Wednesday, March 4th 2026
Of the the Second Week in Lent
• Jermiah 18:18-20
• Psalms 31:5-6 & 14-16
• John 8:12
• Matthew 20:17-28 Christians, when we read this first line from the Gospel of Matthew, we may recall a reading in the Gospel of Luke, where Jesus stays behind, sitting among the teachers, listening, asking questions, and astonishing them with His understanding. Yes, the Lord, the Risen Savior of life, the eternal judge, the man who was God and is God, Jesus Christ who is worthy to judge humankind, rewarding both the children of the wicked one and the children of the kingdom, likely had many human memories of those first days in the Temple, with the Elders, as he approached the city of Jerusalem, knowing the truth of life, the love of life: God the Heavenly Father’s Righteousness that he was bringing unto the children of Israel and also knowing, that they would hate him for testifying, and being the truth of life, the truth of love and the truth of humankind’s creation by God the Heavenly Father who spoke the word, Jesus Christ, and so bringing all that is and all that exists, into being. So this prelude prepares us to see that it is not an everyday happening, this thing, of Jesus walking with his Apostles, twelve of them, and as well, likely many disciples going up… to Jerusalem. Now not only did Jesus of Nazareth have memories of his twelve-year-old days at the Temple, but we can rightly infer that these ruff and tumble everyday men, these fisherman, who were becoming – they had not yet become – fishermen of men also had memories of their families going up to the Temple as required by law. It is more than likely all twelve of the Apostles were at Jerusalem, in the same time frame, when Jesus was this young independent lad of twelve. Jesus being the Christ may have even identified them at that time, saying: those are my twelve Apostles, but of course, they were not ready to hear such things, while Jesus was Lord at His birth. So as we continue to expand on the magnificence of the Lord Christ Jesus, something as human creatures we can only adventure a guess; being as, we look up at the stars and we know not their beginning nor their end, but as Saint Paul Apostle tells us in the Book of Hebrews: the Lord has laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the works of his hands: they will perish; but God remains and so too does His word, while the earth and the heavens will wax old as a garment does; and as a vesture, kicking off our shoes, folding the garment as setting aside the shoes, and they, the heavens and the earth shall be changed; but God the Heavenly Father is, was and will always be the same and the years and time will not fail. Truly, for the sake of a modern metaphor, God the Heavenly Father will roll up the heavens and the earth with ease, as easily as Copilot and Grok read text and form patterns; however, these AIs are compromised by limitations: the bias and prejudices of the programmers and the need for the status of money. Now truly, God does not change, but the status of money is misunderstood and abused. For if we read the Old Testament, we know with certainty God the Heavenly Father is all about private property, and no other conjecture would be true. We also know, because of our human condition: temptations, the fiery darts of the evil one, and because of advertisements, we fail to be able to fully embrace the testimony of the Lord Christ Jesus when he says: God knows our need even before we ask. The thing is, again, in reading the Old Testament as from faith to faith and from knowledge to understanding, we see that God allowed heathens to overthrow the Israelites -- not because he favored them, but because, the Israelites turned their back on God and he was showing them that without his almighty hand, they could not stand against their enemies: God was making himself known. Yes, God answers our prayers, but if we ask God to fulfill our lusts, then we have not asked rightly and as Saint James testifies, you have not because you have asked amiss, that is, you have asked not rightly. Yes, The Apostle James is saying: you fight wars – now these wars can be of conscience as well as physical, for the conscience can manifest into physical realities – yes, we fight wars of heart and mind and on battlefields, yet we still do not have because we are looking to fulfill the lust of the flesh. Then again, Christians, Saint John Apostle tells us: love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man (person) love the world, the love of God the Heavenly Father is not in him. Again, Christians and hear this clearly, so the wiles of the tempter will not stand, and will not and cannot confuse you: God gave individual tracks of lands to each tribe, and he set conditions that even if a person lost their land, for whatever reason, the land was not permanently lost to them, but only for a season. So, yes, God the Heavenly Father honors private property. Still, God does testify that the proud and all who do wickedly will be stubble, burnt up straw. Again, in Christ’s Gospel of spirit and life, it does not condemn wealth in its testimony: rather, God scatters the proud in the imaginations of their hearts; he turns over the vain too their foolish hearts, and the prideful, the disobedient and those who seek power through wealth, they for a moment may have human success, but such desires are the pride of life and are not from God the Heavenly Father. Whereas, these things: a comfortable home, pleasant surroundings of family, the wealth gathered by hardworking hands, the return on legal investments and the grace given through our own ingenuity; these rewards are for the purpose of glorifying God and God the Heavenly Father, knowing what we need before we ask. Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.

