence. Jesus is not the unwitting pawn of sinful men with unjust desires. Jesus is not purely passive as evil men work out their evil schemes. Th...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 240 Father Most Holy Hymn # 375 If Thy Beloved Son, O God Hymn # 425 All Depends on Our Possessing Introit BE MY - || rock | of | — | re- - | fuge, * A fortress of de- | fense - | to - | save | me. For You are my rock | and | my | fort- - | ress. * Therefore, for Your name’s sake, lead | me - | and - | guide | me. (Psalm 31:2b–3) In You, O Lord, I put my trust; let me nev- | er | be | a- - | shamed; * Deliver me in | Your - | right- - | eous- | ness. Into Your hand I com- | mit | my | spi- - | rit; * You have redeemed me, O | Lord - | God - | of | truth. Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I | am | in | trou- - | ble; * My eye wastes | a- - | way - | with | grief. Make Your face shine u- | pon | Your | ser- - | vant; * Save me for | Your - | mer- - | cies’ | sake. (Psalm 31:1, 5, 9, and 16) Readings Isaiah 35:3-7 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 Luke 18:31-43   Collect for Quinquagesima O Lord, we beseech Thee, mercifully...