Category: Sermons

Second Sunday after Pentecost
Year A
June 11, 2023

First Reading: Genesis 12:1-9
Psalm 33: 1-12
Second Reading: Romans 4: 13-25
Gospel: Matthew 9: 9-13, 18-26

Collect:

Oh, God, from whom all good proceeds: Grant that by your inspiration we may think those things that are right, and by your merciful guiding may do them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit on God, for ever and ever. Amen

“God’s Promises Can Be Fulfilled Through Faith”

Abraham, the father of Isaac and the grandfather of Jacob. Abraham is for us Christians, the “father of the faith.”  Why did God choose Abraham? because he had the ability to use superior logic in those days of his generation, above all others, and God knew this. Abraham was 75 years old when God sent him and his family to a land unknown to them, but God will show them the way. The covenant with Abraham is a covenant of grace. 

God promised that he will give him this land for all his descendants. “I will make you a great nation and I will bless you.” And through Isaac and the twelve tribes of Israel, one of those tribes led to the promise of the Messiah Jesus.

Abraham shows faith even when it seems to be a hopeless circumstances and obstacles, yet he believed God’s promises when he was mocked by others. He even grew in his faith, because he gave glory to God. 

How can we have this same kind of great faith?

The Gospel of Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26

I want you to imagine Jesus’ walking along and he sees a tax collector, Matthew at his tax booth, Jesus tells him… to follow him? 

Just like that, Matthew gets up and follows Jesus, it does not say anything about what Matthew was thinking or saying, I pictured him saying, where, where we going? Will it cost me? Or should I close shop? Maybe he felt he needed to show hospitality, do, you want to come over for dinner? The verse says, Jesus sat at dinner in the house.

Tax collectors were like our IRS, they would take from the poorest of the poor and make the rich richer. Even themselves. 

Why choose a tax collector? That is why Jesus is there, He wants to bring in those who need him the most.  He also sees something in Matthew, other than a tax collector, perhaps He knew, Matthew would be a devoted follower and one that would write our first gospel.

Jesus is eating with many tax collectors and sinners.

This is where the Pharisees saw this and they asked the other disciples…” Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus explains “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. 

Then it is like Jesus said, be off with you and think about it. 😊

Jesus has his hands full today, sandwiched between a synagogue leader who needs him to lay His hand on his daughter, after she was dead, and perhaps she will live, and then a woman in the crowd, with no name, who has suffered for 12 years, came up behind him and touches the fringe of his cloak, Jesus knew what was in her heart, he knew it took a lot of courage and faith to touch him. “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”

The synagogue leader’s daughter did die, but Jesus laid hands on her by picking up her hand, and the girl got up. Jesus saw what was inside Matthew, not what was on the outside.

Conclusion:

Like Abraham we can live into the promise of God in faith.

Paul the Apostle who wrote to the Romans, “The promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Jesus saw the internal heart of Matthew and the potential he had, like Matthew, we can choose to follow Christ.

What if we were to look upon others with an eye for their internal potential rather than what they show externally? 

We should always look toward people and believe in people who do not look like, we think they should look because, they could have enormous potential on the inside and it might be up to use to bring the goodness out.

Saint Paul says that our hearts have eyes: “with the eyes of your heart enlightened.” (Eph 1:18)

Jesus saw something in Matthew and asked him to follow him. Jesus, went from the sinners table, towards the wealthy and high-ranking Pharisees, to the poor and disgraced women, and He held the hand of the Pharisees daughter.

Jesus, never turned anyone away.  He was a gentle and compassionate person. When He came into the world, there were no hospitals, few places of refuge for the poor, few homes for orphans. There were no hospitals to treat the mentally ill, no shelters for the homeless.

Jesus changed all that. He healed the sick, fed the hungry, open the eyes to the blind.

Led his disciples and taught his disciples, commanded them to “Love your neighbor as yourself”. (Matthew 19:19).

As Christians and the followers of Jesus, we can be in the likeness of Him and perform acts of kindness, love, and gentleness.

We will face obstacles and our circumstances will never be perfect, but we believe in God’s promises. 

We can proudly follow him and spread the goodness, that God has led us to this place, where we can live out His promise to us, through our faith as we share our faith with others.

Amen

The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday

Year A
May 28, 2023

First Reading:  Acts: 2:1-21
Psalm: 104: 25-35,37
Second Reading:  1 Corinthians 12:3b-13
Gospel: John 20: 19-23

Collect:

Almighty God, on this day you opened the way to eternal life to every race and nation by the promised gift of your Holy Spirit: Shed abroad this gift throughout the world by the preaching of the Gospel, that it may reach to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen

And They Were Filled with The Holy Spirit:

Our readings today on the Day of Pentecost, are recorded in the Book of Acts, people gathered in Jerusalem from all corners of the Roman Empire. They were coming from all economic interest, diverse cultures, and languages and different religious traditions. 

