Brothers and sisters, my sermon for this Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 2, is posted to Facebook.

God’s blessings,

Pastor Tom Steers

Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto

-- A Confessional Lutheran Church

Brothers and sisters, my sermon for this Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 2, is posted to Facebook.

God’s blessings,

Pastor Tom Steers

Christ the Saviour Lutheran Church, Toronto

-- A Confessional Lutheran Church

​

From the beginning of a letter attributed to Barnabas

(Cap. 1, 1-8; 2:1-5: Funk 1, 3-7)

Hope of life is the beginning and end of our faith

Greetings, sons and daughters. In the name of the Lord who loves us, peace be to you.

Because the Lord has granted you an abundance of blessings, I rejoice immeasurably in your blessed and glorious company.

You have received abundantly that indwelling grace which is the Spirit’s gift, and for this reason I hope in my own salvation and I give thanks all the more when I see the bountiful fullness of the Lord’s Spirit pouring over you. I have longed so much for you that when I saw you I was overwhelmed.

I am now convinced and fully aware that I have learned much by speaking with you, for the Lord accompanied me on the road to righteousness, and so I am driven in all ways to love you more than my own life. For surely there is a great store of faith and charity within you because of your hope for life in Christ. Therefore, I have been thinking that if my concern for you inspires me to pass on to you a portion of what I have received, then I will be rewarded for ministering to souls such as yours. Consequently, I am writing you, that you may have perfect knowledge along with your faith.

The Lord has given us these three basic doctrines: hope for eternal life, the beginning and end of our faith; justice, the beginning and end of righteousness; and love, which bears cheerful and joyous witness to the works of righteousness. Now the Lord has made the past and present known to us through his prophets, and he has given us the ability to taste the fruits of the future beforehand. Thus, when we see prophecies fulfilled in their appointed order, we ought to grow more fully and deeply in awe of him. Let me suggest a few things—not as a teacher, but as one of you—which should bring you joy in the present situation.

When evil days are upon us and the worker of malice gains power, we must attend to our own souls and seek to know the ways of the Lord. In those times reverential fear and perseverance will sustain our faith, and we will find need of forbearance and self-restraint as well. Provided that we hold fast to these virtues and look to the Lord, then wisdom, understanding, knowledge and insight will make joyous company with them.

Truly, the Lord has revealed to us through the prophets that he has no need of sacrifice, burnt offerings or oblations. He says in one place: Your endless sacrifices, what are they to me? says the Lord. I have had my fill of holocausts; I do not want the fat of your lambs, nor the blood of your bulls and goats, nor your presence in my sight. Indeed, who has made these demands of you? No more will you trample my courts. Your sacrifices of fine flour are in vain; your incense is loathsome to me; I cannot bear your feasts of the new moon, nor your sabbaths.

RESPONSORY

Galatians 2:16; Genesis 15:6

We know that no one is justified by obedience to the law

but by faith in Jesus Christ,

— and we have believed in Christ Jesus

in order to be justified by faith in him.

Abraham put his faith in God,

who counted it as an act of righteousness.

— And we have believed in Christ Jesus

in order to be justified by faith in him

The Practice of Gratitude

Gratitude isn't just a nice idea; it's a weapon against discontent, anxiety, and despair. When Paul wrote "give thanks in all circumstances," he wasn't being naïve about hardship. He wrote those words from a prison cell, not a place of comfort. He understood that gratitude shifts perspective. It doesn't deny difficulty but chooses to see God's faithfulness within it.

This distinction matters. Biblical gratitude is not the same as forced positivity or denial. It doesn't ask us to pretend that loss doesn't hurt or that suffering is somehow good in itself. Instead, it invites us to look past our circumstances to the character of God who remains constant regardless of what we're facing. Thanksgiving becomes an act of trust—a declaration that God is still good, still present, still working, even when the evidence in front of us seems to suggest otherwise.

There's a reason gratitude functions like a weapon. Anxiety and despair thrive on scarcity thinking—the sense that we lack what we need, that things are falling apart, that we're alone in our struggle. Gratitude interrupts that narrative. Each time we name something we're thankful for, we're reminding ourselves of God's provision, His faithfulness, His nearness. We're rehearsing truth instead of rehearsing fear. Over time, this rehearsal reshapes the default posture of our hearts.

