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Monday of the Third Week of Pascha. The Resurrection Didn’t Bring Joy to Everyone

While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell the people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep

Friday of the 2nd Week of Pascha. Believing without Seeing—Our Greatest Challenge

Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” John20:29 (From the Gospel Reading at the Divine Liturgy on Thomas Sunday) Christ is Risen! I’ve never been to China, but I know people who have been there. I’ve never flown in outer space, but I have had the opportunity to meet someone who has. There are a lot of things I’ve never

Thursday of the 2nd Week of Pascha. Jesus is My ___ and My ___

Eight days later, His disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see My hands; and put out your hand, and place it in My side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, ”My Lord and my God!” John 20:26-28 (From the Gospel

Wednesday of the 2nd Week of Pascha. Unless I see, I will not believe

Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in His side, I will not believe.” John 20:24-25 (From the Gospel Reading at the Divine Liturgy on

Tuesday of the 2nd Week of Pascha. One of Christ’s Greatest Gifts to Us One of the Greatest Gifts You Can Give Yourself

And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ”Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. John 20:22-23 (From the Gospel Reading at the Divine Liturgy on Thomas Sunday) Christ is Risen! In yesterday’s reflection, we examined the sacrament of ordination, which has its genesis in John 20:22. In the very next verse,

Monday of the 2nd Week of Pascha. The First Ordination

Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, even so I send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ”Receive the Holy Spirit.” John 20:21-22 (From the Gospel Reading at the Divine Liturgy on Thomas Sunday) Christ is Risen! In all of the Gospel accounts, Jesus “commissions” the Disciples to go out into the world and spread the Good News.

Bright Thursday. The Resurrection-From the Gospel of Mark

And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint Him. And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone

PASCHA. The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom

“He has risen.” Mark16:6 Whosoever is a devout lover of God, let him enjoy this beautiful bright Festival. And whosoever is a grateful servant, let him joyously enter into the joy of his Lord. And if any be weary with fasting, let him now receive his reward. If any has toiled from the first hour let him receive his just debt. if any came after the third let him gratefully celebrate. If any arrived after

Holy Saturday. And God “Rested”

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep; and the Spirit of God was moving over the face of the waters. And God said, ”Let there be light” and there was light. Genesis 1:1-3 (From a Prophecy at the Vesperal Liturgy on Holy Saturday Morning) Have you ever wondered why the Crucifixion happened on a Friday, as

Thursday of the Sixth Week of Lent. The Fulfilling of a Journey

He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that made us whole, and