Wednesday, March 11th 2026
Of the the Third Week in Lent
• Deuteronomy 4:1 & 5-9
• Psalms 147:12-13, 15-16, & 19-20
• John 6:63 & 68
• Matthew 5:17-19 Christians, hear clearly what the Lord Christ Jesus is testifying, he says: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the Prophets; nay, Jesus tells us: ‘That he did not come to abolish the law or the Prophets but to fulfill them.’” Yes, Christians this is another testimony statement where the Lord Christ Jesus is telling us that God the Heavenly Father and he are one and that he kept God the Heavenly Father’s commandments! As Moses tells us in the Book of Exodus, in the Song of Moses, which is something those who have not read the word for themselves, may not be aware of or have a misunderstanding, but, whereas, those who are under the guidance of men – people who are not testifying of God’s word faithfully but artfully for their own identification instead of faithfully being in accordance with God the Heavenly Father’s word of spirit and life. For Moses testifies: “The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.” Yes, with this testimony from Moses, we know and understand that God is a warrior fighting on behalf of his people: that is, when they keep his word, and that God is a champion who defends the oppressed. Yes, God defends his people against those who practice idolatry and those who force people into ungodly choices; and those who oppress people, by the choices of men. Yes, God brings to eternal life: those who testify of the living word, the word of spirit and life, and testify of the choices of God the Heavenly Father, the Creator of heaven and the earth. Moreover Christians, the Lord Christ Jesus affirms that until heaven and earth pass away not the smallest letter or smallest part of a letter will pass from the law. Now, Christians, in the previous statement the Lord Christ Jesus is confirming that on the cross, he overcame death and Satan’s power over men was destroyed. Still, even in this Jesus testifies: that it will not be until heaven and earth pass away or until he comes to judge the living and the dead and God folds up as a worn-out garment the universe the law remains and is in effect. What we must understand is what Saint Paul, Apostle teaches, explaining: Christ Jesus’s testimony is that the Righteousness of God is now made manifest, it is made known through the spirit and that the law and the Prophets are our guide to understanding the spirit of truth, the Holy Spirit. Truly Christians, Christ Jesus did not make adultery holy, nor did he make any of the things God the Heavenly Father told Moses was sin, acceptable. Christ Jesus became the sacrifice for our sin. Therefore, now when we sin, instead of having to take a bull or a lamb to the priest, to be sacrificed for us as an atonement, we now can bring our sin to the Lord Christ Jesus -- through the Holy Spirit and prayer -- confess our sin and make a proper repentance. Moreover, since the Lord Christ Jesus’s blood sacrifice redeemed us and is a propitiation for our sin; indeed, verily, if we make a true repentance: by acknowledging our sin and sinfulness to the Lord Christ Jesus; and by going and sinning no more; and bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance, then Christians, we understand and know: blessed are they who have washed clean their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gate. Whereas, outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. What we Christians must understand is that when we look out at the day that the wheat and the tares are growing together. Now as faithful Christians, those who are righteous by faith: we must do what is just; do what is right; what is true: we are not only to live Christ Jesus’s gospel of spirit and life but we are to go forth to all nations and in the name of the Son of God, Christ Jesus, we are to preach repentance and the remission of sins in the name of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Truly, this parable of truth is: that the wheat and tares would grow together is also what God told the Israelites: that God had set them apart from all nations. However, Christians, now as we know from the Apostle Peter in the Book of Acts that the promise is for all that believe: Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children and to all that are far off, every one whom the Lord our God calls to him.” Now Christians do not confuse this, for the Apostle Peter tells us exactly what is required: we are to repent; we are to be baptized; and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For truly Christians, the Lord Christ Jesus testifies: “Indeed, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, they cannot enter the kingdom of God." Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.

