POPULARITY
13 episodes with Quinquagesima
21 episodes with Quinquagesima
9 episodes with Quinquagesima
6 episodes with Quinquagesima
4 episodes with Quinquagesima
7 episodes with Quinquagesima
6 episodes with Quinquagesima
104 episodes with Quinquagesima
10 episodes with Quinquagesima
12 episodes with Quinquagesima
6 episodes with Quinquagesima
11 episodes with Quinquagesima
4 episodes with Quinquagesima
4 episodes with Quinquagesima
6 episodes with Quinquagesima
5 episodes with Quinquagesima
5 episodes with Quinquagesima
4 episodes with Quinquagesima
4 episodes with Quinquagesima
3 episodes with Quinquagesima
5 episodes with Quinquagesima
5 episodes with Quinquagesima
5 episodes with Quinquagesima
4 episodes with Quinquagesima
3 episodes with Quinquagesima
8 episodes with Quinquagesima
2 episodes with Quinquagesima
4 episodes with Quinquagesima
4 episodes with Quinquagesima
4 episodes with Quinquagesima
5 episodes with Quinquagesima
3 episodes with Quinquagesima
5 episodes with Quinquagesima
5 episodes with Quinquagesima
3 episodes with Quinquagesima
3 episodes with Quinquagesima
Preacher: Pastor Adam SteinbrennerHearer Submitted Questions: -What significance is there to when the Bible speaks of human beings at tripartite: body, mind, and spirit? Any connection to the Trinity?-Did Jesus speak in parables because his disciples would become too alarmed if he spoke directly about the cross?-When you give up things or fast during Lent, are you able to partake of them on Sunday?Submit sermon questions by emailing podcast@stjohndublin.orgLink to SermonChurch Website: stjohndublin.orgChurch Center: stjohndublin.churchcenter.comThank you to Higher Things Inc. for permission to use their recording of LSB 834 “O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth”. (leader.higherthings.org)Thank you for listening to the Post-Sermon Podcast.Text Your Questions & Comments Here!
Evening Prayer for Tuesday, March 4, 2025 (The Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration, or Quinquagesima).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 7Proverbs 3:1-27Romans 16Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Morning Prayer for Tuesday, March 4, 2025 (The Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration, or Quinquagesima).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 5-6Exodus 11Matthew 14Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Luke 18:31–43Jesus Foretells His Death a Third Time[31] And taking the twelve, he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. [32] For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. [33] And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” [34] But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.Jesus Heals a Blind Beggar[35] As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. [36] And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. [37] They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” [38] And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” [39] And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” [40] And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, [41] “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” [42] And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” [43] And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. (ESV)
2025-03-02 Sermon- Rev. Aaron Uphoff Quinquagesima Mark 10:35-45
Color: Green Old Testament: 1 Samuel 16:1–13 Old Testament: Isaiah 35:3–7 Psalm: Psalm 89:18–29; antiphon: v. 20 Psalm: Psalm 146; antiphon: v. 2 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 13:1–13 Gospel: Luke 18:31–43 Introit: Psalm 31:1, 5, 9, 16; antiphon: vv. 2b–3 Gradual: Psalm 77:14–15 Tract: Psalm 100:1–3 Faith Alone The seeing are blind, while the one who is blind can see (Luke 18:31–43). Jesus tells the twelve that He is going up to Jerusalem to suffer and die and rise again, but they cannot understand or grasp what He is saying. The meaning of His words is hidden from their sight. However, as Jesus makes His way up to Jerusalem, a blind man calls out to Him for mercy. This blind man sees that Jesus is the Messiah, the Savior, for he calls Him “Son of David.” Indeed, Jesus is the Lord's anointed, the keeper of sheep (1 Sam. 16:1–13) who goes to lay down His life for the sheep. He is the incarnate love of the Father who suffers long and is kind, who is not puffed up, who never fails us (1 Cor. 13:1–13). Jesus opens the eyes of the blind (Is. 35:3–7) to see Him not according to outward appearances of lowliness, but according to His heart of mercy and compassion. Those who behold Him thus by faith follow Him to the cross through death into life. Lectionary summary © 2021 The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Used by permission. http://lcms.org/worship
Text: Luke 18:31-43, 1 Corinthians 13
Morning Prayer for Monday, March 3, 2025 (The Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration, or Quinquagesima; John and Charles Wesley, Priests and Reformers of the Church, 1791, 1788).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 1-2Exodus 10Matthew 13:44-58Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Evening Prayer for Monday, March 3, 2025 (The Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration, or Quinquagesima; John and Charles Wesley, Priests and Reformers of the Church, 1791, 1788).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalms 3-4Proverbs 2Romans 15Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Given at St. Stephen Catholic Church, Portland, Oregon
Sermon delivered by Fr. Hayden Butler on Sunday, March 2, 2025.View Transcript:https://bit.ly/Sermon_2025-03-02_The-Sunday-called-Quinquagesima_Fr-Hayden
The Rev. Dr. Robert Black - The Purpose of Liturgy
Taking the twelve, [Jesus] said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” And he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” He said, “Lord, let me recover my sight.” And Jesus said to him, “Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.(English Standard Version)
Today is Sunday, March 2, 2025, Quinquagesima Sunday, a 2nd class feast, with the color of violet. In this episode: The meditation: “The Foretelling of the Passion,” today's news from the Church: “Neither Schismatic nor Excommunicated,” and today's thought from the Archbishop. Sources Used Today: From Epiphany to Lent (Angelus Press) “Neither Schismatic nor Excommunicated” (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/neither-schismatic-nor-excommunicated-1-50789 The Spiritual Life- Archbishop Lefebvre (Angelus Press) - - - - - - - We'd love your feedback on these Daily Devotionals! What do you like / not like, and what would you like us to add? podcast@sspx.org - - - - - - - Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional - it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcast to receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channel for video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website: https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website: https://sspx.org/ - - - - - What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. - - - - - - What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them.
Morning Prayer for Sunday, March 2, 2025 (The Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration, or Quinquagesima; Chad, Bishop of Lichfield and Missionary, 672).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 148Exodus 9:1-29, 33-34Matthew 13:24-43Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Evening Prayer for Sunday, March 2, 2025 (The Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration, or Quinquagesima; Chad, Bishop of Lichfield and Missionary, 672).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 149-150Proverbs 1Romans 14Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
Given on Quinquagesima Sunday, 2025
Bollhagen's Installation, the true meaning of obedience and the law, and who is the most Lutheran? Quinquagesima, Luke 18:31–43
“Love Bears All Things” | Christ For YouQuinquagesima | 1 Corinthians 13If you were edified by this sermon, please share it with others, leave a review and a comment on ApplePodcasts, Spotify, or any podcasting platform to help others find the faithful preaching of Holy Scripture. ___________________Subscribe & Share: • Apple Podcasts: Christ For You • Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0q7o8mzLFcEBBVnrYBKYWx?si=UjpbczgJTtWPMG-_MgTSnQ • Website: https://www.zionwg.org/podcastStay Connected: • Email: PastorRojas@ZionWG.org • Website: ZionWG.org
1 Cor 13: 1-13; Luke 18: 31-43; Haydock Biblical Commentary
March 2nd, 2025: Grow in Charity During Lent; Quinquagesima Sunday - Do More; How to Prepare for Lent
The sermon for Quinquagesima by Pastor Atkinson.
Lutheran Preaching and Teaching from St. John Random Lake, Wisconsin
March 2, 2025
31 Then Jesus took unto him the twelve, and said to them: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things shall be accomplished which were written by the prophets concerning the Son of man.Assumpsit autem Jesus duodecim, et ait illis : Ecce ascendimus Jerosolymam, et consummabuntur omnia quae scripta sunt per prophetas de Filio hominis : 32 For he shall be delivered to the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and scourged, and spit upon:tradetur enim gentibus, et illudetur, et flagellabitur, et conspuetur : 33 And after they have scourged him, they will put him to death; and the third day he shall rise again.et postquam flagellaverint, occident eum, et tertia die resurget. 34 And they understood none of these things, and this word was hid from them, and they understood not the things that were said.Et ipsi nihil horum intellexerunt, et erat verbum istud absconditum ab eis, et non intelligebant quae dicebantur. 35 Now it came to pass, when he drew nigh to Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the way side, begging.Factum est autem, cum appropinquaret Jericho, caecus quidam sedebat secus viam, mendicans. 36 And when he heard the multitude passing by, he asked what this meant.Et cum audiret turbam praetereuntem, interrogabat quid hoc esset. 37 And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.Dixerunt autem ei quod Jesus Nazarenus transiret. 38 And he cried out, saying: Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.Et clamavit, dicens : Jesu, fili David, miserere mei. 39 And they that went before, rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out much more: Son of David, have mercy on me.Et qui praeibant, increpabant eum ut taceret. Ipse vero multo magis clamabat : Fili David, miserere mei. 40 And Jesus standing, commanded him to be brought unto him. And when he was come near, he asked him,Stans autem Jesus jussit illum adduci ad se. Et cum appropinquasset, interrogavit illum, 41 Saying: What wilt thou that I do to thee? But he said: Lord, that I may see.dicens : Quid tibi vis faciam? At ille dixit : Domine, ut videam. 42 And Jesus said to him: Receive thy sight: thy faith hath made thee whole.Et Jesus dixit illi : Respice, fides tua te salvum fecit. 43 And immediately he saw, and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.Et confestim vidit, et sequebatur illum magnificans Deum. Et omnis plebs ut vidit, dedit laudem Deo.
