Month: September 2007

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Hating the System

Fr. Scott Russell

A DIFFICULT Sermon for the 15th Sunday after Pentecost Philemon 1-21; Luke 14:25-33 “Whoever comes to me and does not hate father and mother cannot be my disciple.”  Is there any harder thing we can imagine coming from Jesus’ lips?  Where did the love go, Jesus?  Isn’t Jesus’ message about reconciliation and forgiveness?  What is this about hating?  Doesn’t this contradict many other things Jesus has been saying all along? When we hear Jesus’ words, we may envision an angry daughter tearing up a Mother’s Day card or a grandson walking out on the family’s Thanksgiving Dinner.  But I assure … Continue reading Hating the System

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The Seat of Honor for the Least of These

Fr. Scott Russell

Seat of Honor.edit A Sermon for the 14th Sunday after PentecostHebrews 13:1-8, 15-16; Luke 14:1, 7-14 When I sat down and looked at the Gospel lesson this morning, I must admit I felt like I had been here already – Jesus is at dinner with the Pharisees and has to correct them about how they treat those in their society without status. If we take a step back and look at the Gospel of Luke in its entirety, this should come as no surprise, really.  The writer of Luke seems intent on pointing out the imbalance of power that existed … Continue reading The Seat of Honor for the Least of These