Jesus is the resurrection and the life: through him, the dead will come back to life. Death has been conquered by death, giving an end to death itself, which is why life after death will be eternal life. In his death, Jesus encountered all the dead so that he could taken them into himself and participate in his resurrection from the dead. The key to eternal life is Jesus. The dead share in death together. Jesus, in his death, found... Read more
Pope Francis frequently shares his love to those who have otherwise been mistreated and abused by Christians. This is revealed in in the relationship he has developed with many poor trans women in Italy. They have come to know him and his welcoming love; he offers them help with their material needs, even as he encourages them to listen to him every month at one of his general audiences, giving them a special space when they come. He, of course,... Read more
One of the most controversial topics in contemporary Eastern Christian discussions (Orthodox and Catholic) is that of the so-called toll houses (telonia, τελωνεία). Many Orthodox object to the notion of the toll houses, saying it is heretical, while others point out that belief in them has not only never been condemned, but finds itself represented by many important saints and theologians. The general notion of the toll houses is that upon death, every person will find themselves challenged by demonic... Read more
At the heart of the Christian way of life is the way of love. Love overcomes and defeats sin, allowing the peace which sin destroyed to be restored. St. Paul exhorted his readers, therefore, to engage in the spirit of love, telling them that they should bear with each other with patience and humility. That way, anger and pride, and other such sins, would not destroy the unity Christians are meant to have and present to the world: I therefore,... Read more
Scripture often talks about God anthropomorphically as if God were human. Sometimes, this is done by talking about God’s actions as if God achieved them in the way humans do, such as through by use of hands or feet. Sometimes, it is done by expressing God’s actions as if they followed some sort of human passion like anger (or wrath). God’s anger is said to be provoked by the accumulation of sin. “It is as though the guilt had grown... Read more
Abusing foreigners, denying healthcare to the poor, engaging racism, and even destroying the environment thanks to the health hazards which ensue, all flow from or promote the denial of the dignity of the human person, that is, each represents a denial of the value of human life. Ignoring the conditions for life to flourish, or worse, promoting injustices which not only hinder human survival, but human dignity, are both sins which must be confronted even as the structures of sin... Read more
Growth can be difficult and painful. We might not understand why, but we know, through experience, that it is the way of things. “No pain, no gain” is a popular expression of this truth. To develop, we will go through growing pains. We will be tried and challenged with difficult tasks which will determine who and what we are to be. Some people, understanding this, take it to heart in an extreme fashion. Thinking all pain will lead to some... Read more
The incarnation works to unite humanity as one, a unity God intended humanity to have and would have had were it not for sin. The eschatological fate of humanity is to realize that unity given to it by the peace of Christ. Sin causes humanity to be divided up against itself, to fight against and destroy itself, while the incarnation works to heal that division and all the harm it has caused: With the incarnation of the divine Logos in... Read more
We constantly having all kinds of odd thoughts going through our minds, some of which tempt us to act in ways contrary to what our conscience tells us to do, others which provide strange notions which we find little to no real substance to them and yet disturb us because of what they imply. Other thoughts might confuse us as to how or why we thought of them, but we don’t take as much notice of them because they are... Read more
Prejudice and bias against people due to their nationality, gender, or religion, have no place in society. This is a hard-earned truth which humanity has had a difficult time learning, and it is one which many do not want to accept, which is why we find ourselves having to defend it again and again. Denying people rights, or their livelihood, because of guilt by association, that is, by trying to suggest one or a few people represents the whole, only... Read more
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