A Sermon for Quinquagesima 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 by William Klock The other night I was trying to read while Veronica was practising in the other room. She has a concert with the Symphony next week. I was finding her practising more distracting than usual, because the piano part of this one piece is really quite unpleasant all on its own. There's no melody, just sort of periodic backup for the rest of the orchestra. Lots of rests and then a few notes that seem almost random if you don't know the piece. It was very disracting to listen to. But bring all the instruments together, let them all play their parts and you've got a wonderful piece of music. The Bible is very much like that. There are all sorts of themes and sometimes we put all our attention on just one and it ruins the music. But the better we know and understand the Bible and the big story of God and his people, the better able we are to hear all of those themes, each playing at the right time, each balanced with the others, so that we're able to hear the grand music that God has—not only for us to hear, but for us to participate in. So if I were to tell a parable the way Jesus did, I might say, “The kingdom of God is like…a symphony.” When Jesus came he introduced a new piece of music to his people. The thing was that it wasn't really new; it's that everyone had forgotten it. The Lord had taught it long before to Adam and to Eve. When their children lost the tune the Lord came and taught it again to Abraham and then to Moses and to the Israelites. It wasn't an easy tune—mostly because sinful human beings lacked the full ability to play it. And so the tune God taught Abraham and Moses was a bit like a simple melody line played on the piano with one hand. But it was still true to the original. But even as simple as it was, Israel struggled to play it. And then when Jesus came he amazed everyone by sitting down at the piano and playing the full harmony with both hands. The music took on new life. It was fuller and richer and more beautiful than anything anyone had heard since Adam's day. Some people didn't like it. Some people flat-out refused to learn it or even listen to it. But Jesus taught it to a few and each of them taught it to a few and each of those to a few and pretty soon thousands were playing and the music was spreading all over the world. At some point someone taught it to each of us and now you and I are playing that tune. And yet, even still, we know—or at least we should know—that there's more yet to come. What Jesus has taught us to play isn't the full piece of music. It's like the piano solo leading into the great orchestral piece. It gives a taste of what's to come, but to hear the full symphony we have to wait for Jesus to return—for Jesus to come back from heaven, bringing the kingdom with him in all its majesty and eternal glory. In the meantime, we play the piece he's taught us, the piece he's specially equipped us to play. And as we see in our Epistle this morning from First Corinthians, at the heart of this music Jesus has taught us—the melody of it that holds it all together and that will lead into something so much greater one day—the heart, the theme of that music is love. So let's look again at 1 Corinthians 13. We often call it the “Love Chapter”. But think about the context. Paul sticks this love chapter in the middle of a discussion about the Church, about living together as the body of Christ, about spiritual gifts, and about worship. A lot of times we take this chapter out of context and we think of it in terms of, say, romantic love. We read it at weddings. (Not that that's bad!) There is a sense in which what Paul describes here is about the love of husband and wife, but only because it is first and foremost about love amongst Christian brothers and sisters, love in the Church, that spills over into every aspect of life and into every relationship in light of Jesus and what he's accomplished. During Epiphanytide we were reading in Romans where Paul describes the Church as being like a body, everyone gifted and equipped for a certain task, not for their own benefit, but for the benefit of the whole Church and our kingdom mission. And at the beginning of the season, we were reading about the Church as a temple, each of us a stone, shaped and carved and cut very carefully by the Lord and all purposefully fitted together as the dwelling place of the Holy Spirit. Last Sunday we read Paul's second letter to the Corinthians. They were boasting to each other about their gifts and achievements and they'd started following teachers who boasted in their achievements—boasting as Greeks and Romans typically boasted. It was how people climbed to the top of the heap and demanded respect and honour. But in contrast Paul describes his own accomplishments: he'd been arrested, beaten, whipped, scourged, shipwrecked, cold, hungry, naked, shamed and run out of town in dishonour—all for the sake of his brothers and sisters, the very ones, in fact, who rejected him. And we think: How is this all possible? How do we live for the sake of others? How do we die to self for the sake of others? How do we sacrifice for the sake of others? The last two Sundays pointed us toward discipline and humility. Today the lessons point us to love. Love is the theme that ties the whole symphony of the kingdom together. And so after describing the way the Church acts as a body with each using his or her gifts for the sake of others and, ultimately, for the sake of Jesus and his kingdom Paul writes: I will show you a still more excellent way. If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Corinthians 12:31b-13:4) It's not just about having and using gifts or about doing things in the Church. The Corinthian Church had no lack of gifts. It had no lack of activity. It had no lack of people wanting to contribute money to this cause or that cause. (One of the reasons Paul wrote to them was to raise money to support the struggling Christians in Jerusalem.) The problem in Corinth was a lack of love. Without love all the amazing things they were doing might as well have been nothing. Back in Chapter 3 Paul used the illustration of building a temple. Like the temple in Jerusalem, it was built of carefully hewn wood, cut stones, gold, and precious jewels. Jesus is the foundation and others, like Paul and the Corinthians, were building on that foundation, but not everyone was building with stone or with gems and precious metals. Some were building with hay and straw. At the end, he says, it'll all be tested with fire. The hay and straw will go up in smoke. This is an image here that gives us a sense of what lies in store. Other passages talk of the old heaven and earth passing away and a new world being ushered in. I'm sure much of the language is figurative—the reality is at this point beyond our understanding. However it happens, though, that which is unworthy, that which is the product of sinfulness and selfishness, that which does not honour God will be consumed and will pass away, leaving a new world in which only the holy and the God-honouring remains. Only the work in which people truly invested—the stone, the gold, the silver, the precious jewels—will remain. Some people will make a good show of building, but if love is not their motive, it's not going to last—it will be exposed and consumed by God's judgement. If love isn't the motive, when Jesus comes and draws our music into his own great symphony, those who have been playing their own tune will have nothing to contribute. Paul goes on in verses 5-7: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. This is what will be left. This is the melody that Jesus will take up into his great symphony. And it stands in stark contrast with the ways and values of the present age, but it stands in contrast, too, with the ways and values of many people in the Church. What Paul does is to hold up Jesus as our model for love. Jesus is patient and kind. Remember, he came to condemned sinners, not to heap up more condemnation, but to redeem. We have dishonoured God and made a mess of this creation he so lovingly created. He would be within his rights to simply hit control+alt+smite and reboot everything—to wipe us out and start over from the beginning. God has every right to leave us dead in our sins, but because he loves us, he is patient and has given himself—the life of his Son—to restore us to life and to his presence. To make us his people once again. Again, love is patient and kind. And, Paul writes, love is not envious or boastful. Think again of Jesus. He who is God humbled himself in the incarnation—again, for our sake—becoming one of us. And he came not as a great king or warrior, but as the son of a humble girl and her very ordinary husband, raised in a poor backwater, and finally dying—for our sake—the humiliating and painful death of a criminal—a death we deserve, but that he did not. He had more right to boast than anyone who has ever lived, but as they pressed the crown of thorns on his head and beat him, mocking his sovereignty, he chose not to revile them in return. Instead, as he was dying he prayed for the very men who were standing there gloating and jeering at him. Love is not irritable or resentful. Again, God is patient and long-suffering. Rather than resenting us for our sins, the Lord has given himself to redeem us from them. Love does not rejoice at wrongs. Just the opposite. The angels in heaven rejoice with the Lord whenever a sinner repents. Again, think of Jesus: Love bears all things…believes all things…hopes all things…endures all things. Has anyone borne more or endured more than Jesus? And with that image in our heads we need to think of ourselves. Are we patient and kind? And we need to be honest. It's easy to be patient and kind some of the time and with the people we like, but what about the people we don't like? What about those difficult situations we find ourselves in? Are we really patient and kind? Are we envious and boastful or, like Jesus, are we humble and willing to give up our honour for the sake of others—even for the sake of people who hurt us and wrong us. Are we willing to admit when we are wrong and when we have sinned? Are we irritable and resentful? These are sins that Christians can be very tolerant of. Sometimes we even turn irritability and resentment into virtues when the right people and situations come our way. What's my reaction when Mormon missionaries knock on my door or when a telemarketer calls? I admit that I can be pretty irritable and most people would say that that's just fine when it comes to telemarketers and cult members. People of Jesus' day were often like that when it came to tax collectors and prostitutes and gentiles, but Jesus instead forgave these people, made them new, and welcomed them into his family. Again, where and how do we fall short of Jesus' model of love? In our families? In our workplaces? In our schools? In our church? And imagine the difference it would make around us if love were the driving force, the motive behind everything we do. Imagine what it would be like if we gave of ourselves, our rights, our honour, our glory the way that Jesus did. And it sounds good, but I know it also sounds impossible. How can we ever give of ourselves the way Jesus did? Sometimes it's hard enough giving this way to people we love. What about people who aren't close to us, people who have hurt us, people who are our enemies? This is why we need to have the example of Jesus always before us. We need to remember that we were his enemies. We need to remember that he owed us nothing but judgement, and yet he became incarnate and died for us. We need to think and meditate on the depth of love that God manifested towards us in Jesus. Brothers and Sisters, the love of God in Jesus should motivate and transform us. But that's not all. Love is impossible, and for that reason Jesus has done more than give us an example. He's washed us of our sin and he's given us God's own Spirit. Think back to John the Baptist. He told the people, “I've plunged you into the water, but one is coming who will plunge you into the Holy Spirit.” Jesus doesn't forgive our sins and leave us in some kind of neutral state. He forgives our sins and then pours his own life into us. Remember: The Lord didn't rescue the Israelites from slavery in Egypt just to leave them wandering in the wilderness. No. He freed them from Egypt, he made them his people, and he took up his dwelling in their midst as he led them into a new home and new way of life. And just so with Jesus, but on an even grander scale. Jesus rescues us and frees us from sin and death, he makes us his people—more specifically, Paul talks about Jesus making us his own body—and he comes and dwells, not just in our midst, but actually inside us. He makes us his temple as he pours his Spirit into us. But his ultimate plan isn't just to save us, but to redeem his entire creation—to set us back on the track that Adam and Eve abandoned when they sinned, to make us his stewards and his priests. And so as Israel's destination was the promised land, our destination is the New Jerusalem, the kingdom that Jesus has promised to bring in all its fullness. That's the future, but in Jesus that future has burst into our present. In the Holy Spirit Jesus gives us a foretaste of what is to come. He invites us to play the music of the kingdom and the music of the kingdom is love. Again: If it's not driven by love, it won't last. And Paul drives this point home in the rest of the passage. It's not just that the things we do without love will go up in smoke when the kingdom finally comes in all its fullness, but even many of the good things Jesus calls us to do will be overwhelmed by the great theme of love. Look at verses 8-13: Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. First Corinthians gives us the distinct sense that the church in that city was fixated on certain miraculous gifts, especially prophecy and tongues, not only elevating those who had these gifts above others, but emphasizing to everyone that these gifts were sort of the end-all-be-all of Christianity. Forget everything else—put it all aside—and pursue prophecy and tongues! But Paul is warning them and saying, “No. These gifts are great and they're useful, but there's something far more important: cultivate love. Real love. The kind of love manifest by Jesus at the cross. If you want to build the kingdom, don't pursue gifts. If you've got them, use them—lovingly—but pursue love above all else. When the kingdom is here and we're all living in God's presence, there will no longer be any need of prophecy, but there will be a need for love. The same goes for tongues. Who needs tongues when the curse of Babel is done away with? But we'll still need love. Paul describes it in terms of growing from a child into an adult. I had a Big Wheel when I was a little kid, but now I ride a real bicycle. The Big Wheel taught me how to pedal and steer and not run people over. At one point I had training wheels on my bike that kept me from falling over. But they did their work and now I'm a grown-up and I don't need those childish things. In the present age our view of God is dim. Paul describes it in terms of an ancient mirror made of polished metal. The reflection was imperfect and dark. And so is our view of God. Even as redeemed men and women, there's a veil, a gulf between us and God. Our sin has split apart heaven and earth, but Jesus has begun the work of bringing us back together. One day we will stand before God face to face. We'll know him not only through the mediating words of Scripture or through the mediating work of the Holy Spirit, but we'll stand before him and know him face-to-face. And it's on that day that our music will be taken up into God's great symphony and all that will remain is love. Faith, hope, and love remain, he says—they're essential to our life as the Church, as the people of God today—but above all we need to learn to love. It's not that faith and hope aren't important. They're vital, but without love they'll be out of tune with God's symphony. We live by faith. We take hold of Jesus, the forgiveness of sin and the promise of life, and we take hold of him by faith as we trust in him. We submit to his lordship by faith. And we live in hope—living for a kingdom and a world for which we have only a down payment. But on the great day when Jesus returns and the kingdom is consummated, faith will vanish into sight, hope will be fulfilled, but love will only intensify, growing greater and more profound as we see our Lord face to face and the weight of sin and death is finally and fully lifted from us—as the blurry image of the mirror is replaced by the real thing—as our simple one-handed song of love on the piano is taken up as part of the Lord's grand symphony of love. Brothers and Sisters, think of the words of the Lord's Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We pray these words so often and know them so well that we easily forget what they really mean. This is a prayer that looks forward in faith and hope to the day when we will see him face to face; this is a prayer that looks forward to the day when we have grown from little children into adults; this is a prayer that looks forward to that day when love becomes Creation's all-consuming theme. The Lord's Prayer looks forward to that day in hope and faith, but what it asks for is that this theme of love be manifested here today. It asks in faith for love to be made known today in the midst of sin and of fear and of hate and of death. And, Brothers and Sisters, that means that it's a prayer for our own hearts and minds to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, because if anyone is to manifest love in this present age, it is us, the only people in this world who know first-hand the love of Jesus. So pray, “thy will be done, on earth as in heaven” and pray those words in hope of the coming kingdom and pray those words in faith, trusting and seeking for the Lord to give you his loving heart so that you can show his love in your church, in your family, in your workplace, in your school, in your community, and in your world. Let us pray: O Lord, you have taught us that whatever we do without love is worth nothing: send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtues; without which whoever lives is counted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Jesus displayed His love for us on His cross. Paul described that love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. That description reveals that you and I don't love, but that Jesus does! This is my sermon on 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 for Quinquagesima, 2025.
