Sermons by Rev. Jason S. Glombicki

We’ve turned Epiphany into such a sweet story – with a leading star, three kings, and unique presents. But Matthew doesn’t tell a nursery story connected to Jesus’ birth. He tells us something far stranger — and far more serious. He tells us about magi who were outsiders, foreigners, even Zoroastrian priests who showed up in Jerusalem with gifts…

Wicker Park Lutheran Church December 24, 2025 Rev. Jason S. Glombicki It doesn’t really feel like Christmas tonight. After all, it’s unseasonably warm and the snow has melted. And maybe that’s exactly why the Christmas story sounds different this year. Every year we hear this same story. But every year, something different catches my attention. Some years it’s the angels. Some years it’s the shepherds. Some years it’s the thoughtfulness of Mary. But this year, it’s the contrast Luke sets up so…

In last week’s gospel, we met John the Baptist. We heard him calling people to turn toward God’s way of justice and renewal. And, John was, in many ways, the first-century equivalent of a hype person—the person sent ahead to stir anticipation and build excitement. And, after all that hype, John asks an unimaginable question. From prison, he asked Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” And it seems jarring. John had spent years proclaiming that the Messiah…