The Problem of Evil Today’s Gospel lesson speaks to us of evil in the world including the mention of the unforgivable sin – blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. This blasphemy is when people were saying “He has gone out of this mind”; and the scribes were saying that “He has...
Knowing God Today is a special day in the calendar of the church year. It is different from all the rest in that others are based upon an event. This day, however, we celebrate the Holy Trinity … a doctrine. This is the doctrine that states the Christian understanding of...
The Gospel According to John the 15th Chapter When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning....
The Jesus Connection A newspaper reporter went to interview a successful entrepreneur. “How did you do it?” he asked. “How did you make all this money?” “I’m glad you asked,” the entrepreneur replied. “Actually, it’s a rather wonderful story. You see, when my wife and I married, we started...
Everyone is interested in numbers these days. At least that’s the way it seems. Have you ever tried to write a check for your purchase in a store? You pull out your checkbook and write out the check. The clerk takes it from you, looks at the information. Numbers tell...
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of our heart be pleasing unto you, Our God and our Redeemer. Scripture has a lot to say about the act of ‘lifting up. We see such images in 3 of our readings today. In Numbers, we see that in the...
Even when I was a child, I heard the term ‘doubting Thomas’ applied to certain people under certain conditions. At first, I had no idea what it meant, growing up as I did in a non-religious household. Later, I learned it was a reference to someone who didn’t believe something...
“… and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.” Not what any of us expected to hear on Easter! You and I have come to this Easter service from many different places, many different points of view, differing needs and differing attitudes and differing emotions – but fear...
“For I have set you an example . . . 21 After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23 One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining...
We stand today on the threshold of another Holy Week. It’s strange that we should call this time by that name. In the original setting, it was seven days of conspiracy, deception, cowardice, betrayal, manipulation, hatred, and violence. And we call that “Holy Week”! We Christians have a strange vocabulary....