Faith Encouraged
From The Heart - Sunday Homily
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Faith Encouraged
We Must ALL Appear Before the Judgement Seat
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Ever wonder how words lose their meaning? I have. I think of how society redefines things to suit their current thinking. But this isn’t a new phenomenon at all. We, humans, do this all the time. In fact, a famous president of the United States defended himself from serious charges by reminding his questioners “It depends on what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” The same challenge exists today with the…
The Word of the Day
We Can Have the Same Conviction as Paul (Mon. August 21)
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The word of the day is “all.” Many say that Christ died “for me.” But that thought does not necessarily motivate those are “saved” to seek salvation for anyone else. It might lead the “saved” to be content that the promise of eternal life is “for me.” But in our reading of 2 Corinthians 5:10-15, Paul writes, “We judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all (OSB vs. 14-15). Today we examine Paul’s motives for his zealous preaching of the Gospel. And we find that its root is his absolute certainty of the divine judgment to come and of the love of God who desires the salvation of all. We then will ask how we might attain this same conviction.…
Growing the Church
Pride
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Having stated why I consider individual spiritual growth critical to the overall health of the Church, let me turn back to the obstacles to that spiritual growth. Next up is the problem of pride. Simply put, pride is at work when we place our own needs above everything else—including God. It is, in essence, an exaggerated fascination with and fixation on one’s own being and interests. It leads, even for the believer,…
Eastern Christian Insights
It Takes Humility to Forgive as We Have Been Forgiven: Homily for the Eleventh Sunday of Matthew in the Orthodox Church
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Matthew 18:23-35      Stories can open our eyes in ways that rational arguments often do not.  Stories draw us in and encourage us to see ourselves in a new light, while arguments often trigger us to defend our point of view. The Lord often taught in parables, very short stories that get to the heart of the matter, spark our imagination, and call us to see more clearly…
The Word of the Day
How Faith Is Confirmed (Sat. August 19)
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The word of the day is “confirm.” When the apostle Thomas surrendered his doubt and confessed the Risen Christ to be his Lord and God, Jesus responded, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). This blessing from the Risen Christ comes to us who believe through the Word of His disciples (John 17:12) who were eyewitnesses to the events of our salvation (Luke 1:2 and 2 Peter 1:16). Today in 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, St. Paul assures the Corinthians that Christ “will confirm you to the end, so that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ” (OSB vs. 6). Today we will consider what…
Faith Encouraged
Awake To Anticipate
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You remember when you were a kid and Christmas seemed to take forever. My mom used to use that old tried and true way to get me and my brother to behave through the year: “Boys, Santa is watching and Christmas is just (fill in the blank) away!” Well, the older I got the shorter that line would get me to behave! And Christmas seemed to come quicker and quicker as my birthdays increased!…
The Word of the Day
The Inner Man and How It Is Renewed Day after Day (Fri. August 18)
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The word of the day is “inner.”  In the rocky stretches of our spiritual journey, we need a reason for hope. Otherwise, we will give up in despair. In today’s reading of 2 Corinthians 4:13-18, Paul explains why he does not lose heart. Just before this passage, the apostle recounts how he is persevering through countless ordeals. Now the apostle writes that he is “hard-pressed on either side, yet not crushed; …perplexed but not in despair; …persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8-9). But then he discloses the secret of his endurance. He writes, “Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day (OSB vs. 16). Today, we will describe our…
A Lamp for Today
Light from the Psalter 4: I Cried to the Lord
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Psalm 141 (LXX) /142 (MT); 1 Samuel (Kingdoms) 22; 1 Samuel (Kingdoms) 24; Hebrews 12:1-6 The second of the “Lamp-light” Psalms, Psalm 141 in the Greek, 142 in the Hebrew, continues the theme of the previous one—the plight of the righteous, and their cry to God. In the Psalter, it is introduced by a superscription that reads “by David, when he was in the cave, a Prayer.” David’s popularity was not appreciated…
Faith Encouraged
Being Ready for THAT GREAT DAY!
