Good Friday / April 19, 2019 / Richard Holmer The Passion according to St. John, John 18:1-19:42 Something Fateful and Awesome This week the eyes of the world have been focused on the cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris. Through the resources of global communication, people everywhere witnessed the destructive fire consuming that historic church – as it happened. Countless people were deeply moved by the devastation of an edifice that has stood at the heart of Paris for over eight centuries. In a column in the New York Times,

In place of the sermon, the Passion according to St. Luke was presented

April 7, 2019/ Lent 5 /Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Isaiah 43:16-21/Second Reading: Philippians 3:4b-14 /Gospel: John 12:1-8 Living Into Our Future This semester in confirmation we have been studying the life of Christ.  We have been using Franco Zeffirelli’s great film, “Jesus of Nazareth,” as a resource.  The gospel stories are brought to life as they are enacted by talented actors.  (James Farrentino, Ann Bancroft, Rod Steiger, Laurence Olivier)  Recently we watched a segment that focuses on the relationship between Jesus and Peter.  Peter is intrigued by the teaching

March 31, 2019/ Lent 4 /Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Joshua 5:9-12/Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:16-21/Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32 Grace for All The gospel is a story of death and resurrection, and scandalous grace for all. Jesus tells a parable of a father and two sons that includes all these dramatic elements. First there is the element of death.  The younger son approaches his father and more or less asks him to drop dead. The son is restless, bored with life on the farm, and doesn’t want to wait around

March 24, 2019/ Lent 3 /Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Isaiah 55:1-12/Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13/Gospel: Luke 13:1-9 Seek the Lord “Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.” Isaiah 55:6 This sounds like very sensible, practical advice. Lent is a season for paying more attention to God – drawing closer to God. Isaiah adds this incentive to his invitation: “Let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah

March 17, 2019/ Lent 2 /Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18/Second Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1/Gospel: Luke 13:31-35 Courage to Persevere As Jesus is making his way toward Jerusalem, he receives a warning. Some Pharisees approach him and say: “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” Now there were Pharisees who were critical of Jesus – but apparently these had enough appreciation for Jesus to warn him of this mortal threat.  Of course, Jesus was already aware of the danger ahead of him.  He had informed his

March 10, 2019/ Lent 1 /Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Deuteronomy 26:1-11/Second Reading: Romans 10:8b-13/Gospel: Luke 4:1-13 Temptation Will Come Last Tuesday night, before confirmation class got started, Doug Dusthimer was talking to a student about the mission trip planned for the summer.  The group is returning to where they went last year: The Boundary Waters, up north on the border between Minnesota and Canada.  As I was lisening in on their conversation, I was struck by something Doug said.  He said, “Nature doesn’t care about you.”  This is what

March 6, 2019/ Ash Wednesday /Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Joel 2:1-2, 12-17/Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:20b–6:10/Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 Where’s Your Treasure “Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” –  Matthew 6:21 Sitting here in church on Ash Wednesday, we all know what we ought to treasure most of all. You have not come here tonight seeking advice on how to maximize the return on your investments or how to win friends and influence other people. We know what treasure Jesus is pointing us to: not

March 3, 2019/ Transfiguration of Our Lord /Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Exodus 34:29-35 /Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2 /Gospel: Luke 9:28-36 It’s a Mystery Today’s gospel reading presents one of the most unique stories in the New Testament: the story of Christ’s transfiguration on a mountaintop.  The experience clearly made a lasting impression on the disciples who were present, for it is included in Matthew and Mark as well as Luke.  The story is pervaded by a strong sense of mystery; it has a dream-like, otherworldly quality.  To begin

February 24, 2019/ Epiphany 7 /Richard E. Holmer First Lesson: Genesis 45:3-11,15 /Second Reading: I Corinthians 15:35-38, 42-50 /Gospel: Luke 6:27-38 As It Is in Heaven Have you ever had an enemy who showed you great kindness?  Have you ever discovered that somebody you hurt was praying for you?  Can you recall someone turning the other cheek after you hurt them?  Have you borrowed something from a person who never asked you to give it back?  Have you been forgiven by someone you didn’t like or respect very much? Experiences