Fr. Sean McDermott's sermon for Quinquagesima preached on March 2, 2025 at All Saints Anglican Church in Charlottesville, VA.
A short piece about liturgy and chanting begins the podcast. Sermon is at 24:55. Bulletin: Quinquagesima Bulletin 25 Congregation at Prayer: CaP, 3/2/25
Sunday, March 2, 2025 Rev. David Buchs
Old Test: 1 Sam. 16:1-13Epistle: 1 Cor. 13:1-13Gospel: Luke 18:31-43
Quinquagesima, fifty days before Easter, Jesus tells his disciples clearly that he is going to Jerusalem to suffer and die. The disciples do not understand, but a blind man sees clearly who Jesus is. Let us be like the blind man, calling out, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.
Sermon for Quinquagesima based on Luke 18:31-43
The Scripture readings are Isaiah 35:3-7; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; and Luke 18:31-43.Whether you understand what God is up to or not, no matter how much you understand what God is doing, no matter how much you need from God, no matter how much God has already given you, the conclusion is the same. Follow Jesus to the cross.
Quinquagesima 2-March-2025 Sermon Text: 1 Samuel 16:1-13 Sermon Theme: “What The Lord Sees In You.” I. A Chosen Servant To Be Anointed. (Vs.1-3). II. A Sin Darkened Heart To Be Cleansed.(vs.4-7) III. A Heart For The Holy Spirit to Daily and Richly Renew. (Vs.8-13) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Due to technical difficulties, there was no recorded video for this service, only audio. Hymn #304 “The Son of God Goes Forth to War” (TLH 452) Order of Divine Service, p.7 The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal Readings: Isaiah 35:3-7, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, St. Luke 18:31-43 Hymn of the Day: “If Thy Beloved Son, O God” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #18, TLH 375) Sermon Offertory: "Create in Me…" p.18 General Prayer……… p.19-20 Hymn: “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior” LW 237, TLH 311 Exhortation p.21 Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship) Communion Hymns: “Jesus, Your Boundless Love So True” LW 280 “God, Whose Almighty Word” LW 317, TLH 307 “Take My Life, O Lord, Renew” LW 404 Closing Hymn: “My God, My Father, Make Me Strong” TLH #424 --Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Quinquagesima-Cover-3-2-2025-Online.pdf Picture: Ottheinrich Bible 1430 (III:45) Blind Bartimaeus in Luke 18:35-43
Sermon for Quinquagesima (March 3rd, 2025) Isaiah 35:3-7; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Luke 18:31-43 Rev. Jonathan Jennings -------------------------------- Check Us Out At: www.bethlehemlutheranferrin.org www.facebook.com/bethlehemlutheranferrin/
Date: 2 March 2025 Sermon title: Was Blind but Now I See Preacher: Rev. Tapani Simojoki Text: Luke 18:31-43 Duration: 24min 59s
Evening Prayer for Saturday, March 1, 2025 (Eve of The Last Sunday of Epiphany: Transfiguration, or Quinquagesima; David, Bishop of Menevia, Apostle of Wales, 601).Psalm and Scripture readings (60-day Psalter):Psalm 147Lamentations 5Romans 13Click here to access the text for the Daily Office at DailyOffice2019.com.Click here to support The Daily Office Podcast with a one-time gift or a recurring donation.
On Wednesday nights, Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL) offers to both children and adults an opportunity for teaching with Learn-by-Heart at 6:30 PM and a catechetical service at 7:00 PM. This service is designed to prepare God's people for the theme of the upcoming Sunday Divine Service. The dialog sermon explains "Jesus Healing the Blind Man" (St. Luke 18:31-43), which is the Holy Gospel for Quinquagesima Sunday. Learn-by-Heart will include “Renew Me, O Eternal Light" (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #85), Sacrament of the Altar, the second question from the Small Catechism, and Philippians 3:9 or 1 Corinthians 2:14. --Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL). Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Quinquagesima-2-26-2025-online.pdf Responsive Prayer: Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2024-ASBH.pdf Insert for Hymn: April-19-Philip-Melancthon-b.pdf https://vimeo.com/1058431834?share=copy
Pr. Ben Ball of St. Paul Lutheran-Hamel, IL The post Looking Forward to Sunday Morning (One Year Lectionary): Quinquagesima – Pr. Ben Ball, 2/25/25 (0563) first appeared on Issues, Etc..
Two pastors thinking out loud about the upcoming Gospel reading. This episode is devoted to the Gospel reading for Quinquagesima, Luke 18:31–43. ----more---- Host: Fr. Jason Braaten Regular Guest: Fr. Dave Petersen ----more---- Become a Patron! You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/ You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/ As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support.
This is a recording of the sermon for Quinquagesima from George Stoeckhardt's book Grace Upon Grace: Gospel Sermons for the Church Year, reprinted by Steadfast Press. ----more---- Read by: Fr. Matt Moss ----more---- Become a Patron! You can subscribe to the Journal here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/subscribe/ You can read the Gottesblog here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/gottesblog/ You can support Gottesdienst here: https://www.gottesdienst.org/make-a-donation/ As always, we, at The Gottesdienst Crowd, would be honored if you would Subscribe, Rate, and Review. Thanks for listening and thanks for your support.
1 The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard.Simile est regnum caelorum homini patrifamilias, qui exiit primo mane conducere operarios in vineam suam. 2 And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard.Conventione autem facta cum operariis ex denario diurno, misit eos in vineam suam. 3 And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place idle.Et egressus circa horam tertiam, vidit alios stantes in foro otiosos, 4 And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just.et dixit illis : Ite et vos in vineam meam, et quod justum fuerit dabo vobis. 5 And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner.Illi autem abierunt. Iterum autem exiit circa sextam et nonam horam : et fecit similiter. 6 But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle?Circa undecimam vero exiit, et invenit alios stantes, et dicit illis : Quid hic statis tota die otiosi? 7 They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go you also into my vineyard.Dicunt ei : Quia nemo nos conduxit. Dicit illis : Ite et vos in vineam meam. 8 And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first.Cum sero autem factum esset, dicit dominus vineae procuratori suo : Voca operarios, et redde illis mercedem incipiens a novissimis usque ad primos. 9 When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny.Cum venissent ergo qui circa undecimam horam venerant, acceperunt singulos denarios. 10 But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: and they also received every man a penny.Venientes autem et primi, arbitrati sunt quod plus essent accepturi : acceperunt autem et ipsi singulos denarios. 11 And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house,Et accipientes murmurabant adversus patremfamilias, 12 Saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats.dicentes : Hi novissimi una hora fecerunt, et pares illos nobis fecisti, qui portavimus pondus diei, et aestus. 13 But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny?At ille respondens uni eorum, dixit : Amice, non facio tibi injuriam : nonne ex denario convenisti mecum? 14 Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee.Tolle quod tuum est, et vade : volo autem et huic novissimo dare sicut et tibi. 15 Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil, because I am good?Aut non licet mihi quod volo, facere? an oculus tuus nequam est, quia ego bonus sum? 16 So shall the last be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.Sic erunt novissimi primi, et primi novissimi. Multi enim sunt vocati, pauci vero electi.The three Sundays preceeding Ash Wedesday are called Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima, which mean, respectively, the seventieth, the sixtieth, and fiftieth day, that is, before Easter. They are mere names to correspond with the name of Lent (Quadragesima in Latin; fortieth); obviously they don't actually correspond with the period they indicate. The parable of the vineyard shows us that we must all work to obtain the reward of eternal life.
