Almighty and ever-living God, as Your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple in the substance of our flesh, grant that we may be presented to You with pure and clean hearts; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Joy is much sought after in all times and in all places. For this reason, in our day, countless books and many self-help seminars offer the secret to finding and experiencing joy. Unfortunately, they all fall short of offering a joy that is a forever joy and a fierce-able-to-endure-anything joy.
Everlasting and Enduring Joy Read More »
Jesus says, “The Holy Spirit will convict the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment.” This, in my view, is the only place in the New Testament where Jesus tells us about the work of the Holy Spirit outside of the Church. And this three-fold conviction of the Holy Spirit is a message that turns the world upside down in Jesus’ disciples’ day as well as our own. It is a message the Church desperately needs to hear and needs to communicate to our world today.
Spirit, Convict us of Sin, Righteousness, and of Judgment Read More »
It is important to understand the radical change that has happened to us through our encounter with Jesus. Something has happened to us; the very life of heaven has entered us, and our rela
Radical Change, Radical Conflict, Radical Challenge Read More »
Palm Sunday reveals the main problem in our world, in the United States, and in us; AND, also reveals the solution to our essential failing.
The Humble King Comes Read More »
Gracious heavenly Father, through our abiding in Jesus’ love, may Your Holy Spirit make us more loving of others. And, Father, remove from our lives our self-salvation projects, so that we trust Jesus as our only Savior. We ask in the precious name of Christ Jesus, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now, and forever. Amen!
There is, perhaps, no clearer statement on the necessity of a relationship with Christ Jesus for the living of the Christian Life than Jesus’ statement in John 15:5: “Apart from Me you can do nothing.”
In the Fourth Sunday in Advent Reading (Matthew 1:18-25) we hear: “Mary will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins” (verse 21). Why is forgiveness so central to the Christmas season and so crucial for our faith? The answer comes in our Gospel Reading today, in which Jesus predicts Peter’s 3-fold denial.
In John 13, verses 1-17 – the washing of His disciples’ feet – Jesus acts out the new commandment which He gives us: “As I have loved you, so you must love one another,” (John 13:34).
What Is My Life’s Purpose? Read More »
Being judged by ourselves, others, and God bothers us. What does Jesus’ have to say about judgment in His final words in His final public Sermon in the Gospel of John? And what do Jesus’ words tell us about this world and about ourselves?