Wednesday, March 18th 2026
Of the the Third Week in Lent
• Isaiah 49:8-15
• Psalms 145:8-9, 13-14, & 17-18
• John 11:25-26
• John 5:17-30 Christians, let us pray we may hear what the Lord Jesus Christ is teaching us in this Gospel testimony, this incarnational word, from John. Jesus Christ says: “Whoever hears his word and believes in the one who sent me has eternal life,” then it indicates: if you do not hear nor believe you will be condemned to eternal damnation. Hence, let us examine this phrase, “Whoever hears his word!” For truly, Christians, we remember that Jesus testifies unto the Pharisees, “My word has no place in you and again, ‘Why do you not understand my speech – it is because you cannot hear my word.’” Clearly, the Pharisees could hear Jesus testifying, they were not deaf, but they did not hear Jesus’s word for their hearts were callous, with the cares of the world. The devil came quickly and snatched it away; the Lord Christ Jesus’s word fell on shallow ground, but in the case of the Pharisees it did not even sprout; it was not heard! So, Christians, when we consider this statement, “hear his word:” it is more than the physical act of hearing, but it is also receiving his word; abiding in Jesus’s word; and continuing in Jesus’s word. Still, if we choose to pretend that there is no other way but to give place to darkness for it is safer, then we are choosing not to abide in Christ Jesus’s Gospel of spirit and life but are choosing death. When we choose to deny Christ Jesus in public, then the Lord Jesus will deny us before God. In paraphrase we may say: if we do not tell people that abortion and rape our sins, in public, but then actually advocate for these things, then we are not testifying of the Lord Christ Jesus; we are denying him. Now Christians, let us turn to a testimony from Isaiah, but let us go back a chapter and look at Isaiah 48:8-15: for it also addresses the testimony in Isaiah 49. Isaiah says that God answered us in time of favor, but we did not hear God’s word; we chose not to allow God’s word to abide in us. Moreover, the Lord God our Heavenly Father tells us that he knew that we would not listen nor hear, and that we would deal treacherously with him and transgress, for we were transgressors from the womb. Yet, Christians, even in this God the Heavenly Father is faithful and keeps his covenant: God does not want to pollute his name. Truly, Christians from the time after Solomon with his son Rehoboam and with the king of Israel Jeroboam God was at work reuniting the kingdom. For after the dispersion, it was no longer the northern kingdom and the southern kingdom, but it was Isreal the people of Jacob’s covenant with God the Heavenly Father, which is Abraham’s covenant with God! So yes, Christians, God’s word is working his purpose even though we may not see nor interpret the future as God is directing. In a like manner, the people read God’s word. but whereas Jehoiada was faithful to God and the covenant made, Joash preferred the darkness and God’s word found no place in him; Joash did not ‘hear’ God’s word. It is interesting, Jesus tells us that his word found no place in the Pharisees and that their father was Satan: while the Apostle Paul tells us: that we are to give no place, no opportunity, and no room for the devil in our heart, mind, soul or strength: this parallel is fascinating. Yes, Christians, the Lord Jesus tells us that it is enough for the disciple to be like the master, but we see that with Satan that he wanted to be better than God and because he could not be the chosen, the devil chose to hate all of God’s people; yes, God the Heavenly Father chose Abraham; he chose Seth; he chose Noah; he chose Ruth: God chooses those now as the Lord Christ Jesus teaches, those who do the will of the Heavenly Father. Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.

Wednesday, March 25th 2026
Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord Jesus, the Christ
• Isaiah 7:10 - 14 & 8-10
• Psalms 40:7-11
• Hebrews 10:4-10
• John 1:4
• Luke 1:26-38 Christians, Gabriel, Archangel of God the Heavenly Father, known as the messenger angel, that announced unto Mary, the daughter of God the Heavenly Father’s promise: of Abraham’s covenant, in your seed all nations will be blessed; of the promise to Jacob, a ruler shall come from Judah; and to the promise of the eternal throne of David, Mary being the daughter of David and then, her parent descendant of Nathan, Heli, and all three of these promises converged in the womb of Mary, the Blessed Virgin and this was announced by the Archangel Gabriel: “The Lord God will give Christ Jesus his Son, the throne of his father David.” God being the Father of all, but David is of the line of the covenant that started with Adam, then to Noah, then to Jesse, to David, to Nathan, for Mary, and for Joseph, Solomon. Christians, it comes to mind to consider and remember rightly, the Archangels of God; they were as fans -- at a football game, when Gabriel was announcing unto Mary, the coming of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ: meaning, they were not participants, in the announcement, but they were observing. Moreover, angels have their roles and they are faithful: because, they know truth and love when they see it; and they know hate and lies when they see them, and they are of God: as are all things from God! So Christians, now in mention for their honor, we remember: Micheal, the warrior, the protector; Rapheal, the healer, guide, and for protection; Uriel, being light and to enlighten, wisdom and illuminator; Selaphiel, prayer and intercession – teaching prayer; Jegudiel, zeal and labor -- inspiring holy works; Barachiel, blessings and providence – conveying God’s blessings; and Jeremiel, good thoughts and hope – inspiring repentance and hope. Now Christians, in understanding: the Holy Spirit is to live and dwell