Matthew 28:18-20: Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age. Baptism is a naming ceremony. . . . . Continue Reading »
Ministers raise hands over the congregation at the closing benediction, in imitation of Aaronic priests (Leviticus 9:22) and of Jesus (Luke 24:50). Why? Jesus blessed the disciples just before He parted from them, ascending into a cloud (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9-10). Benediction is linked with . . . . Continue Reading »
Acts 2:43-45: They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold . . . . Continue Reading »
Gadamer writes, “a picture is situated halfway between a sign and a symbol. Its representing is neither a pure pointing-to-something [sign] nor a pure taking-the-place-of-something [symbol]. It is this intermediate position that raises it to a unique ontological status. Artificial signs and . . . . Continue Reading »
John 21:15: Jesus said to Peter, “Feed my lambs.” There are two charcoal fires in the last chapters of John’s gospel, and Peter is at both of them. He warms himself by the charcoal fire in the court of the high priest. There he denies Jesus, and when Jesus looks at him across the . . . . Continue Reading »
The Christian Science Monitor reports that Ethiopian hyenas keep Lent: ” In the 55 days before Easter in Ethiopia, hyenas are forced to turn from scavenging to hunting to make up for Christians’ fasting traditions. Observant Ethiopian Christains give up meat and dairy for Lent, and it . . . . Continue Reading »
There’s a tiny liturgical movement occurring these days among Reformed churches, and a larger shift happening among Protestant Evangelicals. Critics of the movement rightly raise the question of whether this is simply another expression of American Christian consumerism: It’s the fad du . . . . Continue Reading »
An exaltation of tweets. To observe Lent rightly, we have to be persuaded that we already stand in God’s favor. Ash Wednesday reminds us to number our days. It helps us gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12). We keep Easter to manifest and deepen our prior share in resurrection. We observe Lent . . . . Continue Reading »
Galatians 3:27-28: All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek; there is neither slave nor free man; there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. We live in a feminized culture, and that feminization began . . . . Continue Reading »
Hovey suggests that the exhortation to “lose your life” is ecclesially and eucharistically embodied: “Individual bodies that feed on the body of Christ through incorporation and participation no longer belong to individual disciples; they belong to the church. This is a loss only . . . . Continue Reading »
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