Sunday, December 24, 2023

The Transfiguration of Everything


“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

“God made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment — to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” (Ephesians 1:9-10)

“Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ And He said to me, ‘Write, for these words are true and faithful.’” (Revelation 21:5)

Friday, December 22, 2023

When Imagination Bodied Forth


A reading of John 1:1 and 14, mindful of the depth of meaning of the Greek word Logos, and playing off of Shakespeare’s description of the Poet in A Midsummer Night’s Dream:
“And as Imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the Poet’s pen
Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing
A local Habitation and a Name.”

Monday, December 18, 2023

The Incarnation and the Way of Human Being

“For us humans and for our salvation He came down from heaven and by the Holy Spirit was Incarnate of the Virgin Mary and became Human.” ~ Nicene Creed

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Saturday, December 9, 2023

Always, Everywhere, in Everyone


The Primary Thing is this: Christ the Logos, the Word of God, was with God, Face-to-Face, and indeed is God. All things were created by Him, and He is the True Light who gives Light to everyone in the world. The Word became human nature and dwelt in us. Because He is God and in eternal fellowship with the Father, the Word, Jesus Christ, has made God known to us. (John 1)

Monday, December 4, 2023

Christ is Beauty

“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

Friday, December 1, 2023

A Severe Grace


“Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passion .... And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.” (Romans 1:23-26, 28)

“For God has consigned all people to disobedience so that he may show mercy to them all. Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how unfathomable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? Or who has first given to God, that God needs to repay him? For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:32-36)

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Discovering the Freedom of God

God is Love.
Love Gives and Serves.

Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them. But it is not this way among you. Instead whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:42-45)

Love is Freedom.

Monday, November 27, 2023

Dying to Ourselves, We Become Ourselves


“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:25)

“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20)

Monday, November 20, 2023

Human Being Itself


For us humans and for our
salvation, he came down
from heaven and by the
Holy Spirit was Incarnate
of the Virgin Mary and
became human being.
~ Nicene Creed

Monday, November 13, 2023

Encountering the Divine Suffering and Glory


“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

Saturday, November 11, 2023

That All May Enter His Glory


Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:25-26)

“Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest incapable of sympathizing with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Monday, November 6, 2023

The Interconnectedness of All Things


“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:15-17)

Friday, November 3, 2023

The Way of Peace

“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross – through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.” (Colossians 1:19-20)

Wednesday, November 1, 2023

Monday, October 30, 2023

The Cross is Therapeutic


The Cross is Therapeutic
Because What We Needed
Was Healing.

“But he lifted up our illnesses, he carried our pain; even though we thought he was being punished, attacked by God, and afflicted for something he had done. He was wounded because of our rebellious deeds, crushed because of our sins; he endured punishment that made us well; because of his wounds we have been healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5)

Saturday, October 28, 2023

Speak Less, Pray More

“The fewer the words, the better the prayer.” ~ Martin Luther 

“A man prayed, and at first he thought that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realized that prayer is listening.” ~ Søren Kierkegaard

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

The Narrow Little Way


The Way of Jesus:
Self-Giving, Other-Centered,
Cross-Shaped Love.

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” (Matthew 7:12-14)

Monday, October 23, 2023

The Age-Old Lie of Pride and Shame


In Jesus Christ
there is no boasting
and there is no shame.

Friday, October 20, 2023

The Ever-Deepening Conversion of the Heart


To the truth of
who Christ is in us
and who we are in Christ.

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

The Kingdom Drawing All


“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all to myself.” (John 12:31-32)

“God made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment — to bring unity to all in heaven and on earth under Christ.” (Ephesians 1:9-10)

Monday, October 16, 2023

Where the Meaning of Scripture Resides


“Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3:12-16)

Friday, October 13, 2023

Why We Are Here


“Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God. And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him.” (1 John 4:11-16)

Monday, October 9, 2023

The Isness of God


The true nature of our being, which we have received from God, is love, for God is Love.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God. The person who does not love does not know God, because God is love. By this the love of God is revealed in us: that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

“Dear friends, if God so loved us, then we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God resides in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God.

“And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him. By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.” (1 John 4:7-17)

Friday, October 6, 2023

Yielding to Love


“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43-48)

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Mine is to Keep My Eyes on Jesus


“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, we must get rid of every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and run with endurance the race set out for us, keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set out for him he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Monday, October 2, 2023

Christ, the Cross and the Image of God


“Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him — all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers — all things were created through him and for him.

“He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things.” (Colossians 1:15-18)

Friday, September 29, 2023

Only the Faithfulness of Jesus Christ


“Consequently, just as condemnation for all people came through one transgression, so too through the one righteous act came righteousness leading to life for all people.” (Romans 5:18)

“For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” (Ephesians 1:8-10)

“As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow – in heaven and on earth and under the earth – and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:8-10)

Monday, September 25, 2023

Christ the Wisdom of God


The Wisdom of Self-Giving,
Other-Centered, Cross-Shaped Love.


“The Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17)

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us Wisdom from God — and righteousness and sanctification and redemption — that, as it is written, ‘He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:27-31)

Friday, September 22, 2023

In Light of the Gospel


“For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.”
(Psalm 36:9)

“The True Light,
Who gives Light to everyone,
was coming into the world.”
(John 1:9)

Friday, September 1, 2023

Baptism is Not a Work But a Gift


“Do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.” (Romans 6:3-5) 

Wednesday, August 30, 2023

Baptism and the Kingdom of God

“Giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:12-14)

“In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.” (Colossians 1:11-13)

One thing I especially like about this version of the Icon of the Baptism is that, at the bottom, Lord Jesus stands on the same broken gates we find in the Icon of the Resurrection. They are the gates of Hades, of Death, trampled under the feet of Lord Jesus.

Monday, August 28, 2023

Bathed in the Truth of Christ


“Do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Therefore we have been buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too may live a new life. For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united in the likeness of his resurrection.” (Romans 6:3-5)

Friday, August 25, 2023

Christ Blessed the Water of Baptism

 
“Buried with him in baptism, by which you were also raised along with him by the faithfulness of the operation of the God who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12 DBH)

Wednesday, August 23, 2023

The Hour of Which Christ Speaks


“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding. And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.’” (John 2:1-4)

“The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ” (John 12:23-24, 27)

“After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: ‘Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.’” (John 17:1)

Monday, August 21, 2023

And So Is He Our Salvation


Humankind, Once
Headed Up in Adam,
Is Now Headed Up in Christ.

“Consequently, just as one trespass [Adam’s] resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act [Christ’s] resulted in justification and life for all people.” (Romans 5:18)

“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1 Corinthians 15:22)

Friday, August 18, 2023

What John Saw


“‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!’ And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’” (Revelation 5:12-13)

Wednesday, August 16, 2023

The Presence We Encounter


On the Road to Emmaus

So he said to them, “You foolish people – how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Wasn’t it necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into his glory?”

Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things written about himself in all the scriptures. So they approached the village where they were going. He acted as though he wanted to go farther, but they urged him, “Stay with us, because it is getting toward evening and the day is almost done.” So he went in to stay with them.

When he had taken his place at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. At this point their eyes were opened and they recognized him. Then he vanished out of their sight.

They said to each other, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us while he was speaking with us on the road, while he was explaining the scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:25-32)

Monday, August 14, 2023

The Cross and the Holy Trinity


“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them” (2 Corinthians 5:19)

“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.” (1 John 4:14)

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11)