And when Jesus returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that He was at home. And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer room for them, not even about the door; and He was preaching the word to them. And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic carried by four men. And when they could not get near Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and
Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” Nathanael answered him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” John 1:45-46 (Gospel on the Sunday of Orthodoxy) We have all had the experience of being invited somewhere. When we accept an invitation, it is with the expectation that
An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 2 Timothy 2: 5 (Epistle on the Third Saturday of the Souls) I have some very good news for you—God is more concerned with effort than with results! You are probably thinking, “How can that be?” Sometimes effort doesn’t yield results. Let me give you an example. Let’s say I prepare a meaningful sermon for Sunday, and a huge rainstorm hits on Sunday
Jesus said: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6:19-21 (Gospel of Cheese-fare Sunday) Most of us think we “cannot live” without our cell phones. We
Jesus said, “And when you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by men. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by men but by your Father who is in secret; and your father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew
Jesus said, ”For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6: 14-15 (Gospel on Cheese-fare Sunday) No, we don’t believe in karma, but the Lord teaches us that where forgiveness is concerned, there is definitely a “what goes around comes around” element as it relates to the Lord and our practice of
Jesus said ”Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven… And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:1, 6 (Gospel on the Second Saturday of the Souls) The word “piety” is defined as “the quality of being religious or reverent.” Wikipedia has a whole page dedicated to the concept of piety,
[The Older Son] answered his father, ”Lo, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command; yet you never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your living with harlots, you killed for him the fatted calf!” And he said to him, “Son you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was
But while he was yet at a distance, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ”Father I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the Father said to his servants, “Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on
But when he came to himself, he said “How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, but I perish here with hunger! I arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants.” And he arose and came to his father.
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