A Sermon for Septuagesima 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 & St. Matthew 20:1-16 by William Klock Over and over Jesus would say to the people, “The kingdom of heaven is like…this. And then he'd go on to tell them a story. In today's Gospel he says, “It's like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire labourer for his vineyard.” Jesus draws this imagery straight from the Prophets, so he doesn't have to explain very much. In the Prophets the vineyard owner is always the Lord. The vineyard or the people working in it were always Israel. So as Jesus tells his story, Matthew and John and Peter and the rest can easily imagine themselves getting up that morning, leaving their wives and children, and going to the town square in the hopes someone will have work for them. Day labourers were pretty much at the bottom of society. In some ways slaves were better off. At least a slave's owner was obligated to clothe and feed him and his family. A day labourer lived a meagre hand to mouth existence. If there was no work, he didn't eat. If there was work, he did it, earned just enough to buy food for his family, and got up the next morning already tired, but ready to do it all over again. If there wasn't work, he either begged or he and his family went hungry. So Jesus' hearers imagine themselves arriving at the town square just before sunrise with their tools in hand and are glad to see this man who offers them a denarius and sends them down the road to harvest his grapes. A denarius was the going rate for a day's common labour. Again, it wasn't much, but their families would eat tonight and then tomorrow it'd start all over again. The labourers had been labouring hard for a good three hours by mid-morning. The wind changed. Rain was coming. Maybe tonight; definitely tomorrow. The harvest had to come in before the rain, so the vineyard owner went back to town. There were still plenty of men waiting to be hired for the day, so he tapped as many as he thought he needed, promised, “I'll pay you what's right,” and sent them to harvest his grapes. By noon the clouds started rolling in over the mountains. Rain was coming sooner than expected so off he went to town again. The sun was hot now. Everyone could imagine themselves labouring away in the vineyard. Maybe the day Jesus told them the story was a hot one and they could feel the heat pressing in on them. Thank goodness they were sitting in the shade of a tree, not carrying heavy baskets of grapes out under the hot sun, kicking up dust as they shuffled under heavy loads. But they could imagine. They were in the story on that sweltering day. They were certainly earning their denarius! Even those men who started at noon would be exhausted when the day was done. And in the backs of their minds they were thinking, “Okay…the men working so hard, they're Israel, they're us. Where is this going?” By mid-afternoon the dark rainclouds were almost on them, but there was still too much work to be done. The man hurried back to town. Still there were men waiting for work. They were probably expecting to go home empty-handed, going to bed hungry. Their children would cry. But if they left the town square they'd miss out on even that small chance that someone might come late in the day with a job. “Get to my vineyard and pick like the wind,” the man said, “and I'll pay you what's right.” So off they ran, not wasting a moment. And the work wasn't so bad now that the sky was dark and the wind was blowing. But still, an hour til quitting time, there was work to do and then the first raindrops began to fall. The man ran back to town and rounded up the last few men left…the ones just about ready to go home empty-handed or maybe ready to beg some bread from someone. An hour's pay was better than no pay at all, so off they went to help the others finish. And finish they did. And here's where Jesus gets to the heart of that bit about “The kingdom of God is like…” As the thunder began and the rain started pouring, the foreman gathered the men in the barn and pulling the foreman aside, the man said to him, “Pay them their wages, but start with those men who came last and end with the guys who have been here all day.” Imagine being one of those men who worked only an hour, who, even if they could buy a little food, would still go to bed hungry. Imagine their reaction as the foreman put a whole denarius in each of their hands. Again, it wasn't much, but it was a whole day's wage. And imagine the men who had been working since sun-up and mid-morning. Maybe they'd heard wrong. They looked at each other. Some of them said, “No. A denarius for the day. That was the deal. That's always the deal.” But if he was paying these guys who'd only worked an hour a whole denarius, maybe they'd get twelve! Or at least more than one. But their excitement faded as the foremen went down the line and gave a denarius to everyone: to the men who had worked since mid-afternoon, to the men who'd worked since noon, to the men who'd worked since mid-morning, and even to the men who had been there all day. They grumbled. I can just hear impetuous Peter interrupting Jesus: “What a jerk! That's not fair! Jesus, I think you meant to say, ‘The kingdom is not like…'” So first the men grumbled to each other and finally one of them got worked up enough to grumble directly to the vineyard owner. “What gives, Boss? Those guys over there only worked an hour and you've paid them exactly the same thing that you paid us. We've worn ourselves out working all day…and, man, it was a scorcher. You've done us wrong!” The men were angry, but the vineyard owner responded gently. “Friend, I've done you no wrong. I offered to pay you a denarius for a day's work and you agreed. That's the going rate after all. I've given you exactly what we agreed on. Take your pay and go home to your family. Be happy that you can feed them tonight. And be happy for these other men. They can go home and feed their families tonight too. You know what it's like to go home empty-handed. How can you be angry that their children will eat tonight? Don't be angry at my generosity.” And then, no longer telling a parable, Jesus says to his disciples, “So the last will be first, and the first last.” And with that Matthew and John and Peter and all the rest of the twelve and all the people gathered scratched their heads and looked at Jesus, more than a little confused. “The last will be first and the first will be last?” Just four verses later we read that James and John got their mother to put in a good word for them with Jesus. “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at your right hand one at your left, in your kingdom.” I have to wonder if this was in response to the whole thing about the last being first and the first being last. James and John (and their mother) were worried about their place in the kingdom. And, of course, when the others heard about this they were angry with James and John, because…of course…they all wanted to sit in those places of honour. But that was most decidedly not what the kingdom of God is like. Hardly anyone understood and that's because almost everyone had forgotten about grace. James and John were afraid that one of the other disciples might do something extra special and earn greater favour from Jesus. Imagine the jealousy they had when Peter confessed to Jesus, “You are the Messiah, the son of the living God” and Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon bar Jonah…on this rock I will build my church.” Uh oh. Just when John, who could smugly tell people that he was Jesus' best friend, just when he thought that Jesus was going to make him Pope! They're all vying for a special place in the kingdom. They're all worried that Jesus is going to give something special to one of the other disciples and not to them. No one…or almost no one…understood, because almost everyone had forgotten about grace. The Jewish people, of all people, should have understood the grace of God. They lived it every day and they had for more than a thousand years. God's grace was exemplified by the manna in the wilderness. It was new every morning. There was always just enough for the day. God even miraculously provided a little extra for those days—the sabbaths—when you couldn't go out and gather it. But otherwise, if you tried to store it up, if you tried to take more than you needed, if you tried to outdo your neighbours, do you remember what happened to the manna? It rotted and stank and grew worms. Brothers and Sisters, God's grace is always just enough to meet our needs and to see us through today. I think that's why Jesus chose to tell his parable about those poor day-labourers. A denarius was just enough for the day. After you fed your family there was nothing left to save. You went back to the town square in the morning and hoped someone would hire you for another day and another denarius. The only difference being that God's grace is not a wage that we earn. It's not a reward for good service. It's not a sign of special status. It's simply life in his presence, sustained by his goodness. And it comes not by negotiating with him. It comes as we enter into his covenant. You don't get more because Jesus called you early nor do you get less because he called you late. You get enough, just because he called you. He promises his all for us and in return we promise our all to him. In his gracious love he has given his Son for us and made us his covenant people. In loving gratitude we give our all to him and to his kingdom. We believed in the first place because we saw his goodness and his faithfulness manifest in Jesus and in his death and resurrection, and we continue to believe because, every day we put out our hands and he pours his grace into them, always just what we need for today. Always what we need to accomplish the work he has set before us. I think that, too, is a key to the parable. The men were summoned to work in the vineyard. So was Israel and so are we. Think way back to the beginning. The Lord called Abraham for a reason. He and his children were to be light in the darkness, they were to make the Lord known to a world that had forgotten him. Israel was to be the people who lived with the living God in her midst so that the nations would see and know him. When she failed in that mission, the Lord gave his Son to die on the cross and to rise from the grave in order to set his people to rights and to establish a new covenant and a new people. And so we carry on the mission. We proclaim the good news that Jesus is Lord and we live the life of the Spirit before the eyes of the watching world and they see the faithfulness of God on full display—a faithfulness that none of the gods or kings of this age can compare with—and they come, and they believe, and the Lord pours his grace into their hands just as he has ours and the mission goes on until the earth is filled with the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. This is what Jesus meant when he said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be given to you.” That wasn't a promise of wealth or of power or of a position of privilege at his right hand over and above everyone else. Brothers and Sisters, it was a promise of his grace—like the manna in the wilderness. Always enough for today, for life and for work and for ministry and for whatever struggles we face and always enough to share with the people around us. Always enough to do the kingdom work he has given us to do today. And that's where our Epistle today dovetails into the Gospel. The Gospel speaks of grace, but because we are so prone to forgetting that grace requires discipline, the lectionary today give us this passage from Paul's first letter to the church in Corinth. Let's look at those four verses again. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27. Don't you know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? So run in such a way that you'll win it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to gain a crown that perishes; we do it for an imperishable one. So then, I don't run aimlessly; I don't box like someone punching the air. No, I discipline my body and make it my slave, lest after preaching to others, I myself should end up being disqualified. If you haven't read 1 Corinthians in a while, it's helpful to recall the context. Paul knew the people there were believers. They'd stretched out their hands and God had poured his grace into them. But they weren't putting that grace to work for the sake of the kingdom. They were using their Spirit-given gifts to build themselves up rather than each other and they were abusing God's grace to justify sins that, Paul writes, even made the pagans blush. They were not seeking first the kingdom. Brothers and Sisters, the Christian life isn't aimless. In calling us to himself, the Lord has given us a mission and a future hope. St. Paul likens the Christian life to running a race and boxing in a match. Serious athletes train. Serious athletes discipline themselves. They get up early, they eat healthy, and they work hard. Paul first uses the illustration of a runner in a footrace. If he's willing to discipline himself and put in that effort for a laurel crown, how much more ought we to discipline ourselves to run this race that ends with the resurrection of the dead and new creation and life in the presence of God? But how often do we dink around instead? How much do we invest in things that don't ultimately matter instead of pursuing Jesus and his kingdom with everything we've got? Paul compares this to a poorly trained boxer throwing punches at the air instead of his opponent. Aimlessly throwing punches won't win the prize. Instead, it'll probably end with your opponent landing a knockout punch on you. So Paul stresses the need to discipline ourselves—especially reigning in our sinful appetites. He even talks about being disqualified in the end because of failure. What's that about? If we're saved by grace, how can we fail? Think of the grand biblical narrative of God and his people. Too often we reduce things like God's salvation and his grace to abstract theological terms, but it's important we remember their place in the big story of God and his people. Think again of Israel, delivered from Egypt by the Lord. I mentioned this before, but let's expand on it. The people of Israel were slaves to Pharaoh. They cried out to the Lord and he rescued them. And yet he didn't just strike down Pharaoh and his army and set the Israelites free to go do whatever they wanted. “Love you guys. I'll see you in heaven someday. Now go have fun.” No, Israel was his people. He'd called and claimed this people for himself in Abraham. In delivering Israel from Pharaoh the Lord was claiming back what was rightly his. And so he declared to Israel: You are my firstborn son. I will be your God and you will be my people. He led Israel through the Red Sea and through the wilderness, met them at Mt. Sinai, and there he entered into a covenant with them. He gave them the law. For his part, he would be their God with all that entailed. Their part of the covenant—their obligation—was to fulfil the calling he gave them, to be the people who lived with him in their midst and, in doing that, to be a light in the midst of the nations. The Lord had work to do. He's going to set his fallen creation to rights and his plan all along has been to do that work through his people. Adam was created to be the high priest and steward of his temple, his Creation. And when the Lord called Abraham in his grace, when he saved Abraham's children from Egypt in his grace, it was to create a holy nation, a nation of priests, a people of grace to once again be his stewards on earth—as Adam once had been. So the law was the means by which they maintained the holiness necessary to live in the Lord's presence and to be his witnesses. So notice that the Lord's calling of Israel and his deliverance of her from Egypt were all of grace, and yet to live as his people meant devotion and discipline. Because they had a job to do. God made them stewards of his grace. And as we read through the Old Testament, Israel repeatedly failed in her disciplined devotion to the Lord and to the covenant he had established with them. As the Prophets said, it was a heart problem. And to fix that heart problem, Jesus brought forgiveness to his people—to those who put their faith in him and became part of the renewed people of God, and he gave them God's own Spirit to fix that heart problem, to turn their hearts towards the Lord. Brothers and Sisters, you and I are part of that new covenant community, the people who belong to God through Jesus, the people whom he has redeemed from sin's bondage that we might be bound to him and to the service of his kingdom. Jesus does not set us free so that we can go do whatever we want, so that we can serve the Lord half-heartedly, so that we can live with divided loyalties any more than the Lord delivered Israel from Egypt so that they could worship other gods or serve foreign kings. Through Jesus, we have been redeemed so that we can be faithful stewards of the Lord in this world, to do what we were created to do in the first place, to be the people who live with the Lord himself in our midst and in that, to be light in the darkness, to be witnesses of God's grace and goodness and love and to declare the royal summons: Jesus is Lord. To lift the veil on God's future, on his new creation so that the people around us can have a taste of what's to come. And it's hard work. Hard enough that Jesus has given us his own Spirit, knowing that only by his Spirit can we ever labour through the heat of the day and accomplish our task. The world, the flesh, and the devil compete for our loyalties. The gods and kings of the present age fight back and oppose us. Too often we try to live with one foot in the age to come and one still in the present age. Our loyalties are still often divided between Jesus and the gods of the present age. And even in the Church, we often put too much of our energy into things that don't ultimately matter. Some of us might as well be sitting on the sidelines of the race. Others of us are like the boxer wildly throwing punches, working up a sweat, but none of them ever landing where they'll do any good. Brothers and Sisters, we owe the Lord our all in return for the grace he has poured out on us. The season of Lent is a time for us to focus on the grace that the Lord has poured out on us in Jesus. But these three Sunday with the funny Latin names: Septuagesima, Sexagesima, and Quinquagesima…that means seventieth, sixtieth, and fiftieth as we count down to Easter…these three Sundays of preparation remind us that grace in action must be coupled with discipline, with humility, and with love. If we are to be faithful stewards of the Lord's grace, we first need to dedicate ourselves to the Lord's grace. We have to know it ourselves, before we can share it with others. Brothers and Sisters, commit yourself to the Lord. Give him your full allegiance as King. Get up each morning and renounce the world, the flesh, and the devil, then go out to collect the manna for today. Steep yourselves in the means of grace that he has given. Be disciplined in immersing yourself in his word and in prayer and do not neglect to meet together, but exhort one another to love and to good works. And receive the Lord's invitation to his Supper. Here at his Table he reminds us of the sacrifice he made at the cross, giving his all…even his life…for our sake, to forgive our sins and to defeat even death itself, to make his enemies his friends. Don't decline his invitation. Put out your hands and take the bread, open your mouth and drink the wine, God's grace poured out for you in Jesus. Be strengthened to work in the Lord's vineyard and remember that no matter how hard the work, his grace is always enough. Let us pray: Father, in today's Collect we acknowledge that we who ought to be justly punished for offences have been mercifully delivered by your goodness and for the glory of your name. We pray that we never forget the reason that you have delivered us and that our priority in all things will be the glory of your name as we share your grace with others and proclaim the good news about your kingdom and about the Lord Jesus. Teach us to be faithful steward of your grace, O Lord. Amen.
Vicar's wife, Jenna, decides to give up sex for Lent!A series in 17 parts, by Blacksheep. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. The Jenna series started with ‘Jenna Goes To Church', followed shortly after with ‘Jenna, the Vicar's Wife'. It resumed recently with Jenna's New Year'; and now it continues with a Lentil 2-part story. Other episodes will follow.It was the last Sunday of Shrovetide, known as Quinquagesima. At St. Michael's Church, Reverend Morris had amassed a pile of old palm crosses, intending to burn them on Ash Wednesday."Shouldn't be long before the first members of the faithful arrive," he said to his wife Jenna, who was adjusting the flowers at the side of the pulpit."Oh before I forget, I've got something for you to burn on Ash Wednesday," she smiled, handing him a pair of her panties."This is an unusual-looking palm cross!" He replied. "I think I'd better burn this separately from the others! Is there some reason why you want your undies reduced to ash?""Well Simon, I've been thinking. And I've finally decided what I'm going to give up for Lent.""You're giving up wearing underwear?""Ha-ha. Tempting, but no. I'm giving up sex."Reverend Morris almost dropped the box full of crosses. "What? Sex? No, you can't be serious!"Jenna nodded. "I'm 100% serious, my love. Lent is supposed to be hard, and you're always going on about how part of being a good Christian is making sacrifices and so on. It's traditionally a time of fasting and abstaining from something to repent and focus our hearts and minds on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.""Yes, but within reason, Jen! I don't expect you to suffer hardship as bad as that!""I can do it, Simon. I'm committed to seeing it through. It's only forty days.""B-but, that's six weeks!" the vicar whined, looking as if his entire world was about to end. "I, I'm not sure I can, er, go without for so long!""Now Simon, you're a man of God. You're stronger than most. I know you can do this. And just think how wonderful it will be when Easter comes, everything in calf, bursting out in spring glory, sap rising, mating seasons beginning, shoots thrusting upwards, days getting longer, ""Vicars dying of horniness, " Reverend Morris sighed."Exactly. And it won't just be you going without. The other chaps of this church will have to go without as well!""Oh my goodness, Jenna. There's going to be a lot of frustration building up in this church! When you say no sex, does that mean, ""No physical contact whatsoever, my dearest! No blowjobs, no kissing, no cock in cunt, nada! Just like social distancing."Reverend Morris' lip was trembling. "Not even a kiss?""Nope. I'll be sleeping in the spare bedroom until Easter. I can blow you a kiss. And whilst we can't do anything involving physical contact, there are other naughty ways we can get through Lent.""Like what?""Use your imagination, Simon!"He thought for a moment. "So I'll have to make do with dating Rosie Palms until Easter?""If it helps you cope, yes!"The reverend took a deep breath. "You're absolutely right, Jenna. I can get through this. I admire you so much for deciding to have a sex ban. In fact, I think I love you even more, and I didn't think that possible!""Aww. Ditto." She kissed him. "We'll make the most of Shrove Tuesday," she added, with a wink. "I'm going to do some creative things with pancakes."He slipped his arms around her. "Remember that morning after the Candlemas service, when we got soaking wet in the rain and we just ravished each other once we got back to the vicarage?""Hee hee, yes. Or that time last month during that short holiday in Lincolnshire when we stayed in that weird hotel, and the ghost gatecrashed our passion?""Bit early in the morning for that, isn't it? Then again, I'm not complaining!" A voice shouted, and they both looked round. Gordon the organist had just arrived.Moments later, Josh the curate appeared."Morning guys!" Jenna smiled. She turned back to her husband. "You'd better get your robes on. Looks like some of the congregation are here already. I'll go and hand out some hymn books."He nodded and headed off to the vestry. "Forty days," he sighed. "God, .I will really need your help through this difficult time!"And just how were some of the other male members of St. Michael's Church going to cope for forty days without any 'spiritual guidance' from the vicar's wife?Shrove Tuesday (the eve of Lent)On Shrove Tuesday, Jenna spent all afternoon mixing pancake batter. It would've been quicker to buy some ready-made pancakes from Tesco, but where was the fun in that? She looked at the kitchen wall clock."Come on Simon, you're late. How long does a meeting with the Bishop take?"Her husband had been out all day. At last, she heard his car pull up on the drive."Good. Now the fun begins."The front door opened and Reverend Morris came rushing in. "Sorry I've been so long. Bishop George kept prattling on for ages and then coming back home there's been a road accident so I had to take the long way home, oh I see you've been busy!" He noticed his wife was completely naked except for an apron."Welcome home," she smirked. "It's time to flip some pancakes. Is my randy reverend able to provide some batter?"He licked his lips. "What sort of batter would you be requiring?""Hmm, let's see. That special 'anointing oil' you used during my 21st birthday?" She whirled a frying pan in her hand and flipped a pancake. "Here's one I prepared earlier."His hands found her shoulders, and turned her to face him. His hands moved up to cup her face and Jenna felt his lips close around hers in a tender kiss. She returned it with rising passion, slipping her tongue into his mouth. As their tongues danced, Jenna quickly unfastened her apron, letting it slide down over her smooth skin to the kitchen floor.She could hear Reverend Morris unfastening his own garments, and when he embraced her tightly, she felt his bare skin press against hers with delicious warmth. Her husband's mouth left her lips, trailing down her neck to her chest. He took a nipple in his mouth and teased the erect tip. It was perhaps the upcoming sex ban enhancing his senses, but Jenna's breasts had never felt so full, and had never tasted so