Pastor Sullivan's Blog

Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Jesus tells a parable of two men in today’s Gospel lesson. The first is a Pharisee. The Pharisee goes to the Temple, the house of the Lord, to pray. He approaches God purely out of thanksgiving, but not thanksgiving for what God has done for him. He thanks God that He is not like other men. He is not an extortioner. He’s not ravenous for other’s possessions or property. He hasn’t gotten his goods by threat or force. He thanks God that he is a hardworking and industrious fellow. And this is a good thing. He thanks God that he is not unjust. He is not an unrighteous person who wallows in the sins of the flesh like lust and covetousness. And this, too, is a good thing. His litany continues. He gives thanks that he is not an adulterer. He is faithful to his marriage vows and this, too, is a very good thing. Then he gives thanks to God that he is not like the man standing at the back of the Temple, head bo...

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 1)         “ From the day s of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ” These are difficult words. What does it mean that the kingdom suffers violence and the violent take it by force? Was there violence and persecution against the kingdom of heaven at the time when Jesus said this? There had been none up to that point. John was still alive, although imprisoned. Jesus had not yet been crucified, nor His apostles martyred because of their preaching. That would all come in due time. But at this point in the ministry of John and Jesus, violent men had not yet tried to lay hold of the kingdom of heaven. They would try. They would execute John, crucify Christ, and martyr the apostles. They would persecute the church, burn her books, and give Christians over to lions and other creative fates. But none of the...

Order of Holy Communion  - Pg. 15 Hymn #  294 O Word of God Incarnate Hymn #  342 Chief of Sinners Though I Be Hymn #  526 In God, my faithful God Introit GOD IS || in His holy habi- | ta- | tion. *             God sets the solitary in | fam- | i- | lies. || The God of Israel is He who gives | strength | - *             And power to | His | peo- | ple.  (Psalm 68:5b, 6a, 35b) || Let God arise, Let His enemies be | scat- | tered; *             Let those also who hate Him flee | be- | fore | Him. || But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before | God; | - *             Yes, let them rejoice ex- | ceed- | ing- | ly. || O God, when you went out before Your | peo- | ple, *             You, O God, provided from Your goodness | for | the | poor. || Blessèd be the Lord, who daily loads us with | bene- ∙ | ...