The Word of the Day
How the Holy Spirit Directs Our Lives and Witness (Thurs. May 4)
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Christ is risen! The word of the day is “go.” If we look below the surface of events, we discover that what seems to be happenstance is directed by an invisible hand. In our reading of Acts 8:26-39, we hear the story of the conversion and baptism of an Ethiopian official who is returning from Jerusalem to his homeland in Gaza. But Luke, the historian, unveils the divine guidance that moves the action forward to its conclusion in the eunuch’s baptism. The historian writes, “An angel of the Lord spoke to Philip and said, ‘Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes from Jerusalem to Gaza’” (OSB vs. 26). And when Philip saw the chariot of the official, the…
Glory to God for All Things
In the Form of a Slave
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I love taking “deep dives” into history – going beyond survey material and making my way through pages and pages of boring detail. I can’t do it every day, nor even often. But it helps fill in detail that is often glossed over in broad treatments. My most recent foray has been into a book entitled Slaves in Greece and Rome (by Jean Andreau and Raymond Descat, 2006). It’s easy to draw…
Walking an Ancient Path
Why Do the Three Holy Youths Keep Appearing in Orthodox Services?
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It happens numerous times throughout the year. At a worship service I’ll be listening and trying to sing along with the text, and suddenly a hymn about the three Holy Youths appears—the friends of Daniel who were thrown into a fiery furnace for refusing to worship King Nebuchadnezzar. The service continues, and we return to our regularly scheduled programming. To this gal in the pews, the insertion feels like an interruption—a lovely…
Faith Encouraged
Your Silver Perish With You!
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Christ is risen! They say that you can’t buy happiness. Well, that’s a bit subjective, because some folks are very happy for a short time when they spend money. There is even a genuine psychological disorder that deals with folks who are addicted to spending money. So, I guess it all depends on how you define “happiness.” Of course, there is nothing more infantile than reducing a good life to how “happy”…
The Word of the Day
What Is True Repentance? (Wed. May 3)
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Christ is risen! The word of the day is “repent.” We usually think of repentance as a change of heart and mind. But repentance can be insincere and done for the wrong reason. In today’s reading of Acts 8:18-25, we read the case of a man named Simon who seemed to repent. After Peter condemned his wickedness, Simon said, “Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me” (OSB vs. 24). This plea seemed to indicate that Simon had turned from his sinful ways. However, if we read this passage carefully, we discover his contrition was not genuine. Thus, from this negative example, we learn about the nature of true repentance. Our reading continues…
Faith Encouraged
The Enemy is Fear - Sunday of the Myrrh-bearers
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Fear makes us do foolish things and it causes us to miss out on what God has for us. Fear makes us less than who we really are. But when we face fear and confront fear and not allow fear to stop us, we are given the amazing revelation of the Victory of Jesus over that which makes us most afraid – death. The Myrrhbearers and Joseph and Nicodemos all confront the…
Faith Encouraged
Outside The Gate of the City
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Christ is risen! I spend most weekday mornings driving my daughter to school. She is used to me getting in the car, turning off the radio, and having a conversation all the way to school. “How did you sleep?” “What did you dream about?” “What’s going on in your life?” Eventually, one of the questions kicks off my “morning sermon” as she delightfully calls it. And this morning was no exception. Our…
The Word of the Day
The Transformation of Evil into Good (Tues. May 2)
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Christ is risen! The word of the day is “Samaria .” The Lord can take evil and use it for good. Today in our reading of Acts 8:5-17, we find that fierce persecution has scattered the first believers. One of them, the Deacon Philip, went to Samaria, and as he went, he preached the Gospel. In response, the Samaritans eagerly “received the Word of God” (OSB vs.14). Thus, what seemed to be a setback for the early church advanced its mission. Today we consider how God uses the worst in our lives for the best. The stoning of Stephen was a crisis for the growing Christian movement. Immediately after it, we read, “At that time a great persecution arose against the…
No Other Foundation
Arguing with Culty Fundamentalists
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There are stupider things to do than arguing with a culty fundamentalist. As the late great Jim Croce reminded us, you don’t tug on Superman’s cape, you don’t spit into the wind, and you don’t pull the mask off the ol’ Lone Ranger. Arguing with a culty fundamentalist is, I admit, not as stupid as any of these things, but it is pretty stupid nonetheless, for it is a waste of precious…
Faith Encouraged
There Is A Price For Being Stiff-Necked
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Christ is Risen! “That boy is so hard-headed he wouldn’t even notice a rock hitting him between the eyes.” My grandmother had a way with words, but I’ve known people like this; so set in their ways that not even plain evidence would move them to change their ways. They were frozen in their thinking. Of course, that’s the danger of not being teachable or even open-minded enough to change your mind…
The Word of the Day
The Confirmation of Faith (Mon. May 1)
