Pilate’s first response to the leaders who brought Jesus to him was that they should deal with Jesus themselves. The Jewish leaders reminded Pilate that they did not have the authority to execute Him. Pilate then interviewed Jesus to find out the facts of the matter. In this part of the conversation our Lord asserts…
I am not thinking of the modern Olympians that participate in either the winter or summer world games every four years. Olympia, Greece, in the Peloponnesus was the early location of the pan-Hellenic Olympic games (776 B.C. to 393 A.D.). Rather, I am referring in this article to those Americans that see themselves as gods…
For the Day of Pentecost the Second Lesson appointed comes from the Book of Acts where Saint Peter addresses the crowd of Diaspora Jews gathered in Jerusalem for the celebration of the pilgrim Feast of Weeks. From different lands the visitors to the city spoke different languages. As a result of the descent of the…
Many people are familiar with the story of the Tower of Babel. At the Tower the people attempted to build a structure that would reach heaven. God frustrated their plans by confusing their languages, making it impossible for them to complete their task. The inspired writer of this story in the primeval history of Genesis…
The fires in the cities do not purify or cleanse. They destroy. The Holy Spirit, the fire of God makes clean those who believe. What renews the world is not the mob that destroys but the assembly of all those who hear the Word and receive the Sacraments, the holy catholic and apostolic church (The…
After Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead, His enemies plotted to kill Him and Lazarus. Following the raising of Lazarus in chapter 13, Jesus predicted Judas’ betrayal. The dark clouds gathered. An extensive section of discourses of Jesus are found in chapters 14-17. It is in chapter 13 that we are told of Judas’…
Some who saw Jesus raise Lazarus from the dead believed in Him; others sought His death. Responding to those who were worried about Jesus’ bringing people to belief and the possible violent reaction of Rome, Caiaphas said, “You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man…
A virus is not just a virus. It has become the focus of the on-going ideological battle between the left and the right. Stop reading this article if you think you will be disappointed, because I do not take a political-ideological position. Rather, I will attempt to take a Christian position. The virus is not…
Lazarus, a friend of Jesus, was sick. Jesus was informed of his condition, but He delayed for two days His trip to Bethany where Lazarus lived. Before the Lord arrived, Lazarus had died. Martha, who met the Lord, chastised Him for not being there before her brother’s death. The two sisters, Mary and Martha, and…
When I was visiting a dying parishioner in the middle of the night, I spoke in the hallway with an orderly about religion I don’t remember how this conversation got started. He said to me that he was spiritual rather than religious. What he meant was that he had invented his own spirituality, his own…
