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https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260809dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” Matthew 14:24-27 Don’t Doubt God’s Word The Sea of Galilee is seven hundred feet below sea level. It’s the lowest freshwater lake on the planet. When winds whip through the surrounding mountains and into that watery Galilean crater, storms come quickly and out of nowhere. That is where the disciples are—on a boat, in a windstorm, at night. Jesus is not with them. In fact, Jesus was the one who told them to cross the sea. It shows that being a disciple is not easy. You can’t assume that life will be exactly how you want it. Life is full of unexpected storms. What do you do when they arise? The temptation is to doubt God’s Word. We hear God’s promises, but we are tempted to wonder if he is reliable. If he were, why would life be so difficult right now? But don’t doubt God’s Word. Think about the disciples in that boat on the wind-whipped sea. What are they looking at? They’re looking at Jesus. It’s a surreal scene. Jesus goes out to them, walking on the rough water. No wonder they think they’re seeing a ghost. Then he speaks a word of promise: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” There is strength for faith. It’s not a ghost. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Son of God! When we fear or worry, Jesus promises, “It is I who forgives. It is I who saves. Look at me. Focus not on the illness, not on the pain, not on the economy, not on yourself. Find strength for your faith in my promises.” God has laid a firm foundation for your faith in his excellent Word. Believe it. God’s promises are always powerful. They brought peace to the disciples, and they bring faith to your heart and hope for your future. Prayer: Lord, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260809dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” Matthew 14:24-27 Don’t Doubt God’s Word The Sea of Galilee is seven hundred feet below sea level. It’s the lowest freshwater lake on the planet. When winds whip through the surrounding mountains and into that watery Galilean crater, storms come quickly and out of nowhere. That is where the disciples are—on a boat, in a windstorm, at night. Jesus is not with them. In fact, Jesus was the one who told them to cross the sea. It shows that being a disciple is not easy. You can’t assume that life will be exactly how you want it. Life is full of unexpected storms. What do you do when they arise? The temptation is to doubt God’s Word. We hear God’s promises, but we are tempted to wonder if he is reliable. If he were, why would life be so difficult right now? But don’t doubt God’s Word. Think about the disciples in that boat on the wind-whipped sea. What are they looking at? They’re looking at Jesus. It’s a surreal scene. Jesus goes out to them, walking on the rough water. No wonder they think they’re seeing a ghost. Then he speaks a word of promise: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” There is strength for faith. It’s not a ghost. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Son of God! When we fear or worry, Jesus promises, “It is I who forgives. It is I who saves. Look at me. Focus not on the illness, not on the pain, not on the economy, not on yourself. Find strength for your faith in my promises.” God has laid a firm foundation for your faith in his excellent Word. Believe it. God’s promises are always powerful. They brought peace to the disciples, and they bring faith to your heart and hope for your future. Prayer: Lord, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
Sermon OutlineBig Idea: We naturally hunger for more than mere existence. Jesus declares that He alone is the Bread of Life who satisfies our deepest hunger and gives eternal, abundant life.Key Verse: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” — John 6:35I. We Hunger for More Than Mere ExistenceCentral question: Where can that life be found?II. Bread Meant LifeTo understand John 6, we need to appreciate the significance of bread in the ancient world.Bread represented:Sustenance — wheat and barley bread were staples of everyday life.Provision — “bread” could represent food and physical necessities generally.Fellowship — breaking bread communicated hospitality, acceptance, friendship, and peace.Sacred memory — Passover bread recalled the Exodus; manna recalled God's provision in the wilderness.Throughout Scripture, therefore, bread points beyond itself to God as the One who provides life for His people.This background makes Jesus' declaration extraordinarily powerful: “I am the bread of life.”Jesus does not merely give the bread we ultimately need. Jesus is the Bread.III. The Crowd Wanted the Bread but Missed the SaviorJohn 6:25–29IV. Jesus Is Greater Than MosesJohn 6:30–34V. Jesus Is the Bread of LifeJohn 6:35VI. Zoe Does Not Mean an Easy LifeJesus' promise of abundant life does not mean:our problems disappear,suffering ends,life becomes easy,Christians never experience sorrow.Jesus Himself says:“In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33Sermon ApplicationThere are two responses to Jesus' words.For those who do not yet follow Christ:Do not make the mistake of the Galilean crowd—wanting what Jesus can provide while missing Jesus Himself. The Bread of Life is offered freely. Come to Christ, trust Him, repent, and receive the life only He can give.For followers of Christ:We can belong to Jesus while still clinging tightly to areas of our lives we refuse to surrender. Yet we cannot experience the fullness of life in Christ while deliberately withholding parts of ourselves from Him.The question becomes: What am I still trying to control that Christ is asking me to surrender?Sermon QuestionsWhat do you think people today most commonly pursue in an attempt to experience a meaningful and fulfilling life? How does Jesus' promise of zoe differ?Why is the cultural and biblical significance of bread important for understanding Jesus' statement, “I am the bread of life”?The crowd wanted what Jesus could give them without recognizing who He was. In what ways are we tempted to do the same thing today?What is the significance of Jesus contrasting the manna given in Moses' day with Himself as the “true bread from heaven”? What does this reveal about Jesus' identity?Jesus promises abundant life but does not promise an easy life. What area of your life might Christ be asking you to trust Him with or surrender more completely to Him?Resources ConsultedCarson, D. A., R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, and G. J. Wenham, eds. New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1994.Gaebelein, Frank E., ed. The Expositor's Bible Commentary. Vol. 8. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981.Got Questions Ministries. “What Can We Learn from Jesus' Feeding of the 5,000?”Keller, Timothy. “The Feeding.” Gospel in Life. YouTube.Milne, Bruce. The Message of John: Here Is Your King! The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.Ryle, J. C. Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: John. Various editions.Wesley, John. John Wesley's Notes on the Whole Bible. Various editions.Questions?Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Tim Winkler ().
AUG 9 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:53-72 ...They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.But he denied it. “I don't know or understand what you're talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don't know this man you're talking about.”Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
AUG 9 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:53-72 ...They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.But he denied it. “I don't know or understand what you're talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don't know this man you're talking about.”Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
AUG 9 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:53-72 ...They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.But he denied it. “I don't know or understand what you're talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don't know this man you're talking about.”Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
AUG 9 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:53-72 ... They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.But he denied it. “I don't know or understand what you're talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don't know this man you're talking about.”Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
https://wels2.blob.core.windows.net/daily-devotions/20260809dev.mp3 Listen to Devotion The boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.” Matthew 14:24-27 Don’t Doubt God’s Word The Sea of Galilee is seven hundred feet below sea level. It’s the lowest freshwater lake on the planet. When winds whip through the surrounding mountains and into that watery Galilean crater, storms come quickly and out of nowhere. That is where the disciples are—on a boat, in a windstorm, at night. Jesus is not with them. In fact, Jesus was the one who told them to cross the sea. It shows that being a disciple is not easy. You can’t assume that life will be exactly how you want it. Life is full of unexpected storms. What do you do when they arise? The temptation is to doubt God’s Word. We hear God’s promises, but we are tempted to wonder if he is reliable. If he were, why would life be so difficult right now? But don’t doubt God’s Word. Think about the disciples in that boat on the wind-whipped sea. What are they looking at? They’re looking at Jesus. It’s a surreal scene. Jesus goes out to them, walking on the rough water. No wonder they think they’re seeing a ghost. Then he speaks a word of promise: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” There is strength for faith. It’s not a ghost. It is the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Son of God! When we fear or worry, Jesus promises, “It is I who forgives. It is I who saves. Look at me. Focus not on the illness, not on the pain, not on the economy, not on yourself. Find strength for your faith in my promises.” God has laid a firm foundation for your faith in his excellent Word. Believe it. God’s promises are always powerful. They brought peace to the disciples, and they bring faith to your heart and hope for your future. Prayer: Lord, I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief. Amen. Daily Devotions is brought to you by WELS. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. ™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.
AUG 9 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:53-72 ...They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.But he denied it. “I don't know or understand what you're talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don't know this man you're talking about.”Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
AUG 9 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:53-72 ...They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.But he denied it. “I don't know or understand what you're talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don't know this man you're talking about.”Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
AUG 9 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:53-72 ... They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.But he denied it. “I don't know or understand what you're talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don't know this man you're talking about.”Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
AUG 9 | Who Is This King? | Mark 14:53-72 ...They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire.The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.'” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”They all condemned him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.But he denied it. “I don't know or understand what you're talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” Again he denied it.After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don't know this man you're talking about.”Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.
