Ascension St. Matthew’s

God’s Work. Our Hands. God’s World. Our Neighborhood. All are Welcome. Come Share the Spirit

March 2nd - Transfiguration of Our Lord, Year C

Readings - Exodus 34:29-35 , Psalm 99

Second Reading - 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2, Gospel - Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a)

Witnesses to the glory of God in the face of Jesus reflect that glory in the world. It was true for Moses. It was doubtless true for Peter, James, and John. We pray that it will be true of all of us who see God’s glory in the word and in the supper and who are being “transformed into the same image” by God’s Spirit.

March 9th - 1st Sunday in Lent, Year C

Readings - First Reading - Deuteronomy 26:1-11, Psalm 91:1-2, 9-16

Second Reading - Romans 10:8b-13, Gospel - Luke 4:1-13

These forty days called Lent are like no other. It is our opportune time to return to the God who rescues, to receive the gifts of God’s grace, to believe with the heart and confess with the mouth the wonder of God’s love in Jesus, and to resist temptation at every turn. This is no small pilgrimage on which we have just embarked. It is a struggle Jesus knew. It is a struggle Jesus shares. The nearness of the Lord, in bread and wine, water and word, will uphold and sustain us.

March 16th - 2nd Sunday in Lent , Year C

Readings - First Reading - Genesis 15:1-2, 17-18 Psalm 27

Second Reading - Philippians 3:17-4:1, Gospel - Luke 13:31-35

Though we sometimes doubt and often resist God’s desire to protect and save us, our God persists. In holy baptism, God’s people have been called and gathered into a God-initiated relationship that will endure. Lent provides the church with a time and a tradition in which to seek God’s face again. Lent provides another occasion to behold the God of our salvation in the face of the Blessed One who “comes in the name of the Lord.”

March 23 - 3rd Sunday In Lent, Year C

Readings -First Reading - Isaiah 55:1-9, Psalm 63:1-8

Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 10:1-3, Gospel - Luke 13:1-9

The warnings are plentiful and blunt on the third Sunday in Lent. Cut it out or get cut down! The warnings are accompanied by God’s invitation to attentiveness: “Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.” The landowner’s ultimatum is forestalled by the gardener’s readiness to till the ground one more year. That is good news for all of us. Thanks be to God!

March 30th - 4th Sunday in Lent , Year C

Readings -First Reading - Joshua 5:9-12, Psalm 32

Second Reading - 2 Corinthians 5:15-21, Gospel - Luke 15:1-3,11b-32

The psalm sets the tone this day: “Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!” Happy are those who have “become the righteousness of God” in the merits of Christ Jesus. Happy are those for whom the forgiveness of God has “rolled away . . . the disgrace” of former times. Happy is the father at the return of his prodigal son. Happy are we that our sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Rejoice!

April 6th - 5th Sunday in Lent, Year C

Readings -First Reading - Isaiah 43:16-21, Psalm 126

Second Reading - Philippians 3:4b-14, Gospel - Jphn12:1-8

Our God makes all things new. In the first reading God promises it. In the gospel Mary anticipates it, anointing Jesus’ feet with costly perfume in preparation for the day of his burial. In the second reading Paul recalls his transformation from the persecutor Saul into an apostle. In baptism, God’s new person (you!) rises daily from the deadly mire of trespasses and sins.

April 13th- Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday, Year C

Readings -First Reading - Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16

Second Reading - Philippians 2:5-11, Gospel - Luke 22:14-23:56

Today we follow Christ from triumphal entry to the cross, each waypoint of the journey marked by Jesus’ compassion for those who would betray, mock, accuse, or do violence to him. Though persecuted and beaten, Jesus the Son of God is not disgraced; instead, he asks forgiveness for those who put him to death. We have walked the Lenten pathway these forty days, each of us invited through baptism to “let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.” We enter this holy week accompanying Jesus to the cross with both grief and thanksgiving in our hearts, trusting in God’s redeeming love.

April 20th - Resurrection of Our Lord: Easter Day, Year C

Readings -First Reading - Acts 10:34-43, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Gospel - Luke 24:1-12

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death,” Paul writes. Today Christ is risen, and we gather together with astonishment and joy. Christ is risen, and we have been set free from the bonds of death. Christ is risen, and we are forgiven. Christ is risen, and with the women at the tomb and Peter, we are amazed. Let us rejoice: Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!

April 27th - Second Sunday of Easter, Year C

Readings -First Reading - Acts 5:27-32, Psalm 118:14-29

Second Reading - Revelation 1:4-8, Gospel - John 20:19-31

In spite of all we have heard and all we have seen, it is often hard to believe. Because it is hard to believe, we will invest ourselves in the Easter mystery for fifty days (a week of weeks). Because it is hard to believe, John the evangelist will provide sign after sign celebrating Jesus’ victory over death. Because it is hard to believe, the risen Jesus will return to us again and again in the mystery of holy communion, inviting us to touch and taste his presence, and offering us his peace.