It did not matter to God, His grace was given freely to all who heard the message preached by St. Peter, and thousands converted to Christ.    

Acts 2:1-21

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as the fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

The early Christians had no buildings, no airplanes, no automobiles, no tv, radio or social media. Yet they turned their world upside down for Jesus the Christ. They started the spiritual revolution that shook the very foundation of the Roman Empire.

They faced opposition and overwhelming odds, they stayed courageous, bold, and full of faith. They lived their lives daily for Christ, no matter what others thought. They gladly suffered persecution and even death for their faith in Christ.

In the Old Testament, Moses had gone out and gathered seventy elders of the people, and the Lord came down in a cloud and he took some of the spirit on him and put the Holy Spirit on them, when the spirit rested upon them, they began to prophesied, but did not do it again.

Pentecost Sunday is 2000 years old; it began as and remains one of the major holidays on the Jewish calendar that occurs 50 days after Passover. The word Pentecost literally means “50^th” For Christians, we mark our calendars for Christmas when Christ was born and Easter, His death and resurrection, and ascension. Pentecost is a very important and great day, it marks the birthday of the Christian church, the day when Peter preached. (Acts: 2: 1-21)

All were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began speaking other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Some were amazed and wasn’t sure what it meant. Some sneered and thought they were filled with new wine. Peters spoke up, raised his voice, and addressed them. 

Something happen to Peter and the other apostles, when the Holy Spirit was put upon them, they were changed forever, it set them on fire and in (Act: 17:6) “Here are those who are turning the world upside down.”

The importance of Pentecost marks the outpouring of the Holy Spirit by which human beings are equipped to do the work of God, Pentecost, is to remind all of us Christians, that Christ died for our sins and that when we are baptized, we accept that forgiveness, and very importantly we all need to receive the Holy Spirit in us, so we can continue the work as disciples in Christ Jesus.

Conclusion:

We have all been given the Power of the Holy Spirit. All of God’s people, all countries, Everyone! Just as the disciples bold and fearless witness at Pentecost led to the conversion of more than 3,000 people, so too are we called to bear witness of God’s love for the world today. His love is freely given to all of humanity.

What does all of that mean in Acts: 2:1

The Fire represents the “Holy Spirit” transforming our inner life.

The Wind represents the “Holy Spirit” transforming the relationship among humans in their communities.

And the Languages represents the “Holy Spirit” transforming the relationships between human

The Holy Spirit compels us to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves. One way we do this is by reaching out to the unloved, the hard-to-love, and the rejected in our midst and loving them…. just as our Heavenly Father’s love for us, who are called by His name.

God places a seal on us when we received Christ. And that seal is a person the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit’s presence, God gives us security and establishes His ownership over us. Jesus promised his disciples that he would send the Holy Spirit… whose fruits are love, joy, peace, long-suffering kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self-control. These fruits are the qualities of Jesus that the Holy Spirit develops in our lives as we grow in our faith. The Holy Spirit transforms us the believer into the image of Christ and we share in the mission of the church and the teachings of Christ.

Good news:

Take it from someone who has been visited by the Holy Spirit several times in my life and I believe the Holy Spirit is alive and well today. He continues to pour out on people of every language at Pentecost and draw people of every culture, language, and ethnicity into the family we call the church.

Today we celebrate the fruits, the gifts of the Holy Spirit that has been given to us and to all of God’s people. My prayer is, that we use this Day of Pentecost as an opportunity to open ourselves up to what God wants, not what we might personally prefer.  

Leave today, renewed, and transformed into the image of Christ.

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Year A
May 7, 2023

First Reading: Acts 7:55-60
Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:2-10
Gospel: John 14: 1-14

Collect:

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

I Am the Way, The Truth, and The Life

In the gospel reading, Jesus is with his disciples, his time is coming closer to the end here on earth. 

After the death and resurrection of Jesus, we read in Acts this morning, the disciples faced a lot of suffering and death, to bring Jesus’s message to others. 

So many resisted the growth of the Christian community, they would latch on to anything to use as weapons against the teaching of Jesus.

Acts: 7:55-60

Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, “He gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” They did not want to hear that, and he was the first Christian martyr, that was stoned to death, he was willing to give up everything to follow Jesus.

These records in Luke came later, but Jesus knew, when he was preparing His disciples, what they would face. 