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Christ is risen! The word of the day is “so.” Nowadays, many people are disposed to believe preposterous claims with little evidence to confirm them. Yet when it comes to religion, doubt, cynicism, and indifference to the truth prevail. Today in our reading of Acts 6:8-7:5; 47-60, the apostles face the Jewish council. And the high priest asks, “Are these things so? (OSB vs. 7:1). Just as the Jewish officials and Pilate demanded that Jesus answer the false accusations against Him (Matthew 27:12; Mark 15:4), the temple authorities challenge Stephen to answer the false charge of his opponents (vs. 7:1). But there is a deeper question behind the challenge, “Is it “so”? Is what Stephen is saying and doing true? In…
The Word of the Day
The Origins of the Office of Deacon & the Orders of Ministry (Sun. April 30)
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Christ is risen! The word of the day is “appoint.” Today’s society believes that there always is a better way. We think that invention will improve anything and innovation will make everything more efficient. However, the foundations of Holy Tradition in the church are enduring and are not subject to improvement. One of these is the church’s Orders of Ministry. Today, in our reading of Acts 6: 1-7, we read about the establishment of the Order of Deacons and thus the initial development of what would become the church’s Orders of Ministry. In response to the need of certain widows who were being neglected, the twelve apostles said, “Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation,…
Eastern Christian Insights
Entering into the Joy of the Resurrection Through Selfless Service, not Self-Centered Calculation: Homily for the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, Pious Joseph of Arimathaea, and Righteous Nicodemus in the Orthodox Church
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Acts 6:1-7; Mark 15: 43-16:8 Christ is Risen! As we continue to celebrate our Lord’s glorious resurrection on the third day and victory over Hades and the tomb, it should be obvious that we too often live as though death still reigned. We do so especially when we fall prey to fear rooted in anxiety about how weak, insignificant, and insubstantial we are, especially in light of death. We build ourselves…
Glory to God for All Things
Remembering the End
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Orthodox Christianity often seems inherently conservative. The unyielding place that tradition holds within its life seems ready-made for a conservative bulwark against a world all-too-ready to forget everything that is good or beautiful. There are subtle but important distinctions that make this treatment of Orthodoxy misleading and can lead to the distortion of the faith and an almost reverse image of our true salvation. Orthodox Christianity does not seek to preserve something…
The Word of the Day
Witness Without Compromise (Sat. April 29)
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Christ is risen! The word of the day is “obey.” In every revolution, there is a moment when the rebels defy authority. Without the courage of some to do so, there is no change. There is only compliance. Today we find in our reading of Acts 5:21-33 that such a moment occurred when the apostles again appeared before the high priest and members of the Sadducees, the religious sect that ruled the temple. When the high priest sternly reminded Peter that he was told to cease speaking of “this Name of Jesus,” (OSB 5:28), Peter was defiant. “We ought to obey God rather than men,” he said (OSB 5:29). That was the decisive moment that would free the new Christian movement from…
Faith Encouraged
The Shock of Inescapable Consequence
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Christ is risen! OK, THAT got my attention! Bill was notorious for falling asleep in Mr. Thompson’s Lit class. To be fair, the class was right after lunch and all of us sometimes struggled to “stay focused” during some of Mr. Thompson’s lectures, but he really worked hard to keep things lively and to make the class both informative and fun. He was a good teacher. Well, this late and warm Spring…
The Word of the Day
When Dishonesty Threatens Our Oneness in Christ (Fri. April 28)
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Christ is risen. The word of the day is “fear.” We may have a rosy picture of the life of the first believers who were filled with the Holy Spirit, bold in the proclamation of the Gospel, united in a common life, and fearless in the face of arrest, imprisonment, and death. Yet, in today’s reading of Acts 5:1-11, we hear a note of sobering realism as Luke reports the first instance of sinfulness in the community. Caught cheating and lying, a couple falls dead at the feet of the apostles. Luke summarizes the somber response of the faithful, “So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things” (OSB 5:11). The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ…
Growing the Church
Participating in the Light
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If the light Christ is the only effective solution to the spiritual and moral darkness in our Church and society, it can only be effective if we remove all barriers that prevent it from streaming into our lives and then fully participate in it. There are, of course, many ways to block the light. One of the most common and insidious ways is quite simply non-participation—being in places where the light is…
Faith Encouraged
Escaping the Slavery of Vanity
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Christ is risen! T.S. Eliot, one of the 20th century’s major poets, said: “And they write innumerable books; being too vain and distracted for silence: seeking everyone after his own elevation, and dodging his emptiness.” It strikes me as significant that an author would write something like that. And, in my heart of hearts, it strikes me as painfully accurate, especially during this time of societal chaos and deepening social divide. But…
A Lamp for Today
Light from the Canticles 9: Sing and Exalt Him Throughout All the Ages!
