Gospel of Matthew

Reconciled to Reconcile, Matthew 18:15-20

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Reconciled to Reconcile, Matthew 18.15-20

When Jesus teaches the one must go to a brother who has sinned against him, we must realized what underlies such a command. The purpose of such going is to bring about reconciliation and the reason one would seek reconciliation with another is because Jesus has reconciled his people to himself and the Father. We don’t confront another to lord over them, but out of a heart of brotherly love seeking the other’s repentance not merely to us, but before God himself.

Image: The Embrace of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, Harvard Art Museums, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Jesus' Cross, My Cross, Matthew 16:21-27

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Jesus' Cross, My Cross, Matthew 16.21-27

Though St. Peter confessed rightly that Jesus is the Messiah, when Jesus begins teaching what the Messiah must do, St. Peter takes him aside and rebukes him. Why does he do this? How do we do this in our own lives? And what must we do to avoid doing this in our lives always?

Image: Take Up Your Cross, picture by LawrenceOP, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (no changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/50285634921/in/photostream/

St. Peter's Confession, Blessing, and Calling, Matthew 16:13-20

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran St. Peter's Confession, Blessing, and Calling Matthew 16.13-20

Image: Christ Handing the Keys to St. PeterPietro Perugino, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Crumbs that Truly Satisfy, Matthew 15:21-28

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Crumbs that Truly Satisfy, Matthew 15.21-28
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The Canaanite woman wasn’t afraid to approach Jesus because she knew what kind of savior he was going to be. He wasn’t only for the Jews, but was the promised seed of Abraham who would bring blessing to the world. Therefore, she had faith that she could receive his words and turn them back to him to remind him that even dogs get crumbs. And she discovers that even crumbs can be transformed into a whole meal.

Image:The Canaanite Woman, Condé Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Little to Give, Greatly to be Used, Matthew 14:13-21

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Little to Give, Greatly to be Used, Matthew 14.13-21
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After Jesus has spent all day healing and teaching a multitude, the disciples point out that they people should be sent away to find food. But Jesus tells them to feed the crowds. The disciples only have 5 loaves and 2 fish. What will happen? Jesus takes their little and makes it a great amount to bless and satisfy the hungry crowds!

In our lives, the little that we have from ourselves can be taken by Jesus and be made a blessing for many others beyond what we think can happen.

Image: Christ Feeding the Multitude, from Treasures of the Bible by Henry Davenport Northrop, pg 404, published in 1894. Public Domain. (cropped from original page, scanned by Google) Book found here: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Treasures_of_the_Bible/9qDEBKKqj68C

Wheat Amongst the Weeds, Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Wheat Amongst the Weeds, Matthew 13.24-30, 36-43
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What are we to do when we find tares amongst the wheat? What are we to do when we discover tares affecting us as wheat? How are we to endure? Jesus calls us toward patience regarding these tares because he himself will take care of them in the end. And besides that, we aren’t able to always identify the tares from the wheat with our limited perspective, so we must wait for Christ.

Image: Christ's Object Lessons by Ellen Gould Harmon White, page 73 (https://archive.org/details/christsobjectles00whitrich), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Seed and Soil, Word and Hearts, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Seed and Soil, Word and Heart, Matthew 13.1-9. 18-23

When Jesus finished speaking his parable of the sower, he said, “He who has ears, let him hear.” How does this little phrase help us in understanding the parables? It reminds us that we must always ask and pray for understanding and that the power that causes the seeds to grow in our hearts is not our hearts, but in the seed themselves because seeds are the word of God planted in us by others.

Image: Parable of the Sower, taken by Lawrence OP, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (no changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/50103753667/

Swords and Crosses, Matthew 10:34-42

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Swords and Crosses, Matthew 10.34-42

Jesus tells us that we must face swords and crosses as his disciples. He didn’t come to bring peace, but a sword that would divide his people from those who aren’t his people. In that, we must take up a cross that means self-denial, for without taking up that cross we are unworthy of Jesus.

Image: Take up Your Cross, photo by Lawrence OP, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0 (no changes made). Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/12672788743/in/photostream/

Of More Value than Sparrows, Matthew 10:16-33

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Of More Value than Sparrows, Matthew 10.16-33, Romans 5.15-19

In light of being sent by Jesus out to proclaim the kingdom, Jesus warns his apostles of the difficulties they will face amongst the people they go to. This warning extends far beyond the immediate mission they are going on, but expands to include all of church history. There is persecution and mockery faced Christians of all ages. Why does this happen? How are we to respond to these hardships? Jesus reminds us that even in the midst of persecution, we are more valuable than the sparrows and hairs upon our heads, things which God the Father does care about, yet not as much as he cares for us.

