Pastor Sullivan's Blog

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. In chapter 1, St. Peter taught us that we live in the world but we are not of it. We are elect foreigners, refugees of the heavenly country because we have been “ born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever ” ( 1:23). At the beginning of chapter 2 Peter continues this initial thought. “ Desires the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good ” (2:2). Peter isn’t making a distinction between “infant” Christians and mature Christians. St. Paul makes than comparison in 1 Corinthians 3. He tells the Corinthians that he initially fed them with milk, not solid food, but he had expected them to have been weaned off milk and eating solid food, though they weren’t. That’s not what Peter is doing here. Peter writes to all Christians to tell them that they should be like newborn babes. As newborn babes ...

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. The Lord does not always answer our prayers immediately. Too often we fall prey to the notion that God should give us what we want and that He should give it to us right now. That makes sense though. This is how we go through so much of life. Look at children. “Mommy, I want this.” And if Mommy doesn’t meet that need at that very moment, then there are tantrums and tears. You certainly can’t reason with a child and ask, “Have I ever let you starve before?” because children don’t think like that. They only feel what they don’t have at that moment. Adults are no better. When we want something we want it now. If we don’t get it we nag, or become sullen and grumpy. Adults have the same notion as children, adults are just better at hiding it. The child and the adult want instant gratification. Both want their needs, or wants in most cases, met immediately and too often approach God in prayer with this same attitude...

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. In today’s appointed gospel lesson, St. Matthew shows us a woman in dire need. Her daughter is severely demon-possessed and the woman has no way of helping her. She of herself has no strength to save her daughter. So she goes to Jesus. He had left the ancient boundary of Israel and gone into the region of Tyre and Sidon where this woman and her daughter lived. She seizes her opportunity. The woman goes to Jesus and prays mightily, “ Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed. ” She is not an Israelite, yet she knew that Jesus was Lord. She knew that He was the Son of David. She knew that Jesus was merciful to people who called upon Him in the hour of utmost need. The good report about Jesus had spread to this far away region and she believed it. In faith she approaches Jesus and asks Him to have mercy on her utterly helpless daughter. This is a great picture of faith. Fait...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 145 Jesus, Refuge of the Weary Hymn # 522 When in the Hour of Utmost Need Hymn # 523 Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me Introit   RE- - MEM- | ber, O Lord, Your tender mercies and Your lov- | ing- | kind- | ness- | es, * For they | are | from | of | old. - || Let not my enemies tri- | umph | o- | ver | me. * God of Israel, deliver us out of | all | our | trou- | bles! - (Psalm 25:6, 2b, and 22) || To You, O Lord, I | lift | up | my | soul. * O my God, I trust in You; let me | not | be | a- | shamed; - || Do not remember the | sins | of | my | youth; * According to Your mercy remember me for | Your | good- | ness’ | sake. - || Good and up- | right | is | the | Lord; * Therefore He teaches sin- | ners | in | the | way. - || For Your | name’s | sake, | O | Lord, * Pardon my iniquity, | for | it | is | great. - (Psalm 25:1–2...