The opening of this passage in Matthew’s Gospel jar us with words about God’s judgement. The sheep and the goats will be separated, the blessed and the cursed will be at God’s right or left hands. The picture painted is - that our life together on earth matters. Caring or neglecting the needs among us impacts our relationships...

Grace and peace be unto you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

I’d like to once again introduce myself as Pastor Sebastian Meadows-Hemer, esp. for our radio listeners. Hello out there, wherever you are! It’s a great honour to be invited into this pulpit in this most beautiful church of St. Matthews,...

13Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went...

Gospel: John 1:1-14

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  ² He was in the beginning with God.  ³ All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being  ⁴ in him was life, and the life was the light of all people.  ⁵ ...

Gospel: Luke 2:1-14 [15-20]

¹ In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  ² This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  ³ All went to their own towns to be registered.  ⁴ Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to...

Matthew 11:2-11

2When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 4Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are...

In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2"Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near." 3This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, "The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths...

Gospel: Luke 23:33-43

³³ When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left.  ³⁴ Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing.  ³⁵ And the people stood...

Luke 20:27-38

Jesus looked up at his disciples and said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
²¹ "Blessed are you who are hungry now,
for you will be filled.
"Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
²² Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of...

(Luke 16: 19-31 Jeremiah 32: 1-3a, 6-15)

Jesus tells another colourful parable, which shines a spotlight on the problem of hostility and divisiveness in human nature and human society:

… that we live in a divided, violent, and...