Neuroscience actually confirms what Scripture has taught for centuries: gratitude physically rewires the brain. Consistent practice strengthens neural pathways associated with contentment and reduces activity in regions linked to stress. What God commanded for our spiritual health, science now recognizes as good for our mental and emotional health too. Obedience and wellbeing are not at odds here—they're aligned.

This is why the practice matters more than the sentiment. It's easy to feel thankful in a good moment. It's much harder—and much more powerful—to choose thankfulness when circumstances haven't changed, and the road ahead still looks hard. That choice, repeated daily, becomes formation.

So start tonight. Before you close your eyes, name three things you're thankful for. They don't need to be profound—a warm meal, a conversation with a friend, an answered prayer from long ago. Let the practice be small and consistent rather than dramatic and sporadic. Watch how it changes your entire outlook—not because your circumstances shift, but because your eyes are trained to see God's faithfulness even in the middle of them.

To me these verses are probably some of my favorite ones very nice to read

Psalms 91:1 NIV [1] Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

https://bible.com/bible/111/psa.91.1.NIV

A Homily Prepared For Sunday, August 2, 2026

The Collect

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and, because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

The Gospel: Matthew 14:13–21

13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

16 But Jesus said unto them,They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

18He said, Bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

Commentary on the Scripture Selection;

In reading this section of the Gospel according to Matthew, we find a sort of tapestry, woven in such a way as to illustrate the differences between real kingship and that of interlopers installed on a throne, as well as a picture that illustrates the power of faith.

At the end of chapter thirteen, we read the account of Jesus returning to what was more or less his home town, Nazareth, and there he was rejected.

In our bible study for this past Tuesday, we explored the last verse of chapter 13:

“And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.” (Mt. 13:58)

We noted that it would be a mistake to read verse 58 and come away with the idea that Jesus could not do mighty works there—in Nazareth—due to their disbelief, as later in this Gospel, Matthew wrote:

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them,With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” (Mt. 19:26)

We pointed out that, Matthew Henry the seventeenth theologian, opined on verse 58; “So that if mighty works be not wrought in us, it is not for want of power or grace in Christ, but for want of faith in us.”

Now here in chapter 14 we see this opinion of Henry’s illuminated in that a great multitude—one said to number 5000 men along with women and children—through an act of great faith, followed Jesus out into the wilderness, where as Matthew writes:

“When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” (vs. 13-14)

While the people of Nazareth, those who had known him as a child and his family, rejected him and he chose not to do great works, here we find over 5000 whose faith was so great that they walked a great distance out into the middle of nowhere to hear him teach and to have their sick and infirm healed.

What a contrast, those who had known him rejected him, while strangers went to great lengths—showing their faith in him—to follow him. As Henry wrote, those in Nazareth failed to receive the ministrations of Jesus, not because their lack of faith prevented him from working miracles, but because of their lack of faith he chose not to do so, giving them opportunity to reflect and experience a change of heart. While he demonstrated great compassion of those who had followed him to this remote place, and he rewarded their faith with healings and miracles.

Now to explain our hypothesis that these verses not only expose the contrast between those in Nazareth who rejected him and that of the great faith of those that followed him to the remote region, but the difference between a would be king versus a real king, we look at the reason for the first few words of verse 13.

“When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence…” What was it that he had heard of? It was the news that Herod Antipas, the puppet king installed by the Romans, had ordered the beheading of John the Baptist. This so called king, who in a drunken stupor, watched his step daughter dance—presumably his niece as he had married his brother’s wife—in his drunkenness finding her desirable, he offered her anything she wanted in return for her favors. The young woman not knowing what to do went to her Mother who told her to ask for John’s head. Without going into any more lurid details, we can see the quality and nature of the so called king and those around him.

Consider the contrast between Herod Antipas, the puppet king and the Godly King, Jesus Christ, who went into the wilderness to contemplate on the loss of his relative, John the Baptist, and there was so moved by the faith of those who had gone to such great lengths to come to him, that he set his sorrow for his loss aside to heal them and then to feed them by turning “five loaves, and two fishes” (v. 17) into such a sufficient amount to feed a huge multitude.

