Love – Page 3 – Fr. Mike Seiler

Get Behind Me

Feb 25, 2024Fr. MikeSermonsChrist, Disciples, Discipleship, God, Gods Plan, Gods Will, Injustice, Justice, Lent, Love, Power, Pride, Sacrifice

Several years ago, the editor in chief of Christianity Today recounted several conversations that he had had with pastors in his denomination. The pastors told him that when they preached from the Sermon on the Mount – you know, things like “Blessed are the meek,” “Blessed are the peacemakers,” “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” or especially, “Turn the other cheek.” When they preached from the Sermon on the Mount, people would come up to them afterwards and say, “Where did you get those liberal talking points?” But when the pastors would say, “I was literally just quoting the words of Jesus,” the people would not say, “Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize that.” Instead, they would say something to the effect of, “Okay, but that won’t work anymore. That’s weak.”

This is essentially what Peter did with Jesus in today’s Gospel. Peter, and most other people of his time hated the Roman oppressors in their land, and they were expecting a messiah that would come in with a mighty fist and power unseen before, and wipe out the enemies of Israel.

Two Lies and a Truth

Aug 25, 2023Fr. MikeSocial CommentaryFaith in Action, Fear, Judgment, Love, Pride, Self-Examination, Sin, Transformation

Instead of responding to their question, Jesus begins to write in the dirt, and finally says, “Let anyone of you here who is without sin, throw the first stone at her.” And then he keeps writing.

Slowly, one by one, from the oldest first to the younger, all begin to walk away.

Kingdoms

Jul 24, 2022Fr. MikeSermonsBeloved Community, Faith, Faith in Action, Jesus, Love, Prayer, Pride

If you were to ask any random person on the street about a prayer that they could recite from memory, the Lord’s Prayer would make the top five. It seems that this is a prayer that everyone, whether they attend church now, or only as a child, has committed to memory. And as is often the case when we have committed words and phrases to rote memory, we often quit reflecting on their meanings and purpose.

Duct Tape and Dwelling Spaces

May 22, 2022Fr. MikeSermonsFaith, Faith in Action, Fear, God, Hate, Hatred, Love, Self-Acceptance, Self-Examination, Self-Importance, Sin, Transformation

There can never be a beloved community – a community that includes all God’s children regardless of any self-imposed differences to keep ourselves apart – there can be no peace, no living together in harmony, unless there is forgiveness and understanding.

Trees or Tumbleweeds

Feb 13, 2022Fr. MikeSermonsBlessings, Faith, Faith in Action, Fear, Hate, Love, Trees

Blessed are those who trust in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. They shall be like a tree planted by

Let Us Rejoice And Be Glad

Dec 20, 2021Fr. MikeRandom Thoughts, Things I Read SomewhereApocalypse, Faith, Faith in Action, Fear, Hate, Love, Peace, Self-Care, Self-Examination

Just this morning I ran across an old Facebook post on someone’s timeline. By old, I mean about three months old. It was of a letter from a political candidate who was predicting food shortages, lack of police officers; basically, general chaos moving into the fall and winter of 2021. The predictions were the typical fear-mongering, laced with a smattering of Biblical references to make the whole thing sound like the coming Apocalypse, and that this was prophecy. Cue the air raid claxons and the faint voices of monks chanting in the background.

Heaven on Earth

Nov 28, 2021Fr. MikeSermonsAnticipation, Christ, Faith in Action, God, Heaven, Hope, Love, Parousia, Second-Coming

Hope that focuses on an end to things is hope that is focused inward. Hope that focuses on an end to things is hope that expects a brighter future, but does not see that future around it in the present reality. Hope that focuses on an end to things is not a hope that lives in the reality of a future that is promised but not yet manifested.

Standing Firm

Aug 22, 2021Fr. MikeSermonsBeloved Community, Community, Eucharist, Love, Unity, Violence

When we make the armor of God about protecting ourselves, and our own minds, we begin to see the world in black and white, we begin to see the world in right and wrong, and we look for justifications to make sure that we are always “in the right.” And when we do that, we surround ourselves with people and with information that feeds upon those self-justifications. This then turns into an Us vs. Them mentality, and when we claim Christ as our mascot, our whole worldview turns into the idea of the Christ who agrees with us as Christ against Culture instead of Christ with Us, or Christ among us.

Who Are You?

Jul 4, 2021Fr. MikeSermonsApostles, Beloved Community, Community, Disciples, Jesus, Judging, Judgment, Love, Spiritual Family

And they took offence at him. His very presence in the synagogue, “pretending” to be a spiritual leader, incited their wrath, and they were scandalized by his presence there as one who would presume to teach them.

They knew him from when he was but a boy, and here he was taking on more authority than he ought to, more than he was allowed to, given his history, given what they knew about him.

And the result, Mark says, is that he did not do many works of power there. Instead, Jesus marveled at their disbelief.

Yup, That Was Weird

Apr 23, 2021Fr. MikeDaily Office ReflectionsAmazement, Awe, Chaos, Faith, Faith in Action, Healing, Jesus, Love, Miracles, Order, Son of God, Son of Man

The paralyzed man stood up, picked up his bed, and walked away. And all those present were filled with awe and amazement, and they said, “We have seen strange things today.” After having been told that the people were filled with amazement and awe, and were glorifying God, these people then said what amounts to, “Yup. That was weird.”