Series: N/AService: Wed Bible StudyType: Bible ClassSpeaker: Leon Mauldin
Series: N/AService: Wed Bible StudyType: Bible ClassSpeaker: Leon Mauldin
Series: N/AService: Wed Bible StudyType: Bible ClassSpeaker: Leon Mauldin
Introduction: Beware the Pious OnesIntroduction: Beware the Pious OnesMy dad used to warn me, "Be careful of the pious ones." That puzzled me for years. Piety should be about loving God, pursuing God. So why would anyone warn you to be careful of pious people? Then, I noticed that the most pious in Christ's day received His sharpest words. Christ warns the pious that they are shutting people out of the kingdom. In fact, in all their evangelistic zeal, they are only creating disciples of hell. That should make us pause and contemplate true piety.Acts 5 gives some insight into this problem. We discover that there are self-proclaimed pious people actively working against the work of Christ. So the real question is: how do we know what piety we're actually pursuing? The Community's Power (Acts 5:12–16)Word spreads about Ananias and Sapphira, and the healing of the disciples. The crowds do not discern the truth, but hold the apostles on some superstitious pedestal. They bring their sick to the disciples, hoping that at least a shadow will fall on the sick and bring healing. However, they don't want to get too close because people die in this community. The problem is that people look to the apostles for healing rather than to Christ. We have seen this with the crippled man. He clung to the apostles, and not his savior. The apostles made it very clear that the Lord brings healing. So, the Apostles continue to preach the gospel. Tragically, the crowd misses the point of the signs. The signs are not self-promoting signs that the false prophets use to promote their own significance. Christ warned his disciples about these false prophets before going to the cross (Mt. 24:24; Mk 13:22; Luke 21:8). No, these are signs that gave the prophets credibility and authenticity to confirm their message. It was not to compete with the message. Unfortunately, they would rather watch for a miracle than find their wholeness in Christ. It takes time to be progressively transformed by His word. This helps us see true piety versus false piety. True piety looks to our God. False piety looks to the tangible in this world. God's Power Play (Acts 5:17–26)The high priest and the Sadducees move against the apostles out of jealousy. The Sadducees deny the supernatural. They claim that there is no resurrection, no miracle, nothing supernatural. They believe that Scripture is an ethical handbook rather than the living and abiding Word of God that confers life. They are jealous that the Apostles are gaining traction. They cannot tolerate a movement built on a risen Christ. A movement with credible healings and miracles. The apostles' ministry is a radical existential threat to their power. So, they react by assuming that if you silence the messengers, then you silence the movement. So, they try to silence the apostles by locking them up in jail. An angel quietly opens the prison at night. There is no disturbance outside the prison, so the guards assume everything is fine. The Lord sends the apostles right back to the temple with a simple charge: go speak all the words of this Life. The next morning, the council sends for the prisoners and finds an empty locked cell. The word returns to the senate that the "prisoners" are already preaching at the temple. God dismantles the power play without raising his voice. The glorified and resurrected Jesus of Nazareth will be proclaimed. Who Really Holds the Power (Acts 5:27–42)The Apostles are escorted from the temple to the senate. The apostles are accused of trying to put "this man's blood" on them. Please keep in mind that this senate is the same group of people who once told Pilate, "his blood be on us." Peter's answer is direct: "We must obey God rather than men," and he pointedly calls God "the God of our fathers.” The Apostles are in the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because they embrace Christ. This means that the pious ones, who deny Christ, cannot claim the same historic identity. Where Pentecost's crowd was cut to the heart and repented, this council responds with rage.Gamaliel, a Pharisee, then offers a test: movements built on mere men collapse when their leader dies. This happened with Theudas. He rose up, and Rome executed him, silencing his mission. Judas the Galilean led a tax revolt, and Rome executed him, killing his movement. Two clear movements that were not from God rose up and died almost immediately. The movements had no power beyond the leaders. So, if the apostles are from God, there is no way that the Sanhedrin/council can stop it. However, if it is merely a man-made movement, then it will die. So, let history unfold. Praise be to God! We worship the same resurrected and ascended Christ that the Apostles proclaimed. The movement continues by the Lord's continued providence and care.Conclusion: True Piety Points Away From ItselfSo, how do we know if we're pursuing the right piety? Luke 18 answers it: the Pharisee's sin wasn't effort, it was trusting in his own righteousness. There's nothing wrong with looking back and thanking God for how he's sanctified us. However, when it becomes look how good I am, Christ has quietly left the stage. The Pharisees make their own disciples (Matthew 23:19). They are not making disciples of Christ, but disciples of their theology. When Christ gives the great commission, the disciples are commanded to teach and disciple in all that I have commanded you. True piety asks, “How do I glorify Christ?” It is the assurance that I only draw near to God because I am in Christ. He has lived, died, been raised, and ascended to glory. He rules me/us by His Spirit from heaven. True