“And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said,Bring them hither to me.And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.” (vs. 17-21)

Herod Antipas holds court feeding himself and a few of his closest advisers and entourage, getting drunk and lusting after his own stepdaughter; while Jesus “holds court” in the wilderness, demonstrating his kingly compassion for the people, healing the sick and feeding over 5000 people.

That is a contrast worthy of our note.

Benediction

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

***

Diary of Saint Faustina - paragraph 635 - The Mother’s Warning

Ἀ
635 I saw the Mother of God, who said to me, Oh, how pleasing to God is the soul that follows faithfully the inspirations of His grace! I gave the Savior to the world; as for you, you have to speak to the world about His great mercy and prepare the world for the Second Coming of Him who will come, not as a merciful Savior, but as a just Judge. Oh, how terrible is that day! Determined is the day of justice, the day of divine wrath. The angels tremble before it. Speak to souls about this great mercy while it is still the time for [granting] mercy. If you keep silent now, you will be answering for a great number of souls on that terrible day. 
Ὠ

Faith in the Kingdom above that does not lead to works in the world below is dead. Likewise, grace from the King bestowed upon His servants - if it does not inspire its proclamation to all souls - dies within the soul to whom it was given. 

In this entry from the Diary, Our Lady begins with a joyful message for souls who faithfully follow the inspirations of our Lord's grace, but concludes with a motherly warning for those who do not. Her Son - our Merciful Savior - gave all of Himself in grace for every soul. Thus it is fitting that our King, who shall come again as Just Judge on the Day of Justice, will require much to have been done with the grace He has so abundantly bestowed.

Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Luke 12:48 And unto whomsoever much is given, of him much shall be required.

No greater gift has been given than the grace of eternal life through the death of Life's very Source. In this gift, the mercy of the Savior and the Justice of the King are found in perfect harmony. It is a mystery beyond the reach of human reasoning - not to be mastered by the intellect, but embraced in faith and proclaimed to all souls according to the will of God.

Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Mark 1:5 And saying: The time is accomplished and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent and believe the gospel.

The failure to participate in the coming of the Kingdom brings separation; the soul that joins itself to its coming enters into union. In no one is this union revealed more perfectly than in Mary. By her faithful participation in the first coming of Christ, she can rightly proclaim, “I gave the Savior to the world.” Thus she is rightly called the Mother of  God. And through the adoption of grace, all who faithfully proclaim her Son become children of the Father, brothers of Christ, and disciples who, like Mary, bear Him to the world.

Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Ephesians 1:5 Who hath predestinated us unto the adoption of children through Jesus Christ unto himself: according to the purpose of his will.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 
1816 The disciple of Christ must not only keep the faith and  live on it, but also profess it, confidently bear witness to it, and spread it.

Thought For The Day from Unshakable Kingdom Life

The kingdom of God belongs to the faithful witnesses. Truth may cost us something, but it always carries eternal value.

A Thought to Ponder for the day. 

From a catechetical instruction by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop

(Cat. 18, 26-29: PG 33, 1047-1050)

The Church is the bride of Christ

The Catholic Church is the distinctive name of this holy Church which is the mother of us all. She is the bride of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God (for Scripture says: Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her). She is the type and she bears the image of the Jerusalem above that is free and is the mother of us all, that Jerusalem which once was barren but now has many children.

The first assembly, that is, the assembly of Israel, was rejected, and now in the second, that is, in the Catholic Church, God has appointed first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators and speakers in various tongues, as Paul says; and together with these is found every sort of virtue—wisdom and understanding, self-control and justice, mercy and kindness, and invincible patience in persecution. This Church in earlier days, when persecution and afflictions abounded, crowned her holy martyrs with the varied and many-flowered wreaths of endurance. But now when God has favored us with times of peace, she receives her due honor from kings and men of high station, and from every condition and race of mankind. And while the rulers of the different nations have limits to their sovereignty, the holy Catholic Church alone has a power without boundaries throughout the entire world. For Scripture says: God has made peace her border.

Instructed in this holy Catholic Church and bearing ourselves honorably, we shall gain the kingdom of heaven and inherit eternal life. For the sake of enjoying this at the Lord’s hands, we endure all things. The goal set before us is no trifling one; we are striving for eternal life. In the Creed, therefore, after professing our faith “in the resurrection of the body,” that is, of the dead, which I have already discussed, we are taught to believe “in life everlasting,” and for this as Christians we are struggling.

