In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit             There is, perhaps, no more abused word in our time than the word “love”. The common definition of love, a feeling of warm personal attachment or deep affection, has been changed. Love used to flow from faith, a […]

Mercy. It’s a much maligned and often misunderstood word. We normally use the word to refer to not giving a guilty party the punishment he deserves. The word evokes, for instance, images of prisoners in the Tower of London asking their Sovereign to spare them out of mercy. However, the opening words of today’s Gospel lesson — “Be merciful, even as Your Father is merciful”– have more depth than our common use of the word “mercy.” It is not the same word used in our Kyrie, “Lord, have mercy.” Indeed, here we have a word for “mercy” that is used twice in this Gospel lesson, but nowhere else in all four Gospels. It could be translated “pity,” “compassion,” or even “heartfelt compassion.” Tracing it through the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit this morning will help us understand the mercy of the Triune God toward us and our mercy for our neighbor. “Be merciful, even as Your Father is merciful.”

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit             “Don’t get mad, get even.” “The best revenge is living well.” “Just you wait. Your time’s a comin’.” At one time or another, these words may have fallen from your lips. It’s not fair having to wait until […]

1879, 1891, and 1905. All translated from German. I hope you find these helpful in your sermon preparation.

Creation does not have a human will, but it’s almost like it does, because God created everything with order, direction, and purpose, to serve and support His children. That is God’s natural law woven into the fabric of creation.