Deacon Larry Jesmer

Today’s readings are taken from cycle A and the raising of Lazarus from the dead from the gospel of John. As the elect of our parish, Stephen, Kitrell, and Bill move closer to union in the body of Christ at the Easter Vigil, the readings invite them and us to reflect upon what it means when Jesus says he is the Resurrection and the Life, and what resurrection means to us.

How many times have we misunderstood what Jesus was saying, especially when it comes to the gospel of John? In our humanity, our human life, we see and hear in human terms, in human realities. The gospel today challenges us to think, speak, even see and hear in a different way.

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5th Sunday of LentRead More »

Job, a wise man, blameless and upright, having many blessings from God; children, wealth, a large stock of animals, is suddenly put to the test by Satan. Will Job remain strong in his faith when all is lost and suffering ensues? This question is also the question we need to ask ourselves as well. Will we remain faithful when our lives are turned upside down? We know Job’s answer but do we know ours?

Our world is full of suffering. There are sufferings that you and I, to one degree or another, can relate, to that of Job’s suffering, his cries for help. Job says; “Is not man’s life on earth a drudgery? 

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5th Sunday of Ordinary TimeRead More »

At Christmas we celebrated the birth of Jesus. The gospel narrative of Jesus’ birth is not just a story. The gospel contains a deep message in Jesus. We learn something vital about the identity of Jesus through the way he was shown through the circumstances of his birth.

In the grotto in Bethlehem, Jesus was born into this world through Mary and Joseph and then first manifested to poor shepherds in the humility of a simple manger. The key to understanding the identity of this new born child was first indicated not to the powerful and influential but the poor.

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Baptism of the LordRead More »

John the Baptist is the very voice of Advent, the voice of the coming of the Lord Jesus to earth to intervene in the relationship between God and ourselves. What John said was not merely a word about Jesus, it was the gospel—It was the beginning of the Good News for the world.

John and his message happened at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, and John and his message are still the beginning today for all those who want to walk with Jesus, for all those who want to find their way out of the wilderness and into a life with Jesus.

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2nd Sunday of AdventRead More »

This solemnity today brings to me a sense of sadness and yet great joy. On this day, my sister celebrated her birthday. She died on 18 November, 1993, days after her 40th birthday. I especially remember her last birthday celebration where we danced and just had fun, at her expense of course, being her 40th and all.

I can still feel that last hug we exchanged on that day as if it were just yesterday. Memories of my sister linger on in my heart and I pray for her every day as I do my father who died in 1997.

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All Souls DayRead More »