The Great King Josiah

Bible, SaintsBurnell EckardtSeptember 15, 2023 Comment

The Eucharistic Martyrdom of St. Polycarp of Smyrna

With his confession of Christ Jesus, St. Polycarp blesses and glorifies the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and he gives thanks that he is considered worthy “to receive a portion in the number of the martyrs.” By way of his martyrdom, he enters into the Holy Communion of Christ the Crucified, into a participation in the Cross and Passion of Christ Jesus, unto the resurrection of eternal life in both body and soul.

The Light No Darkness Can Overcome

Beloved disciple of Jesus, what St. John saw with his eyes, and looked upon, and touched with his hands, is here given and poured out for you. Recline here upon Body of the Lord who loves you at His Supper, and know that in His Flesh and Blood you are safe in the bosom of the Father, because the Blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses you from sin and releases you from death. For where there is forgiveness, as there is forgiveness for you here, there you shall not die but live.

Sermon, SaintsRick StuckwischDecember 27, 2021Saints, Sermons, St. John the Apostle and Evangelist Comment

Jesus Is a Friend of Yours

Here within His Church all your sins are freely and fully forgiven. Here you are safe, and here you are loved by God Himself in the Flesh. Here you are fed with the good Fruits of His Cross. Here you are given the Life of your dear Lord Jesus Christ. And though you do not yet see Him, what is now revealed to you by the Gospel, under the Cross, shall be openly revealed in the Glory of His Resurrection at the last, when your faith and life in Christ Jesus will be shown to be more precious than gold. As it was for St. Simon and St. Jude and all the Holy Apostles, so it is for you and all the friends of Jesus, and so shall it be for you and all the faithful, forever and forevermore.

Saints, Sermon, Sanctoral Calendar, Feasts & FestivalsRick StuckwischOctober 28, 2021St. Simon & St. Jude the Apostles, sermonComment

Remembering the Saints and Laying Our Loved Ones to Rest in the Hope of the Resurrection

The example of Sarah is the rhetoric, as it were, which draws, arouses, and persuades us to despise death; but the Sacrament brings about and works in my body what was brought about in Abraham and many saints who were raised from the dead. Therefore examples should not be scorned, since the rhetoric they employ is pleasant; but because the example of Christ is at the same time a Sacrament, it is efficacious in us and not only teaches us, as do the examples of the fathers, but accomplishes what it teaches. It gives life, the resurrection, and deliverance from death.

These Are the Ones Who Follow the Lamb

Out of Egypt the God and Father of our dear Lord Jesus Christ calls you to be His own dear child. He calls you through the waters of Holy Baptism into the Resurrection and the Life everlasting. He opens your mouth to show forth His praise in both life and death, by placing on your tongue and on your lips the “new song” of the Cross. So are you called to follow the Lamb wherever He goes, and so do you follow Him through suffering and death into the Promised Land of heaven.

Saints, SermonRick StuckwischDecember 28, 2020sermon, Feasts & Festivals, The Holy InnocentsComment

Living with Santa Lucia in the Light of Christ Jesus

Whether or not you are joined to a husband or wife here on earth, you have been joined to Christ in the waters of your Holy Baptism, and you are knit together with Him as one flesh in the Holy Communion of His Body and His Blood. Thus are your body and life redeemed and sanctified in His Body. You live and die with Him who is your Savior and your Head. And you confess Him with all of your words and actions as you go about your days and fulfill your duties here on earth.

Celibacy, Saints, SermonRick StuckwischDecember 13, 2020Sermon, saints, LuciaComment

Singing the Priestly Song of Christ with St. Ambrose

Whether you are a pastor or a parishioner, a priest or a bishop, a deacon or an acolyte, or a member of the choir; whether you are male or female, young or old, rich or poor, married or unmarried, you also sing the Church’s song. With King David and the Levites, with St. Mary and St. Elizabeth, with St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, Dr. Luther, and all the faithful who have gone before us in the Word and faith of the Holy Trinity, you also sing and confess the Lord Jesus in His Holy Church.

Advent, Music, SaintsRick StuckwischDecember 7, 2020Sermon, Advent, Ambrose, Visitation, SingingComment

Gottesblog