piety seeks to glorify Christ rather than self. That's the whole difference between the pious ones my dad warned me about and the true pious. May we distinguish true piety and desire to please our Lord, who has redeemed us. Then, I noticed whom Christ reserved his sharpest words for in the Gospels: the most pious people of his day. Christ warns the pious that they are shutting people out of the kingdom. In fact, in all their evangelistic zeal, they are only creating disciples of hell.Acts 5 gives some insight into this problem. We discover that there are self-proclaimed pious people actively working against the work of Christ. So the real question is: how do we know what piety we're actually pursuing?The Community's Power (Acts 5:12–16)The Apostles continue to minister the Lord's gospel. The problem is that people look to the apostles rather than to Christ. We have seen this with the crippled man. His attention was called to Christ as the crippled man clung to the apostles. It is the Lord's word that brings the healing.This is where we see the true piety versus the false piety. The true piety looks to our God. False piety looks to the tangible in this world.Word spreads about Ananias and Sapphira, and the healing of the disciples. The crowds do not discern the truth, but hold the apostles on some sort of a superstitious pedestal. They bring their sick to the disciples, hoping that at least a shadow would come into contact and bring healing. However, they don't want to get close because people die in this community.Tragically, they miss the point of the signs. The signs are not self-promoting signs like the false prophets who use the signs to promote their own significance. Christ warned his disciples about these false prophets before going to the cross (Mt. 24:24; Mk 13:22; Luke 21:8). No, these are signs that gave Moses credibility and authenticity before Pharaoh. Unfortunately, we see that the crowds are still the crowds who lurk rather than join. They would rather watch for a miracle rather than find their wholeness in Christ, being progressively transformed by His word.God's Power Play (Acts 5:17–26)The high priest and the Sadducees move against the apostles out of jealousy. The Sadducees deny the supernatural. They claim that there is no resurrection, no miracle, nothing supernatural. Scripture is an ethical handbook rather than the living and abiding Word of God that confers life.They are jealous that the Apostles are gaining traction. They really are not going to allow a movement built on a risen Christ. A movement with credible healings and miracles. This is not a competition for them, but a radical existential threat. Their existence is about to be completely undermined. So, they react by assuming if you silence the messengers, then you destroy the movement. They lock up the apostles in jail.An angel quietly opens the prison at night. There is no disturbance outside the prison, so the guards assume everything is fine. The Lord sends the apostles right back to the temple with a simple charge: go speak all the words of this Life. The next morning, the council sends for the prisoners and finds an empty locked cell. The word returns to the senate that the "prisoners" are already preaching at the temple. God dismantles the power play without raising his voice. His life message will go forth. The glorified and resurrected Jesus of Nazareth will be proclaimed.Who Really Holds the Power (Acts 5:27–42)The Apostles are escorted from the temple to the senate. The apostles are accused of trying to put "this man's blood" on them. Please keep in mind that this same group of people once told Pilate, "his blood be on us." Peter's answer is direct: "We must obey God rather than men," and he pointedly calls God "the God of our fathers.” The Apostles are in the line of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob because they embrace Christ. This means that the pious ones, who deny Christ, cannot claim the same historic identity. Where Pentecost's crowd was cut to the heart and repented, this council responds with rage instead.Gamaliel, a Pharisee, then offers a test: movements built on mere men collapse when their leader dies. This happened with Theudas. He rose up, and Rome executed him, silencing his mission. Judas the Galilean led a tax revolt, and Rome executed him. His movement died. Two clear movements that were not from God. We know that because the movement died. It had no power beyond the leaders.So, if the apostles are from God, there is no way that they can stop it. If the movement is only in their power, then it will cease. So, let history unfold. Praise be to God! We worship the same resurrected and ascended Christ that the Apostles proclaimed. The movement continues by the Lord's continued providence and care.Conclusion: True Piety Points Away From ItselfSo, how do we know if we're pursuing the right piety? Luke 18 answers it: the Pharisee's sin wasn't effort, it was trusting in his own righteousness. There's nothing wrong with looking back and thanking God for how he's sanctified us. However, when it becomes look how good I am, Christ has quietly left the stage.The Pharisees make their own disciples (Matthew 23:19). They are not making disciples of Christ, but disciples of their theology. When Christ gives the great commission, the disciples are commanded to teach and disciple in all that I have commanded you.True piety asks, “How do I glorify Christ?” It is the assurance that I only draw near to God because I am in Christ. He has lived, died, been raised, and ascended to glory. He rules me/us by His Spirit from heaven. True piety seeks to glorify Christ rather than self. That's the whole difference between the pious ones my dad warned me about and the true pious. May we distinguish true piety and desire to please our Lord, who has redeemed us. Amen.
