Commentary on the Daily Lectionary of the Orthodox Church
Author: Fr. Basil
Now retired, the Very Rev. Archpriest Basil Ross Aden has served as a parish priest, parish pastor, diocesan mission director, writer, and college teacher of New Testament and Religious Studies. He has a Master of Theology and a Doctor of Ministry degree from the University of Chicago and has published daily devotional and stewardship materials as well as a college textbook on Religious Studies. He also has published papers and/or lectured on the Orthodox perspective on Luther and the Reformation. religious freedom, current issues of religion and society, and St. John Chrysostom. He is married to Sandra and has two sons and three grandchildren. He is still active as a priest as well as a writer of articles and materials on Orthodoxy and topics of faith and life today.
The word of the day is “measure.”  The Body of Christ is one, and yet its members are many.  The church is a community of faith that is united in love, and yet it is composed of a diversity of people with different talents, roles, and callings. Why are some given impressive talents while others seem to have little ability at all? Why are some called to important roles while others seem to be unimportant and unnoticed?  Why are some endowed with exceptional authority while the rest are expected to follow them?  Doesn’t such diversity divide the church’s membership and cause jealousy and resentment? Why can’t all of us be the same not only in faith but in God’s gifts,…
The word of the day is “light.” In our reading of 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8, St. Paul writes that the day of the Lord’s return will surprise many who are heedless and unprepared.  But it does not have to be so for his congregation in Thessalonica.  They are “sons of light and sons of the day” (vs. 5:5).  They live in the daytime of Christ’s light.  Even so, Paul admonishes them to stay awake, sober, vigilant, and ready to greet the Lord when He comes as Lord and Judge of the world. Paul’s declaration that the faithful are children of the light arises naturally from the thought that the Lord will come “like a thief in the night” (vs. 2).  The analogy of the burglar who…
The word of the day is “baptism.” Today on this Great Feast of Theophany, we continue to consider the epistle for yesterday and today, Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7. Today we rejoice in the revelation of the Holy Trinity in the Baptism of our Lord. However, we also remember our baptism into Christ, His death and resurrection. Yesterday, we emphasized the connection of our baptism with our salvation as St. Paul said, “He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit…” (Titus 3:5). Today we focus on the connection between our baptism and our resurrection as St. Paul wrote and we sing in the Liturgy, “For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have…
The word of the day is “saved.”  On this Eve of the Great Feast of Theophany, we reflect on the connection between the Baptism of Christ and our baptism. In our reading of Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7, the apostle writes, “But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior” (vs. 4-6). Note in the Greek text in verse 4 that the word “saved” is not in the form of a verb. It is a noun. The passage…
The word of the day is “sacrifice.”  In today’s reading of Hebrews 10:1-18, the apostle announces the end of sacrifices for sin.  He writes, “For by one offering He [Christ] has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (vs. 14).  Consequently, there is no longer a need for any more offerings for sin. All that is necessary for our redemption has been fulfilled. A One-Time Offering The apostle argues at length that the sacrifices of the Old Testament were ineffective because they had to be repeated again and again (vs. 11).  But Christ’s sacrifice on the cross was “once and for all” (10).  The proof of its efficacy was that Christ “sat down at the right hand of God” after He had finished His mission…
The word of the day is “mediator.” In our reading from Hebrews 9:8-10; 15-23, the apostle explains how Jesus Christ established the new covenant that promises our eternal inheritance. Paul writes, “He is the Mediator of the new covenant by means of death…. That those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance” (vs. 15). St. John Chrysostom explains, “A mediator is not lord of the thing of which he is mediator, but the thing belongs to one person, and the mediator is another: for instance, the mediator of a marriage is not the bridegroom, but one who aids him who is about to be married” (NpFp1: 13). But what are the parties to the mediation of…
The word of the day is “walk.” Today St. Paul teaches that there is a difference between having life in the Spirit and living in the Spirit.  Thus, in our reading of Galatians 5:22-6:22, St. Paul writes, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (vs. 25). The Holy Mystery of Baptism grants the baptized the “seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit” and confers the power, illumination, and inspiration of the Spirit (Orthodox Church in America, “Baptism Service,” 2012).  From then on, those who are washed and renewed in the baptismal font, indeed, “live in the Spirit” (vs. 25).  Having died to the “old life” of sin and death, they now wear the white baptismal…
The word of the day is “creature.” As we end one year and begin another, we might consider the nature of the material world in which we live. Yes, we live in the hope of a “better country,” our eternal inheritance.  But the material world, though subject to corruption, is not evil. In our reading of 1 Timothy 3:14-4:5, St. Paul writes, “For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (vs. 4). The Law of Moses divided food and drink into qualities of “clean” and “unclean” as if they were intrinsically good or bad. But the Lord said, “Not…
The word of the day is “priesthood.” As the year rushes to its end, we are preparing to celebrate another “holiday.” But before the twelve days of Christmas end, we might ask ourselves whether our celebration of the incarnation of the Son of God has had any lasting effect on us. Or are we resuming our daily routine and facing the challenges of another year with nothing but pleasant memories of yet another Christmas? Who is Jesus Christ to us, after all? He is known by various titles: Messiah, King, Shepherd, Master, Prophet, and Savior. But in today’s reading of Hebrews 7:18-25, the apostle reminds us of another role that we should consider important to us. He writes, “But He [Christ], because…
The word for today is “priest.” In our reading of Hebrews 7:1-6, the apostle speaks of a mysterious priest-king who met Abraham when he was returning from a great victory. To this unknown priest, Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils of war. Who was the mysterious figure? St. John Chrysostom asks us to consider the following: He was priest of the Most High God. He was called Melchisedek which is derived from the word meaning righteous He was King, thus the King of Righteousness. He was King of Salem, meaning Peace. He had no genealogy, no father or mother. He had no beginning or ending. He was a priest. He was “made like” a Son of God. Now, who…