In John, chapter 13, Jesus gathered the disciples together in the Upper Room for the Passover meal. 

The disciples were aware of Jesus’s conflict with Jewish authorities and the danger that presented.

 We read this morning, John 14: 1-14, but the entire chapter of John 14: 1-31, it is about the believers’ relation… to the glorified Christ.

 And for him to go, through death and resurrection, was to prepare a place of permanent fellowship, dwelling places, the resting places for the righteous.

 Jesus is the gateway to God, He says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

Jesus has turned to; His disciples to comfort them and says;

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.”

 Jesus knows and acknowledges the disciples’ fear, but He does not dwell on it, instead of making their fear the focus of his conversation, He calls them to faith and gives them a picture of hope by telling them what Heaven will be like. 

Do our hearts become troubled? Yes of course they do. We probably wonder sometimes how do we see God in the world that we live in today, in the middle of all this chaos. 

How? We come back again and again, in Peter’s letter, and believe that we can drink that pure, spiritual milk that God offers us.

 “Like newborn infants, long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it, you may grow into salvation.”

Church offers that nourishment in many ways, the Holy Eucharist, through prayer, through the words of scriptures, our liturgies, and the examples of those who love us into loving ourselves, because we all believe in God’s love for us.

Jesus calls the disciples to believe, not only in God but also in himself. Jesus never promised a safe and trouble-free life for those who followed him. But he was always assuring us and showing us, that we have a place with him.

We are all chosen to build up God’s kingdom. Using a stone to build the church, our faith.

“We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us, it is used often at funerals, and it is comforting to know. He also shows us the way, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” 

The Kingdom will never be finished, it continues to grow and we are part of it at this very critical time. In a few weeks, we might read, that Jesus is the vine and we are the branches. 

 The Kingdom of God is for everyone, every culture, every race, everyone, and as his chosen disciples, it is up to us, to continue to help his people know just how much they are loved by God. And whatever their problems are, Jesus will help, all’s they have to do is ask. 

And when Jesus said, in my Father’s house there are many dwelling places, he meant for everyone. He said, I will prepare it personally FOR YOU, and at the right time, I will come and get you.

Pentecost is a few short weeks away, Jesus has gone to the Father, on our behalf, and sent us the Holy Spirit, the work begins at Pentecost. Pentecost is the birthday of the church, it is the day that God made the church.

This work does not mean miracles like signs and wonders, but it is, a call that the Disciples through us today, will have a greater Kingdom impact than when Jesus walked the earth. 

Christ’s work has been multiplied through his Disciples and then their Disciples and so on.

Finely, Jesus says, I will do whatever you ask in my name.

We need to identify His plan and His purpose, and His call. 

When we do, and we ask in prayer, In His Name, He, says, I will do it.

Amen
Reverend Lola Culbreath

Second Sunday of Easter
Year A
April 16, 2023

First Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22-32
Psalm 16
Second Reading: 1 Peter 1:3-9
Gospel: John 20: 19-31

Collect:

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen

Gospel of (John: 20:19-31)

Hiding in fear, it was in the evening, all the doors locked, for fear of the Jews, coming after them.

This was a very stressful day, but so were the past few days. They were facing the awful reality of Jesus’s crucifixion and burial on Friday, this Sunday had brought some other news of Mary Magdalene had come, distressed, to tell the disciples that Jesus’s body was missing from the tomb.

Peter and others had run to check it out, and see for themselves…it was true, and here were the linen cloths that once wrapped the body and head of Jesus. But the body and head of Jesus weren’t there.

Later that day, Mary Magdalene had come once again, to tell them, “That she had seen the Lord.”

Even with the doors locked, Jesus came and stood among them. And He said, “Peace be with you.” He shows them his hands and side. They rejoiced and Jesus says it again, “Peace be with you,” he said as my Father has sent me, so I send you, then he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Doubt and Faith

We know the story of how Thomas did not believe it until he sees Jesus for himself, the pierced hands, and his side. Thomas had been known for so much more, but somehow all anyone remembers him for now, is being the one who doubted. “Doubting Thomas.” The gospel, this morning, wants us and encourages us to be faithful, to trust, and to believe. And we do, as Christians live by faith and trust, something that has been taught for thousands of years.

I believe doubting things sometimes is a good thing, it keeps us on our toes, to measure out things, to make sure is not necessarily a bad thing. 

When we allow trust, it helps us process what we are faced with, and trust is how we believe even when we cannot see, we still believe. We rarely have complete proof of anything, that is why we continue to turn to our scriptures, to reassure us, to teach us, so that we will teach others.

