The events surrounding us, so many of them troubling, might well be interpreted as signs: signs of the  Lord's coming. Examples might be the draconian lockdowns imposed on people around the world, forcing them to do what  they do not wish to do; or the ubiquitous facemasks that now, suddenly, we see also around the world. Or the great violence in our cities, record-setting violence, while at the same time the police forces shrink and are defunded; or, perhaps worst of all, the prevalence of abortion and its legality: women who want to destroy their unborn infants may do so legally, and only this week people were arguing before the Supreme Court that they should have the right to do so. Troubling things, ghastly things, perplexing things. Are they not signs? Signs? Or in another sense, the many things that have been present for centuries. What of the fall of Jerusalem in 70? The uprooting of the nation of Israel, burning Jerusalem to  the ground? Signs! Or what of the very crucifixion of the Lamb of God, the Holy One of Israel, treated like a criminal and impaled to death on a cross? A sign! And in another sense, there have been signs since the very beginning: the sun daily rises and sets, and so the moon, as the Psalmist declares, the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth his handiwork. Every day the sun rises and sets in blood; every day a reminder of the death and resurrection of Christ, and of the fact that he will  return again in glory. The signs today are ever-increasing, are everywhere, that he is coming! And what shall we do? Repent, every one, and cry for mercy, which we surely need, for we are unworthy to stand before him. Except if we have his worthiness, which receive here at the altar. And so, receiving it, let us, on seeing the signs, look up and lift up our heads, for our redemption draws nigh. Sermon for Advent II. The video is here.

The words of the angel to Zacharias indicate that John is the greater Elijah, to prepare the way of the Lord by preaching repentance. So also, Zacharias himself is in a way the greater writer of the word of God, for as when Malachi had written, the Old Testament went silent for some 450 years, and now Zacharias himself goes silent for  the period of John's time in the womb. And all point to Jesus the Messiah, who in the fullness of time came. Yet his coming was also twofold, and thanks be to God. For his first coming was in humility, to rescue us from our sins, that we may be prepared, by repentance and faith, to endure his second coming and be eternally saved. Sermon for Midweek of Advent I. The video is here.

Adonijah the usurper was foiled when Solomon rode into Jerusalem on David's mule, and so the Pharisees and the devil himself were foiled when One greater than Solomon came into the city on an ass, and the people cried out about him as they had cried out about Solomon that great coronation song: "God save the king!" or, Hosanna to the Son of David. And so we cry in continuation of that great coronation hymn today as he comes to us now to rescue us from our greatest foes, Satan and death and hell; we cry out as he comes in this holy Sacrament in the words of the great Sanctus, rejoicing today that he comes. Sermon for Advent I. The video is here.

The kingdom of heaven was right in the midst of the Pharisees, but they did not recognize it, because they were looking for glory. Let us be warned against this, for the kingdom comes not with observation, but by hearing. Noah's family heard his preaching and were spared; Lot's also, except for his wife who looked back. And Jerusalem in ad70 met their demise because they rejected the Christ who came to them in humility. Sermon for Midweek of Trinity third-last. Video is here.

Jesus predicted the fall of Jerusalem, which occurred in ad 70. It was greater than the first fall in 596 bc. This was because they rejected Christ. So let us embrace him where he will be found, in his promise and in his clearest of words: This is my Body. Sermon for third last Sunday after Trinity. The video is here.

Some late posts of sermons preached in the last two weeks. Here's Sunday October 24, audio. Then Reformation, audio. Then All Souls, audio. 

Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. This is a lament over the entire human race, who have fallen, and cannot by our own reason or strength believe. And the nobleman does not argue, but pleads for mercy. And Jesus gives mercy. Faith comes through his words, so he speaks a powerful promise to the nobleman: thy son liveth! and he believes, and is rewarded, for moreover he receives then a sign! So also we ourselves receive faith through the promise, and then the heavenly sign of the Blessed Sacrament accompanying. Sermon For Michaelmas III. Video is here.

The wedding of a king's son is a great affair, because it means the kingdom continues. So those who make light of it are wicked indeed, because the scorn the king himself, and are cut from the same cloth as those who murdered his servants. So let us take the invitation seriously, and consider the great invitation to the wedding feast. Christ marries his holy church and she wears the baptismal gown provided. Let us rejoice, ever looking to him. Sermon for Michaelmas II. Video is here.

It is imperative that we worship in person, as even the disciples learned, with the invitation "Come and see." Sermon for Midweek of Michaelmas I. Video is here.

Jesus forgave this man before healing him, and told him to be of good cheer. He was not yet healed; nothing had changed. In fact this created a stir of controversy against Jesus, while the man still lay paralyzed before him. Thus let us learn that the forgiveness of sins if of paramount importance, and if we have this, if we receive this here in the holy absolution and at the altar, we already have the greatest thing, and have reason already to be of good cheer. As Jesus said, Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added. Sermon for First Sunday in Michaeltide.  Video is unavailable while Facebook is down.