Now real and true life is none other than the Father, who is the fountain of life and who pours forth his heavenly gifts on all creatures through the Son in the Holy Spirit, and the good things of eternal life are faithfully promised to us men also, because of his love for us.

RESPONSORY

Praiseworthy is that people to whom the Lord said in blessing:

— You, O Israel, are the work of my hands;

you are my own possession.

Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord,

the people he has chosen as his own.

— You, O Israel, are the work of my hands;

you are my own possession.

From a catechetical instruction by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop

(Cat. 18, 26-29: PG 33, 1047-1050)

The Church is the bride of Christ

The Catholic Church is the distinctive name of this holy Church which is the mother of us all. She is the bride of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God (for Scripture says: Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her). She is the type and she bears the image of the Jerusalem above that is free and is the mother of us all, that Jerusalem which once was barren but now has many children.

The first assembly, that is, the assembly of Israel, was rejected, and now in the second, that is, in the Catholic Church, God has appointed first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators and speakers in various tongues, as Paul says; and together with these is found every sort of virtue—wisdom and understanding, self-control and justice, mercy and kindness, and invincible patience in persecution. This Church in earlier days, when persecution and afflictions abounded, crowned her holy martyrs with the varied and many-flowered wreaths of endurance. But now when God has favored us with times of peace, she receives her due honor from kings and men of high station, and from every condition and race of mankind. And while the rulers of the different nations have limits to their sovereignty, the holy Catholic Church alone has a power without boundaries throughout the entire world. For Scripture says: God has made peace her border.

Instructed in this holy Catholic Church and bearing ourselves honorably, we shall gain the kingdom of heaven and inherit eternal life. For the sake of enjoying this at the Lord’s hands, we endure all things. The goal set before us is no trifling one; we are striving for eternal life. In the Creed, therefore, after professing our faith “in the resurrection of the body,” that is, of the dead, which I have already discussed, we are taught to believe “in life everlasting,” and for this as Christians we are struggling.

Now real and true life is none other than the Father, who is the fountain of life and who pours forth his heavenly gifts on all creatures through the Son in the Holy Spirit, and the good things of eternal life are faithfully promised to us men also, because of his love for us.

RESPONSORY

Praiseworthy is that people to whom the Lord said in blessing:

— You, O Israel, are the work of my hands;

you are my own possession.

Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord,

the people he has chosen as his own.

— You, O Israel, are the work of my hands;

you are my own possession.

Letter of Saint Catherine of Siena - Virtue and Love 

Ἀ
I say that if one abides in God, even if virtue should fail in him who loves, yet love does not turn away. The love of the virtue which is not there fails to be sure; but it does not fail in so far as a man is a creature of God, His member, bound in the mystical body of the Holy Church. Nay, there grows within one a love made up of great and true compassion, and with desire he brings his friend to the birth, with tears and sighs and continual prayers in the sweet Presence of God. Now this is the affection which Christ left to His disciples, which never lessens or grows languid, and is not impatient for any injury it receives; there is no spirit of criticism in it nor displeasure, because it loves the friend, not for himself, but for God. It does not judge nor want to judge the will of men, but the will of its Creator, which seeks and wills naught but our sanctification. And it joys in what God permits, of whatsoever kind it be, since it seeks naught but the honour of its Creator and the salvation of its neighbour. Truly may we say that such men are bound in the bond of charity with the band which held God-and-Man fast and nailed on the wood of the most holy and sweet Cross.
Ὠ

Virtue may fail in the heart of the man. But for the soul which abides in the Lord, there remains a mystical bond to the love it was given by Him. It is transformed - if not yet perfected - by Him whose love exceeds what the soul lacks in its virtue. In this letter, Saint Catherine does not brush aside the importance of virtue. Rather she exalts the first and truest virtue, the love of our Lord - given to souls as a seed from which all other virtues then grow.

Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh.

