Tag: jonesboro

A sermon for Judica, the First Sunday in Passiontide, by Father Josh Leigeber.

Jesus’ question exposes a truth we would rather avoid: none of us can stand without sin. While we are often tempted either to ignore our sin or compare ourselves favorably to others, sin is never a small matter. It separates us from God and, left unchecked, leads to death.

Yet the answer is not denial or despair, but Christ Himself. Unlike Abraham or any other human being, Jesus alone is without sin. As the eternal Son of God and the promised Seed of Abraham, He is both the Priest and the Sacrifice, providing in Himself the forgiveness and redemption we need. Through His Word and His saving work, He gives the promise that those who keep His Word will never taste death.

Even so, the Christian life remains a struggle. Though forgiven, we still battle sin and cannot justify ourselves. Our life and salvation are found only in abiding in Christ—hearing His Word, repenting, and trusting in His mercy. In Him alone do we stand with a clean conscience and the sure hope of eternal life. You can listen to the full homily below.

A sermon for Laetare, the Fourth Sunday in Lent, by Father Dan Suelzle.

Laetare Sunday serves as a spiritual pit-stop in the Lenten season, inviting believers to rejoice in the freedom found in the “Jerusalem above,” which St. Paul identifies as the Mother of all Christians. This historical “Mothering Sunday” reminds us that we are not children of the Law’s slavery, but children of the Promise, birthed into new life through the Church in Word and Sacrament. Just as a child cannot grant himself life, a Christian receives and sustains his life through “Mother Church,” where Christ—the true Temple—feeds His people with the Bread of Heaven. We rejoice that we belong to a free, heavenly city that offers peace, nourishment, and the saving gifts of Christ.

A sermon for Oculi, the Third Sunday in Lent, by Father Josh Leigeber.

On Oculi Sunday—“Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord”—the Church calls us to consider where our attention is fixed. In the Gospel, the Pharisees are so focused on themselves and their own standing that they fail to recognize the work of God happening right before them, even when Jesus casts out a demon and sets a man free.

We face the same temptation. Our lives easily become consumed with our own concerns and distractions, causing us to overlook the gracious work Christ continues to do among us. Yet in His Church He is still at work—casting out the devil in Holy Baptism, forgiving sins in Holy Absolution, feeding His people in the Holy Eucharist, and giving life through His Word.

Oculi Sunday calls us to lift our eyes again to Christ and to the saving gifts He gives in His Church. You can listen to the full homily below.