The 365 Days of Astronomy, the daily podcast of the International Year of Astronomy 2009
https://spacescoop.org/en/scoops/2609/why-does-jupiter-have-bigger-moons-than-saturn/ Hosted by our editor, Richard Drumm. Jupiter and Saturn are the gas giants in our Solar System. Ummm… Uranus & Neptune are now called ice giants. But back to Jupiter & Saturn. They are the largest planets, have the most moons compared to the other planets, and if that isn't cool enough, they're home to some of the largest moons in the Solar System. Saturn has 280 or more moons in total, a total that seems to be changing daily. Jupiter has over 100 known moons so far. As for me, I don't even try to keep count any more. Here's where things get really interesting: Jupiter has four big moons, including Ganymede, the biggest one in the whole Solar System. Jupiter's Galilean moons from closest to farthest are Io, Europa, Ganymede & Callisto. The first 3 are in a 1:2:4 orbital resonance with Io making 4 orbits, Europa 2 and Ganymede 1. It's been calculated that Ganymede & Callisto were in a 7:3 resonance a couple million years ago but are slipping toward a 6:3 which is a nice, stable 2:1 resonance. Callisto will likely fall into that resonance in a billion and a half years making the system 1:2:4:8. Nice & stable. We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too! Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations. Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!) ------------------------------------ The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.
Series: N/AService: Wed Bible StudyType: Bible ClassSpeaker: Leon Mauldin
Read OnlineAfter entering a boat, Jesus made the crossing, and came into his own town. And there people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Courage, child, your sins are forgiven.” Matthew 9:1–2After making a quick trip across the Sea of Galilee to deliver two men from demonic possession, Jesus and the disciples return to Jesus' “own town,” likely Capernaum, the fishing village and hometown of Peter, Andrew, James and John, and probably Matthew, whom Jesus had not yet called to be an Apostle.Though the Gospels say little about Jesus' ordinary daily life in Capernaum, it is clear that this small town served as a center for His Galilean ministry, becoming the crossroads where ordinary human lives intersected with extraordinary divine grace. Few in Capernaum could have realized that their village would become the center for the unfolding of God's promise of salvation, from which the teachings of the Messiah would go forth to the world.Though Jesus' act of forgiving the paralytic's sins in today's Gospel, followed by his miraculous healing, holds great significance, equally important is the setting in which these actions took place. Capernaum, in many ways, represents our hometowns, homes, daily lives, occupations, communities, and families. The Son of God's entrance into our world did not take place in a visibly magnificent way; it was humble, hidden, and ordinary. Beginning in Bethlehem, Jesus' birth took place within a dwelling for animals, and He was laid in a feeding trough. Shortly afterward, He narrowly escaped death from Herod, becoming a refugee in Egypt as an infant. Later, Jesus was raised in Nazareth—a small town viewed as insignificant by the wider Judean and Galilean communities. He learned carpentry from Joseph, made pilgrimages to Jerusalem for the Jewish feasts, and lived like any other child and young man.Even after Jesus began His public ministry, He continued to live a humble and simple life. He was a wandering preacher, traveling on foot through many towns and villages with a band of disciples. He relied on providence for food and shelter, owned little Himself, and related compassionately with people of every status and background.To the ordinary eye, Jesus was an ordinary man. To the eyes of the Father, He was the Divine Son, cloaked in humility, whose true glory remained hidden from many eyes.Jesus' humble, simple, and ordinary life was significant. The Father could have sent His Son into royal splendor and worldly power, establishing Him as an earthly king admired by all. Yet, He chose humility because by embracing the ordinariness of daily life, Jesus sanctified human existence, transforming everyday tasks and encounters into pathways toward union with Him. When we engage in ordinary things in union with Jesus' life—with His virtue, diligence, dedication, care, and generosity—our daily activities become infused with extraordinary grace.By becoming the crossroads where ordinary human lives intersect with extraordinary divine grace, we are invited to see every ordinary part of our lives in the same way the people of Capernaum encountered Jesus' extraordinary grace. Jesus is waiting for us around every corner, in every conversation, duty, and activity. Like in Capernaum, He remains cloaked in humility, often veiled from immediate recognition. With faith, we must discern Him in the ordinary, recognize His humble presence, love Him, and follow Him.Reflect today on the people of Capernaum and see yourself among them. How would you have reacted to someone who seemed so ordinary yet taught, forgave, and healed with such grace? That same Lord is present all around us in our daily lives, no matter how ordinary they might appear. Look for Him, invite Him into your “town,” and allow Him to sanctify your daily work, drawing you out of the ordinary into the extraordinary life of grace.My hidden Lord, You are present within me and all around me, yet often I fail to perceive Your humble presence in the ordinary circumstances of my daily life. Grant me the eyes of faith to recognize You, a heart eager to love You, and the strength to follow You faithfully, so that all I do may be infused with Your grace and dedicated to Your eternal glory. Jesus, I trust in You.Image: Christ Healing the Lame Man, by Jacopo BassanoSource: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission.
