Aaron Simms's Blog, page 8

In Christ There Is No East or West

This last Monday was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a day when we remember and celebrate our great leader for civil rights in these United States.  And then Friday was the March for Life when we remember and advocate for the rights of the unborn.

There’s a connection between these two topics and the reading from the Old Testament book of Jonah for this Sunday.  If you read the entire book in context – and it’s not long – you get the impression that Jonah and the other Israelites thought that Go...

Watching Over Us – John 1:43-51

For kids, it often seems like teachers and parents have eyes in the back of their heads, because they always seem to know what kids are doing.  There’s no way to escape.

There’s a book and movie that touches on this topic.  In the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Frodo Baggins tries to take the ring of power to Mordor, but is constantly in fear of the all-seeing eye.  The eye is always looking for him and finds him whenever he puts the ring on.  There’s also the movie called the “Truman Show” tha...

The Baptism of Jesus – Mark 1:4-11

Today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus with readings from Genesis 1:1-5, Romans 6:1-11, and Mark 1:4-11.

The Genesis reading for today’s celebration are the opening words of God’s self-revelation of Himself to us (Genesis 1:1-5).  And, that’s really what the Bible is, isn’t it?  God’s revelation to us of His actions for us.  He tells us of His creation of all things through His Word, His redemption of all things through His incarnate Word Jesus Christ, and His ultimate restoration of all thi...

The Feast of the Epiphany

Today is the Feast of the Epiphany when we celebrate the revealing of Jesus Christ as God incarnate and the Savior of all nations, seen visibly in the visit of the Magi to worship him.

Last Sunday we looked at the Song of Simeon where Simeon held the baby Jesus in his arms and praised him as a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory for God’s people Israel.  We also spoke about how “gentiles” means nations.  So, there are really two groups of people in the world.  There is God’s na...

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace…” – Luke 2:22-40

“Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

These words from the Gospel reading today (Luke 2:22-40) are also found in our liturgy right after the Lord’s Supper as one of the songs we sing in response to the gifts we’ve received at the altar.  It’s called the Nunc Dimittis, which simply me...

Merry Christmas!

The Bible begins in Genesis by recording: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.  And God saw that the light was good.  And God separated the light from the darkness” (Genesis 1:1-4).

This is from Genesis, chapter 1.  The beginning of God’s self-revelation to us, where He...

Christmas Eve – Luke 2:1-14

Tomorrow is Christmas morning when we, and Christians throughout the world, celebrate the coming of God’s Son in the flesh.  It is the fulfillment of a promise which began in Genesis 3:15.  After Adam and Eve rebelled against Him, God promised the “seed of the woman” who would defeat sin, death, and the devil.

This promise was reconfirmed to Abraham and David and carried throughout the Old Testament, borne in the hearts of the faithful of the Church Israel.  The Lord promised Abraham that thr...

The Light – John 1:6-8, 19-28

WWJTBD?  What would John the Baptist Do?  If you read the post last Sunday and remember that question, you’ll recall that “what John the Baptist would do,” would be to point people to Jesus.  We saw that last week in the Gospel text and we see it this week as well in John 1:6-8, 19-28.

John came to prepare the way for the Lord.  He was the one foretold by the prophet Isaiah who would pave the path for the Lord’s arrival in the flesh.  John came with the Law to bring people to repentance and t...

Of Potatoes and Men – Mark 1:1-8

I like to make – and more importantly, eat – potato pancakes.  I make them with a combination of baking potatoes, Yukon gold potatoes, and sweet Vidalia onions.  It takes a lot of time to prepare, though.

First, I peel the potatoes, then grate them and squeeze the excess juice out of the gratings and discard the juice, since it will make the pancakes too liquidy.  Then, I put the squeezed potato gratings in a mixing bowl.  During this process, I also grate the Vidalia onions and put them and...

The Gathering – Mark 13:24-37

Today is the first Sunday in Advent.  Advent is traditionally a season of repentance.  We usually think of Advent as leading up to Christmas and Christ’s birth.  And that’s one aspect of Advent.  That was the first Advent when Christ was born of the virgin Mary and God became flesh.

But, then after his death and resurrection, Christ ascended into heaven and took his seat at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us and to pour out the Holy Spirit upon us.  So, he is still with us now t...