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Standing in line at the supermarket is such an education. As I’m placing my grocery items on the conveyor belt and watching them slide toward the cashier, I glance toward the ubiquitous magazines there in the check-out line and read headlines screaming at me that Big Foot has been seen again, the latest Hollywood starlet has been cheated on or has cheated on her spouse, an aging actor tells all, and (most…
Faith Encouraged
The One Fatal Flaw - Sunday Homily
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Faith Encouraged
The Difference Between Inspiration and Motivation
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What’s the difference between Inspiration and Motivation? Well, Inspiration usually comes from the outside. I’m inspired by that act of charity, or that life well lived. Motivations, however, are usually internal; that set of desires and drives that either keep me on track or send my life down a dead end. My best friend used to say “No life is a total waste. It can always serve as a bad example!” What…
The Word of the Day
Nothing More Glorious in All of History (Wed. August 16)
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The word of the day is “glory.” The root of the Greek word “glorious” involves opinion and estimation (Strong’s #1391, 71-21). Thus, what is glorious is esteemed to be exceptionally honorable and worthy of a good opinion. What is “glorious” to us today? The Grand Canyon in Arizona? Niagara Falls in New York and Ontario? The U.S. Capitol Building in Washington D.C.? Or is it Hagia Sophia in Istanbul (Constantinople)? St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome? Or the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem? Most Glorious in All History When we gaze at the beauty of any of these, we cannot help but be overtaken with a sense of awe, admiration, and wonder. Yet in today’s reading of 2 Corinthians 3:4-11,…
Faith Encouraged
If You Don't Pay Attention - Sunday Homily
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Glory to God for All Things
Only Love Knows Anything
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Only Love Knows Anything There’s a part of us that is wired to be careful. It senses danger and hunkers down. It looks for danger. It can easily become the dominant mode of our life. Anxiety and depression, are among the most common noises of this internal warning system. When it comes to dominate, we see the world through fear-colored glasses. In the classical language of the Church, we describe such…
Faith Encouraged
Blessed Is The Womb That Bore You!
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Today is a major feast day for our Church. Today marks the annual contemplation of an event so monumental that it reveals the nature of what it means to be a human being. Today’s feast invites you and me to know our true purpose, and the comfort of true meaning in the face of the very event that you and I and all of us will face, whether we want to or…
Faith Encouraged
Playing Pretend Christian
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It’s easy to do! And that should be your first clue that something is very deeply wrong with you! Yes, you. Actually, I mean me! I’m talking about the ease at which we will say we believe and then live as if that statement isn’t true at all! It’s easy to do; just get cut off in traffic and see how quickly your pious words ring hollow in the face of your…
The Word of the Day
Triumph In and Through Our Tribulations (Monday, August 14)
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The word of the day is “triumph.” Often, we do not understand the Almighty’s reason for permitting the trials that we face. Amid our struggles, it is hard to give thanks for the goodness of God. Yet when we look back at our troubles, we often see that God was working in the ordeals that seemed without explanation at the time. The Tone of Victory Replaces the Mood of Anguish Today our reading of 2 Corinthians 2:14-3:3 replaced the previous mood of anguish in Paul’s letter to Corinth with a tone of victory. The apostle had received some good news. He had sent his co-worker Titus to check on the situation in Corinth (vs. 12) while he took advantage of an “open door”…
The Word of the Day
Rejoice When Suffering for Christ’s Sake (Sun. August 13)
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The word of the day is “sake.”  Which of these would we choose: worldly wisdom, strength, honor, and riches or their opposite: foolishness, weakness, dishonor, and poverty?  Today in our reading of 1 Corinthians 4:9-16, Paul speaks about the hardships that he and the other apostles are enduring for the sake of Christ.  He contrasts these adversities with the boasting of the Corinthians that they are wise, rich, and honored. The apostle’s defense of his ministry puts a question before us. We can either be wise or fools; strong or weak; distinguished or dishonored, rich or “hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, beaten, and homeless” (vs. 11). Blessed Are the Reviled and Persecuted for Christ’s Sake We would probably choose the good things…
Eastern Christian Insights
Transfiguration in Holiness Through Faith, Prayer, and Fasting: Homily for the Tenth Sunday of Matthew and the Leave-taking of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ in the Orthodox Church
