PRS* XV Ecumenism

Last updated on: August 28, 2024 at 2:30 am By Henry Karlson

Ecumenism, the intra-Christian work for rapprochement, especially through dialogue, is a necessary part of the Christian faith. Christ prayed that Christians could and would be one. That unity is to be had out of love, not from force or compulsion. Ecumenism embraces that prayer by having Christians do what they can to have it realized. Sadly, it is not something Christians have understood for many centuries, indeed, for most of Christian history. For Christians quickly found themselves becoming divided against... Read more

Selfishness Detracts From Communion

Last updated on: August 27, 2024 at 2:45 am By Henry Karlson

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In the eucharist, Christ presents himself fully to his followers so that they can partake of him in such a way he becomes a part of them and they become a part of him. As they become a part of him, they also become a part of each other, as they find themselves to be one with each other through their unity with Christ. The liturgy is meant, in part, to help them realize their unity, to realize, that is,... Read more

Those Who Would Claim Authority Must Serve

Last updated on: August 25, 2024 at 11:30 pm By Henry Karlson

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Paul, talking about his apostolic authority, indicated two important things. The first is that those who are given such authority are given it by God. The second is that such authority is not to be used selfishly, for personal gain, but rather, is given so that those who have it have what they need to work for the benefit of others instead of lording it over them: But it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has... Read more

Dispelling The Illusion

Last updated on: August 22, 2024 at 7:02 am By Henry Karlson

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One of the great truths agreed upon by many religious traditions is that the world we perceive and experience is influenced by our own minds even as our minds are influenced by our actions. That is, our normal experience of the world is not the world as it is, but the world as it is veiled by our minds, indeed, our experience is usually based upon what we make of it due to our minds and the way they engage... Read more

PRS* XIV Learning To Listen

Last updated on: August 21, 2024 at 2:16 am By Henry Karlson

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One of many things I’ve learned through the years is that I need to silence myself and listen to others and what they have to say. That is, I need to truly listen to them, to treat them as a dignified person, not an object, to truly care about them and who they are instead of what I think they should be like. I have had to learn that when they have problems, when they have issues they want me... Read more

Salvation And Social Justice

Last updated on: August 20, 2024 at 7:29 am By Henry Karlson

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Jesus spoke out against the abuses of the rich and powerful while defending and promoting the poor and the outcast. In Luke, this is rather clear, as we see him giving blessings to the poor, while giving warnings (or curses) to the rich (cf. Lk. 6:20-26). His mission was to save the world, but that meant more than just preserving it as he found it, it meant he had to transform and reshape the world, righting the wrongs which those... Read more

Trust In God

Last updated on: August 18, 2024 at 2:35 am By Henry Karlson

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Paul reminds us as Christians that all our actions should be geared towards love. “Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love” (1 Cor. 16:13-14 RSV). At times, this can be a difficult challenge for us; when times are difficult, when it seems everything we do is just making things worse, we must put our trust in God, believing that even if things do not improve in the... Read more

The Dormition Of The Mother of God

Last updated on: August 15, 2024 at 2:42 am By Henry Karlson

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Today, we remember the entrance of the Mother of God into eternity. In the Byzantine tradition, this day is called the Dormition of the Mother of God, the day on which she went to “sleep.” It is important that we do not misunderstand what is meant with the word “dormition.” By saying Mary went to “sleep,” tradition is telling us that she died, using the euphemism which Paul used for death (one, which, to be sure, predated him, as there... Read more

PRS* XIII God And Science

Last updated on: August 13, 2024 at 5:13 am By Henry Karlson

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I like to visit my local Half-Price Bookstore every week, as it is most likely to have a wide variety of books, many new to the store, letting me discover books which I otherwise did not know existed. Also, I find their clearance section to be unavoidable, as I often find books placed in it which either I did not know they had, or books which I am willing to buy when they are not so costly. Just recently, I... Read more

We Need To Focus On Ourselves, Not Others

Last updated on: August 12, 2024 at 3:45 am By Henry Karlson

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We are easily distracted, especially by gossip. What is worse. we often use gossip not only as a means of distraction, but detraction, a means of hurting those who we dislike. The more we speak out of malice, the more spiritually ill we become. We should not be looking to others in order to find a reason to criticize and attack them, thinking in doing so, we prove ourselves to be better than they are. We should not be trying... Read more

How many "types" of Psalms are often recognized (e.g., praise, lament, wisdom)?