November 2024

As we come to the last two weeks of the liturgical year, our first readings are from the Book of Revelation (also called Apocalypse). This is probably the book of the New Testament which causes the most puzzlement to many Christians. The strange, obscure language seems outrageous and difficult to understand. For Christians of some […]

Many people have the impression that the Old Testament is the harsh, fire-and-brimstone part of the Bible, while the New Testament is filled only with good news. In the Old Testament, God is always angry and smiting this person or punishing that nation. The New Testament is all love and happiness. In reality, this picture

Today we have Luke’s version (Luke 18:35-43) of the story of the blind man, called Bar-Timaeus in Mark’s gospel, the son of Timaeus.  In Mark, the story is strategically placed at the end of a long teaching section where Jesus’ disciples are slowly deepening their understanding of Jesus and his mission. The story, full of

Today is the second to last Sunday of the Church year. Next Sunday we will celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. On this Sunday the readings traditionally speak about the end of the world, the end of time, the final coming of Jesus to take all peoples and all creation to himself. We hear

(Part Two) The Third Letter of John preserves a brief glimpse into the problems of missionary activity and local autonomy in the early church. In contrast to the other two letters of John, this work was addressed to a specific individual, Gaius. This letter is less theological in content and purpose than the First and

(Part One) Early Christian tradition identified these works as letters of John the apostle. Because of their resemblance to the fourth gospel in style, vocabulary, and ideas, it is generally agreed that both works are the product of the same school of Johannine Christianity. The terminology and the presence or absence of certain theological ideas

Today we begin reading from the three shortest books of the New Testament—a reading from Paul’s Letter to Philemon. The whole ‘book’ consists of just one chapter and is, in the strict sense, a letter from one friend to another. Paul even claims to have written it in his own hand. Most of his longer

Today, our third and last reading from the Letter to Titus (Titus 3:1‑7) consists of some general instruction for church members. The living of a full Christian life touches not only on our direct relations with God but also permeates even the smallest actions of our day and the role we play in the everyday

This week, as we are approaching the end of the liturgical year, we dip into four short letters: the Letter to Titus (Monday,  Tuesday and Wednesday), the Letter to Philemon (Thursday), the Second Letter of John (Friday), and the Third Letter of John (Saturday). The Letters to Titus and Philemon come last in the body

I have never worn the uniform, been to war, been wounded or scared in a battle. I have never left my family for months or years to travel across the world to fight for and defend my country. I have never eaten a MRE, carried a sea bag, put on combat boots, shot at an