Although You Have Not Seen Him, You Love Him

In the second reading of 1 Peter, he is telling the people of that time, how by God’s great mercy, they have been given a new birth. 

This is now/and then, a new identity; he is addressing the source of faith and hope.

He reminds them and us, that even with all the suffering, we, are being protected by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed. 

Their faith and ours, more precious than gold…. we have been tested, but because of faith we can rejoice, even if we have not seen him, you love him, and because of this, you are on the receiving end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

We must not allow our doubt to become the barrier and the stumbling block, rather live to the fullness of believing and faithfulness in our lives. And, we must not forget the rest of this beautiful story, Jesus said, 

Blessed are we who believe without seeing and receiving the Holy Spirit. Blessed are we who rejoice with this enormous joy, and share these gifts with everyone we meet. 

Together with the apostles, we are part of God’s greater plan, a living presence, that we believe, we are part of creating a world that believes without seeing. Spread the gospel that Jesus Christ loves everyone and wants everyone to follow him.

Christ Jesus has Risen; His resurrection is a symbol of hope that beats in the hearts of believers everywhere as they sing “Christ the Lord is risen today.” 

Amen
Reverend Lola Culbreath

All Years (Done in year A)
April 7, 2023

First Reading, Old Testament: Isaiah 52:1-13-53:12
Psalm 22
Second Reading Epistle: Hebrews 10:16-25
Gospel: John 18:1-19:42

The Collect

Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

I Give You My Heart

Do you celebrate a certain date each year, maybe your birthday, your anniversary, or the birth of your first child? Some people might celebrate something even bigger than that. 

More than 5000 cardiac transplants occur each year around the world, and there are estimated to be 50,000 on the waiting list. 

This critical organ saves lives and gives someone a chance to have a new life. 

The storage of organ donations, causes health care providers to strictly evaluate who should receive a heart transplant. Today we come together to remember when Jesus donated his heart to us, he did not discriminate or evaluate his people…we were all candidates. 

Good Friday, I like or prefer to call it… Holy Friday, good meaning, Holy at one time.  Holy Friday, leads us to the Resurrection of Jesus and his victory over death and sin and the celebration of Easter.

Every year we are here again to remember the day Jesus died, the day that he was betrayed by Judas, and handed over to the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police. 

To be judged, spat upon, flogged, denied three times by Peter, condemned to die, wearing a crown of thorns he carried his own cross, falling and humiliated.

Here is Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy, but first he suffered pain, and entered not unto glory before he was crucified, and suffered… an agonizing painful death.

But it is difficult every year to read how Judas betrayed him, we want to say…

” No, you cannot” Not Jesus, the one who loves you! 

And Peter, how could you, Peter? 

Then Pilate, he did not want to do this…but he just will not stand up to the people and say, 

“No, this is wrong!!” And I am not sentencing him to die.

He keeps questioning Jesus…What have you done? Jesus answered, 

“My kingdom is not from this world”

Here is this great man who went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. 

He feed multitudes and he baptized multitudes.

Multitudes followed him to the sea of Galilee to the sermon on the mount. 

Along with the three Mary’s , including his mother, his disciples, I imagine multitudes of people witnessing his death. 

On Palm Sunday last week, they shouted hail to the king of the Jews! as he had his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  

And today, it’s crucified him!

A Promise of Hope

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word, I hope. (Psalm 130:5)

We all are faced with dark days and there are moments when we are about to lose hope, when the darkness about…. seems to overwhelm us.

We might be dealing with old age or illness, or the death of a loved one, a friend or companion.

Our trust in God, the God of hope always gets us through. The Holy Scriptures teach us patients, endurance, and faith.

Our underlying trust in God encourages us and teaches us, just how to deal with our own problems and how to encourage those who come to us. We do not give up on them and God does not give up on us.

One of the reasons we as Christians can endure the difficulties in life, is for centuries we come back again and again to the sufferings of Christ on the Cross. Christ’s suffering encourages us and give us hope, because we know that the story ends well on Easter. And we know he did it for our sake.

Having your hope anchored in Jesus, means that you trust Him and His promises and having Jesus-Hope is having confidence that whatever it is you are hoping for… will come to pass.

Today when you leave, remember that Jesus gave his heart to you today and it’s my prayer that this humble, sacrificial love will renew your desire to reach out and give your heart to someone in need. 

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday
April 2, 2023
Year A

First Reading: Isaiah 50:4-9a
Psalm 31: 9-16
Second Reading: Philippians 2: 5-11
Gospel: Matthew 26:14-27:66

Collect:

Almighty and ever-living God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Palm Sunday is the Sunday of Passion:

We have been in the season of Lent leading towards the comment in our baptism. A reminder that lent is the beginning of our spiritual journey, which prepares us for a worthy celebration. A journey, that means we go with Jesus as He travels to Jerusalem, the place where the mystery of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection is to be fulfilled. 

