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17 January A.D. 2021 Deuteronomy 11:1-7 – Evening (Rev. Michael Grasso)

In Deuteronomy 11:1-7 Moses highlights the fact that his audience have not just heard about the grace of God and His awesome works, but their own eyes have seen it.  Moses teaches that this knowledge of God’s greatness and His grace actually increases the obligation to obey the law.  The same holds true in the Church.  The Christian’s obligation to keep the law increases as he increases in the knowledge of God.  If you know the love of God, then obedience is the only correct response.
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10 January A.D. 2021 Deuteronomy 10:12-22 – Evening (Rev. Michael Grasso)

In Deuteronomy 10:12-22 Moses begins the conclusion of his long explication of Deuteronomy 6:4-5.  In this passage, which reads like a sermon, Moses shows that God’s command to love Him with all of your heart, soul, and strength is not a burdensome command in light of the love God has shown in the gospel, especially as this love is the gracious love of the almighty, incomprehensibly glorious God, who condescends to love helpless sinners.
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10 January A.D. 2021 Matthew 5:21-26 – Morning (Rev. Michael Grasso)

In Matthew 5:21-26 Jesus gives his authoritative interpretation of the sixth commandment.  He shows that the sixth commandment regarding murder extends even to our thoughts and words.  Such an interpretation shows the necessity of seeking love and reconciliation with others, especially with other Christians.  Whether you are the one who sinned against another or the one who has been sinned against, it is your duty to seek love with others.
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03 January A.D. 2021 Deuteronomy 9:1-10:11 – Evening (Rev. Michael Grasso)

In Deuteronomy 9:1-10:11 Moses continues to explain what loving God with all your heart, soul, and strength means. Here he addresses the question concerning why God is bringing the Israelites into the land. What do they contribute to their salvation? Ultimately, they contribute only their sin. They are not brought into the land because of their righteousness but only by the grace of God. Salvation is by grace alone. The gospel according to Moses is the same as the gospel according to Christ. As it was with the people of God in the wilderness, so it is with us. We are saved only through grace and there can be no boasting. Love for God develops as we recognize his grace in salvation apart from works.
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03 January A.D. 2021 Matthew 5:17-20 – Morning (Rev. Michael Grasso)

Some say that because the gospel is gracious and offers forgiveness from sins this means the law no longer plays a role in the Christian life.  Does the gospel nullify the law?  This was a common charge against Christ and those who followed him, namely, that what they preached undermined following Moses.  Jesus addresses this issue in Matthew 5:17-20 and shows that, far from undermining the law, Jesus in the gospel gives the law its full significance and shows that it is still applicable to the life of the believer.
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27 December A.D. 2020 John 1:1-18 – Evening (Rev. Michael Grasso)

In John’s famous prologue that opens his gospel (1:1-18), John opens with a description of Christ going back to eternity.  Christ, as the eternal Son of God, existed in eternity with the Father and became flesh to save those who receive him from sin.  He is not an ordinary person, not merely a good teacher, he is God himself, and therefore there is a requirement to receive him as such for all people.

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27 December A.D. 2020 Isaiah 7:1-16 – Morning (Rev. Michael Grasso)

Isaiah 7:1-16 contains the famous prophecy of the virgin giving birth to a son named “Immanuel” and is part of the larger “book of Immanuel” in chapters 7-12.  What was the context of this prophecy?  The people of Judah and the house of David faced terrible trials as enemies seemed to be surrounding them on every side.  What hope did the prophets give the people? The coming of the Messiah.  Though the troubles of life tempt us to take our eyes off of Christ, ultimately, he is the only hope we have.
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20 December A.D. 2020 Deuteronomy 8:1-20 – Evening (Rev. Michael Grasso)

It can often feel like our lives are a journey through the wilderness like the Israelites in the desert.  In Deuteronomy 8:1-20, Moses shows God’s good purposes in making his people go through such difficulties.  Above all he shows that God makes us go through these things that we might learn that “man does not live by bread alone but by everything that comes from the mouth of God.”