“He picked up the mantle of Elijah” (1 Kings 2:13).

Our first reading this morning is a story of succession, the passage of authority from one prophet to another, the handing over of a commission to the next in line. Elijah the prophet is at the end of his ministry, having labored long against evil King Ahab of Israel. Elijah had confronted the king for patronizing false gods; had performed miracles of healing; had spoken … Read more

“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you” (Lk. 8:39).

“I love to tell the story,” goes the old hymn; “`Twill be my theme in glory/ To tell the old, old story/ Of Jesus and his love.” The hymn reminds us of the importance of story in the Christian life, on multiple levels. Our Lord himself told many stories in the course of his ministry: the parable of the Good … Read more

“The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago” (Prov. 8:22).

The first Soviet cosmonaut when he returned to earth from space is supposed to have said that he had looked for God while on his flight but hadn’t seen him. Conversely, I’ve had at least one parishioner who told me he felt closer to God on the golf course than he did in church. One suspects that people think … Read more

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you for ever. This is the Spirit of truth” (Jo. 14:17).

Easter ends with Pentecost, the final day of the season: fifty days during which the church reads from the Gospel of John, and invites her members to go deeper in and further on in the mystery of our salvation. John’s Gospel lends itself to such a project, because it … Read more

“The glory that you have given me I have given them” (Jo. 17:22).

It’s an ancient custom in the Easter season to read from the Fourth Gospel, the Gospel of John. The Church’s instinct is that this telling of the story offers us a deep reflection that’s suited to this season: a deep meditation on the meaning of Jesus’ ministry and on his death and resurrection. Easter, after all, is a season that lasts for … Read more

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you *” (Jo. 14:27).

Easter is a season of fifty days, stretching from Easter Day all the way to Pentecost. We have fifty days to let Easter soak in; to learn the lessons of the season. The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is big news; so big that it is difficult to take it all in on a single day. In fact, it’s impossible … Read more

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Lk. 10:1).

God is generous in his dealings with his People. He gives good gifts in abundance. The Psalmist says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want” (Ps. 23:1). God gives us everything that we need. God forgives all our sins; again, as it says in the psalms, “He forgives all your sins, and heals all your infirmities” (Ps. 103:3). … Read more

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another” (Jo. 13:34).

Every Easter Season we read from the Gospel of John: this is an ancient Church practice which is readily explicable. John’s Gospel gives us not only a narrative of events in Jesus’ life and ministry, but also provides a profound meditation on the meaning of his work. Bishop Gore once remarked that the Gospel of John was like a foreign country (William … Read more

“My sheep hear my voice” (Jo. 10:27).

Easter is a season of fifty days, stretching from Easter Day to Pentecost. Pentecost takes its name from the “fiftieth day,” from the feast that comes before it, and the two festivals establish the boundaries of the season. Just when you thought that Easter was over when the last of the candy is consumed, and the last lily has faded, think again! Easter is a season of fifty … Read more

“And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized…” (Acts 9:18).

Our Collect of the Day asks God to “open the eyes of our faith” that we may behold our Lord Jesus Christ in all his redeeming work. This is a good day for us to have our eyes wide open: a beautiful spring day when we can see God’s glory manifested so … Read more