Sermons (Page 91)

Sermons (Page 91)

Fifth Sunday of Advent

“The voice of one crying out in the wilderness.” It’s a phrase from today’s gospel that sticks out to me. It’s a quote from Isaiah. And, it’s a phrase that helps build a larger argument that we’ll experience over-and-over again as we study Matthew this year. For, Matthew is trying to build up Jesus’s connection to Judaism. In Matthew, Jesus is the messiah from David’s line, Jesus is the new Moses, and Jesus is Immanuel, meaning God with us. And, although it’s helpful to build this connection, I think this quote speaks to us something even deeper…

Fourth Sunday of Advent

Wicker Park Lutheran Church Rev. Chrisida Anandan December 1, 2019 The gospel reading that we have heard today is a very interesting passage as it has been interpreted in different ways in many traditions, denominations, and countries. In my childhood, I was perplexed by this passage which has been often interpreted as rapture and the second coming of Jesus. I still remember that I thought so much and worried what would I do if my mother or father or sister…

Third Sunday of Advent

Well, today’s gospel reading was a bit unexpected. It’s strange to hear the story of Jesus’ crucifixion during Advent. After all, this time of year we usually build up to Jesus’s birth and we don’t often talk about his horrific death. But, at second glance, the Lucian version of Jesus’s crucifixion might just embody a hopeful, Advent-like character…