sweet. His hands roamed down over her arse, savoring her curves.Reverend Morris moved back up her body, his lips playing over her breasts, then back up her neck. Jenna's hands slid down his chest and at last reached their goal. She gripped his throbbing member, took a few steps backward, pulling gently but firmly, and he promptly followed her. She felt the edge of the kitchen countertop meet her lower back, and she swiftly heaved herself on to the cool granite surface and lay back, spreading her legs.Reverend Morris had a sudden urge to taste his wife; his tongue met with her soft skin just above her clit, then down into her folds, tasting, discovering and exploring all that she had to offer. He began to suck and lick her clit. How he loved to worship at this altar.Jenna reached for the bowl of pancake batter. A wooden spoon was sticking out of the bowl. Without hesitation, she began spooning the batter down her breasts."It tastes alright," she murmured, placing a blob of batter on her husband's nose. "But it needs an extra ingredient, ""Umm, I think I can help you there.""Fuck me religiously, darling." Jenna said hoarsely.A pair of strong, silky legs wrapped around the vicar's arse. He lowered himself onto her and felt those glorious batter-coated breasts rub against his chest as he began thrusting into her. He tried to set a steady, leisurely pace to begin, but the legs around him urged him on faster and harder. Reverend Morris responded with enthusiasm, and within moments he was pounding into his wife with all his strength, mindful that after tonight he wouldn't be able to do this for six weeks."Yes, yes, oh my God yes, I've never felt anything like it!" Jenna moaned."Bloody hell, I'm coming, oh Jenna!" Reverend Morris yelled as his stream of hot cum filled up her cunt and flowed back out onto the kitchen countertop.Jenna lay back on the countertop, eyes closed. It was several minutes before her breathing had calmed enough for her to speak."Did I provide enough batter?" Reverend Morris asked."Your holy offering was more than generous!""Forty days without from this moment on. You've still time to change your mind.""I'm sticking to it, Simon. We'll get through Lent. We'll have to think up some creative contactless ways to get our rocks off."The smell of burning interrupted them. They both glanced at the stove. To Jenna's dismay, the pancake she'd been cooking had been virtually cremated in the frying pan."Oh dear," she said, gazing at the remains of the pancake, which now resembled a lump of coal."Now that's what I call a perfect burnt offering for Ash Wednesday!" Reverend Morris replied.The Organist is Entertained.Gordon Leesmith always looked forward to Thursday evening arriving. This was when he had organ practice at church, and for the past few months he'd been teaching Jenna to play the organ. These lessons were really just an excuse for a passionate romp with the stunning vicar's wife, who was always more than willing to get her hands on the organ in his trousers, rather than the church one.Gordon hummed to himself as he brewed himself a cup of tea. He checked the time. It was only just after midday. Six hours to go. He was impatient and horny, but in a very happy mood. He'd just returned from seeing his Primary Care physician. That in itself something of a miracle in modern Britain; and received good news. His benign prostate enlargement wasn't as bad as he'd feared. Despite being a bit overweight, the doctor had given him a clean bill of health. His blood pressure was low, and so was his cholesterol.Today was his birthday. He was fifty six. A year ago, Gordon had been a miserable, short-tempered man who didn't endear himself to anyone else in the church. Long-divorced, impotent and frustrated with being alone for so long, his life had turned upside down when a young woman by the name of Jenna Fox had started attending St. Michael's Church. A few months later, she'd turned her attentions to flirting with him. Never in a million years did Gordon think he'd end up getting his cock sucked by a stunning redhead whilst he sat on the organ stool.As Gordon sipped his tea, his phone vibrated."Oh, an email from Jenna," he smiled, checking the message.Happy Birthday Gordon! About tonight. I'm afraid I can't make tonight's organ practice. I won't be able to until Easter arrives. Thing is, I've chosen to give up sex for Lent. I know you won't to hear this and it's going to be so hard for me to stick to this, but you've got to test yourself and set a challenge, right? It's what being a Christian is all about. I truly hope you'll understand. But - that doesn't mean we can't still have some fun! Make sure you visit the church - I've left a birthday present for you on the organ stool, trust me, it'll see you through this hard time. And when Easter comes, Jesus won't be the only person that rises, wink wink. It'll be worth the wait, keep your organ pipe warm for me.Love Jenna. xxx"She's abstaining from sex?" Gordon almost dropped his cup of tea. "Wait, what? Oh no! This is a nightmare! I won't be able to have a fuck for six weeks? Bloody hell! I'll go round the bend, I can't even call on Yulia's mate Martika anymore. Damn it, why did she have to bugger off back to Ukraine?"He wasn't sure whether to scream or burst into tears, but after he overcame the initial shock, he took a deep breath and composed himself."Well if she's gone on strike that means the vicar, the churchwarden, the curate and the bishop won't be getting any cunt either. Ha! Misery loves company, as the old saying goes. Gordon suddenly felt much better, knowing he wasn't the only one being denied the pleasure. Still, six weeks, God, this was going to be a struggle."Hmm, oh well. I've endured worse. I once had to endure that ‘Brotherhood of Man' tribute act in Skegness. I wonder what Jenna's got me for my birthday?"He picked up his car keys. There was only one way to find out.When Gordon arrived at the church, he discovered that the door was unlocked. Usually he had the place to himself, and he was thankful for that, given the sort of "organ practice" he liked to engage in with Jenna. Cautiously, he entered the church. The sound of a vacuum cleaner could be heard. Mrs. Wilcox, one of the many "old church biddies" as Gordon secretly called them, was busy cleaning up the aisle. Noticing the organist approaching, the slightly-built pensioner switched off the vacuum."Ah, hello Gordon! Are you here to tickle the ivories? I'm just finishing off here and then I'll be out of your way." It wasn't at all fair to describe Gladys as an ‘old biddy'. She kept herself fit and classy, and besides the rotation of sanctuary cleaning which she took part, she also headed up an outreach to single mothers in the community."Hello Gladys. No need to stop on my account. I usually come here in the evening, but, er, change of plans. You know, you really should lock yourself in when you're here by yourself. You know what it's like these days. Quite a few crackheads and drunks hang around the churchyard, some can be intimidating."The old woman rolled her eyes. "Oh they don't concern me, dearie. I carry a small can of mace in my apron pocket. My grandson Dwaine bought it for me online. He'll be arriving soon to give me a lift home."Gordon raised an eyebrow. "Blimey. There's more to you than meets the eye. Is that stuff even legal?""Maybe not, but you won't rat on an oldie, will you?" She looked back over her shoulder at him, then winked.Gordon laughed. "My lips are sealed, Gladys."Gordon's Lentil Gift From JennaHe hurried to the organ. "Crafty old gal," he said to himself. On the stool was a red gift bag. "Ah, this must be Jenna's little present for me," he said sitting down on the stool and opening the bag. A large red envelope and something wrapped in pink tissue paper were inside. He opened the envelope, and pulled out a birthday card. Inside, Jenna had written a little rhyme.Organists are sexyNone more than youOpen your presentIt'll help you get through!Xxxx"Ha-ha," Gordon chuckled. "Well whatever is this present?" He began tearing off the tissue paper. "What's this? A torch?" He held up the plastic object, then removed the cap on the end. "Bloody hell. She's bought me one of those fleshlight sex toys!" He peered closely at the silicone vagina. "Nice cunt lips, even if they are artificial, oh wait, there's a piece of paper stuffed inside." He pulled out the note.Hello Gordon. I had this specially made for you. Now you can still put your organ pipe inside me all through Lent! P S - don't forget to use the lube!"Wow, she had a cast of her own cunt made just for me! What a great birthday present! Last year all I got was a pair of slippers from my cousin." He noticed the small bottle of clear lube in the bottom of the gift bag, but didn't pay much attention to it, being too distracted by the sex toy. His erection was straining painfully against his underpants and trousers. Despite Mrs. Wilcox still busily vacuuming the pew cushions, Gordon unzipped and pulled out his cock. He peered over the top of the organ. The old girl had her back to him and besides, you had to walk round to the side of the organ to see anything. He was safely concealed behind the instrument. She wouldn't notice him having a quick wank,"Never used a sex toy before," he muttered to himself, sticking a finger into the fleshlight. "First time for everything though. It feels really tight, let's give it a go." He attempted to slide his cock inside."God, this is really tight, oof!" He managed to slide his cock halfway in, but instantly regretted it."Bit too tight, ouch!" He tried to pull out, but his cock was fully stuck inside the toy.The realization hit him. "Shit. I should've used the lube."Gordon bit his lip, as he tried to ease the thing off this manhood, but to no avail."Oh no."Gladys the paramedicMrs. Wilcox switched off the vacuum cleaner and glanced round. She could just see the top of Gordon's head. The organ was completely silent."Is he playing with the volume turned down?" She wondered.Gordon was starting to panic. If he didn't get this toy off soon, things could become embarrassing. He didn't want to have to drive up to an emergency medical center to get it removed."Come off, damn you, come off!" He grunted."Having problems, dearie?" Mrs. Wilcox said, appearing at the side of the organ. "Oh my!"Gordon looked mortified. "Um, hello Gladys," he mumbled. "I've got a bit of a problem.""I can see that, you silly boy. What on earth have you been doing? I trust that's not an outsized organ stop?"The organist blushed crimson. "Er, no. It's not. It's a, look, it's got stuck. I can't get it off my, thing.""Let's have a look." Before he could protest, she grabbed the fleshlight and pulled on it."Oww!" Gordon yelled. "Don't yank it like that, Gladys! I don't want to end up like John Wayne Bobbitt!""Needs some lubricant or something. That should help. When I was a child, I got my father's chamber pot stuck on my head. Mother used lard to get it off.""There's a bottle of lube in that bag," Gordon winced, as his cock started to hurt.Mrs. Wilcox wasted no time, and squirted a generous amount of the clear gel on her hands, before smearing some round the base of Gordon's cock. He gave an awkward cough as her gnarled old fingers probed around his privates. He'd never be able to look this eighty-something woman in the eye again during a church service. Going to A & E would be more embarrassing, he kept telling himself. Then again, perhaps not!"Alright, let's try easing if off. Nice and slow." Mrs. Wilcox gripped the base of his cock, and with her left hand began to gently pull the fleshlight. It began to slide off. "That's it! It's coming off now! Gently does it!""Almost," Gordon said, gritting his teeth.She continued to pull and finally, the toy slid off, with a popping sound."There we are! Pop goes the weasel!" Mrs. Wilcox smiled. She handed him the offending toy."Thanks so much," Gordon gasped, relieved that his cock hadn't come to any serious harm."What a big, thick willy you've got!" Mrs. Wilcox replied. "No wonder that thing got stuck!""Er, thanks," Gordon mumbled, feeling more embarrassed than ever."No need to be shy, dearie. A man who is blessed like you shouldn't hide his light under a bushel, no! It's so much bigger than my late husband's was. Dear old Bert, he used to love it when I played with his willy. Of course that was over twenty years ago. I wish I could give yours a proper sucking, but I'd have to remove my dentures, and I've used the Poligrip, "The mention of dentures being removed was almost sufficient to make Gordon lose his erection. He was about to say something, but she continued."On the other hand, an opportunity like this doesn't come my way very often! You don't mind letting an old lady have a little bit of fun before she ends up down the cemetery or in a nursing home do you, Gordon? I'm eighty-six. My mouth is pretty much all that works these days, so that will have to do. Think of it as my reward for rescuing your phallic treasure." She dragged over a nearby kneeling bench, knelt, and motioned for Gordon to step to offer her some ‘communion'.He hadn't the heart to say no. "Um, you go ahead, Gladys." Gordon closed his eyes as she removed her false teeth. He hadn't planned on getting a gum-job from a granny. He presented His cock