Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” From the Gospel according to St. Luke. Teach us to pray. That is at once a simple request, and profound statement. It seems odd to me that the disciples would ask such a question. Surely they would be familiar with prayer.
July 17th, 2016
God’s Time
“You who were once estranged and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his fleshly body through death, so as to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable before him– provided that you continue securely established and steadfast in the faith, without shifting from the hope promised by the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven.” From the Epistle to
June 19th, 2016
Who do you say I am?
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Messiah of God.” From the Gospel of St. Luke. Jesus was a controversial person in Jerusalem. He had done things no other prophet had done since Elijah. He healed the centurion’s servant. He raised the widow’s son from the dead. When he was invited to the house of Simon the Pharisee, he allowed a woman,
June 12th, 2016
Faith, Love and Forgiveness
Luke 7:36-50 Jesus he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” This story shows us the difference between miserly and extravagant love. Simon, a Pharisee who invited Jesus to dinner probably did so out of curiosity. He had likely heard of Jesus’ teaching, and how he healed the servant of the centurion, and raised the widow’s son who had died. So perhaps he had to
June 5th, 2016
The Sanctity of Life
“Then he came forward and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, rise!” The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized all of them; and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen among us!” and “God has looked favorably on his people!” from the Gospel of St. Luke.
May 29th, 2016
Who do you serve?
“Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and let my servant be healed,” from the Gospel of St. Luke. Three of our readings today speak of servanthood. In the first reading from the First book of the Kings, Solomon stood before the altar of the temple
May 22nd, 2016
Trinity Sunday
“Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God the Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” from the Revelation to St. John the Divine. You may recognize those words. You hear them every Sunday. In fact, we sing them every Sunday, or at least a variation of it. We sometimes use the Latin word, “Sanctus” to describe that phrase. It is inserted in our service during the Eucharistic prayer, where
May 15th, 2016
Pentecost Sunday
When the day of Pentecost had come, the disciples were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in
May 9th, 2016
Ascension Sunday
Luke 24:49-53 Jesus said to his disciples, “See, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and
May 1st, 2016
Sixth Sunday in Easter
“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, to be with you for ever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him; you know him, for he dwells with you, and will be in you,” from the Gospel according to St. John.