Join us as we dig deeper into last Sunday's sermon from Pastor Marcus Lane "The Gospel Arrested" and hear from Amy Duncan and Nate Zuellig on "I Know A Name". Digging Deeper Questions: Notice how the fruit of the Sadducees' jealousy causes them to act unjustly in arresting the apostles. Have you ever similarly seen the painful fruit of jealousy in your own life? What is the antidote to jealousy? How does the example of the apostles give us a template for how we can resist the temptation to give in to people-pleasing? When you compare the fruit of jealousy and people-pleasing to the fruit of faithfulness, how does the path of faithfulness begin to look more like freedom and joy? Where have you seen the fruit of faithfulness in your own life and relationships? Scripture Reading: Acts 5:17-42 17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life." 21 And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and began to teach. Now when the high priest came, and those who were with him, they called together the council, all the senate of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. 22 But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison, so they returned and reported, 23 "We found the prison securely locked and the guards standing at the doors, but when we opened them we found no one inside." 24 Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were greatly perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. 25 And someone came and told them, "Look! The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people." 26 Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but not by force, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest questioned them, 28 saying, "We strictly charged you not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and you intend to bring this man's blood upon us." 29 But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. 31 God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." 33 When they heard this, they were enraged and wanted to kill them. 34 But a Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in honor by all the people, stood up and gave orders to put the men outside for a little while. 35 And he said to them, "Men of Israel, take care what you are about to do with these men. 36 For before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.37 After him Judas the Galilean rose up in the days of the census and drew away some of the people after him. He too perished, and all who followed him were scattered. 38 So in the present case I tell you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or this undertaking is of man, it will fail; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You might even be found opposing God!" So they took his advice, 40 and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. 41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. 42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus. Intro/Outro Song: "Only One" Nate Zuellig ULC Artist In Residence "I Know A Name" Elevation Worship CCLI Song # 7247990 CCLI License # 11254293
In this session, we cover the readings appointed in the Revised Common Lectionary for the Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 9), Year A, falling on July 5, 2026.Of course, you may be in search of something “patriotic” to say with the Independence Day celebration (aka, July 4) in America. That's not really our bag here at the Lectionary Lab, but I'll see if I can't whip up a little something for the Thursday Sermon (on Wednesday) — which I will send out this week on Tuesday for the holiday!This Sunday turns a corner. Last week closed the four-week Matthew 10 sending discourse with the small image of a cup of cold water. This week, the Gospel offers what may be the most beloved invitation in all of Scripture: come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. After weeks of being called, sent, warned, and welcomed, the same Jesus turns to his disciples and says: come.The Old Testament tracks both lead toward that Gospel, but they get there along very different roads. Track One brings us a tender story from Genesis — the long account of Abraham's servant finding Rebekah — paired with either Psalm 45's royal wedding song or Song of Solomon's love poem. (The lectionary offers the two as alternatives, and this guide treats both fully.) Track Two brings us Zechariah's vision of a humble king coming on a donkey rather than a war horse, paired with Psalm 145's sweeping celebration of God's compassion for all. The Epistle moves into Romans 7 — Paul's honest, piercing description of the war between intention and action.A small but real continuity is worth noticing as you prepare. Rebekah's first kindness in Genesis 24, in the verses just before our reading, was to draw water for a thirsty servant — and then for his camels. That echo of last week's cup of cold water is the lectionary doing some quiet preaching on its own. For preachers following a sermon series, this Sunday opens a new arc; the Matthew 10 cycle is complete, and Matthew 11 begins a new movement that will carry into the parables in the weeks ahead.A small but real continuity is worth noticing as you prepare. Rebekah's first kindness in Genesis 24, in the verses just before our reading, was to draw water for a thirsty servant — and then for his camels. That echo of last week's cup of cold water is the lectionary doing some quiet preaching on its own.The ReadingsGenesis 24:34–38, 