When Jesus is at Home
Matthew 9:1-8 (A homily delivered at St. Stephen July 24, 2022. ) When we were at Columbia Seminary (56 years ago), an old, elaborate pulpit stood in the chapel. At some time, each student was called upon to preach behind it. On the back of that pulpit, only for...
Why Does God Allow This?
No one needs to be told that there are many, many strange, even bizarre things going on in our world today. The traditional moral and spiritual values which most people have held dear for generations have been eroded and attacked as outmoded and irrelevant. Even with religious communities and...
Do You Believe That I Am Able?
(Note: Again, this is a homily from bygone days; it is the last one delivered at St. Stephen before my retirement, July 26, 2020. I have made a few revisions for this post.) Matthew 9:27-31 In this Gospel passage, St. Matthew tells of an incident that took place in...
Only by Prayer and Fasting
(Note: The following is a homily delivered at St. Stephen in July 2012. I have done some revision for this post.) Matthew 17:14-23 St. Peter wrote: “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast...
When It’s Hard to Believe
Lamentations 3:22-24 There are times in life when it seems that life has fallen apart, when memories of good days gone by have been blurred by the dreadful events of the present. While we have been wonderfully blessed in this great nation of ours with many, many years of...
A Tribute to Our Veterans
On November 11, 2023, our nation celebrated Veterans Day for the 69th time since it was declared a national holiday by President Dwight Eisenhower. However, the history of this special day reaches back to the close of World War I. It was at 11 o’clock on the 11th day...
Nehemiah – Work With No Doubts; Watch With No Fears
Nehemiah 4 You will recall that before the work on the wall began, opposing voices were raised against Nehemiah and his people (Nehemiah 2:19), At that time, Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem laughingly ridiculed them and derided their ability and authority to pursue this task. However, when the workers gathered...
Nehemiah – Work, For I Am With You
Nehemiah 3:1-32 At some appointed time, those who had responded to Nehemiah’s call gathered before him, ready to go to work. According to his plan, assignments were issued – who would build/repair what section of the wall. One by one, the leaders of each team received their assignments, assembled...
Nehemiah – Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?
Nehemiah 2:10, 19, 20 About 500 years before Nehemiah’s writing, King David (1055-1015 BC) faced a number of enemies, both personally and nationally. In the midst of their attacks, he turned to God for help and guidance. His trust in the Lord gave him confidence to stand fast, “The...
Nehemiah – Inspect, Inform, Inspire
Nehemiah 2:11–18 With the support of the king and the burning desire in his heart to rebuild the wall, Nehemiah completed the grueling journey from Persia to Jerusalem (about 800 miles). Understandably, he and his companions just rested for three days (vs. 11); no doubt thinking through the task...