The Encouraging Thomist

St. Paul Icon The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost Leviticus 19:1-2,15-18 Psalm 1 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8 Matthew 22:34-46 I. There is a little book that my class in seminary was assigned to read  for one of our beginning classes as first year seminary students.   And it was a book called "Life Together"    by one of the most important Christian theologians of the 20th century:     Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Now, Bonhoeffer is a German Christian  who lived and wrote and eventually died   under the Nazi regime of Germany    during the hell on earth that was World War II. During this world-wide calamity of a war,  Bonhoeffer creates an underground community,   some might even call it an underground seminary,    in which Bonhoeffer and other young pastors in training     dedicate themselves to living in intentional Christian community. The book my class read our first year in seminary,  "Life Together"   i...

Jesus the Son of God Icon The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost Isaiah 45:1-7 Psalm 96:1-13 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Matthew 22:15-22 I. The easiest way that someone can get into trouble  is if they say the wrong thing about someone   who thinks they have power over them.  Not asking for a show of hands on this one,  but for those of you who were the kids in school   who thought you could get away with saying something disparaging about your teacher    and word of what you said reached the powers that be     resulting in that awkward parent-teacher conference,      you know what saying the wrong thing against someone in authority can result in.  For you who have served in military service,  for better or worse,   you know better than most folks    that it is a dangerous game to play to speak a word against your commanding officer,     no matter if that commanding officer's character is good or ba...

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost Ezekiel 18:1-4,25-32 Psalm 25:1-8 Philippians 2:1-13 Matthew 21:23-32 I. "Sticks and stones may break my bones,  but your words will never hurt me." Anyone heard this little statement before? Whether it be the cartoon that I watched as a kid  or that one person on the playground in 3rd grade,   or even the transference of that idea into adulthood,    it is amazing how long that this phrase stuck with me personally. And, interestingly enough,  this phrase has a fascinating origin   if you dive a little deeper. A few sources,  such as the Cambridge Dictionary and Gary Martin's entry on the Phrase Finder,   the original saying is said to have appeared in The Christian Recorder,    with is an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) publication     in 1862,      but that entry in The Christian Recorder remarks that it is an "old adage"       suggesting an earlier origin...

The Prophet Jonah Icon Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost Jonah 3:10-4:11 Psalm 145:1-8 Philippians 1:21-30 Matthew 20:1-16 I. Anger is an emotion  that is often difficult to manage. Have you ever had to coach your kids or grand-kids  how to manage their anger?   Or even better, have you seen a kid    who had a meltdown when they couldn't figure out     what to do with that temper rising inside of them?      I don't know about y'all,       but I've never had such a sympathetic connection        with the parents at Walmart who are on their last nerve         with a child who just isn't having it. Often, kids aren't mad about being just the fact of being in Walmart, right?  There are all kinds of other factors that lead them to that tantrum   that they aren't even aware of at the time. Missing nap time makes anyone cranky,  but for kids who need naps,   that can lead ...

Divine Mercy Icon Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost Ezekiel 33:7-11 Psalm 119:33-40 Romans 13:8-14 Matthew 18:15-20 I. When you think of the word "love"  what is the first thing that comes to mind? Is love something you feel?  Well, if you watch any romantic comedy or Christmas family special,    often love is depicted as some sort of romantic feeling of affection. This is one kind of love, that is for sure.  But is that the main one you think of? What about the love shared between friends,   a bond that isn't necessarily romantic,    but a love for each other that transcends time and place?     If any of you have a dear friend from childhood that you still keep up with,      you probably know the deep friendship type of love.  For you parents or grandparents out there,  what about the love you have for your kids?   That is a very very powerful type of love,    one that, if your children are in dan...

  Take up Thy Cross and Follow Me Icon Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost Jeremiah 15:15-21 Psalm 26:1-8 Romans 12:9-21 Matthew 16:21-28 I. There is an old hymn in the Baptist hymnal  that I grew up singing countless times as a kid.   And the lyrics still stick with me to this day:    and its first verse and refrain is familiar to you as well: "'Take up thy cross and follow me,'  I heard my Master say,   'I gave my life to ransom thee,    surrender your all today.' Wherever He leads, I'll go.  Wherever He leads, I'll go.   I'll follow my Christ who loves me so,    Wherever He leads, I'll go." Anyone heard that song before?  Is the tune "Falls Creek" which is the tune of this hymn   going to stay with you for the rest of the day?    I know its already in my head! Now, I'll be the first to admit that I paid very little attention  to this particular hymn for most of my youth,   as it was one of th...

St. Monica Icon Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost (Baptism of Logan Justus) Isaiah 56:1,6-8 Psalm 67 Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32 Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 I. Have you ever heard of patron saints before? If you have, who or what comes to mind when I mention patron saints? Perhaps one of the easiest patron saints that comes to mind is St. Patrick,  the Christian saint of Ireland,   whose feast day is celebrated in March by a wide variety of people,    even those who have never darkened the doors of a church.  I always find patron saints interesting,   because, traditionally, patron saints are understood as advocates and intercessors   for specific places, people, vocations, and anything else under the sun! For example, St. Anthony of Padua is the patron saint of patron saint of the lost,  because of his example of Christ's love for lost people.   But he also has several legends associated with him that tell of wonder-working    in findi...