Sunday Reflection (March 16, 2025)

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Sunday Reflection upon Luke 13:31-35 

Jesus uses a poignant metaphor to depict God’s nurturing nature. He compares God to a protective hen, longing to gather us under divine wings of care. This comforting image stands in stark contrast to our human response. Despite God’s invitation to healing and restoration, we often act unjustly, unfairly, cruelly, or with violence, essentially crucifying Jesus once again.

The Holy Spirit is crucial in our transformation, empowering us to nurture and protect, especially the most vulnerable. The Spirit hovers over us, shaping Christ within us and among us. As we grow from spiritual chicks to spiritual adults, imitating God’s nurturing nature as revealed in Jesus Christ, we can contribute to a world where deceit, lies, and violence no longer hold sway. This approach of imitating God as revealed in Christ is a hopeful and optimistic vision we can work towards.

Prayer for the Week (March 16-March 22, 2025)

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Let us pray to our seemingly invisible Father in heaven:  Invisible God, with the incarnation of your Son, Jesus Christ, we see a reflection of you in your Son.  You also give us the Holy Spirit, who enables us in prayer and in the search for your truth.  In our worship, strengthen us to know your purpose for us and the world.  Amen.

Prayers for the Seasons of God’s People, alt

 

                                                    

                   
                                                                                         
               

                                   

                         

Sunday Sermon March 16, 2025

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Sunday Reflection (March 9, 2025)

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Sunday Reflection  upon Luke 13:1-11

This Lenten Season, may we mainly focus on the serious sins that lead to tragedy: Sins that damage communities and friendships and disrespect God; Sins like gossip, the use of malicious and hurtful words, and allowing greed, hatred, and vengeance to get a foothold in our hearts. These sins can tear apart the fabric of our relationships and lead to spiritual and emotional devastation. Other serious sins include dishonesty, betrayal, and neglect of the needy.     

As we draw closer to God and each other in love and concern, we must remember that we are not alone in our journey. The Lenten Season is a time when our community comes together to take responsibility for our actions that hurt and injure others. It is a season to bring as much peace and healing to our relationships as possible, knowing that we have the support of our fellow Believers. When we are tempted to do good for the right reasons, the Holy Spirit leads us in the way of Christ.

Prayer for the Week (March 9-March 15, 2025)

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Let us pray to our living God that we turn our heart to God:  God, lead us through the Holy Spirit with your Son Jesus to the desert of questions and temptations so that you speak to our heart and bring us back to you in loving trust.  Help us to discard all that leads us astray and to look for you and the plans you have for us and the world.  May your Spirit give us the mentality of Jesus, so that we seek your will in all we do.  Amen.

Claretian Publications       

 

                                                    

                   
                                                                                         
               

                                   

                         

Sunday Sermon March 9, 2025

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Prayer for the Week (March 2-March 8, 2025)

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Let us pray that we grow in the likeness of Christ:  God of life and glory, at the Mount of Transfiguration, your Son was revealed in splendor before he suffered death upon the cross.  Grant that we, beholding his majesty, be strengthened to follow him and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; for he eternally dwells with you and the Holy Spirit, One God now and forever.  Amen.

New Zealand Prayer Book

 

                                                    

                   
                                                                                         
               

                                   

                         

Sunday Reflection (March 2, 2025)

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Sunday Reflection upon 2 Corinthians 3:18 

Created in the image of God, we have the potential to reflect God’s glory to the world. This potential is realized as Christ is formed within us and among us. This means that the character and nature of Christ, as revealed in the Bible, becomes a part of our own character and is manifested in our interactions with others. The Holy Spirit’s transformation enables us to mirror the likeness of the Christ we behold, infusing our lives with God’s beauty. The glory of the Lord illuminates our darkness and floods it with light. Created in the image of God, we have the potential to reflect God’s glory to the world. This potential is realized as Christ is formed within us and among us. This means that the character of God, as revealed in Christ, becomes a part of our character and is manifested in our interactions with others. The Holy Spirit’s transformation enables us to mirror the likeness of the Christ we behold, infusing our lives with God’s beauty. The glory of the Lord illuminates our darkness and floods it with light.

Sunday Sermon March 2, 2025

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Sunday Reflection (February 23, 2025)

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Sunday Reflection upon Psalm 37:1-11 

Trust in the Lord and do good: The word “good” translates in the Greek Old Testament to a word familiar to us: “grace and kindness.” Trust in the Lord and do grace and kindness! The Psalm adds a caveat: trust and do good with “commit your way to the Lord.” Psalm 37 encourages us to trust in the Lord and commit our way of life to the Lord, a way of grace and kindness.

Trusting in the Lord and doing good are not the same, but they are similar to ‘Love the Lord your God with all of you and your neighbor as yourself.’ As understood in the Old Testament, our neighbor is not just the person next door but, more importantly, in need. Part of doing good in the prophetic context was to extend kindness and grace to the least vulnerable, a principle that remains as relevant today as it was then. God judges us and all society by how the vulnerable are treated. We all share this solemn responsibility to ensure the well-being of those in need, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.   May we trust, commit our ways to the Lord, and practice grace and kindness. This approach is our path to a hopeful future and a more grace-filled today.