Let The Same Mind Be in You That Was in Christ Jesus

Isaiah 50: 4-9a

In the reading from Isaiah, we have been given a message of hope, “The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.” We also learn and listen to the Lord; we have been told that “The Lord God helps us and we can stand together.”

Gospel: Matthew 26:14-27:66

We begin this Holy Week on a walk with Jesus as he is making his way to Jerusalem. His last meal was at the home of his dear friends Mary and Martha and Lazarus. Jesus struggles all this week; his approaching death is weighing heavily on him. His soul is troubled and He will ask his Father, to save him from this hour.

He goes out and prays to the Father, before being betrayed. He tells Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, “I am deeply grieved, even to death.” “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” But then, a third time, Jesus’s prays, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.”

On Good Friday, the situation is out of our control and we walk and stumble along with the rest of the crowds. We are numb and in disbelief as we watch our precious Jesus, spat upon, struck, and slapped.  After the hideous trial, they flog him and hand him over to be crucified.

What makes the difference in this Sunday…this Palm Sunday and the Sunday of passion, is that we take part in the Gospel. We become those that were excited in the courtyard, we welcome Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem, shouting “Hosanna in the highest”, singing praises, and waving our palms and then we become part of those who then, turned on Jesus and turned him over to the authorities. 

We feel the emotion as we recount the story of Jesus’s suffering and death. The crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem was also the same crowd that took part in his betrayal. We all know this lesson of excitement, a shared meal with their beloved teacher and master, then a betrayal for a few bits of silver and a denial of friendship. 

No, no it will not be me! I would never deny you! I will never turn you over! “But they did!”

And it begins! 

Jesus makes his entry into Jerusalem, and the crowds and the disciples are excited. The moment has come, Jesus has sent for his colt and the crowds are laying down their cloaks before him and shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David!” 

Everyone expected this, they have seen the miracles… Jesus is capable of. Feeding 5000 people on a few loaves of bread and a few fish. He brought his friend Lazarus back from the dead, he made a blind man see, that had been blind since birth.

The Romans and the Jewish religious authorities can no longer pretend that Jesus is not a problem. 

He is dangerous. And his disciples, they traveled with him, they had their last supper with him, but now, they slip away into the crowds with fear.

Conclusion:

On this Passion Sunday, we remember that Jesus suffered death on the cross for our sins.

Paul urges his readers to imitate Christ’s humility, who “emptied himself” and “became obedient unto death, even death on a cross,” and to hold firm to their faith. (2:7–8).

As we began Holy Week, we set our feet on the road to the Last Supper, we give thanks, we go to the garden to pray, then to the cross, and to the tomb. The shape of Jesus’ life is fully realized and revealed in the passion, death, and resurrection. In our lives, this is celebrated and effected in Holy Communion. Like his disciples, we are asked to take this bread and wine eat and drink in remembrance of him.

Life in God is given in adoration and joy, thankfulness and acceptance, humility, and obedience. In our suffering, we may witness fully to the truth of our lives in giving up ourselves to God, receiving the good for what it is, rejoicing in the good, giving thanks, and adoration. In the love of God, we are with humility, dawning us in obedience to God’s command to love one another as Christ loved us.

Why did Jesus suffer?  Because God loves you and Christ willingly went to the Cross for you.The Eucharist the Church’s sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving is the way by which the sacrifice of Christ is made present, and in which he unites us to his one offering of himself.

There are the words, “Take, eat” and “Drink this, all of you.” These words of invitation to get up and meet Jesus and partake, His very real presence, as we remember his suffering and death.  The story circles around back from the passion to the table of The Last Supper, with an invitation to join Him once again.

We are now assured and we can also say, “Truly this man was God’s Son!”. There was no other way for sin’s penalty to be paid, and for us to be redeemed. 

The Cross is the measure of God’s love.

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath

Fourth Sunday in Lent
Year A
March 19, 2023

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 23
Second Reading: 5:8-14
Gospel: John 9:1-41

Collect

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and for ever. Amen

“Do Not Be Afraid”

(John 9: 1-41)

Our Gospel today, a blind man trying to defend himself on how he went from being blind all his life to now seeing. 

As Jesus and his disciples were walking in Jerusalem, they came across a man, he was more than likely begging, and Jesus sees that he is blind.  The scriptures tell us later that he was blind from birth, but not when Jesus came upon him. The disciples asked him…

“Rabbi (Teacher) who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s work might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Suffering was attributed to sin, either of the parents or of the man before birth. Jesus denies this explanation and shifts attention from cause to purpose; this is an opportunity for God to act. 