42–49, 58–67First Reading (Track One) — The Finding of RebekahSummaryThis is selected portions of the longest chapter in Genesis. After Sarah's death, Abraham sends his trusted servant back to his homeland to find a wife for Isaac. The selected verses give us three moments: the servant explaining his mission to Rebekah's family, his retelling of the prayer he had silently prayed at the well and how Rebekah had appeared at exactly the right moment, and the close of the story — Rebekah's choice to go, her family's blessing, her journey to Canaan, and the meeting with Isaac in the field. Isaac, the text tells us, brings her into the tent that had been his mother's, and is comforted after his mother's death.Photo by james ballard on UnsplashKey Ideas for Preaching* Rebekah's first kindness, in the verses just before our reading, was to draw water for the servant — and then to draw water for his ten thirsty camels. After last week's cup of cold water, the echo is hard to miss. What does it mean for your congregation that a story this important to the family of Israel begins with the small kindness of a young woman drawing water for thirsty strangers?* When the servant prayed, he says, his prayer was answered before he had finished speaking. The text holds together strong human action and quiet divine arrangement, neither one swallowing the other. Where does your congregation tend to imagine that God's providence and human kindness compete, and how might this text suggest they work together?* Rebekah's “I will go” is one of the clearest moments of agency for a woman in Genesis. She is asked, and she chooses. What does it look like to honor the women in your congregation by reading this story with careful attention to her voice, not just to the men around her?* The story closes with Isaac being comforted after the death of his mother. He has barely spoken since the binding two chapters ago — and now, quietly, the text tells us he is starting to heal. How might your sermon let your people feel that healing often happens slowly, in ordinary ways, after the wounds we cannot easily name?Significant Cautions* The story has often been used to bless arranged marriages or to model dating advice. The text is doing something much larger; do not flatten it into a prescription for modern relationships.* The servant's prayer at the well has sometimes been read as a model for laying out tests to see if God will give the right sign. That is a small and anxious use of a story that is mostly about quiet divine arrangement, not negotiated tests.* Sarah, who dies just before this story, was wronged in this family in ways the text does not resolve. Be honest that the comfort Isaac receives at the end of the chapter does not erase the harder family history that has come before.Psalm 45:10–17The Psalm (Track One, primary option) — A Royal Wedding SongSummaryA wedding song — one of the few psalms not addressed to God but to a king and his bride. The selected verses focus on the bride. She is counseled to leave her own people and join her husband. She is described in glorious clothing, accompanied by joyful companions, and brought with celebration into the king's palace. The psalm closes with a promise that her sons will be princes in all the earth.Key Ideas for Preaching* The psalm describes a celebration — joy at a wedding, glad procession, glorious clothing. After several weeks of demanding texts, what would it look like to let your congregation feel the goodness of celebration as a faithful response to God?* The Christian tradition has often read this psalm allegorically as the marriage of Christ and the church. There is real poetic richness in that reading. How might it shape your sermon to let the psalm be both a wedding song and an image of the love that holds the church?Significant Cautions* “Forget your people and your father's house” has been a difficult line throughout the psalm's history. In its original setting, it describes a foreign princess marrying into Israel — a major dislocation. Modern readers are right to feel the strangeness of the line. Do not preach it in a way that suggests God ever asks anyone to simply forget where they come from.* The psalm focuses almost entirely on the bride's appearance and her function as the producer of royal sons. That is one voice within Scripture, not the whole of what Scripture says about women. Be careful with how you handle the imagery in a contemporary congregation.Song of Solomon 2:8–13The Psalm (Track One, alternative option) — Arise, My LoveSummaryAn alternative reading to Psalm 45. The Beloved's voice rings out across the hills: “the voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.” The lover calls the Beloved to come away. Winter is over. The flowers appear. The fig tree puts forth its early fruit. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.Key Ideas for Preaching* The book of Song of Solomon, surprisingly to many in the pews, is in the Bible — and most of what it celebrates is human, embodied love. What does it do for your congregation to hear that the Scriptures have room for an unabashed celebration of human longing?* The image of winter ending and the world flowering again has been used by faithful readers across generations as a picture of God's renewing work. How might your sermon let the text speak both as a love poem and as a picture of what God's love does to a frozen heart?Significant Cautions* The text has, for most of its history in the church, been allegorized into a song about Christ and the church or God and the soul. That tradition is rich. But it has sometimes been used to apologize for the book's frankly erotic content. The text was given to us as it is. Be careful not to scrub it for modern propriety.