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 for today is “mutual.” Before the Covid-19 pandemic, many of us had a casual attitude toward worship attendance. But now, we have longed to get together with our fellow members and have learned what it means to worship together with others. In today’s reading of Romans 1:7-12, Paul expresses his eager hope to meet in person with the believers in Rome. We learn from him that mutual encouragement is one of the most precious blessings of joining with others in worship, study, and fellowship. Today’s passage takes us back to the beginning of the Epistle to the Romans. To begin his letter, St. Paul introduces himself as a servant of Christ and an Apostle. Then he addresses the…
The word of the day is “alike.” Justice is blind. It does not discriminate but treats all alike. That is our ideal. But does it apply to the judgments of God? In today’s reading of Romans 2:14-24, Paul answers the Jews who “rest on the law.” They boast that they “know His will” and are “instructed out of the law” (OSB vs. 18). Therefore, they think that the Almighty Creator of the world treats them differently. His promises are for them and not others who are outside the covenant. If the Gentiles want a share in these promises, they must be circumcised and become Jews. Then they would be qualified to be part of God’s Chosen People to whom God…
The word of the day is “repentance .” It is the nature of sin that it not only committed transgressions but excuses them. Humans have various ways of rationalizing, overlooking, and trivializing their sins even while they judge others who do the same things. But in our reading of Romans 1:28-2:9 today, Paul declares unequivocally, “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself” (OSB vs. 2:1). Today we find that Paul cuts through all the ways that humans dismiss the seriousness of their sins and disregard the inevitable divine judgment against them. We learn that if we have escaped the anger of God for our transgressions, it is…
The word of the day is “worship.” What is sin? What is so wrong in God’s sight that it merits His judgment, even His wrath. Some might answer killing, stealing, sexual immorality, lying, and coveting. Others might say or hate, prejudice, and injustice. Others might answer sloth, lust, despair, and idle talk. But note what St. Paul says in our reading: of Romans 1:18-27, [They] exchanged the truth of God for the lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. All People Are Called to Be Priests The sins that deserve the judgment of God have to do with worship. They are not sins against our neighbor but sins against what is due…
The word of the day is “ashamed.” In this time of cynicism, we are tempted to stifle our witness to our faith because we fear it would not be understood or even ridiculed. If we face such a temptation, we should pay attention to St. Paul’s words in our reading of Romans 1:1-7; 13-17. Paul begins his epistle with the bold statement, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel” (OSB vs. 16). Today, as we start reading Romans, we find that if the Gospel is proclaimed with boldness, it has power. But if it is preached with conformity to the world, it is weak. Glorying in the Gospel St. Paul’s letter to the Romans is the nearest thing in…
The word of the day is “days.” As our world staggers from one crisis to another, we are tempted to despair. We might say to ourselves that there is nothing that we can do about the turmoil of our times. Yet, our reading of Ephesians 5:9-19 encourages us that we can respond faithfully to the chaos surrounding us. Thus, Paul exhorts us “to walk circumspectly… redeeming the time because the days are evil” (vs. 15). Today we consider what it means to “redeem” what otherwise is an evil time. The Day is Not Evil by Nature Why does Paul call the day in which we live “evil”? Are things that bad? The Greek term evil refers to the effect or…
The word of the day is “each.” As we celebrate the Day of Pentecost, we might ask who received the gift of the Holy Spirit at that festival? Just the twelve disciples? And we might ask who is given the Holy Spirit today? Only those whom we call the saints? Today in our reading of Acts 2:1-11, Luke records that when a mighty wind blew, “there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them” (OSB vs. 3). Today we emphasize that all who are baptized are given the gift of the Holy Spirit. He does not belong to selected believers as their possession while the rest of us must do without the “power…
The word of the day is “unhindered.” In the Divine Liturgy, we pray for our civic leaders “that we in their tranquility may lead a calm and peaceful life in all godliness and sanctity” (St-Tikhon’s 1984, 71). In other words, we are praying for an equilibrium in our lives, free of contention, strife and discord. In such a balanced situation, we can grow in what is godly and holy.[i] Today, in our reading of Acts 28:1-31, Luke, the writer of Acts, closes his early church history with such a sense of stability. He says that Paul lived in a rented house in Rome for two years, “preaching… and teaching…with all confidence, no one forbidding him” (OSB vs. 31). We might…
The word for today is “skiff,” a small boat. When we encounter times of distress and desperation, do we trust God completely? Or do we keep something in reserve to rely on, an insurance policy as a last resort? We pray to God for help. But just in case divine help is not enough, we have something else to turn to. Our reading of Acts 27:1-44 tells the exciting story of the shipwreck that St. Paul survived on his way to Rome. In keeping a vision of God’s will, he has given the witness of his faith in Jerusalem (Acts 23:11). The apostle has appeared before the high priest and council in Jerusalem (Acts 22:1-20; 23:1-6). He has testified before…
The word of the day is “alive.” What does it mean to say that Jesus Christ is alive? We take its meaning for granted. But how would we explain it to someone who was not raised in the faith? In our reading of Acts 25:13-19, a pagan Roman governor has questions about a “certain Jesus” who “had died whom Paul affirmed to be alive” (OSB vs. 19). Today we look at the testimony that Jesus is alive with fresh eyes to discover the meaning of His resurrection anew. In today’s reading, we find Romans soldiers have rescued St. Paul from a mob and taken him to Caesarea. He has been imprisoned there for two years. Now a new governor has…