Month: January 2023

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Year A
January 29, 2023

First Reading: Micah 6:1-8
Psalm 15
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31
Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12

Collect:

Almighty and Everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who loves and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, for ever and ever. Amen

Do Justice, and to love Kindness, and to walk humbly with God. (Micah 6-8)

Today our gospel reading is one that many of us grew up loving. We love and find comfort in His words; Blessed means happy or satisfied. Matthew emphasizes the moral teachings, of Jesus.

It is titled the Sermon on the Mount or the Beatitudes, I personally like them both. The Beatitudes proclaim that which is true and holy for those who choose to follow Jesus in living in “the kingdom of heaven.” 

Last Sunday we talked about how Jesus was starting to gather his disciples. He is now on a mission, God’s mission to teach, heal, and to give us guidelines on how we are to live. 

A few verses before in chapter (4:23-25) Jesus has gone throughout Galilee, teaching in the synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom. He is curing every disease and sickness among all the people. They are bringing him various illness, people with demons, epileptics, and paralytics and He cures them.

This brought great crowds that followed him for Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan. Jesus is becoming known especially among the Gentiles.

Like many great prophets, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, and Elijah, Jesus went up to a mountain. The scripture says, when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain. It was not until he sat down, that his disciples came to him.

Here they are overlooking a beautiful breathtaking view of the area. 

A large crowd also followed Jesus and his disciples. Many times, in the scriptures Jesus sits down to give His message. 

People during this time were accustomed to sitting on their limbs. Here they are, listening to this message from a great Teacher, respecting the Kingdom of God.

Jesus starts with Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Those that are poor in spirit, realize that nothing they can do can get them into heaven. 

They are powerless and helpless, which sounds grim, but they are blessed because Jesus has not forgotten them, and they are promised the kingdom of heaven. 

All the beatitudes are to help these people and us to know that there is hope in the world and Blessed are those who recognize their dire need for God, for God will bring them into his Kingdom. 

Jesus is saying that this honor, this blessing he speaks of, comes from the only one who can really give honor and blessing, the Lord God Almighty.

These 9 beatitudes, are Jesus offering alternatives, Jesus says there is greater happiness and joy to be had.

He says that there are other ways to become blessed and honorable, and merciful… counts for more than just about anything.

Many years ago, after listening to Jesus, I am sure people walked away and told others about this blessing of God, and because of that, we are blessed.

Back to Micah 6:8, 

What does the Lord require of you but to do Justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God.

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath

Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Year A
January 15, 2023

First Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7
Psalm 40: 1-12
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9
Gospel: John: 1:29-42

Collect:

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, on God, now and for ever. Amen

The readings today are filled with promises of light, deliverance, of Thanksgiving and Grace.

I Saw Your Face for The First Time! 

When I read the first line of the Gospel today….” John saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

John is so excited, it was, as though, he sees Jesus’ face for the very first time!

I remembered something I had seen on the news years ago, a story on ABC News about a baby boy named Leo whose life changed when a pair of eyeglasses was placed on his little face. He has a rare visual disorder since birth.

They place his new glasses on his face and you should have seen his face… when he sees his mom. 

Up until then his vision had been blurry and he never had a clear view of the world, everything was fuzzy and out of focus. 

And then the video shows the moment they first put these little round glasses on and he looks at his mother’s face and that smile, “oh” that sweet smile, when he sees her face “clearly” for the first time.

There is no drought in his mind about who she is!!  No longer a blurry view, but it became clear to him that day, mom.

The Gospel:

Earlier in the chapters of (John: 19-23), the Jews, the Temple religious authorities; send priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask John,

“Who are you?” John confesses I am not the Messiah! And they asked him.

“What then? Are you Elijah?”

To the Jews, Elijah was the one they expected to come and prepare the way.

John, “I am not.” Are you the prophet? “He again answered “No” So they then said to him “Who are you?

This is when John lets them know, in chapter 23. 

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”  

John has thousands of followers coming to see… “what it is he has to say!”

He also has disciples following him. 

What he (John) is doing is not recognized by the religious authorities and he is engaged in a ritual not sanctioned by them.  

“But,” what better timing?

All this is taking place in Bethany across the Jordan where John is baptizing.

Imagine, it was a beautiful sunny day, midafternoon by the river Jordan. 

And then:

“JOHN SAW JESUS” coming towards him and one of the greatest scriptures we have heard all our lives is said now!

“Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” 

John’s announcement! says it all, that the Son of God, is here for all, the world, all people, and not just the Jewish people.

John also testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

This is important…like the little baby Leo, who sees his mom’s face for the first time,

it was not blurry or fuzzy!

it became clear to the baby, that this was his mom with this loving face.

And it becomes clear to John, that when he saw the dove and it remained on Jesus,

it was no longer just a talking point, it was not blurry or fuzzy, but it was very clear…

this is, “The Son of God”.

The next day was becoming clear to everyone and many were still hanging around,

they wanted to see him again and perhaps get more information. 

John’s disciples are hanging around with him, just then Jesus walks by and he again….

” Look, here is the Lamb of God!” 

Today, we know sheep or a lamb, as someplace we get wool, in some cases, they provide for families all over the world, milk, meat and income.

In the days of Jesus, that was also the case, but in the scripture,

The lamb is more like innocence and purity, much like the image of the suffering servant which we read about in the prophet (Isaiah 52:7)

Or the lamb was also the image of God’s delivering his people from their bondage in Egypt. Where an event is in the celebration of Passover and the slaughter of a lamb.

Two of John’s disciples heard him say, here is the Lamb of God, and they followed Jesus.

“What are you looking for?”

Jesus said to them!

They said to him, “Rabbi” “where are you staying?” 

He said to them, “Come and see.” 

They stayed with him and later, about 4:00, John brings other disciples with him to see the Messiah and one being Peter.

Conclusion:

In all the Gospels, John the Baptist is the prophet who announced that when Jesus comes, the present evil age and finally and fully bring the realm of God, a new world,

is which all things would live forever in love, peace, and justice.

 What a dove suggests to Jesus…. purity, meekness, innocence.

It is not majestic like an eagle or fierce like a hawk or flamboyant like a cardinal, it was simple, common, innocent, the kind of bird the poor people could relate to. 

Jesus said “Come and See” They want to be like Jesus and to receive what gifts he has to offer, so they can be like him.

As Christians we do not want to impose on others, but! as Christians, we do what to invite people to come and see.

We have here at St. Martin’s, a worship life, as small as we are, we have a worship life that enriches and strengthens those who come.

We want to give people a sense of belonging and a feeling of a community that loves one another, just as God loved us and sacrificed his Lamb for us.

John’s announcement says it all, that the Son of God, is here for all, the world, all people

“Come and See”

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath 

First Sunday after the Epiphany-The Baptism of our Lord
Year A
January 8, 2022

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-91
Psalm 29
Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Gospel: Matthew 3: 13-17

Collect:

Father in Heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

“Let It Be So Now”

Epiphany Sunday is the Sunday between Jan 2 and Jan. 8, on which the Christian church celebrates the Feast of Epiphany. It recognizes the revelation of Jesus Christ to the entire world as represented by the coming of the magi to worship the Christ child.

Epiphany is the season of growing light, the season of the Magi and the revelation of Christ to all the nations, and the celebration of Christ’s baptism.

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus traveled about 40 miles from Galilee to the River Jordan where his cousin, John the Baptist is and Jesus will join the crowd of followers and be baptized. 

John says “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me? Yes, Jesus wants John to baptize him.

Why did Jesus need to be baptized? He had not sinned, he had no sin to repent, but he had come to earth to die on behalf of the sins of humanity.

Jesus being baptized was showing his solidarity with his community, and his willingness to be counted by all these other people of God. 

The Gospel tells us, by doing this, Jesus was fulfilling all righteousness. He was made like us in all things, sin only except for which he was clearly void, both in his flesh and in his spirit.

Baptism is initiation and the forgiveness of sins it is only part of the grace of baptism. The outward sign of Baptism signifies an inward cleansing of the soul, and the appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

More importantly, Baptism is the sacrament by which God adopts us as children and makes us members of Christ’s body, the Church, and inheritors of the kingdom of God. (BCP 858)

In baptism, sins are forgiven and the baptized person receives the gift of the Holy Spirit. Sin is so deeply entrenched in human life that we cannot so easily be rid of it. So, what happens after you are baptized? We believe that you are baptized once but were called again and again to repent and ask forgiveness. 

“Just as Jesus came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

The dove is a symbol of the Holy Spirit, and a sign of peace. God is well pleased with Jesus and so he was baptized and anointed with the power of the spirit.

He and John were showing the crowds, and sharing a common message calling for the cleansing of public life, urging their followers to live a life worthy of the kingdom of God. 

Conclusion:

Today we remember that as baptized Christians we are showing the world that we are united with Jesus Christ and John the Baptist, we have a new life in Christ. It entails the whole of the Christian life, beginning with the denial of self, the willingness to deny oneself, “take up the cross and follow Christ. 

Jesus came into the world for all people, it sounds pretty fitting to me. God manifests himself through his son Jesus Christ, he comes here not as a King, but as one of us. And, His Kingdom is not of this world, but of the spiritual world. 

The Good news:

On this First Sunday in Epiphany, where Christians celebrate the revelation of God incarnate as Jesus Christ.

There can be no life as we know it without water and Christians see the waters of baptism, as the spreadsheet of our new life in Christ.

The Dove functions is several biblical stories as a symbol of the presence of God’s Holy Spirit.

We are reminded that He brings us Hope, Joy, Love, and the promise of our Salvation.

As we renew our baptismal vows, we are following the way of Jesus Christ by those who are united with him by faith. 

It is our commitment of one’s self to God in Christ and living fully according to Christ’s will for our life.

As I leave you today, a reminder that we are called to follow the bright light of Christ Jesus. 

Jesus said to John “Let it be Now” I say to you today “Let it be Now” 

God is pleased with us and God loves us.

Amen
The Rev. Lola Culbreath

THE HOLY NAME OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Year A

First Reading: Numbers 6:22-27
Psalm 8
Second Reading: Philippians: 2:5-11
Gospel: Luke 2:15-21

Collect:

Eternal Father, you gave to your incarnate Son the holy name of Jesus to be the sign of our salvation: Plant in every heart, we pray, the love of him who is the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, on God, in glory everlasting. Amen

The Power of Jesus’s Name

Today is another long been celebrated as another principal feast day of our Lord: what today we call the Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In ancient Jewish tradition, a child was circumcised and named on the eight days of life. The ritual was and is considered a sign of the covenant between God and his people, dating back to Abraham, about 1800 years before Christ, documented in the seventeenth chapter of Genesis.

In the New Testament, we have been told that God is the one who will give Jesus his name. Because God is giving Jesus his name, we can expect… this is very important about Jesus’s

          and the story of God’s love for the world.

In the gospel lesson for today, we hear that “after eight days had passed, it was time to circumcise the child; and he was to be called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.”

Earlier in the Gospel of Luke, the angel Gabriel, God tells Mary that she will conceive and bear a son that she will call him Jesus. 

         He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High.

God is telling us who Jesus is, the name “Jesus” is a Greek form of the Hebrew name “Joshua,” which means “the Lord helps” or “the Lord saves”

So, this means today, we are celebrating Jesus, 

            the one through who the Lord helps or saves his people.

Names are still given in baptism, it tells us who we are, we are beloved children of God, members of Christ, and yes there are many of us who are given ordinary names.

I was always proud of my two names, because it was my two grandmothers’ names. 

I am sure you all have a story about your names and what they mean to you. 

All names our parents choose are important to us, because of our culture, religion, and individual choices.

What does the name of Jesus mean to you today? Is it the power of His love? Is it knowing that through him we are promised salvation?

In our second reading (Philippians: 2:5-11)

“The name of Jesus Christ is a powerful name that is above every other name.”

 It is the name that has the power of giving Christians whatever they need on earth.

Jesus, “God is salvation.”

God gave Jesus the “Name that is above every name” It is powerful, it is because of the sacrifice He made through living a perfect life, dying on the cross and being resurrected. 

Jesus’s name is powerful, because of Jesus Christ, the person, God incarnate, who made a way for our salvation.

Hearing the name of “Jesus” every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus is our savior and there is power in his Name!

Amen
The Reverend Lola Culbreath