on the padded velvet counter of her communion kneeler. She gasped in marvel at the glorious treat laying near her covered breasts. Then took his shaft slowly in one hand, and cupped his balls with her other hand. Her eye's sparkled as she beheld the phallus. And then her mouth engulfed his cock.Grasping the base of the shaft, Mrs. Wilcox took the organist's throbbing cock in her mouth and started to move her head back and forth, taking it deeper and deeper."Oh," Gordon sighed. He leaned back, gripping the sides of the organ stool and enjoyed the wonderful sensations as she sucked his manhood. She was good, no, she was very good! This was better than he ever could've imagined. The white-haired pensioner's head continued bobbing up and down on Gordon's cock, tasting some of the pre-cum."Oh yes!" He gasped. God, it felt so good!She withdrew and licked the tip of his cock, swirling around the purple head, as her fingers softly stroked the shaft. Her old skills began to come back to her. Her head and lips moved in an erotic performance. Her tongue provided a private performance that only his cock would ever experience. And the sultry ora she exuded was masterful. This woman was a sex god that only her husband ever worshipped. And now, Gordon was added to that exclusive clan of devotees."Gladys, I'm going to come," Gordon panted. "Uh!""Then fire away, dearie! I'd love a taste!" She felt him tense and then he climaxed. With that, he filled her mouth with streams of his thick, sticky cum as it spurted to the back of her throat. Mrs. Wilcox slurped and swallowed it all. Then she pressed her nose hard against his pelvice, and his thick meat pressed her larynx.As his final spurts tapered off, she very slowly pulled her head back, until his cock flopped down on the velvet padding where Gladys' grandchildren receieved their first holy Eucarist. "Umm, tastes just as good as I remember! There we go, Gordon. I'm sure you feel better now that you've emptied your plums!" She patted his cock, before lovingly tucking it back into his briefs and trousers and zipping him up. "You know something, a fine young man like you could easily pull a lady. Why, I bet there's loads of ladies who'd jump at the chance to get their hands on you! You're such a talented organist too, and you've been divorced a long time. Oh, If I were thirty years younger."Young? She thinks I'm young? I suppose to an octogenarian, fifty-six is young."Oh, I don't want to get married again," Gordon replied, wiping his brow. "I'd prefer something, casual." He cleared his throat. "Thanks for, helping me Gladys!""Well we're all good Christians here, yes? We should help each other!" Gladys looked at where she was kneeling. “Did you know, Gordon; The Greek word for communion is ‘koinonia'. It's also the Greek word for ‘intercourse'? I'll always cherish this special treat you've shared with me.”The door of the church opened and a hulking, six-foot young man came strolling in. He was covered in tattoos and obviously a regular visitor to the gym, as his massive upper arms and shoulders proved. The man looked like he could break necks merely by flicking his finger."Gran, are you here?"Gordon froze in horror as he peered over the top of the organ. "Who the hell's that?" The man resembled Lewis Hamilton bulked up on steroids."Oh that'll be Dwaine, my grandson," Mrs. Wilcox replied. "Be with you in a minute, sweetie!" She called out. "I've just been helping Gordon to polish his organ!"A Sermon That's More Stimulating Than Usual.Reverend Morris was struggling to write his sermon. It was only the second week of Lent, but he was finding this one harder than he ever imagined. The sex ban that his wife had imposed was starting to bite. Jenna seemed to be coping much better than him, and he felt ashamed at his weakness."Help me to be strong, Lord!"Suddenly, his phone beeped. A message from Jenna.Hello Simon. It's lunch break here at work. I figured you're still home alone and maybe feeling a bit, stressed? Why not look up Write-Erotica for some inspiration?She added a winking emoji"Write-Erotica? What's that?" the vicar wondered. He eagerly opened the laptop's browser. "A site for writers of erotic fiction? Hmm. I've never heard of this before. I'm always years behind everyone else, when it comes to things. Okay, let's have a browse. I wonder if there are any naughty fictions about clergy on here?"Reverend Morris soon discovered that the tags for "priest" "vicar" and "church sex" brought up a massive number of results. He was spoilt for choice and clicked on several stories. Some were much-better written than others."Jessica and Father Andrew broke the kiss, a trail of saliva still connecting their lips together. Their mouths were still so close to each other. Jessica let out a small breath as the priest grabbed her tight little ass. "You can go inside, if you want," she told him, then she pressed her lips on his mouth again and soon enough Father Andrew's tongue was in her mouth now, not that she minded at all. They had to be very quiet because they were in the confessional booth,"Reverend Morris read out loud."But the church was empty, so why did they need to be quiet? Eh, I'm just nit picking. This is a pretty hot story!" Feeling himself getting hard, Reverend Morris unzipped his trousers and slipped a hand inside, pulling out his cock. As he continued to read, he started jacking his cock slowly.Jessica unzipped the priest's pants, ‘oh yes,' he said. He began to moan and groan as he continued pleasuring himself.Her sweet, heavenly lips worshipped his holy shaft in ways he never imagined,It felt so wonderful jerking his throbbing cock whilst reading this erotic fic. Reverend Morris began to move his hips around and his legs straightened out under the desk. Soon he laid his head back and stretched his body further. Next thing he know, he let out a rather loud, "Oh, yes, yes that's it!" and started to cum.His milky fluid spurted out and all over his laptop keyboard."Ah,"Write-Erotica had done its work and provided Reverend Morris with some much-needed relief, as well as inspiration."I still don't know what to write about for my sermon, but I'd love to have a go at writing an erotic story just for Jenna," he smiled, getting some wet wipes and cleaning up his keyboard. "I've never tried writing erotica before, but first time for everything! Maybe we could write a chain story or something, and get it finished just before Easter? That could be fun!"Excited by this new idea, the vicar opened a new Word document and began typing away."I'll just write a few paragraphs of smut and then I must finish my sermon!" At the Sunday Eucharist,Reverend Morris was joined by another vicar, who was standing in for Josh the curate, who was attending a conference in Birmingham, as part of his ongoing religious training."A very warm welcome to everyone this morning," Reverend Morris began, addressing the congregation. "As we continue our journey through Lent, I'd like to introduce Reverend Jones from St. Wilfrid's church in Manchester. It's a great honor for her to be here today - she'll be reading the sermon I've been laboring over all week,""Poor woman," someone in the congregation muttered, leading to some muffled sniggers.While the vicar was talking, Gordon was idly peering over the top of the organ. He noticed Jenna sat in the front pew and winked at her. Moments later, Mrs. Wilcox, who was sat next to her, winked back at him and gave him a little wave. Gordon gave an awkward smile and shrunk back behind the organ,"Without further ado, I shall now hand over to Reverend Jones," Reverend Morris said.The vicar of St. Wilfrid's was a dumpy, bespectacled woman, aged about fifty, with grey hair in a bowl cut."Looks like the identical twin of that MP woman," an old man muttered. "What's her name? Therese, something. She's the secretary of state.""No idea," another old man replied. "Oh wait a minute! I know who you mean. Norman Lamont! I thought those eyebrows looked familiar,""No you daft git, he's a bloke!""That vicar looks like a lass to me. Mind you, one can't tell these days,"Reverend Jones stepped up to the pulpit and placed some papers on the book stand."I haven't had a sneak-peek at this sermon," she began. "So it will be a wonderful surprise for me as well as you. I'm sure Reverend Morris has gone the extra mile, as he usually does, and written something that'll make us all think."Reverend Morris gave a proud smile as he looked up at her.Gordon gave a subtle yawn. He always dreaded this part of the service. Reverend Morris had the ability to cure insomnia with his sermons, despite Jenna's best efforts to inject a bit more fun into them,"They say the Devil makes work for idle hands," Reverend Jones said, as she began reading the sermon. "That's a phrase we're all familiar with. This morning, I woke up, and my hands were rotting in idleness. My mind had been drifting to places, sinful places all week. I wouldn't say I'm a regular user of PornHub but," she paused.A look of horror appeared on Reverend Morris' face. "That isn't my sermon," he said to himself. "Oh no,"In the pews, there were a couple of awkward coughs and raised eyebrows. At the organ, Gordon suddenly perked up. This had to be the first time ever that the word PornHub was mentioned in a sermon!"The site just wasn't doing it for me," Reverend Jones continued, "so I decided to go for a walk in the park. I can't tell you how my spirits were instantly lifted. Light was filtering through the trees. It was golden and bright. How blessed we are that God has made all this for us, I thought, and then something in the bushes caught my eye. There was no-one else around. It was then that I saw her, naked as Eve in the Garden of Eden, about to take a dip in the lake. Her sweetly, up-tilted bare breasts reflected the glorious morning aura and her rose-pink nipples were as full and hard as ripe apples,"Reverend Jones paused. "What an excellent use of adjectives. I'm sure we can just imagine this scene in our heads can't we?"Never had the congregation of St, Michael's been so engrossed by a sermon before!"Not half," someone said out loud.Poor Reverend Morris' face had flooded several shades of red. He stood up and hurried to the pulpit."Angela, that's not the sermon I wrote!" He mumbled, begging her to stop."I've started, so I'll finish," she replied. "Everyone seems to be enjoying this.""Her name was Giselle, and she loved to unburden herself and swim in the lake. Freed from her clothes, I watched her in the nude and was convinced I was seeing the embodiment of an angel. She knew I watching, and she knew I liked to watch. I knew she liked me to watch, but this morning, we decided to do more than watch.""How romantic," Mrs. Wilcox said, turning to Jenna. "Your husband has a fine turn of phrase. It's better than his usual sermons, dearie. You should encourage him to write more like this. This church will soon be packed to the rafters if he keeps this up!""Oh, thanks very much!" Jenna replied innocently. She gazed at poor Reverend Morris, who was squirming with embarrassment at the side of the pulpit. He'd mixed up his sermon with some erotic fic, did he write the fic himself or find it online? She was curious to find out."What could be more divine than seeing a beautiful woman naked in a park?" Reverend Jones continued, reading out the story without a care in the world. "Personally, I think Tom Hiddleston naked in a park would be more divine, but that's just my opinion, ""I shouldn't say such things as I'm in a church, but I wouldn't mind seeing the organist naked," Mrs. Wilcox whispered to Jenna, who did a double take. This was one of those rare occasions when even she was left speechless for a few moments!"Really Gladys! You dark horse. Didn't know you had the hots for Gordon!""Just because there's snow on the roof, doesn't mean the fire's gone out!" the old lady replied."Oh this next paragraph has been all scribbled out," Reverend Jones said. She flipped the page over."My pearly-white ejaculate looked perfect dripping off her pink-nosed puppies. I got some on my hand and remember being surprised that it was so hot. I pulled my cassock off and wiped the cum off my hand with it. I walked home that night with a huge smile on my face and love bites on my little reverend."Reverend Morris snatched the papers off the book stand. "Er, my sincere apologies everyone, I made a terrible mistake!""Such a shame, it was building up to a nice conclusion," Reverend Jones said."No, that wasn't my sermon at all. I, I have no idea how that piece of writing ended up mixed up with my church papers!""Dat some good shit right there, Vicar!" Tony the reformed drug addict said, standing up and clapping.The flustered vicar attempted to move on. "Hymn, let's all stand for the hymn! Lo, He Comes With Clouds Descending!""You know something Simon," Reverend Jones said as she headed down the pulpit steps, "you need to get yourself signed up to an adult fiction site. You have talent. I'm on A o 3 myself - under a pseudonym of course. I like writing slash fanfiction about British politicians, I can send you a link if you're interested in reading them?""Er, no thanks, Angela. I'm sure they're very good, but I prefer to avoid anything relating to politics!"To be continued in part 2.By Blacksheep, for Literotica.
