Preachrblog

  Tempted For You Matthew 4:1-11 A blessed Lent to you.   In this season of penitence and fasting, of meditation and prayer, we tune our spiritual senses more keenly to the struggle with sin.   Temptation.   An experience common to every person, and yes, especially to every Christian.   Hebrews tells us Jesus is not   “unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but… in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin,” and also, “because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.”   So we must consider our own struggles with temptation in the light of Christ’s temptation. Matthew’s Gospel for today shows us that Jesus himself is tempted during his 40 days in the wilderness.   Tempted by none other than the Devil himself.   As we consider Christ’s temptation today, we can plumb its mysteries and learn from his example, consider our own struggle with temptation, and rejoice in his victory...

“Seeing God” The Transfiguration of Our Lord is one of those prominent occasions in the Gospels, and in the Church Year.  Jesus takes the three apostles up the mountain, his appearance is changed – he becomes all bright and shiny.  Moses and Elijah appear.  There’s a cloud.  Then the voice from heaven, “This is my Son. Listen to him.” And as quickly as it began, it’s over.  Peter’s nonsensical jabbering aside, it is a glorious event.  It is a spectacular sight.  It is a peek at the true glory of Christ that had thus far in his life remained hidden.  And it brought to bear the witness of both the Old Testament spokesmen and the very voice of the Father in testimony of Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior, the Christ. I’ve pondered this event, as I am sure many of you have, year after year.  It’s a treasure trove of depth and meaning.  There are so many significant details, it’s impossible to cover everything.  Today I want to focus es...

  Matthew 5:13-20 (especially 17-20) Fulfill the Law 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Unless you’re more righteous than the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.   Well.   How’s that going for you? The Pharisees, if they were known for one thing, it was their righteousness.   Held high as the standards of holy living, the Pharisees were the models of virtue for...