We must work, Jesus is including his disciples in the fulfillment of his mission.

Jesus had spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (Which means Sent) After the man went and washed, he was able to see.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry he has healed each person in different ways. He might have touched them, or they reached out and touch him. He healed with words and actions of all kinds. He would be in public at times and in private at times.

This time, he is in the public eye and it is on the sabbath to boot. The blind man had not asked to be healed; Jesus seeks him out. The blind man first hears Jesus when he tells him to “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent).

As one possessing the imperfection of blindness, the man was forced to exist outside the community of worship and forever not permitted beyond the gates to the synagogue.

Jesus’s meaning……. “Seeing and hearing and believing”.

The man must defend his position of seeing, he was born blind, but he could hear and after being healed he believed, even his parents didn’t understand and put it back on him…. they were afraid because if they spoke of a Messiah, it would put them outside the synagogue. 

The Pharisees miss the point of Jesus and his miracle, you could say they were spiritually blind. 

He, the blind man was driven out of the synagogue once again and Jesus heard about it. He finds him and speaks:

 “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him. “Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he. ‘He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.   

God’s Amazing Grace

You have heard the Hymn Amazing Grace.  Amazing Grace…how sweet the sound!  

Yes, this man was born blind and he could not see with his eyes, he saw with something more powerful, he saw though the eyes of “Faith.

In the year of 2020 and 2021, the entire world, we were all! experiencing something unlike anything we have ever experienced. It was something we could not See!!…we were blinded by a virus we could not see!!  

But we had God’s amazing Grace. The world as we knew, had come to a complete crawl, with no planes, cruises, sports events — anything, and everything. We had not been kicked out of our synagogue but, we have been asked to close our churches and stop our services. At least the service where we are together as a church family. The walls of the church, with a small c are closed. But the Church with the capital C God’s church is always open. 

Scripture tells us “365” times in the bible, “Fear not” (“Do not be afraid”), that is one for every day of the year. Maybe God knew we would need that reassurance. We are in the fourth week of Lent, a time of self-denial from normal everyday things. The blind man was isolated, he had been isolated since birth and he was alone, but he could see through the eyes of “Faith.”Lent, leads us to the cross where Jesus is and we imagine the suffering that Jesus had. 

Suffering is a state of undergoing pain, distress, or hardship.

We ourselves have had to suffer loss in our lives, having family and friends diagnosed with an illness that may or may not be cured. It is all part of living and there is no reason to let fear control your life,

” Feed your Faith and not your Fears.”   

“As long as I am in this world, I am the light of the world.”

We have been given sight by the grace of God.

We have been given hope in place of fear.

Pray for one another, love one another, and help one another!

“Do Not Be Afraid”

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Third Sunday in Lent
Year A

March 12, 2023
First Reading: Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 95
Second Reading: Romans 5:1-11
Gospel: John 4:5-42

Collect:

Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen

Trusting in God’s Love

Exodus !7: 1-7

We all know the Exodus story of how Moses leads the Israelites out of Egypt. Stories have been told for thousands of years. Movies made that brought the story to life. 

In chapter 17 the Lord provided water in the wilderness and in chapter 16, He provided manna from heaven.

The people were, dirty, tired, and could not understand, why they were led there. The faith that Moses had in the Lord, but he was not sure what to do either, he cries out and God provided, only God can bring the water, but it is trusting God and the effort of Moses listening to what God has led him to do.

Gospel: John 4:5-42

The Samaritan women, this is one encounter with Jesus reveals something about who he is. Last week’s lesson, it was about, living by hope and faith and how God’s love for us, he gave us his only begotten Son. 

This lesson, we are given and reminded about the gift of the Holy Spirt and the gift of water.

This wonderful lesson today, the Samaritan women at the well, is one of the stores that we have grown to love.

I loved how she did not run away but, she listens to Jesus and she helped spread the gospel to others in her village. They also believed, because like the women, they came face to face with Jesus. They invited him to the village and he stayed two days. 

This was unthinkable, the Jews did not have a good relationship with the Samaritans, it went back hundreds of years. This story is important, because of the Samaritans and his disciples, the stories were passed down for generations. The story at the well confirms, that Jesus comes to the least of theses, He cares for the outcasts of society.

The Samaritans had the advantage of getting to know Jesus and said, “we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”

Romans 5:1-11

We have been given such a wonderful message from Paul’s letter to the Romans. 

