As the story opens in today’s passage, the people of Israel were finally at the place they had feared 40 years ago when Moses had sent men to spy out the land of Canaan. Upon their return, Joshua and Caleb had told them: “The land, which we passed through to spy it out, is an…
Category: Homily
Return from Exile: A Homily on Ruth
The story of Ruth is one of the most beautiful stories in Scripture. By faith, a young gentile woman is delivered from a pagan land, blessed with a faithful husband, and gives birth to a son renowned through the land who becomes part of the lineage of Jesus Christ. There is so much to the…
Are You Hungry? A Homily on Nehemiah 8:1-12
Are you hungry? Well, in just a little while, when we are finished here, we will all leave to go have a meal to satisfy our hunger. Some of us may eat burgers, some of us fish, others of us even pizzas. Maybe some green beans or broccoli. The meals that some of us eat…
A New Creation: A Homily on Genesis 3:1-19
How many of you have heard of Curious George? Almost every night when my son goes to bed, he wants me to read the story of Curious George to him. Of course, it always starts out the same way: “This is George. He was a good little monkey. And always very curious.” And each story…
Do You Pray? A Homily on Romans 10:1-13
This homily is adapted from J.C. Ryle’s A Call to Prayer: Do you pray? I ask whether you pray, because prayer is absolutely essential to a person’s salvation. Do not misunderstand me. I am not saying that you can do anything to earn your salvation. I am not saying that it is your prayers that…
The Oppression of Envy: A Homily on Ecclesiastes 4:1-4
This homily benefits greatly from the works of Peter Leithart and Daniel Doriani: Human life is rife with envy. Envy whispers in our ear about a neighbor who has slightly more than we do—a nicer car, more recognition, a prettier wife, more accomplished children. Envy wants to silence praise for others and grows angry when…
Patience until the Coming of the Lord: A Homily on James 5:7-11
How many of you struggle with impatience? I know I do. I struggle with impatience at work. I have a great job and am blessed in what I get to do and who I get to do it with. Yet things don’t always go my way at work. Sometimes others make decisions that I disagree…