Today is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the church year. To understand these lessons this morning it helps to know a little about the history of the people of Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean region. The people who would eventually become Israel were the ‘hapiru’ which means ‘the wanderers’, because they did not come from any one place. They were a wandering group of Semitic people made up of different races. What they had in common was the Semitic language, and they spoke mainly two versions of it in ancient times, Hebrew and Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke. These people were all loosely related through Abraham.
September 29, 2024 Feast of St. Michael and all Angels
However, the root of all suffering in this world is evil and it is of a spiritual nature—meaning it has to do with God and Satan, and the condition of our souls. No one wants to believe they are evil, but Satan is the great deceiver. He uses lies and deception and half-truths to turn people to ‘the dark side’.
September 22, 2024 The 18th Sunday after Pentecost 2024
September 15, 2024 17th Sunday after Pentecost
September 1, 2024 15th Sunday after Pentecost
Imagine a person whose heart no longer works very well. I mean his real, literal heart- it doesn’t pump blood well anymore. Once your heart has gotten into very bad shape, it’s not enough to change your behavior. It’s not enough to start exercising, or eating better. The damage is already done. What you need is not better behavior but a new heart, a heart transplant. Then you can worry about changing your lifestyle.