Saint Mark 8:34-9:1 Epistle to the Galatians 2:16-20 We think of the cross as the great symbol of our Christian faith. We wear it around our necks and otherwise display it proudly. But during the first century it was nothing of the sort; it was a cruel instrument of execution used by the Romans to make a statement: unfortunate people died…
If you go to a football game, you’ll see fans hold up signs, waving towels, and wearing the colors of their team. And you might even see someone holding up a sign with a Bible verse, a sign that says, “John 3:16.” That’s because this verse is such a clear summary of the very heart…
St. Matthew 21:33-42 1 Corinthians 16: 13-24 There probably are not many vineyards close to Abilene, but we can all still understand what Jesus Christ was talking about in today’s gospel reading. A vineyard is a place where grapes are grown. The Lord told a parable about a landowner who had workers take care of his vineyard. When the grapes were ready, he wanted the fruit and sent…
Only a small dose of common sense should be required to see that children tend to flourish when men and women rear them together through permanent family units sustained by marriage. There are many examples of single, divorced, and widowed mothers—and fathers and other people—who struggle successfully to bring up children in other familial settings. It’s no insult to them to point out the misguided nature of arguments that praise single…
I Corinthians 9:2-12 Matthew 18:23-35 Today we continue celebrating a great feast of the Church, the Feast of the Dormition of Mary the Thetokos When we think of the Virgin Mary, we cannot help but marvel at the unique and glorious role that she plays in our salvation. For the Son of God to humble Himself to the point of becoming a human being, He had…