in us, for we are to be temples for the Holy Spirit. Then, God the Heavenly Father and the Lord Christ Jesus have their angels, and they are the carriers of God’s blessings to the Holy Spirit that resides in us and the Holy Spirit that lives in us. Christians, let us remember, the Apostle Paul’s teachings: I am crucified: I no longer live; nevertheless, I live. I am alive; yet, not I but Christ Jesus lives in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loves me, and indeed, Jesus the Son of God, the Son of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the man who was God and is God gave himself as a sacrifice for the sins of humankind. Now Christians, when we consider the Holiness of Mary and Mary was hailed by the Archangel Gabriel, do we even for one moment believe that Gabriel would instruct any prophet that the sexual abuse of young girls would be acceptable to God the Heavenly Father, the creator of heaven and the earth! Moreover, we know that the Lord Christ Jesus and God the Heavenly Father testify, that in the beginning God made them male and female and for this reason a man will leave his home and go unto his wife’s parents home and they shall be cleaved, this sharp clean cut, of the old persons, joined in a perfect healing as one new creature as husband and wife: the wife and husband being at the side of each other. The Apostle Paul testifying that a wife is to be submissive, this meaning she and he are to join as husband and wife and then, the two becoming one new person in Christ Jesus; yet, with the husband being the head. This submissiveness does not mean dismissiveness; for they are to be one person, a new person, and mates. Although, the wife should not ask of her husband -- what he does not ask of himself. Yet, in this there is no place for being slothful, by either the husband or the wife. For indeed, as the Apostle Paul teaches in Christ Jesus: in this new creation there is neither male nor female! Now, the Apostle Paul is not contradicting God, when God says he created them male and female; rather, he is defining their obligations and responsibilities under the spirit, which are different than they were under the law. Moreover, in every thought and imagination these responsibilities and obligations are more demanding. For each individual is to work out their own salvation in fear and trembling. Now, since the husband and wife are one new individual; they must work out their salvation as one new creature: not as the two separate creatures, as they were before the cleaved cut and opened flesh were healed, and grafted together as one new creature! So again Christians, we have the Angel Gabriel announcing unto Mary the Blessed Virgin, but we also know that the Apostle Paul’s ministry came a long time after this announcement, 30 plus years. The Apostle Paul came after Christ Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection; but yes, the Apostle Paul testifies unto us that: if he or any one with them or any other person or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one that the Lord Christ Jesus gave that being the Gospel that the Apostle Paul preached unto humankind, let that person be accursed. Therefore, if any person claims that Gabriel has come unto them and brought them a new gospel message, this person is to be accursed. Christians, how can it be considered even for one moment that Gabriel, Archangel who announced unto Mary the Blessed Virgin would then announce, to some other person, that God accepted the sexual abuse of young girls. Truly, the entire Old Testament screams out against: harlotry, prostitution and sexual abuses and given the proclivity of today for such things, we know that the Old Testament also testifies against, by default, any such abuse of children and the men who practiced these abuses. Now Christians, of course we cannot consider any such testimony, a testimony that would condone the sexual abuse of young girls or as a matter of truth any child or any person. as being testimony from God the Heavenly Father or from the Archangel Gabriel and again, the Apostle Paul teaches: to him who testifies such things against the Gospel; let him be accursed. After all, Satan did deceive Eve in the garden; so then, we know clearly that Satan would again deceive and pretend to be Gabriel: the devil likely again, deceiving humankind. Now Christians, as we move forward in this meditation of prayer, first seeking the kingdom of heaven and the Heavenly Father’s Righteousness, let us give this reading in Isaiah context. For it may sound as if, while the Lord was witnessing to Ahaz that it was in a pleasant nature, but the truth is: God the Heavenly Father was less than pleased with Ahaz. Still, as we continue in the reading, we find the truth: the actual contempt God the Heavenly Father held for Ahaz, and then as the Prophet Isaiah, states: “Is it not enough for you to weary people, must you also weary my God!” For while Isaiah was asking, how did the once faithful city become a harlot, the Prophet Micah was testifying: of the scheming, the idolatry, the land theft and exploitation, corrupt judges and leaders, false prophets, bribery and injustices and the oppression of people. Therefore, know for certain, that God, the Heavenly Father tried to reach out to Ahaz, but Ahaz turned his back on God! So then, God for his own honor and the glory of His name, and because His created people, being of free will, were full of corruption and harlotry: they having become more polluted than the people their forefather Joshua had evicted: these being the descendants of Noah. Still, since, Ahaz refused God the Heavenly Father, the Lord God almighty, himself chose to give humankind a sign. This sign is: that a Virgin would give birth, and the Son she would bear would be named Emmanuel. For, indeed, God is with us! Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.