Gabriel visits Mary with news about God’s plan for her and the salvation of all people. His greeting to Mary is usually translated as “Hail!” or “Greetings,” but the actual word in Luke 1:26 is “Rejoice!”
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Rend the Heavens
Isaiah calls upon God to rend the heavens and come to earth to deliver his people, but there’s a problem. How can sinful people be prepared to meet a holy God?
Continue readingMary and You, Servants of God
The Gospel Lesson for the Fourth Sunday in Advent recounts the Blessed Virgin Mary’s journey to visit Elizabeth, her relative and the mother of John the Baptist. The actions and words of the two women have much to teach everyone about faith, worship, and service to God. For those facing an unexpected pregnancy the same lesson provides the “hows and whys” of a godly way forward.
Sermon for the Fourth Sunday in Advent
Text: Luke 1:39-56
Trust and Wait
Christians are often troubled when they see God help others, but not them. Why some are miraculously healed and others are not is difficult to understand.
Luke records a time when John the Baptist sent two disciples to ask, “Are you the one who is to come or shall we expect another.” They had heard what Jesus was doing, but what he wasn’t doing concerned them and they were struggling. Jesus answered gently and with great respect for John, referring to what the prophet Isaiah had foretold and saying in effect, “trust me.”
Celebrating Christ’s Coming
Is your worship like the day people were celebrating Jesus entry into Jerusalem? Or is it feel more like the birthday of someone who’s 82?
St. Paul Lutheran 