Image: Sparrows, photo taken by hedera_baltica, license CC BY-SA 2.0. No changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/hedera_baltica/23727592494/in/photostream/

Tripping Upon Grace in Order to Stand Up, Matthew 9:35-10:15, Romans 5:1-11

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Tripping upon Grace in order to Stand Up, Matthew 9.35-10.15, Romans 5.1-11

Jesus tells his disciples to pray for laborers to go out bring a harvest of salvation. He then sends them out in light of their prayers. But they go with grace, they go as sinners saved by the very grace that they put forward to their hearers. We too go out with grace that overcomes all our sinfulness before the Father because our going out is on account of Jesus laying down his life for us. And so, we trip upon grace as believers, falling down due to our sinfulness, but there is grace that we trip upon to bring us healing and strength to stand back up and go forward with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Image: Wheat Field with Crows, Vincent van Gogh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Sinners in Need of Healing, Matthew 9:9-13

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Sinners in Need of Healing, Matthew 9.9-13
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When Jesus called Matthew to be his disciples, the Pharisees were upset that the was a great feast in the aftermath. All kinds of various sinners they didn’t care for were having a meal with Jesus. Jesus’ response is one we all know so well, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.” All those at the feast knew they were sinners and Jesus’ presence is one that can begin their healing. We, too, as sinners need healing from Jesus outwardly and inwardly. May we have eyes to see that we are in great need and have no righteousness or health on our own.

Image: Christ Healing the Sick, anonymous icon, rights unknown. Image found here (see “about” tab for devotional )and here (about 2/3s of the way down).

Do You See the Resurrection? Matthew 28:1-10

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Do you see the Resurrection, Matthew 28.1-10
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Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t expected by the women who went to his tomb on that first day of the week. The went to see a dead Jesus in order to complete the preparations for his body to remain in the grave. And yet, when they arrive, the tomb is empty and an angel proclaims that the crucified one is now alive. Jesus has pierced through the veil of death for us and come out of the tomb and the grave with the fullness of life to share it with us.

Image: Der Auferstandene, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The Remedy for Temptation, Matthew 4:1-11, Romans 5:12-21

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran The Remedy to Temptation and Death, Matthew 4.1-11, Romans 5.12-21
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Jesus’ temptation in the desert should not come as a surprise for us. For him to be our substitute and representative, he must undo where Adam failed. In the Garden, Adam gave in to temptation and sinned. In the wilderness, Jesus said ‘No,’ and resisted Satan. He then cast him away from himself. Jesus does this for us that we might have a remedy to temptation and sin and be renewed from the results of our sinfulness.

Image: Julius Schnorr von Carolsfeld, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Jesus' Great Compassion Leads Laborers Forth, Matthew 9:35-38, Acts 1:1-8

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Jesus' Great Compassion Leads Laborers Forth, Matthew 9.35-38
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When Jesus is healing and teaching in the Gospel of Matthew, we hear of his looking upon the crowds with compassion and calling upon his disciples to pray for God the Father to raise up laborers to go into this harvest of people who need the Good Shepherd. This passage is part of our readings for World Mission Sunday and reminds us that as we pray for laborers, the Lord can call us into the very work we are praying for.

Image: Sent to Sheep without a Shepherd, picture by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/50003858018/

The Foolishness of the Beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran The Foolishness of the Beatitudes, Matthew 5.1-12
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Often when we hear the Beatitudes, we are given a picture of them being a step by step process to becoming holy or as ways that we are supposed to behave or think in order to get God’s blessings. However, they are really something all believers have in Christ because he is the one who has lived a life that reflects them and we get the blessing that was always with Christ!

Image: Carl Bloch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

From Compassion to Repentance to Following, Matthew 4:12-22

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran From Compassion to Repentance to Following, Matthew 4:12-22
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When Jesus begins his public ministry, he starts in the town of Capernaum after John the Baptist has been arrested. Why start here? Is there something unique about this place? How does Matthew’s reference to Isaiah 9 help us? Father Jeremiah walks us through this amazing moment in his sermon today.

Image: Duccio di Buoninsegna, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Your Baptism Matters Because of Jesus, Matthew 3:13-17

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Your Baptism Matters Because of Jesus, Matthew 3.13-17
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When Jesus was baptized by John in the Jordan River, he changed the meaning and the blessings of John’s baptism. As we are baptized into Christ, we receive the blessings of him being our representative and our substitute. Through that union with him, we receive life and salvation from the Father because the Spirit of God comes to be with us and we are adopted. We can now rejoice in the goodness and mercy of God the Father because Jesus was baptized and transformed baptism to be a gift and blessing to us.

Image: The Baptism of Christ, Nicolás Enríquez, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Quiet Faithfulness in Our Work, Matthew 1:18-25

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Quiet Faithfulness in Our Work, Matthew 1.18-25
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We don’t always think about St. Joseph very deeply at Christmas. Yet, he is an important part of the whole story. He was called by God the Father to raise Jesus as his son and to take care of him and Mary throughout his days. And then he vanishes from the text. His faithfulness was quietly executed and completed. What do we make of this? What can we do to reflect this kind of faithfulness?

Image: Gerard Seghers, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Patience that Leads to Joy, Matthew 11, Isaiah 35, James 5

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Patience that Leads to Joy, Matthew 11, Isaiah 35, James 5
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John the Baptist sends his disciples to ask Jesus if he is the one to come. John has found himself imprisoned while pursing obedience to the Lord. He has also wanted his disciples to leave him and follow Jesus. What are we to make of John’s question? Is he question Jesus’ messiahship? Or is he wanting his own disciples to hear from Jesus’ lips what he is doing? Either way, we are given encouragement to know the work of the Lord and how he continues to work in our own lives to change and renew us while we await his coming.

Image: The Beheading of St. John the Baptist, Pierre Puvis de Chavannes, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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