In the epistle, St. Paul did not know Jesus the way the disciples and the women at the well did. 

He never knew Jesus in the flesh, but he is the one, that lets us know through his message, that we can know Christ just as the disciples did.

Paul says, “we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand.” 

Believers in Jesus experience the same process of being justified as Abraham, we too are justified by faith and we too have access to his grace.

Christian life is challenging, in the reading it continues to say that to be able to share in the glory of God. We must realize that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For us to grow in our faith, we will have to endure many things, we may have to suffer also, but we need only to trust in God’s love and we can endure anything.

Getting back to the gospel, Jesus asks the Samaritan women for a drink of water, she is astonished at his question, “How is it that you, a Jew ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?”

Jesus having a conversation with her is crossing all kinds of boundaries, but it moves on to Jesus telling her that if she asked him, it would be living water that would be given to her by God, adding the water gushing up to eternal life.”

He, then talks to her about her private life, her past life, Jesus knows all about her and her past, and she is honest with him. She turns to a question for him about where to worship? A mountain? Jerusalem? He continues telling her, the hour is coming, and is now here when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth.

The women has her AHA moment, she tells Jesus, I know the Messiah is coming, who is called Christ. Jesus reveals that He is the one. The disciples came back and she leaves and goes out to her village.

Jesus continues his message with the disciples about eating and that He is there to complete why he was sent, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.” 

Conclusion

In our lessons today we see the beginning of the Christian church. Jesus teaches his disciples about the harvest, the women’s testimony with the Samaritans has brought Jesus his harvest.

Moses and the Israelites needed to know that only God can bring the water, but it is trusting God that they had to realize.

Jesus went to the Jacobs well on purpose and he intended to reach out to the Samaritans through the women he met at the well. But to also harvest and bring more into his fold.

Jesus did not call the women at the well a sinner; he did not even mention sin or sinfulness in his message and no word of judgment or even encouragement to change her life.

But what is life changing for the women is, according to her, that she has been entirely known by him, and this being known has enabled her to know him.

Goodnews

Trusting in God’s love, we are the inheritors of the church and we know that Christ is still alive and we have been given a new life in the Spirit and a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

The women at the well tells the Samaritans, that she knows he is the Messiah.  

To experience the light of Christ and to really know him, search this lent season for that encounter with the light of Jesus’s and the truth, knowing that he sees you, he sees your mistake and your weakness, but he doesn’t question you, he loves you for who you are and because you believe in him, you will have eternal life.

Remembering St. Paul’s message:

We must realize that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

For us to grow in our faith, we will have to endure many things, we may have to suffer also, but we need only to trust in God’s love and we can endure anything.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

Second Sunday in Lent
Year A
March 5, 2023

First Reading: Genesis 12:1-4a
Psalm: 121
Second Reading: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
Gospel: John 3:1-17

Collect

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy: Be gracious to all who have gone astray from your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth to your Word, Jesus Christ your Son; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Living by Hope and Faith

Genesis (12:1-4a)

Abram, leaves his homeland where his ancestors had been for years, he follows God’s commandment, to leave, He, God, will show him. 

God will bless Abram and everyone who blesses or follows Abram, will also so be blessed, until everyone in this new nation, all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 

Romans (4:1-5, 13-17)

In Paul’s letters to the Romans, Abraham believed in God’s promises, through his helpless, unseen faith. Abraham had only experienced one of God’s promises coming to reality; the birth of his son, Isaac. And because of that, his trust in God was given to him as having God’s righteousness; not his own. “For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or his descendants through the law…. but through the righteousness of faith.”

John (3: 1-17)

Nicodemus, the leader of the Jews, we know being a leader he has studied the laws of the Jewish faith, but here he is, in the middle of the night, reaching out to Jesus. A man, not dressed like the other leaders and sleeping out under the stars, in the dirt, maybe he has a mat of some sort to lay on. We have heard that Jesus had no place to lay his head. And here is this leader dressed in clean robes.

Nicodemus, calls Jesus “Rabbi” and he has watched and listened to Jesus, he tells Jesus, “we know you are a teacher who has come from God; for no “one can do these signs that you do apart for the presence of God.”

This is a powerful statement from Nicodemus, he recognized that Jesus is doing these things and God is present. But it is kind of in a question from him for Jesus, and Jesus turns it around on… 

Nicodemus by saying “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above. “no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.

Nicodemus…looking confused…Jesus says, do not be astonished. 

Above…you must be born from above! Jesus turns the conversation to what matters and points 

Nicodemus in another direction.

Jesus knows Nicodemus wants to see God’s will, God’s kingdom, but he is stuck in the old ways and is not listening.

