Musings From The High Desert

Luke's story of the healing of the blind man comes at the conclusion of the long travel documentary, with many parables and teachings, that began at the 9th chapter. We move close to the next phase in the story, which is passion week beginning with the Triumphal Entry. At the hinge between these two major portions of Luke's Gospel, we hear the story of the man whose sight is restored, along with his whole spiritual life. (Luke 18:35-43)

On the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of St Anthony mission, Fr Gabriel reflects on how and why we pass on the tradition of the faith, using a brief passage from the beginning of the first Letter to Timothy. We move from inadequacy to grace, and the passage concludes with a doxology that demonstrates thankfulness that God has touched down in our world and our lives. (I Timothy 1:15-17)

Fr Gabriel Rochelle looks at the initial chapter of Matthew's Gospel as a diptych, with Moses as the backdrop on one surface, the hinge of the genealogy, and Joseph on the second surface.

Fr Gabriel Rochelle offers a meditation on the meaning of the Nativity for now and for all time.

As we close our reading of Ephesians, Fr Gabriel offers us insights in the meaning of the Gospel armor Paul says we should wear in chapter 6, a defensive collection of garb metaphorically understood. This is what we need for spiritual warfare against the "principalities and powers" that assail our souls.

Today Fr Gabriel speaks about the current issue with sexual predators in high places, using the infancy gospels as a perhaps unexpected resource to discuss issues of sex, power, and the Nativity.

So rarely do we get to commemorate the prophets on a Sunday that Fr Gabriel took the opportunity to give an overview of prophetic ministry and a look at the specific word of Obadiah, which happens to be the shortest book in the Old Testament.

Fr Deacon Ted Brinegar today joins the message from Ephesians 2 with the response of Jesus to the rich young man in the parable of the good Samaritan.

Fr Gabriel draws to a close considerations of Paul's epistle to the Galatians, in light of the broad view of Paul as a faithful Jew who saw in Jesus the Messiah and then learned how to communicate his faith to people not of Jewish background.

Moving on with themes of the Old Testament that carry over into the New, Fr Gabriel considers the way in which people experienced God and how that affects our understanding as Christians.

This is an important sermon on this Sunday when many Protestants will be celebrating Reformation Day. The fallout from the Reformation led to a misunderstanding of Paul that dominated American Christian thinking for centuries. Listen in as Fr Gabriel tries to unpack the problem and offer an alternative reading of Paul.

Fr. Gabriel continues his thoughts on themes from the Old Testament that come over into the New Testament. This time, the concept of "resident aliens" who receive honor and privilege in a foreign land...and how the concept has turned over and over again in history.

Deacon Ted Brinegar pulls together all the themes on this important Sunday in the Church Year in his sermon for the day.

Many years after concluding his series on establishing the mission, Fr Gabriel reflects on the future of mission in light of Hebrews 13:7, a text for the Fathers of the 7th Council. Back to the roots, Fr Gabriel muses on Christ's initial proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Whatever Christ intended it was not religion.

The number of miracles in the Gospels are relatively few; Jesus does not depend on wonderworking skills and draws no attention to himself as healer, but in this chapter of Luke there are three occasions on which the compassion of God shines through his humanity; first with the centurion's servant, secondly with the mother of the deceased young man, and lastly through calling attention to the shape of his ministry in conversation with disciples of John the Forerunner. In this week's homily we deal with the middle one of these acts of compassion. (Luke 7:11-16)

Fr Gabriel reflects on the way in which our Lord calls us to a higher ethic than one based on simple reciprocity. We are not called to fall in love with our enemies or to treat them like family, but we are called to treat them with that open-ended, compassionate love which God demonstrates to his people. We are called to mercy, which is a divine virtue, and hence we cannot enter this life without the support of the Christ who went through death and resurrection for us. (Luke 6:31-36)

Deacon Ted Brinegar considers the meaning of the two commandments and their unity in the life of the Christian. Christ always upends the questions that come to him and asks challenging questions in response. Listen in. (Matthew 22:35-46)

What's at the heart of this parable's message? Could it be that we overlook the natural grace that is given us in an ongoing manner simply because we are alive and active?

Fr Gabriel speaks to the ministry and mission of Christ as the surrounding of compassion and love in which we should hear the parable of the wicked vinedressers (Matthew 21:33-42).

Fr. Gabriel reflects upon the epistle reading from 1 Corinthians 15:1-11.