Philippians 4 Rejoice – for the Lord is at hand! I like to think of myself as saying this in a kind of John the Baptist voice (a la “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”), only with joy instead of penitence. Yes, even in Advent, we can experience joy. Of course, in Advent we are to anticipate the joys of Christmas the coming of Christ again into our lives. But even in Advent – even in Lent... Read more
Philippians 3 What is it about St. Paul that makes him so radical, so hardcore? What has possessed him so that he seems like a fanatic even to Christians? Some, such as Communists, become fanatics for the sake of an idea or an ideology. Some become fanatics out of fear. But St. Paul has shown us a more excellent reason to become a fanatic: so that we might know and live for Jesus Christ. Actually, as every Christian should be... Read more
Philippians 2:19-30 I want to be in one of St. Paul’s churches! I want to be in a church where joy in Christ is found. I want to be in a church where members consider themselves ministers of the mysteries of God and who boldly assert that, “For me to live is Christ!” I want to be in a church where members lay down their lives for the good of others and make the choice to sacrifice their own good... Read more
Philippians 1:27-2:18 Second verse, same as the first. Once again, St. Paul has chosen to talk about love which is to talk about humility. There is so much to feast upon in this morning’s lesson that I wish I had two days or more. Perhaps the best advice I could give you would be to spend extra time meditating today, or better yet, commit part of this passage to memory. I’ve chosen to make Philippians 2:3-15 one of the passages... Read more
Philippians 1:12-26 We all know that to love God with all our heart, soul and mind and to love our neighbors as ourselves are the 2 greatest commandments. But what is love? Saying this, I sound a little like the alien women in episodes of the original Star Trek series, in which they are always asking things like, “What is love?” and “What is kiss? Show me kiss.” (Naturally, Captain Kirk then fulfills his galactic duty to seek out... Read more
Philippians 1:1-11 In spite of all the other elements in the story, The Lord of the Rings is perhaps a story more about fellowship than anything else. In fact, the second volume of the trilogy is even called The Fellowship of the Ring. In that story, great fellowship takes place among many different kinds of creatures. If you know the story, you know that a good wizard, men of old, elves, dwarves – and of course, the stay at home... Read more
Colossians 3:18-4:18 Today St. Paul confronts us with one of the most difficult but most important of Christian teachings: humility and contentment. Verse 18 through 4:1 are really part 2 of what Paul had to say yesterday in verse 17 regarding doing all things in the name of the Lord and giving thanks to God the Father through Him. “Whatever you do,” Paul counsels in verse 23, “do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that... Read more
Colossians 3:12-17 Yesterday, we heard about putting on the New Man and the work of sanctification. In Colossians 3:12-17, St. Paul gives us more detailed advice for how to put on Jesus Christ. I believe that God is the Creator of all and that Satan can only corrupt. I imagine Him looking at what God has just ordered and saying, “I’ll have the opposite.” For every fruit of the Spirit that God gives, Satan offers a rotten counterpart. Therefore, when... Read more
Colossians 2:20-3:11 The commandment to obey God’s commandments, to not indulge the flesh, to not commit fornication, uncleanness, evil desire, covetousness (a form of idolatry), anger, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, lying, etc. are so numerous and so forceful in the Bible that they overwhelm me. Good! They are meant to overwhelm the Old Man in me, who secretly believes that he is capable of getting rid of the sin in my life. The Old Man goes down fighting. Even... Read more
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Monday of Trinity 25 – 1 Peter 4:1-6
1 Peter 4:1-6 THWACK! ! ! Do you know what that sound is? It’s the sound of one of God’s cosmic “spankings.” Though our first instinct is naturally to cry, it’s a cosmic mistake to misinterpret one of God’s spankings. So let’s get rid of a few misconceptions about God’s spankings right here and now. As parents who discipline their children, you’ll immediately recognize that this is the way things work in your family, or at least the way you... Read more