Sermons by Rev. Jason S. Glombicki (Page 37)

Sermons by Rev. Jason S. Glombicki (Page 37)

First Sunday in Lent

Every year on the first Sunday in Lent, we read a story about Jesus’s temptation. This year, we get it from Luke’s perspective which is a bit different than Matthew and Mark. In today’s reading, like in Matthew, we witnessed a conversation of sorts between the devil and Jesus. Now to be clear, the devil is a personified version of all that draws us from the ideals of God. We’re not talking about a physical being with a pitchfork and horns, right…

Sixth Sunday After Epiphany

“Today’s Gospel reading is Jesus’s most famous sermon. If you’ve heard this sermon before, you might question your memory or today’s translation because it sounded a bit different. But, this is not the Matthean version of the “Sermon on the Mount” that says “Blessed are the poor… in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” No, Luke doesn’t sugar coat reality. Luke’s retelling of the beatitudes is geographically among the people and symbolically given from the place of suffering, misery, and despair. Luke’s version of this sermon is not metaphorical, symbolic, or spiritualized in content. With down-to-earth realism, he states “Blessed are you who are poor.” And, frankly, this isn’t anything new from Luke…”

Epiphany

There is one thing that I have never understood about today’s gospel story. That is, how did Herod and his advisors miss the star? If it was something so visible and unique that the Magi set out on a journey, why didn’t Herod’s people see it? Living in Chicago, I know that I frequently miss the happenings in the sky. If it’s not light pollution or the weather blocking my view, then it’s because I don’t think it has an impact on my life. Yet, the Magi were different; they had an eye to the sky…