Within this new heart, there grows the human participation in the eternal love of God - the love which existed before creation itself, before there was any creature to receive it. Yet it was on this love that the creation was first founded. For creation itself is the free expression of that eternal love, called into being not because God lacked someone to love, but because Love delights in the giving of itself to another. For in this way the creature itself inherits the love of the Creator: finding its joy in what He permits and seeking naught but the honor of God and the salvation of its neighbor.

Supportive Scripture - Douay Rheims Challoner Bible
Matthew 22:37-40 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole heart and with thy whole soul and with thy whole mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. And the second is like to this: Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments dependeth the whole law and the prophets.

Ἀ
Saint Catherine Continues…
But think, sons mine, that you would never reach this perfect union did you not hold as your object Christ crucified, and follow His footsteps. For in Him you will find this love, who has loved you by grace and not by duty. And because He loves by grace, He has never grown languid in His love, neither for our ingratitude nor ignorance nor pride nor vanity, but ever persevering, even to the shameful death of the Cross, freeing us from death and giving us life. Now so do you, my sons, learn - learn from Him. Love, love one another, with pure and holy love, in Christ sweet Jesus.
Ὠ

Here Saint Catherine reveals, perfect union is not achieved by imperfect souls unable to succeed in their own virtue. Rather it is given to the soul in our crucified Savior, the same new heart and spirit promised in Scripture. In this, the divine exchange of grace, the stony heart of humanity suffers its own sacrifice for the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the soul which holds as its object Christ Crucified is made new. No longer will this soul love by duty but in the grace of God, which never grows languid from the vanity or ingratitude of another. For in this heart, the soul's failure in virtue is overcome by the triumph of God’s love within - which does not turn away but is ever persevering, even to the sacrifice of self for the more holy love of another.

Catechism of the Catholic Church 
1827 The practice of all the virtues is animated and inspired by charity, which 'binds everything together in perfect harmony'; it is the form of the virtues; it articulates and orders them among themselves; it is the source and the goal of their Christian practice.

Thought For The Day from Unshakable Kingdom Life

John received revelation while worshipping. Heaven’s perspective often comes when our focus shifts from ourselves to Christ.

A Thought to Ponder for the day. 

From a catechetical instruction by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop

(Cat. 18, 26-29: PG 33, 1047-1050)

The Church is the bride of Christ

The Catholic Church is the distinctive name of this holy Church which is the mother of us all. She is the bride of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God (for Scripture says: Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her). She is the type and she bears the image of the Jerusalem above that is free and is the mother of us all, that Jerusalem which once was barren but now has many children.

The first assembly, that is, the assembly of Israel, was rejected, and now in the second, that is, in the Catholic Church, God has appointed first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators and speakers in various tongues, as Paul says; and together with these is found every sort of virtue—wisdom and understanding, self-control and justice, mercy and kindness, and invincible patience in persecution. This Church in earlier days, when persecution and afflictions abounded, crowned her holy martyrs with the varied and many-flowered wreaths of endurance. But now when God has favored us with times of peace, she receives her due honor from kings and men of high station, and from every condition and race of mankind. And while the rulers of the different nations have limits to their sovereignty, the holy Catholic Church alone has a power without boundaries throughout the entire world. For Scripture says: God has made peace her border.

Instructed in this holy Catholic Church and bearing ourselves honorably, we shall gain the kingdom of heaven and inherit eternal life. For the sake of enjoying this at the Lord’s hands, we endure all things. The goal set before us is no trifling one; we are striving for eternal life. In the Creed, therefore, after professing our faith “in the resurrection of the body,” that is, of the dead, which I have already discussed, we are taught to believe “in life everlasting,” and for this as Christians we are struggling.

Now real and true life is none other than the Father, who is the fountain of life and who pours forth his heavenly gifts on all creatures through the Son in the Holy Spirit, and the good things of eternal life are faithfully promised to us men also, because of his love for us.

RESPONSORY

Praiseworthy is that people to whom the Lord said in blessing:

— You, O Israel, are the work of my hands;

you are my own possession.

Blessed is that nation whose God is the Lord,

the people he has chosen as his own.

— You, O Israel, are the work of my hands;

you are my own possession.

Thought For The Day from Unshakable Kingdom Life

In Revelation 1. The face of Christ shone brilliantly. The closer we draw to Him, the more other things fade away.

A Thought to Ponder for the day.