Sunday, May 22, was Trinity Sunday, and the best illustration of the Trinity, at least of which I am aware, comes from Saint Therese of Lisieux, known as “The Little Flower of Jesus.” She lived only to the age of 24 (1873-97) and yet possessed very advanced spiritual insight. All the while, her faith remained […]
“…through slander and praise” (2 Cor. 6:8). This Sunday, May 15, is Pentecost, which has been called the Birthday of the Church. Pentecost is on the same level as Christmas and Easter: Merry Christmas, Christ is risen, and Come, Holy Spirit! At Our Redeemer, the congregation I pastor, Confirmation takes place on Pentecost, and this […]
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just as I have loved you” (John 13:34). The early Christians were described in the following way by the second-century Athenian orator Aristides, himself a Christian: “The Christians know God and trust in Him. They forgive those who oppress them, and make them […]
The odds were 400 to 1. Not very good. The wicked King Ahab assembled his four hundred prophets to inquire whether to go to war against Syria. To a man, the prophets gave the king the go-ahead. It was what he wanted to hear. But there was one more prophet. His name was Micaiah. In […]
“The Gospel according to John” (title). John is the Frank Sinatra of the Four Evangelists. He did it his way. While Matthew, Mark, and Luke resemble each other in certain fundamental ways, John stands apart. His Gospel reads a different way. Perhaps the best example of this is the placement of Holy Communion. Matthew, Mark, […]
“Then the disciples were glad” (John 20:20). With good reason, much is made of the forty days of Lent. Not enough, though, is made of the fifty days of Easter. To most, Easter is a notable day after which life returns to normal. But the resurrection of Jesus means that life will never again be […]