* Be careful, on the other hand, not to use this text to baptize any contemporary picture of romance. The poem describes mutual longing, mutual delight, and the breaking of seasons; it is not a manual for human relationships and should not be flattened into one.Zechariah 9:9–12First Reading (Track Two) — The Humble KingSummaryA vision of a king coming to Jerusalem — but not the kind of king the people are expecting. He is humble and righteous, victorious yet riding on a donkey rather than a war horse. When he comes, he will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem. The bow of battle will be broken. He will command peace to the nations, and his rule will reach from sea to sea. The reading closes with a word to the “prisoners of hope” — return to your stronghold, double restoration is on the way.Key Ideas for Preaching* The king Zechariah envisions is humble — he comes riding a donkey rather than a war horse. Power that does not look like power. This is the picture the Gospels will pick up at the entry to Jerusalem, and it is the picture Jesus offers of himself in today's Gospel as “gentle and humble in heart.” What does it mean for your congregation to follow this kind of king in a world that still measures power by chariots?* The peace this king brings includes cutting off the implements of war. Not making them better; getting rid of them. Where in your congregation has the language of peace been allowed to coexist with the quiet building up of weapons of one kind or another?* “Prisoners of hope” is one of the strangest and most beautiful phrases in the prophets. The people of God are imagined as captives — but captives of hope, not despair. What might it mean to your people to hear themselves named that way?Significant Cautions* This text is most often heard on Palm Sunday, when it gets read as a prediction of Jesus' entry to Jerusalem. Hearing it now, outside that context, gives a preacher a chance to let it speak first in its own voice. Be careful not to rush it toward Christ in a way that strips it of its own original power.* “Peace to the nations” has sometimes been used to bless military adventures branded as bringing peace. The text says the opposite. The peace comes from disarmament, not from victory.Psalm 145:8–14The Psalm (Track Two) — Good to AllSummaryA great hymn of praise to God's goodness. The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. God is good to all, and God's compassion is over all that God has made. All God's works give thanks; the faithful bless God. God's kingdom is everlasting. The Lord upholds those who are falling and raises up those who are bowed down.Key Ideas for Preaching* “The Lord is good to all, and his compassion is over all that he has made.” That is a remarkably wide claim. Not good to the worthy. Good to all. Where has your congregation accepted, without thinking, the idea that some are inside God's compassion and some are not?* The psalm is full of universal language — all, every, all that he has made. This is one of the cosmic visions of God's reach in the Hebrew Bible. How might your sermon let your congregation feel the size of that reach?* “The Lord upholds all who are falling, and raises up all who are bowed down.” This pairs beautifully with the Gospel's invitation to come to Christ and find rest. What does it look like to preach to those who are falling — gently, without shame?Significant Cautions* “Slow to anger” can be heard bitterly by people who have been crying out for justice for a long time. Do not preach this verse without making room for that experience.* “Upholds all who are falling” can land cruelly on those whose loved ones did, in fact, fall and not get caught. Be careful with this verse near grief.Romans 7:15–25aThe Epistle — The War WithinSummaryOne of the most psychologically piercing passages in the New Testament. Paul describes the experience of doing what he does not want and not doing what he wants. “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” He finds, he says, a kind of law at work in him — that when he wants to do good, evil is right there. He delights in God's law in his inmost self, but another law is at work in his body. The passage rises to a cry: “Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” And then, almost without taking a breath, it pivots: “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”Key Ideas for Preaching* This is one of the most honest descriptions of the human condition anywhere in Scripture. Paul does not pretend to have mastered himself. He names the experience that everyone in the room recognizes — wanting to do better and finding the same old patterns returning. What does it mean for your congregation to hear that the Bible knows this experience by heart?* The cry “wretched man that I am” is not despair. It is honest grief that something is broken — and it leads directly to the cry for rescue. How might your sermon teach your people that naming what is broken in themselves is not the same as despairing of themselves?* The pivot at the end is not a quick fix. “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord” does not mean the internal struggle disappears overnight. