Jesus the Good Shepherd

Exodus 12:21-28 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 John 1:29-42

Matthew 3 Isaiah 42 Acts 10

Mourning Is The Doorway To Joy - January 5, 2019 by Jesus the Good Shepherd Anglican Church

Grace Upon Grace - December 29, 2019 by Jesus the Good Shepherd Anglican Church

Be Steadfast Feasting, Disciplined in Celebration and Constant in Praise - Deacon Erin by Jesus the Good Shepherd Anglican Church

God Became Man; Christmas Eve - December 24, 2019 by Jesus the Good Shepherd Anglican Church

St. Matthew's Gospel sets the scene for the birth of Christ by reminding us of the genealolgy of Abrham and David, which includes women who boldly clove to God. We too are called to boldly cleave to Him by remembering that He is Emmanuel, God with us (Isaiah 7). His Grace provides all that we need to respond to His faith with obedience (Romans 1).

Jesus calls us to reject the games of children and to perform deeds in harmony with God and His prophets (Matthew 11). St. James teaches us how to prepared our hearts to receive God's melody, by repenting and praying in the patience of a farmer (James 5). Isaiah rejoices that hearts prepared for grace will blossom like the crocus (Isaiah 35).

Isaiah (chapter 11) tells us that hope is found in the Messiah from the root of Jesse. St. Paul (Romans 9) tells us what that hope is for, and St. John the Baptist (Matthew 3) tells us that we can attain hope through baptism.

The Advent of Christ is prophesied by the Prophet Isaiah (chapter 2) and expounded by St. Paul in his letter to the Romans. Christ Himself reveals how we should prepare for His Second Advent 9 (Matthew 24).

We are the firstfruits of His Salvation! Happy Thanksgiving!

We ended our months-long tour of St. Luke's Gospel with Jesus on the Cross in chapter 23. He has established His kingdom as Prophet, Priest and King and His Kingdom was prophesied by Jeremiah (23), among others. St. Paul teaches us how we will be qualified, transferred and delivered from the kingdom of this world to that of eternity in paradise.

Jesus teaches us how to practice endurance and calm in the face of the death (Luke 21). Malachi (3,4) and St. Paul (2 Thesallonians 3) compare the arrogant and idle to the righteous who fear and serve God.

Christianity is a paradox and so are all of its major tenets, such as defeating death by death and saving one's life by losing it. Jesus explains that marriage does not belong in the Resurrection because there is no death in eternal life (Luke 20). Job knew the truth of the resurrection by explaining, my redeemer lives (Job 19). St. Paul explains how we too can participate in God's tradition of go...

There is one church, in this age and in the age to come (Ephesians 1). Her members have become white in the blood of the lamb through their own sufferings in the tribulation, which is what we call the sufferings and persecutions of the current age (Revelations 7). We too can become members of that faithful body if we would only love our enemies (Luke 6).

Jesus emphasizes the condition of the heart in His parable about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector at prayer (Luke 18). Jeremiah's reminder of our need to repent and the effects of sin on the world around us are an example of the heart of humility (Jeremiah 16). St. Paul's Second letter to Timothy reminds us of our need to be vigilant of Godly teaching and Holy Living while remaining humble befor...

Jesus follows His teaching on the Second Coming with a reminder to pray always (Luke 18). Unceasing prayer is a habit that we can only acquire through the tenacity and perseverance Jacob displays as he faces his brother, Esau (Genesis 32). We can build the persevering habits of regular prayer and the study of Holy Scripture that St. Paul prescribes to St. Timothy for his ministry (2 Timothy 3-4),...

Jesus heads to Jerusalem (Luke 17) to offer Himself as the final sacrifice. Ruth is an example of the sacrificial life devoted to God that St. Paul teaches Timothy (2 Timothy) is exemplified by the soldier, the athlete and the farmer.

Fr. Russ Smith shared the Good News of Christ's saving work among rural peoples in Chile. Citing St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy, he described the importance of family, evangelism and discipleship among people who may only have access to Holy Communion once per year.

Unlike His previous parables in this sequence, Jesus uses specific names and places; Lazarus, Abraham, Moses and Hades (Luke 16:19-31). This ultimate summary of His radically new understanding of Sabbath Rest at God's banquet is hacked by Amos's reminder to grieve rebellion and St. Paul's admonishment to use wealth in the service of others (Amos 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 6:11-19).

Jesus continues to teach Sabbath rest that allows honest self-reflection and prudent planning for our future judgement (Luke 16:1-13). Amos warned against Sabbath rest that produced sin and famine from the Word (Amos 8:4-12). We too suffer from famine of the Word when we read the First Letter of Timothy and the traditional roles of men and women in the church. Be not mistaken, the women of the chu...

In St. Luke, Chapter 15, Jesus answers the Pharisees' grumbling over sinners by telling the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son. The Israelites were Lost in Exodus 32, when they decided to gather themselves according to their own desires. St. Paul had been lost in ignorance but was found by the patience of God and His desire to save all sinners (1Timothy 1).

Jesus summarizes His teaching on the Sabbath and three parables on meals with a shocking charge to hate our lives in order to become His disciples. Moses's reminder to the Nation of Israel, teaching them to choose life and the Love of God gives us foundational daily practice in Holy Living. The result of Holy Living is the reversal of ethnic ties and social class in humility, like St. Paul calls P...

The Letter to the Hebrews (13:1-8) teaches us to '...let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral...' and while the world dismisses the simplicity of marriage, without it, we cannot understand God's love for His church or the church's call to be faithful to God. Jesus's radical teaching (Luke 14:1,7-14) about the Sabbath is also grounded in the humble etiquette of the...

Jesus journeyed toward Jerusalem, in Luke chapter 13, for His Loving Sacrifice on the Cross and He invites us to Strive alongside Him in His establishing the Heavenly City with Justice and Righteousness. The Prophet Isaiah, in chapter 28, reminds us that the Lord is the precious cornerstone. The grace of the cornerstone is available when we participate in that grace and holiness but is lost if we...