The Jews rejected Jesus, saying that he blasphemed by saying that he, being a man, made himself equal to God. But this  rejects even the possibility of the divinity of the Messiah. So many false religions do the same, refusing to belive what the true greatness of God includes, namely the greatness of his love, and his ability to join himself to man as man, and to give his life in the flesh for our salvation. And since  this is so, let us also glorify God with our bodies. Sermon for Midweek of Judica.

Abraham rejoiced to see  Jesus’ day, because he, unlike the Jews in this Gospel, was not blind.  He saw first by faith, for he was willing to sacrifice Isaac, knowing that God must raise him from the dead if he did, for God cannot lie. And he saw second also by faith, for he saw the ram in the thicket and offered it in place of his son, who was spared on the third day, in whom was a type of Christ. But we have more reason to rejoice, for we see ahead of time what the fulfillment is. Therefore let us see through the darkness, through the veils, to our ultimate victory in Christ. Sermon for Judica Sunday.

Like the Joseph of old, our Joseph was also guided by dreams. And as he went to Egypt, so our Joseph went there. And as he was a man of integrity and faith, refusing the advances of Potiphar's wife, so our Joseph was called a righteous man. And as he rose to being keeper of all the bread in Egypt, to which all nations came for sustenance, so our Joseph became guardian of our Lord, who is the Bread of Life. Sermon for St. Joseph's Day.

As the multitudes reached an oasis with Jesus when he fed them miraculously, for there was much grass in that place, so we also reach an oasis here. For Laetare Sunday is a bit of lightening during the somber season of Lent, and so also every time we come here for the Gospel and the Holy Sacrament. And here is a greater miracle than there, for ordinary bread and wine become his Body and Blood. Yet this miracle requires more faith, for there is nothing at all here evident for the eyes; but we also have the advantage of knowing the Gospel, Christ’s sacrifice, and especially his resurrection from the dead. So we can trust that here is the holy Mystery, because he said so: this is my body, etc. Sermon for Lent IV.

We live in an age in which people tend to think there is no such thing as absolute truth. One person’s ‘truth’ is as good as another’s, so they say. And who are we to say that what we believe is absolutely true, and that anyone who disagrees is wrong? Is that not arrogant? But we must remember whose truth we are referring to. Not ours, but our Lord’s. The church of  Ephesus in Revelation had forgotten their first love; let us remember ours: the Lord Jesus himself; and therefore it is in humility, not pride, that we insist on his truth and no other. And only his truth can save us: his Word teaches us that we have sinned and are sinners; and his Word teaches us that our salvation is and only can be in him; for only he could make sufficient atonement for it, and only he has done so. We embrace, and must be stubborn about embracing, this truth. Sermon for Midweek of Lent III.

The casting out of the dumb demon is emblematic of the coming of Christ to us, for he is the stronger man who defeats the devil himself, and in so doing opens also our mouths to sing his praise. So let us take comfort in knowing that he has won the victory; and he did so not by force of arms, but by suffering; in so doing he made the devil captive in his own net. And we who have been released therefore must have courage to confess Christ before the world. Sermon for Lent III.
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The Canaanite woman’s steps of faith are worthy of emulation. For she was from Canaan, a land of Gentiles, full of all manner of immorality, just as we find ourselves in a land and culture full of immorality; yet she came to him for she knew who he was, just as we know him and are confident in him. Yet her faith was tested, just as ours is; but she kept on praying, just as we must do. Jesus left her clues of his goodness—he was in that region in the first place, and he also referred to her as a dog of the sort that people might have as a pet, in their homes—and she latched onto those clues. So must we latch onto his clues, which for us are the clear teachings of the Gospel of his work of salvation for us, and his blessed sacraments, which deliver this work to us. Sermon for the Second Sunday in Lent. The video is here.

On fasting. Sermon for Ash Wednesday. The video is here.

The blind beggar lives by faith, and his prayer is a model for us. . The video is here.