Vicar's wife, Jenna, decides to give up sex for Lent!A series in 17 parts, by Blacksheep. Listen to the Podcast at Steamy Stories. The Jenna series started with ‘Jenna Goes To Church', followed shortly after with ‘Jenna, the Vicar's Wife'. It resumed recently with Jenna's New Year'; and now it continues with a Lentil 2-part story. Other episodes will follow.It was the last Sunday of Shrovetide, known as Quinquagesima. At St. Michael's Church, Reverend Morris had amassed a pile of old palm crosses, intending to burn them on Ash Wednesday."Shouldn't be long before the first members of the faithful arrive," he said to his wife Jenna, who was adjusting the flowers at the side of the pulpit."Oh before I forget, I've got something for you to burn on Ash Wednesday," she smiled, handing him a pair of her panties."This is an unusual-looking palm cross!" He replied. "I think I'd better burn this separately from the others! Is there some reason why you want your undies reduced to ash?""Well Simon, I've been thinking. And I've finally decided what I'm going to give up for Lent.""You're giving up wearing underwear?""Ha-ha. Tempting, but no. I'm giving up sex."Reverend Morris almost dropped the box full of crosses. "What? Sex? No, you can't be serious!"Jenna nodded. "I'm 100% serious, my love. Lent is supposed to be hard, and you're always going on about how part of being a good Christian is making sacrifices and so on. It's traditionally a time of fasting and abstaining from something to repent and focus our hearts and minds on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.""Yes, but within reason, Jen! I don't expect you to suffer hardship as bad as that!""I can do it, Simon. I'm committed to seeing it through. It's only forty days.""B-but, that's six weeks!" the vicar whined, looking as if his entire world was about to end. "I, I'm not sure I can, er, go without for so long!""Now Simon, you're a man of God. You're stronger than most. I know you can do this. And just think how wonderful it will be when Easter comes, everything in calf, bursting out in spring glory, sap rising, mating seasons beginning, shoots thrusting upwards, days getting longer, ""Vicars dying of horniness, " Reverend Morris sighed."Exactly. And it won't just be you going without. The other chaps of this church will have to go without as well!""Oh my goodness, Jenna. There's going to be a lot of frustration building up in this church! When you say no sex, does that mean, ""No physical contact whatsoever, my dearest! No blowjobs, no kissing, no cock in cunt, nada! Just like social distancing."Reverend Morris' lip was trembling. "Not even a kiss?""Nope. I'll be sleeping in the spare bedroom until Easter. I can blow you a kiss. And whilst we can't do anything involving physical contact, there are other naughty ways we can get through Lent.""Like what?""Use your imagination, Simon!"He thought for a moment. "So I'll have to make do with dating Rosie Palms until Easter?""If it helps you cope, yes!"The reverend took a deep breath. "You're absolutely right, Jenna. I can get through this. I admire you so much for deciding to have a sex ban. In fact, I think I love you even more, and I didn't think that possible!""Aww. Ditto." She kissed him. "We'll make the most of Shrove Tuesday," she added, with a wink. "I'm going to do some creative things with pancakes."He slipped his arms around her. "Remember that morning after the Candlemas service, when we got soaking wet in the rain and we just ravished each other once we got back to the vicarage?""Hee hee, yes. Or that time last month during that short holiday in Lincolnshire when we stayed in that weird hotel, and the ghost gatecrashed our passion?""Bit early in the morning for that, isn't it? Then again, I'm not complaining!" A voice shouted, and they both looked round. Gordon the organist had just arrived.Moments later, Josh the curate appeared."Morning guys!" Jenna smiled. She turned back to her husband. "You'd better get your robes on. Looks like some of the congregation are here already. I'll go and hand out some hymn books."He nodded and headed off to the vestry. "Forty days," he sighed. "God, .I will really need your help through this difficult time!"And just how were some of the other male members of St. Michael's Church going to cope for forty days without any 'spiritual guidance' from the vicar's wife?Shrove Tuesday (the eve of Lent)On Shrove Tuesday, Jenna spent all afternoon mixing pancake batter. It would've been quicker to buy some ready-made pancakes from Tesco, but where was the fun in that? She looked at the kitchen wall clock."Come on Simon, you're late. How long does a meeting with the Bishop take?"Her husband had been out all day. At last, she heard his car pull up on the drive."Good. Now the fun begins."The front door opened and Reverend Morris came rushing in. "Sorry I've been so long. Bishop George kept prattling on for ages and then coming back home there's been a road accident so I had to take the long way home, oh I see you've been busy!" He noticed his wife was completely naked except for an apron."Welcome home," she smirked. "It's time to flip some pancakes. Is my randy reverend able to provide some batter?"He licked his lips. "What sort of batter would you be requiring?""Hmm, let's see. That special 'anointing oil' you used during my 21st birthday?" She whirled a frying pan in her hand and flipped a pancake. "Here's one I prepared earlier."His hands found her shoulders, and turned her to face him. His hands moved up to cup her face and Jenna felt his lips close around hers in a tender kiss. She returned it with rising passion, slipping her tongue into his mouth. As their tongues danced, Jenna quickly unfastened her apron, letting it slide down over her smooth skin to the kitchen floor.She could hear Reverend Morris unfastening his own garments, and when he embraced her tightly, she felt his bare skin press against hers with delicious warmth. Her husband's mouth left her lips, trailing down her neck to her chest. He took a nipple in his mouth and teased the erect tip. It was perhaps the upcoming sex ban enhancing his senses, but Jenna's breasts had never felt so full, and had never tasted so sweet. His hands roamed down over her arse, savoring her curves.Reverend Morris moved back up her body, his lips playing over her breasts, then back up her neck. Jenna's hands slid down his chest and at last reached their goal. She gripped his throbbing member, took a few steps backward, pulling gently but firmly, and he promptly followed her. She felt the edge of the kitchen countertop meet her lower back, and she swiftly heaved herself on to the cool granite surface and lay back, spreading her legs.Reverend Morris had a sudden urge to taste his wife; his tongue met with her soft skin just above her clit, then down into her folds, tasting, discovering and exploring all that she had to offer. He began to suck and lick her clit. How he loved to worship at this altar.Jenna reached for the bowl of pancake batter. A wooden spoon was sticking out of the bowl. Without hesitation, she began spooning the batter down her breasts."It tastes alright," she murmured, placing a blob of batter on her husband's nose. "But it needs an extra ingredient, ""Umm, I think I can help you there.""Fuck me religiously, darling." Jenna said hoarsely.A pair of strong, silky legs wrapped around the vicar's arse. He lowered himself onto her and felt those glorious batter-coated breasts rub against his chest as he began thrusting into her. He tried to set a steady, leisurely pace to begin, but the legs around him urged him on faster and harder. Reverend Morris responded with enthusiasm, and within moments he was pounding into his wife with all his strength, mindful that after tonight he wouldn't be able to do this for six weeks."Yes, yes, oh my God yes, I've never felt anything like it!" Jenna moaned."Bloody hell, I'm coming, oh Jenna!" Reverend Morris yelled as his stream of hot cum filled up her cunt and flowed back out onto the kitchen countertop.Jenna lay back on the countertop, eyes closed. It was several minutes before her breathing had calmed enough for her to speak."Did I provide enough batter?" Reverend Morris asked."Your holy offering was more than generous!""Forty days without from this moment on. You've still time to change your mind.""I'm sticking to it, Simon. We'll get through Lent. We'll have to think up some creative contactless ways to get our rocks off."The smell of burning interrupted them. They both glanced at the stove. To Jenna's dismay, the pancake she'd been cooking had been virtually cremated in the frying pan."Oh dear," she said, gazing at the remains of the pancake, which now resembled a lump of coal."Now that's what I call a perfect burnt offering for Ash Wednesday!" Reverend Morris replied.The Organist is Entertained.Gordon Leesmith always looked forward to Thursday evening arriving. This was when he had organ practice at church, and for the past few months he'd been teaching Jenna to play the organ. These lessons were really just an excuse for a passionate romp with the stunning vicar's wife, who was always more than willing to get her hands on the organ in his trousers, rather than the church one.Gordon hummed to himself as he brewed himself a cup of tea. He checked the time. It was only just after midday. Six hours to go. He was impatient and horny, but in a very happy mood. He'd just returned from seeing his Primary Care physician. That in itself something of a miracle in modern Britain; and received good news. His benign prostate enlargement wasn't as bad as he'd feared. Despite being a bit overweight, the doctor had given him a clean bill of health. His blood pressure was low, and so was his cholesterol.Today was his birthday. He was fifty six. A year ago, Gordon had been a miserable, short-tempered man who didn't endear himself to anyone else in the church. Long-divorced, impotent and frustrated with being alone for so long, his life had turned upside down when a young woman by the name of Jenna Fox had started attending St. Michael's Church. A few months later, she'd turned her attentions to flirting with him. Never in a million years did Gordon think he'd end up getting his cock sucked by a stunning redhead whilst he sat on the organ stool.As Gordon sipped his tea, his phone vibrated."Oh, an email from Jenna," he smiled, checking the message.Happy Birthday Gordon! About tonight. I'm afraid I can't make tonight's organ practice. I won't be able to until Easter arrives. Thing is, I've chosen to give up sex for Lent. I know you won't to hear this and it's going to be so hard for me to stick to this, but you've got to test yourself and set a challenge, right? It's what being a Christian is all about. I truly hope you'll understand. But - that doesn't mean we can't still have some fun! Make sure you visit the church - I've left a birthday present for you on the organ stool, trust me, it'll see you through this hard time. And when Easter comes, Jesus won't be the only person that rises, wink wink. It'll be worth the wait, keep your organ pipe warm for me.Love Jenna. xxx"She's abstaining from sex?" Gordon almost dropped his cup of tea. "Wait, what? Oh no! This is a nightmare! I won't be able to have a fuck for six weeks? Bloody hell! I'll go round the bend, I can't even call on Yulia's mate Martika anymore. Damn it, why did she have to bugger off back to Ukraine?"He wasn't sure whether to scream or burst into tears, but after he overcame the initial shock, he took a deep breath and composed himself.
© 2020-2025 Ivy Podcast Discovery LLC
