Gospel of Matthew

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

Repent for the Coming King, Isaiah 11, Matthew 3, Romans 15

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Repenting for the Coming King, Is. 11, Matthew 3, Romans 15
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When John the Baptist went out preaching repentance and baptism, even Pharisees and Sadducees took notice. They came out to hear him and to be baptized. But he called them out calling them a brood of vipers and wanting to know who warned them to flee the wrath to come! Many think that John is utterly rejecting them, but he is making sure they understand what they are doing. They think they are righteous, so why would they need repentance? But if they need repentance, then they are not really righteous! We need to be wary ourselves of thinking we are good to go in this life and must continually return to this call of repentance and need to bear fruit that reflects our repentance.

Image: St. John the Baptist Preaching, Mattia Preti, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Where History is Headed, Matthew 25.31-46

Bishop Terrell Glenn Where History is Headed, Matthew 25.31-46
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In this picture of the Last Judgment, Jesus speaks to those who served him in the least of his brothers and those who didn’t. What does this reveal about judgment? What does this reveal about how closely we identify with Jesus?

Image: Last Judgment (Ravenna), photo by Jim Forest, no changes made, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/6052391843

Pursuing the Star to the King, Matthew 2:1-12

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Pursuing the Star to the King, Matthew 2.1-12
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What were the Magi following? Was it just an ordinary star? What were the Magi? How did the star lead them to the exact house where the Holy Family were? Father Jeremiah explores these questions in his sermon on Matthew 2:1-12

Image: Adoration of the Magi (detail), Gentile de Fabriano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Christ is Born to Forgive

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Christ is Born to Forgive, Christmas Eve
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At our Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols, we heard of the promises of God to his people throughout the Old Testament. Father Jeremiah explains that Jesus is the fulfillment of God the Father’s desire to make a people for himself and that he does so through forgiveness of sins.

Image: Nativity, Giotto, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Holiness for the Saints and for You, Revelation 7, Ephesians 1, Matthew 5

Fr. Jeremiah Caughran Holiness for the Saints and for You, Revelation 7.9-17, Ephesians 1.1-23
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As we reflect upon the meaning of All Saints’ Day, we remember that the saints are the holy ones of God. The holiness they have though is not a holiness they create, but one that is given to them by the work of Christ.

Image: Johann König, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. File Location":https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Johann_Koenig_-_Allerheiligen.jpg

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