St. John the Divine Anglican Church

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” From the letter to the Hebrews. We have been reading a section of the Letter to the Hebrews, and for the last two weeks we have heard about fire as a purifying, refining force. “Our God

“Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.” from the letter to the Hebrews. Last week we heard these words from the Gospel according to St. Luke; “Jesus said, “I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” From the Gospel according to St. Luke. Teach us to pray. That is at once a simple request, and profound statement. It seems odd to me that the disciples would ask such a question. Surely they would be familiar with prayer.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval.” From the letter to the Hebrews. The letter to the Hebrews has been read in churches since the second century, and while many of the Fathers attribute it to St. Paul, there have been some doubt that, too. There is no address, or personal greetings like many of

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” From the Gospel according to St. Luke. Teach us to pray. That is at once a simple request, and profound statement. It seems odd to me that the disciples would ask such a question. Surely they would be familiar with prayer.

“You who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him– provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.” From the Epistle to

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” From the Gospel of St. Luke. Jesus was a controversial person in Jerusalem. He had done things no other prophet had done since Elijah. He healed the centurion’s servant. He raised the widow’s son from the dead. When he was invited to the house of Simon the Pharisee, he allowed a woman,

Luke 7:36-50 Jesus he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” This story shows us the difference between miserly and extravagant love. Simon, a Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner probably did so out of curiosity. He had likely heard of Jesus’ teaching, and how he healed the servant of the centurion, and raised the widow’s son who had died. So perhaps he had to

“Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!” from the Gospel of St. Luke.

“Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed,” from the Gospel of St. Luke. Three of our readings today speak of servanthood. In the first reading from the First book of the Kings, Solomon stood before the altar of the temple