Preaching the Scriptures

T he Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Acts 1:1-14   Hard to Believe Good Shepherd, Elizabethtown   It was hard to believe.   And they were standing right there, watching it happen.   They thought that Jesus might finally settle down, after everything, but instead he was going up.   And there was no stopping him.   Before their very eyes, he was lifted up, beyond their reach, beyond their words, beyond any feeble attempt to reason with him, or beg him to stay.   There was nothing they could do but watch him go.   And that is exactly what they did: they just stood there staring, stunned silent, mouths agape, angels lecturing and shouting instructions.   They likely arrived on the scene with some preconceived notion, some sense of expectation.   But they were not expecting this.   It was just so hard to believe.   But for the disciples, this was nothing new.   Not really.   Jesus had this tendency to surprise...

  The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 18:21-35 Forgiveness   It is a great question – asked in just the right way.   This Peter, he knows what he is doing.   “How often should I forgive?”   That's a pretty pious inquiry.   But he doesn't stop there.   “As many as seven times?”   Not one.   Not two.   Not three.   Not four.   Not five.   Not six. But seven times.   I mean, a good man might forgive once.   What about one who would forgive seven times?   That person would have to be pretty extraordinary.   And so you see, it is a great question.   Every pupil wants to impress their teacher.   Peter is no different.   He wants Jesus to be impressed with him – impressed with the depth of his kindness and goodness.   And so he asks the question, just knowing the answer will, of course, be something along the lines of: “Seven times. Well, Peter that is above and beyond.   ...