Jesus has come to open the door for God’s kingdom, He refers to the baptism of repentance, and born of water; and the transformation we get when we are baptized and born of the Spirit.

Believing, we do not know where the wind comes from, He tells Nicodemus, or where it goes, but knowing and believing and having faith we know the effects of God’s Spirit and we know it is all around us, God’s breath, and we feel it when we are born of the Spirit.

Conclusion 

It was hard in those days 2000 plus years ago to understand something you cannot see. 

We today, have everything at our fingertips, we do not even have to have an imagination, we just look it up. Go to google earth or look up the images that the Hubble telescope has sent to earth.

One time I was telling someone about something I saw on the news, and she said, I did not see that? I said, just because you did not see it, does not mean it did not happen. 

There are thousands of people who still do not believe in God, Jesus, or the stories in the bible.

I say how can you NOT!

But, today and then, we have been given the knowledge of faith.

In our first reading, Abram and his followers are grounded in the surprise, obedience, faith, courage, grace of a new beginning, kind of like a new birth. They must go on a journey.

In the second reading, Paul identifies that God has created a new people, a new part of the family through the faithfulness of and faith in Jesus the Messiah. “For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith.”

Here Jesus is offering us someone visible and recognizable who embodies the Spirit of God, himself. And we must believe in the mystery of the incarnation. Christ is real and present. 

In the scriptures this morning, we are seeing a thread that connects them all together. I see no better way then to top off the lessons with one of the most loved scriptures of all time.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

In our second Sunday of Lent, go on that journey, reconnecting to God and to your faith in Christ, to receive new life and hope in the resurrection.

Do not focus on earthly things, focus on the breath of God, all around you.

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath

The First Sunday in Lent and Forgiveness Sunday
Year A
February 26, 2023

First Reading: Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7
Psalm 32
Second Reading: Romans 5:12-19
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-1
Temptation and Forgiveness 

To be tempted, God test the faith of the righteous (Genesis 22:1) God tested Abraham’s faith to see if he would actually sacrifice his son. 

When God saw that Abraham fears him enough that he “would” give up his own son, God sends and Angel to stop him.

Adam and Eve’s fall from Grace!

In (Gen: 2:15-17,3:1-7) God tests Adam and Eve with an apple in the garden.

“And the serpent was craftier than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made.” 

The serpent tells Eve that she will be like God, knowing good and evil. 

After both her and Adam ate the forbidden fruit….” Then the eyes of both were open”.

Jesus and Adam (Romans 5:12-19)

Paul tells the Romans. “For if that many died through the one man’s trespass, much more surely have the “grace of God” and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many.”

Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

“After Jesus was baptized, he was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished.”

At first you think about Jesus spending 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness. We don’t know how he was able to do this? but by faith and Angels… The Angels had seen Jesus, “As God” …. Before He became a man. 

We do know… that he was sent there by his father and filled with the Holy Spirit. 

He was not alone and the Angels came and began to minister to Him. (Matthew 4:11) But not until he was tempted by Satan. (Matthew 4:3-11) describes how Satan tempted Jesus several times, he wanted him turn stones into bread if he wanted to eat…Jesus says’ 

It is written ‘One does not live by bread alone. Jesus fought off Satan’s temptation several times.

We humans need more than the simple necessities to keep us biologically alive, we need things that feed us mentally and spiritually. We need things, that gives our lives meaning.

While food will satisfy our physical needs, a relationship with God will satisfy our spiritual and emotional needs and this my friends, feeds the soul.

Jesus fasted 40 days and he was hungry and thirsty; the devil thinks he sees weakness in Jesus, and moves in to temp him.

Satan temps Jesus several times and Jesus and Jesus said to him 

“Again, it is written,” ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.”

But Satan does not give up and continues to try one more time…promising him the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; if Jesus would fall down and worship him.

“Away with you….it is written, Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”

Conclusion: 

The beginning of Lent is the time we realize that God has given us this gift of Grace and Salvation through Jesus Christ or Lord.

It is a time of forgiveness, not just for ourselves, but forgiveness of others in our lives. 

Because of our relationship with God, He has shown us the way and He put’s people in our lives for a reason, trust the Lord your God and “Worship the Lord your God with all your hearts and all your minds. 

We spend the next 40 days with Jesus and we can simply meditate on the Lord’s Prayer.

“Our Father”

Whatever you need Father…” Your will be done”

Spiritual Food…” feed our souls and our spiritual needs”   

Forgive our sins Father…” As we forgive those who sin against us”   

Lead us Father… “away from temptation”

Deliver us…. “Away from evil” 

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath