Month: April 2023

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