The word of the day is “established.” Recall the Parable of the Sowing of the Seed. Especially, call to mind the seed that fell on rocky ground. It sprang up energetically but soon withered in the blazing sun. It did so because its roots had no depth. We can say that it was not “established” in the Word of God. In our reading of Romans 14:19-23 and 16:25-27, St. Paul concludes His epistle with a benediction. He writes, “May He who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ…be glory through Jesus Christ, forever” (vs. 25). Today we focus on how God establishes us in the faith and life of Christ and how we must tend…
The word of the day is “established.” Recall the Parable of the Sowing of the Seed. Especially, call to mind the seed that fell on rocky ground. It sprang up energetically but soon withered in the blazing sun. It did so because its roots had no depth. We can say that it was not “established” in the Word of God. In our reading of Romans 14:19-23 and 16:25-27, St. Paul concludes His epistle with a benediction. He writes, “May He who is able to establish you according to my Gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ…be glory through Jesus Christ, forever” (vs. 25). Today we focus on how God establishes us in the faith and life of Christ and how…
The word of the day is “cornerstone.” What should be the foundation of the church and our very lives? With what should we orient our communities of faith and ourselves? In today’s reading of 1 Peter 1:1-2, 10-12, 2:6-10, Peter writes, “Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame’” (OSB 1 Peter 2:6). Today we learn how this prophecy refers to Jesus Christ and we should conform the Church and ourselves to Him. The Prophecy of Isaiah The origin of the metaphor of the cornerstone is the prophecy of Isaiah, “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD:…
The word of the day is “temple.” In our reading of Ephesians 2:14-22, St. Paul compares the Church to a holy temple that is built on a solid foundation. Further, he emphasizes that Christ is the Cornerstone who unites the Church’s members into a sacred dwelling place of God. In our reading, Paul draws the analogy between the building of the Old Testament temple in Jerusalem and the nature of the Church. Three main comparisons: the foundation, the cornerstone, and the materials that “fitted together” make up the building as a dwelling place for God. Note that the writer to the Hebrews speaks of both the “tabernacle” and the temple in single thought. Likewise, the Book of Revelation combines these…
The word of the day is “temple .” In our reading of Ephesians 2:14-22, St. Paul compares the Church to a holy temple that is built on a solid foundation. Further, he emphasizes that Christ is the Cornerstone who unites the Church’s members into a sacred dwelling place of God. In our reading, Paul draws the analogy between the building of the Old Testament temple in Jerusalem and the nature of the Church. There are three main comparisons: the foundation, the Cornerstone, and the materials that “fitted together” make up the building as a dwelling place for God. First, let me explain that the Book of Hebrews speaks of the “tabernacle,” not the temple. This “Tent of Meeting” was a…