5th Sunday of Matthew The setting for today’s passage is the land of the Gadarenes, a clear indication that Jesus is in foreign territory—a sign that his ministry now reaches out to the nations. And, to no one’s surprise, he
Read more
Let My Pigs Go!
To Shine Forth!
Sunday of the Fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council Today’s reading has a simple message: let your light shine before everyone. But the real question is, what is this “light” that is supposed to shine? Since this passage comes right
Read moreBecoming Worry Free
Third Sunday of Matthew On the surface, today’s passage seems like feel-good advice: don’t worry, God is in charge. This is true, but there’s so much more happening here. We are freed from our worries and anxieties, not to live
Read moreFrom Learning to Teaching
Synaxis of the Twelve Apostles The context for this passage is the pity that Jesus has for his people. Their leaders have not fed them with God’s word, so Jesus turns his own students (the disciples) into apostles—ones who are
Read moreLoving Jesus More
Sunday of All Saints This Sunday’s Gospel reading is a hard pill to swallow. Jesus says that if you don’t acknowledge him in your life, then he will not acknowledge you before God’s throne! He also says that we need
Read moreFrom Light Comes Flowing Water
Sunday of Pentecost The context of this reading is the Feast of Sukkot (also known as Booths or Tabernacles). (Click here to read about the Sunday of the Blind Man, which also draws on the Feast of Sukkot.) This celebration
Read moreThe “Way”
Seventh Sunday After Pascha This is Jesus’s final sermon and prayer to his disciples before his arrest, trial, and crucifixion. Jesus speaks about how he has shown God’s glory on earth and how he has instructed his followers to walk
Read moreHealing the Blind
Sunday of the Blind Man Today’s passage takes place during the Feast of Sukkot or Booths (Lev 23). This feast remembers how God cared for the Hebrews while they wandered in the desert. In the first century, the time of
Read moreTo Relinquish Our Egos
Sunday of the Samaritan Woman Photini, the Samaritan woman thought she had truth because her people worshipped on Mt. Gerizim and lived near the Well of Jacob. However, God’s promise to bring salvation to all nations doesn’t come through a
Read moreHealing Weaknesses
Sunday of the Paralytic Today’s passage has often been understood as Christ healing a “sick” man, the paralytic. If understood in this way, it points to our healing in Christ. However, the Greek word used for sick, ἀσθενέω, actually means
Read more