On the first day of the week (Sunday), but also, counting through the days of one week and going to the beginning of the next week, on the eight day, Jesus rose from the dead. This is why the eighth day is said to represent the beginning of eternity. The whole time in which God is said to have created everything and let it be is said to be one week. That week of creation is now transcended by the... Read more
Often when we pray, or rather, when we try to pray, our heart is not united with our words. What we say lacks authenticity. We often recite words from others, repeating what they have said, thinking that is good enough because it was good enough for them. But when such words do not reflect our thoughts and feelings, we risk putting on a show. We are not really talking with God. We are like babbling babies, repeating what sounds we... Read more
While the novel coronavirus COVID-19 should not be seen as divine punishment, some manipulators are trying to suggest otherwise. They use terrible theological arguments about God’s judgment in order to use the coronavirus as a way to enforce their own particular ideology.  For example, some modernist Catholics, denying the piety and holiness possible with communion in the hand, ignore history and say the faithful may only receive communion only on the tongue. They suggest that the virus is God’s judgment upon... Read more
One of the most dangerous things to develop in popular forms of piety in religion – and this happens in multiple religions – is to turn religious belief into a dangerous, indeed, deadly fatalism discourages people from acting for their own benefit (or the benefit of others). A fatalistic attitude can reveal itself in many different ways. In Christianity, it often follows along the lines of: “God is all powerful. He rules over the earth. Therefore, all things which happen,... Read more
The First Ode for Resurrection Matins (in the Byzantine tradition) reminds us of the connection between the Easter Feast and Passover: It is the day of Resurrection, O People let us be enlightened by it. The Passover is the Lord’s Passover, since Christ our God, has brought us from death to life and from earth to heaven – Therefore we sing a hymn of victory! (Resurrection Matins, Ode 1 ) The day of Resurrection, the day on which Christ has... Read more
By accepting a place next to criminals, next to those recognized as public sinners, Jesus demonstrated his love and solidarity for all sinful humanity on the cross. Throughout his public ministry, he was around those who were outcast and despised, those considered ritually or spiritually impure. They were the ones who welcomed Jesus. They were the ones who welcomed his message of love and hope. They were the ones who accepted his spiritual and physical healing. The kingdom of God... Read more
Through the pride of his riches the rich man rules over other men, whom he can harm, and treats them badly, just as if they were not fellow creatures, and in this way the good name of mankind (that man is the image and likeness of God [cf. Gen 1.26]) is blasphemed – St. Hildegard of Bingen[1] The postal service is an important, indeed, vital civic institution. The American public relies upon it for various needs, among which are paying... Read more
The desert fathers and mothers wanted to establish a utopian like community in the desert. However, they were also human. When someone entered the growing monastic community, they brought all the foibles of humanity with them. This meant that the monastic community had to deal with many of the same problems as secular society. People, even those who love and care for each other, often can get on each other’s nerves. Minor differences of opinion can become the foundation for... Read more
Soon after raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus entered into Jerusalem. There, he found a crowd waiting to greet him. They were expecting him to establish the messianic kingdom. In a sense, they were right. That was exactly what he was going to do. But they did not understand what that meant. They did not understand what Jesus was about to do. The messianic kingdom was not going to be like any other kingdom on earth. It was not going... Read more
Before entering Jerusalem, Jesus demonstrated that he is the Lord of the living and the dead by having Lazarus come forth from his tomb. Lazarus, being dead for four days, had already acquired the stench of death: Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. When Martha... Read more
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