Changed By God To Make A Difference For God

The New Testament makes clear that after Easter, everything has changed, and for the good. But how? If we don't know what to look for, it will be hard for us to believe this. But it's true if we have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts and minds to believe. So pay careful attention to the stories and visions that announce the Easter Effect. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Acts 9.1-20; Psalm 30; Revelation 5.11-15; John 21.1-19.

So what's the point of the resurrection? That God is capable of some pretty strange one off things while ignoring the rest of the world? Is it to give us an excuse to look down at our noses at non-Christians? Or is there something deeper going on in the resurrection narratives? And what about Jesus' strange command to forgive and retain sins, not to mention him breathing on people? What's that all about? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Acts 5.27-32; Psalm 150; Revelation 1.4-8; John 20.19-31.

Easter is the turning point in all history. What an audacious claim we make as Christians! But it is true, precisely because the claim is rooted in history so that our faith has a real basis to it. But to make such a claim also requires that we know the broader story of God's plan to heal and restore his good but sin-corrupted creation. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say in this Easter Day sermon and be changed forever by the Good News of Jesus' resurrection. Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! Lectionary texts for today are Acts 10.34-43; 1 Corinthians 15.19-26; John 20.1-18.

Why is Good Friday called "good" when a man is unjustly crucified? Check out what Fr. Sang has to say and see what you think. Lectionary texts for tonight are Isaiah 52.13-53.12; Psalm 22.1-31; Hebrews 4.14-16, 5.7-9; John 18.1-19.42.

Tonight we have begun the Triduum, the three day liturgy of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil. The Lord Jesus has shown us the way of his true disciples by lowering himself to the position of a servant, cleaning the dirty feet of his disciples, and calling his people to do likewise for others. People will know we are Jesus' disciples by our love and care for one another. This is the good life that Christ has called us into on the night in which he knows he is to be betrayed. Check out the rest of what Deacon Gatwood has to say and see what you think. Lectionary texts for tonight are Exodus 12.1-14; Psalm 116.1, 10-17; 1 Corinthians 11,23-26; John 13.1-7, 31b-35.

Today is Passion (Palm) Sunday, the day we observe God's return to his people as their king and Messiah. But are his people ready for Jesus's brand of Messiahship? Like today, some were, some weren't. Why? Because Jesus wasn't and isn't the Messiah we want or expected. His path to glory is through suffering obedience, not power and status. By his wounds we are healed and restored and our Lord calls us to follow him in his suffering obedience as well. Uh-oh. Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 50.4-9a; Psalm 31.9-16; Philippians 2.5-11; Luke 19.28-40. Passion gospel: Luke 22.14-23.56.

Jesus and his friends sit down for dinner on this night. The company he is keeping on this particular night is filled with some interesting people. A few of his disciples are present; Martha is serving, Mary is pouring expensive perfume on Jesus' feet, Lazarus is alive and eating with them, and Judas is scheming for his personal benefit. A vision of what life looks like in God's Kingdom is before us, showing us that even those who walked with Jesus during his earthly ministry aren't that different from the people who walk with him now. Confusion, questions, and answers present themselves in this passage from the Gospel, and they paint for us the vision of Jesus Christ of what the Kingdom of God will look like as it is present in the world before his coming. Christ is truly present in his Church on earth, and an encounter with him is life changing. Check out what Deacon Gatwood has to say and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 43.15-21; Psalm 126; Philippians 3.4b-14; John 12.1-8.

The Bible offers many interesting before and after portraits of the human condition and life in general, three of which we find in our lessons today. But why should we care? Do these portraits really matter? They do indeed, especially if Jesus' parable of the lost and found is any indication! Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Joshua 5.9-12; Psalm 32; 2 Corinthians 5.16-21; Luke 15.1-3, 11b-32.

A strange thing, this invitation of God to come feast at his table. We are to eat the richest foods and drink the finest wines, all at no cost! How can that be? And what are we to make of the warnings contained in our NT lessons? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Isaiah 55.1-9; Psalm 63.1-8; 1 Corinthians 10.1-13; Luke 13.1-9.

In our OT lesson today, we see God promising Abram (Abraham) once again that he will enjoy numerous offspring. So what's the big deal? Why is this promise so important? Let's face it. We've all grown skeptical of promises, even God's promises, because we've all been burned more than a few times and have broken a few promises ourselves. And what's this got to do with Lent with its emphasis on self-examination, confession, repentance, and self-denial? Check out what Fr. Maney has to say about it all and see what you think. Lectionary texts for today are Genesis 15.1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3.17-4.1; Luke 13.31-35.