Trinity 15 (year C proper 21)- Luke 16:19-31

The Gospel for this Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity/Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost from is from Luke 16:19-31. It contains Jesus' parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus. We could note several themes, but the emphasis is on spiritual and moral attitudes and actions, and the relationship of such attitudes and actions to one's eternal destiny. The Hebrew Law and Prophets, as well as the natural law engraved in human hearts, teach us about God's expectations. All generally sane people are spiritually and morally accountable. This awareness should bring repentance and turn us to Christ's Gospel. Called, guided, and assisted by divine grace, each of us must respond and make choices about our relationships with God and our neighbors. Through grace, we respond by honoring and loving God, and caring for the human beings in our lives. Those responses determine our condition in this world and status in the world to come.

St. Matthew the Apostle/Trinity 14- Matthew 9: 9-13

This year, the Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity falls on 21 September which is the Feast of St. Matthew. The Gospel is from St. Matthew 9: 9-13 and gives the account of Matthew's call to follow Christ: Matthew also seems to have been called Levi (Mark 2:14). According to ancient tradition, Matthew may have collected Aramaic sayings of Jesus which formed the basis for Matthew's Gospel. He may have also been a missionary in the Jewish Diaspora and a martyr. In first century Palestine, tax collectors were despised as traitors, extortioners, and generally immoral scoundrels. Yet,  Jesus associated with such people. He called tax-collectors as well as all others to repentance and service for the kingdom of God. 

So on this day, we remember and give thanks that our Lord called people such as Matthew. God's grace extended to Matthew and allowed him to be a witness to the Gospel. Likewise, our Lord calls other sinners including us. He offers us His divine grace, and He can empower us, just as He did Matthew, to witness in word and deed to the good news of Jesus Christ.

Holy Cross Day- 14 September (Trinity 13)

The fourteenth of September is Holy Cross Day. As a church observance, Holy Cross Day has roots in the fourth century when the Emperor Constantine's mother searched for Christ's cross, and on this date in 335 A.D., a basilica that supposedly contained Christ's cross was dedicated at Jerusalem. The commemoration became popular in the Greek and Latin churches. During the Reformation period, many Anglicans kept this festival on their calendars (see the 1662 September calendar).  It is fitting for Christians to remember Christ's cross on this day and throughout the year. Holy Cross Day is a reminder of the centrality of the cross in Christian theology, art, and symbolism.

The cross of Christ is at the core of Christian doctrines of redemption. Our theology must always remain a theology of the cross. This day also serves as an occasion to re-focus on why we are Christians. Our divine and human Lord suffered the horrors of the cross for us sinners and our salvation. By doing so, He has become the Paschal Lamb who takes away the sins of the world. He has offered us His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and peace. He has reconciled those who have been baptized and have faith with the heavenly Father. And by His Resurrection, our crucified Lord Jesus Christ has transformed the Holy Cross into a glorious sign of faith, hope, love, and eternal life.  May we always take our stand beneath the cross of Jesus!

Trinity 12 (year C proper 18)- Luke 14:25-33

 The Gospel for the Twelfth Sunday after Trinity is from Luke 14:25-33, where Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship. Being a follower of Christ means placing Him first and bearing one's cross. While there are great joys to the Christian life, it is not easy to follow our Lord, and people need to be realistic. Disciples must be prepared to give up everything for the sake of Christ. Even the closest human ties may be strained or broken by following Jesus. Life itself, or life as we prefer it, can be part of the cost of Christian commitment. As Christians, we need to do two things: we must be aware of the cost of discipleship, and we must depend upon divine grace to sustain us.