Sunday Services

Sunday School - 9:30 am

Holy Communion - 1st, 3rd, and 5th Sundays, 10:30 am

Morning Prayer - 2nd and 4th Sundays, 10:30 am

Thursday Services

Evening Prayer/Bible Study, 7 pm

Reaching out to the least, the lonely, and the lost

Holy Communion Service at Friendship South

2nd and 4th Sundays, 2:30 pm

Thoughts from the Lectionary: The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

From the Gospel Lesson: St. Matthew 9:1 - 8

In this passage Christ has just returned from the land of the Gadarenes (Having been bidden by the people there to depart, since he had cast devils out of two people into a herd of swine, the swine then running over a cliff to be drowned in the ocean). He has returned to the city of Capernaum which was likely his family’s residence (and thus his as well) at the time.

Soon after his return a paralytic man, being carried on his bed by friends, is brought to Jesus. He, noting their faith, tells the man to cheer up, his sins are forgiven. Some religious authorities of the area complain within themselves that Christ is blaspheming. Jesus, knowing their thoughts, rebuffs them with a single question. He asks if it is easier to say to the paralytic that his sins are forgiven or to tell him to take up his bed and walk home? Before they can answer Him he shows them that He is the Son of Man spoken of in the Scriptures. He declares His divine authority by performing the lesser miracle of healing to affirm the greater one of forgiving the man’s sins. The paralytic, both FORGIVEN and HEALED, takes up his bed and goes home to the amazement of the people there witnessing the event.

Oh such faith on display in this man and his friends! Such forgiveness and healing are only apprehended by faith in Christ. Let us place all our trust in Him.

Blessings,

Fr. Duane+