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the Reverend Stephen T. Wangner, D.D.
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Reverend Wangner's sermon for the week of Sept. 28th


In Matthew chapter 9, verses 10 through 13, we hear a story about Jesus dining with tax collectors and sinners. When asked why he was eating with them, he responded : "It is not those that are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick. But go and learn what this means : 'I desire compassion, more than sacrifice.'"

The significance of this is too often overlooked. There are many, many places in the New Testament when Jesus calls for sacrifices, but here he says, "I desire compassion, more than sacrifice." Here he places compassion above sacrifice.

The definition of compassion is "Deep awareness of the suffering of another coupled with the wish to relieve it". This is where we must start. We need to have compassion, and not just for people it's easy to have compassion for. We need to have compassion for all people, even those who are our enemies, and those who wrong us. If they are suffering, relieve their suffering. If they have grievances, address their grievances.

Only when we have this compassion, only when we do these things, will we have the quality that Jesus, in these verses, places such a high value on.

Reverend Wangner is a fully ordained minister of the Universal Life Church. The Universal Life Church is interfaith and non-denominational. It promotes freedom of religion, and its principal tenet is to "Do That Which Is Right". The responsibility to determine what is right is the individual's, as long as it does not infringe on the rights of others and is within the law.

Reverend Wangner is based in Hicksville, New York, on Long Island, and is available for officiating ceremonies such as :

Reverend Wangner's ordination is fully recognized by every State in the United States. For weddings, additional time may be required in some States, due to the fact that some States require ministers to register with the State/County Clerk and/or obtain a license before performing marriages.

Many other ceremonies/duties are available. Please contact Reverend Wangner here for further information.

If interested in having Reverend Wangner officiate a ceremony, please contact the Reverend far enough in advance to allow for planning, especially if travel is involved.

Visit the Universal Life Church official site here.