Take Up Your Cross

Third Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 7 (Year A)

Matthew 10.24-39

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 14:45)

Today’s Gospel reading is very complex. And, to be honest, a bit difficult to hear. Who of us is not uncomfortable with, even disturbed by, Jesus words: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Mt 10.34)? And then he goes on to talk about family member being set against family member. These are uncomfortable words to hear. These are uncomfortable images that seem to go against what we know of and think about Jesus. After all, we refer to him as the Prince of Peace. We think of him as the Good Shepherd, lovingly caring for his sheep. He preached a message of love for all humanity. Yet here, what he says is completely counter to our comfortable and comforting ideas of who Jesus is. But before we go too far down that rabbit hole, let’s step back to the beginning of our Gospel lesson.

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Those Who Are Sent: "We've Got This!"

Second Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 6 (Year A)

Matthew 9.35—10.20

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 13:20)

As I read the Gospel lesson for today, I am reminded of the Gospel lesson for last Sunday. In the Gospel for Trinity Sunday, Jesus gave his disciples what is known as the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the ages” (Mt 28.19-20). These are Jesus’ final instructions to his disciples following his resurrection and immediately before his ascension. That they are to make disciples of all nations. ALL nations. Jews and Gentiles alike.

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The Trinity as the Model for Relationship

Trinity Sunday (Year A)

Matthew 28.16-20

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (Beginning at 14:00)

What is the Trinity? That is the question we ask ourselves every year on the first Sunday after Pentecost, when we celebrate Trinity Sunday. The Sunday dedicated to that unfathomable doctrine of the Church that, despite being completely incomprehensible, is so central to our religion. According to the doctrine of the Trinity, we believe in one God who is comprised of what theologians rather unfortunately refer to as three “persons.” “Persons” is really a misleading label, as we are not dealing with corporeal humans, Jesus notwithstanding. In actuality, the Greek term that we have translated as “person” is more aptly translated as “being” or “substantive reality.” Or, as applied to the Trinity, “individual reality.”

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