Monday of the Sunday after the Ascension – Revelation 5

Last updated on: May 17, 2015 at 8:04 pm By Fr. Charles Erlandson

Revelation 5 I wish I knew more songs. Actually, I probably know a few thousand (and probably 200 or so just from the Beatles), and at home, I’m always seizing a shard from some song I know and mutating the words weirdly to fit something one of the kids has said. They say to me, “You have a song for everything!” To which I reply, in song, “To everything (turn, turn, turn) Daddy has a song (turn, turn, turn).” But... Read more

Saturday of 5th Sunday after Easter – 2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5

Last updated on: May 15, 2015 at 6:03 pm By Fr. Charles Erlandson

2 Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 Let’s give thanks to God for His kingdom and His power and His glory revealed in us. Let’s show the world His kingdom and power and glory by leading holy, Spirit-filled, Word-filled lives! Today’s passage is an interesting one because instead of praising the Thessalonians as he has done before, Paul gives thanks to God (verse 13). Specifically, he gives thanks to God because from the beginning God chose the Thessalonians for salvation. Notice that Paul doesn’t... Read more

Friday of 5th Sunday after Easter – Romans 8:31-39

Last updated on: May 14, 2015 at 5:08 pm By Fr. Charles Erlandson

Romans 8:31-39 These verses at the end of Romans 8 are among the most comforting and calming in all of Scripture. But before we get to what seem like unconditional promises that St. Paul makes on behalf of Jesus Christ, we should look at the larger context of the passage. At the beginning of Romans 8, Paul makes clear that all that he is about to say in this chapter applies to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do... Read more

Why did Christ ascend into heaven?

Last updated on: August 4, 2017 at 9:55 pm By Fr. Charles Erlandson

Why did Christ ascend into heaven? Read more

Wednesday of 5th Sunday after Easter – 1 John 5:5-15

Last updated on: May 12, 2015 at 7:11 pm By Fr. Charles Erlandson

1 John 5:5-15 The word “Rogation” means “asking,” or “praying,” and the three Rogation Days (the Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of this week) are traditionally days of special prayer, particularly for God’s blessing on the spring planting and on the land we live in. The sad fact of our existence is that while God created the world good, ever since Adam’s sin we have been at war with it. For this reason, “the world” even came to be known by... Read more

Tuesday of 5th Sunday after Easter – Matthew 6:24-34

Last updated on: May 11, 2015 at 6:58 pm By Fr. Charles Erlandson

Matthew 6:24-34 “You cannot serve two masters.” You’ve heard the saying, from the old Westerns: “This town ain’t big enough for the both of us.” Well, your life ain’t big enough for 2 opposing masters. You cannot serve both God and wealth, and you cannot serve both God and self. So who’s your master? Who are you really serving? You have 3 choices on your menu today. serve self and put faith in self = pride serve wealth and put... Read more

Monday of 5th Sunday after Easter – Matthew 6:5-15

Last updated on: May 10, 2015 at 4:18 pm By Fr. Charles Erlandson

Matthew 6:5-15 I love antiques and artifacts. I love going to museums and experiencing their artifacts. I feel tangibly closer to dinosaurs or mummies, to van Gogh or Van Eyck, when in a museum. I love old books and how they smell and their sturdy yellow pages and the fact that they connect me with the truth and lives of the past that are still meaningful today. And so I read with fascination the archeological discoveries of the Holy Land. ... Read more

Saturday of 4th Sunday after Easter – Hebrews 13:17-25

Last updated on: May 8, 2015 at 5:38 pm By Fr. Charles Erlandson

Hebrews 13:17-25 “Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Verses 20-21). These verses are an excellent summary of the teaching of the book of Hebrews and... Read more

Friday of 4th Sunday after Easter – Hebrews 13:9-16

Last updated on: May 7, 2015 at 9:29 pm By Fr. Charles Erlandson

Hebrews 13:9-16 Ask the average American kid what his favorite food is, and he’s likely to say, “pizza.” Ask Fr. Charles what his favorite food is, and he’s likely to say the same. Actually, I do have other favorite foods. I love sautéed mushrooms, which, providentially, I discovered while consuming a pizza topped with mushrooms. And, under the tutelage of my wife I’ve learned the pleasures of garlic (which is often served as garlic bread – along with pizza). But... Read more

Thursday of 4th Sunday after Easter – Hebrews 13:1-8

Last updated on: May 6, 2015 at 4:37 pm By Fr. Charles Erlandson

Hebrews 13:1-8 How are we to live, in light of Who Jesus Christ Is, and in light of His fiery glory? How may we serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear (12:28)? I’m glad you asked! The writer of Hebrews has provided a mini-handbook of ways in which we should live, knowing that we are in the Presence of Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, who the writer of Hebrews has been revealing to us for 12 chapters. There... Read more