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1 Corinthians 4:9-16; Matthew 17:14-23            Today we conclude our commemoration of the Lord’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, when the spiritual eyes of Peter, James, and John were opened to behold His divine glory and they heard the voice of the Father say, “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” (Mk. 9:7)  We are also in the final days of the fast that prepares us to celebrate the Feast of the Dormition…
The Word of the Day
The Power of Striving Together in Prayer (Sat. August 12)
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The word of the day is “strive.” Why aren’t our individual prayers sufficient? After all, the Book of James says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (OSB James, 5:16). If so, then why should James also say that we should pray for one another (James 5:16)? Today in Romans 15:30-33, Paul writes, “Strive together with me in prayers to God for me” (vs. 30). Today we explore why Paul appeals for fervent prayers for him. And we learn the added power and benefits of praying for one another. Paul’s Concerns Require Striving Together in Prayer In today’s reading, Paul closes his letter to the Romans. The apostle has finished his collection of the offering for the poor…
Faith Encouraged
But You Promised
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As a dad, I hate hearing this from my children “But you promised.” It is both frustrating and, sometimes, embarrassing because I had, in fact, promised and hadn’t followed through! As with most realities in life, it’s complicated. Yes, there are times I’ve said “I promise” and was just saying it to get the kids happy or even put them off. But that mistake builds into my children the terrible notion that…
The Word of the Day
God’s Word is Always “Yes” (Fri. August 11)
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The word of the day is “Yes.”  When our faith is challenged, we are tempted to become unsure of the promises of God’s Word and doubtful of its preaching. Today in  2 Corinthians 1:12-20, Paul defends himself from the charge that he vacillates. He says, “Yes” sometimes, and “No” other times, and “Yes and No” most times (vs. 18).  Today we will find that Paul admits his change of plans. But he insists that his motives, methods, and message are constant.  By his constancy, Paul seeks to reflect the faithfulness of God whose “steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 118) and whose Word is everlasting (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35).  We learn from our reading that we can rely on the consistency of…
Faith Encouraged
Truth Comforts the Suffering
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But Truth is a Person, and that is the key difference in facing suffering from a Christian perspective. Our world is filled with suffering. I was telling a story of my days as a police officer and my struggles (to this day) in dealing with the suffering of children. I was almost suspended from duty one night by my commanding officer when I refused to work a horrific car crash until the…
The Word of the Day
Sorrow and Comfort in Equal Measure (Thurs. August 10)
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The word of the day is “comfort.” Who does not need comfort amid grief and hardships? But where do we find it? Today in 2 Corinthians 1-17, we begin to read Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth. After his introduction, the apostle writes about the “comfort” that God gives in “tribulation” (vs. 4). Today we explore Paul’s trials and how he receives comfort from God as he faces them. Thus, he is a suburb example to us of how we might find solace amid loss and difficulty. Paul’s Sorrow over the Trouble in Corinth Paul wrote our passage at a low point in Paul’s ministry. He had endured such “trouble” in Ephesus that he feared for his life (vs. 8). Now Paul…
Faith Encouraged
He Saw With His Own Eyes
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Ask any police officer or investigator and they will tell you having an eyewitness to an event is great, and not so great. The reason is eyewitnesses are notorious for filtering what they see through what they think they remember. So, we were trained on how to weed out what they thought they saw from what they actually saw. It can make all the difference in the world. In fact, there are…
The Word of the Day
When We Intend to Serve the Lord, Adversaries Arise (Wed. August 9)
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The word of the day is “adversaries.”  It is natural to expect that when we set about to serve the Lord that He would remove any obstacles in our way. But today’s reading of 1 Corinthians 16:4-12, Paul refers to many opponents that stand in the way of his plans to preach the Gospel. Today we will use Paul’s example to learn why some put roadblocks in our work for the Lord. And we will discuss how we can overcome these barriers. In today’s reading of 1 Corinthians 16:4-12, Paul closes his letter with a summary of his plans for his ministry. He writes that he is eager to visit the Corinthians and to deal with matters that he could…
