Skip to main content

February 14, 2024 - Genesis 3:19

 

From Dust to Life: Embracing Our Mortality with Hope

This Wednesday we mark the beginning of Lent with our Ash Wednesday service. My homily will focus on the meaning behind the imposition of ashes and how we can embrace our mortality in a spirit of hopeful reflection. I'll be preaching from Genesis 3:19 which reminds us that we are dust and to dust we shall return. This sobering truth clarifies our dependence on God in the face of sin and inevitable death. Yet the Lenten Road also leads us to resurrected life through Christ who conquers the grave.

In my message I'll explore themes of human frailty, God's sovereign grace, and living in a posture of humble surrender to God's purposes. Even in our weeping and death, we await the victory of Easter dawn. I invite us to walk this Lenten Via Dolorosa together as one body proclaiming the mystery of our crucified and risen Lord.

As we prepare our hearts for this reflective season, here are some questions to consider from Scripture: 

  • What does it mean to repent and rely fully on God this Lent? 
  • Why is community crucial for grasping God's grace amid suffering? 
  • How does Christ's resurrection give us hope beyond death's decay?

May God richly bless our Lenten journey together.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

December 10, 2023 - Luke 2:4-5

  T he Bethlehemites This Sunday I'll be preaching from Luke 2:4-5, the familiar passage about Joseph and Mary traveling to Bethlehem where she gave birth to Jesus. As we enter the Advent season, my message focuses on the tragic irony that this small town was too preoccupied to notice the monumental miracle happening right in their midst. The locals were bustling about, profiting off the influx of visitors there to register for the census. Yet they completely missed the birth of the long-awaited Messiah. In our consumer-driven December rush today, we can easily grow distracted just like the Bethlehemites. I want to challenge us not to gloss over the Advent themes of waiting, longing, and making room for Jesus. My prayer is that we'll set aside the extra busyness to reflect on the quiet yet powerful way Christ entered our world. As you read Luke's account this week, consider these questions: ·         What things tend to crowd out your awaren...
Post a Comment
Read more

JUly 4, 2023 - Happy In-Dependence Day

On this day, as we celebrate the 257th birthday of our great nation, it is a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge the blessings we have received from God. The history of the United States is interwoven with the guiding hand of Divine Providence, nurturing the progress and prosperity we enjoy today. We echo the words of our Thomas Jefferson, who declared, "The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time." These profound words remind us of the priceless freedom we possess in this remarkable land. It's a freedom secured through the courageous sacrifices of our ancestors, who fervently fought, tirelessly toiled, and ceaselessly prayed to ensure we relish these cherished liberties. As we gather with family and friends to commemorate this historic day, let's take a moment to remember that our independence was not achieved easily. It was forged in the fires of sacrifice and determination, blessed, and protected by the grace of our Almighty God. We have so many reas...
Post a Comment
Read more

January 7, 2024 - Matthew 2:1-12

  The Journey of the Magi: A Symbol of Our Spiritual Quest This Sunday I'll be preaching on the familiar story of the Magi from Matthew 2:1-12. However, my message will explore some new dimensions around their long, arduous journey seeking Jesus. I'm going to look at how the Magi can become a metaphor for our own spiritual quests in life. We all hunger for deeper meaning and connection with God. This often requires effort and overcoming struggles along the way. Just as the star led the Magi through unknown lands to Jesus, God provides us guiding lights to keep pursuing him. My sermon will highlight three main ideas: the diligence required in seeking God, attending to God's guidance through "stars" of insight, and offering our gifts fully once we draw close to Jesus. The Magi never gave up through their difficult travels. They followed the star closely to reach their destination. And upon arriving, they laid down their most valuable possessions in worship of Ch...
Post a Comment
Read more