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Canticle 8 (Dan 3:57-88 LXX) Last time we considered Old Testament Canticle Seven, with its vulnerable and striking confession of Azariah, with the story of how he and his friends are cast into the furnace, and with the beginning of the song of the Three Youths. Their song opens, as we saw, with the sight of the LORD high and lifted up, yet looking into the very depths of the earth. The…
Faith Encouraged
What Shall We Do With These Men?
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Christ is risen! It almost seems unbelievable to think that our society could actually get to the place where we say that someone has outlived their “usefulness” and withdraw medical care from them because they aren’t “worth” saving for society. And yet, we are creeping dangerously close to that mindset becoming not just acceptable but applauded! And all of this in the name of “compassion” and “loving.” So, how did we get…
The Word of the Day
Proclaiming the Word with Boldness (Wed. April 26)
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Christ is risen! The word of the day is “bold.” Many people today claim the privilege of promoting their views boldly and without restraint. Not wanting to be drawn into futile arguments, others keep silent. Nut what about the Gospel of the Resurrection? How forthright are we in proclaiming the most important message of Christ’s work of salvation? Today in our reading of Acts 4:13-22, we hear Peter’s daring proclamation that salvation is obtainable only in the Name of the Crucified and Risen Christ (Acts 4:12). In response, the council of religious authorities “marveled” “…when they saw the boldness of Peter and John,” though they “perceived that they [the apostles] were uneducated and untrained men” (Acts 4:13). Today we consider what constitutes powerful…
Glory to God for All Things
Working With What We Know
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I recently had a question put to me that made me think about “where we start” when we think about the things of God. The question was this: “A friend of mine who is familiar with Jewish beliefs told me that the Jewish Sheol was self-emptying. It was a purgatory-like place where people lamented and repented of their sins and when they were ready they left on their own. He said that…
Faith Encouraged
Cast ALL Your Cares On Him
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Christ is risen! “Take a vacation,” he said. Sure, I’ll take a vacation, but how? I’m busy. There are things that have to get done. People are depending on me. People expect me to be available to them. I HAVE TO work! Sound familiar? Yea, I know, we Type A personalities tend to have a “Superman” complex, or, worse yet, a “messiah” complex! We are supposed to “save the world.” and yet,…
The Word of the Day
What Kind of Power? (Tues. April 25)
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Christ is risen! The word of the day is “power.” Power is the dynamic ability to do something. It is a force that produces an effect or the capacity to act upon something. In today’s reading of Acts 4:1-10, the religious authorities arrest Peter and John for preaching the Risen Christ. And the rulers interrogate the Apostles asking, “By what power or by what name have you done this?” (Acts 4;7). Our close reading of this question will open new insight into Peter’s response to the religious authorities and the superior nature of the power of the Name of Jesus. An Important Point Missed With one exception, all the major translations of Acts miss an important point about the question of the power and authority of the apostles. …
No Other Foundation
Scepticism and the Holy Fire
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A wise man once said, “What we believe always remains intellectually possible; it never becomes intellectually compulsive. I have an idea that when this ceases to be so, the world will be ending.” That is, in this age we walk by faith, not by sight. By God’s design and providence, the world contains no proof that could compel belief by force, nothing that would “prove” the truth of Christianity so that faith…
Faith Encouraged
True Repentance Refreshes the Soul
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Christ is risen! I like this quote: “A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.” Yep, I bet you know that feeling of being so fed up with the everyday activities of life that you say “STOP!” And yet, why is it that too many of my vacations have been as stressful or more stressful than my regular schedule? It’s because an actual “refreshing”…
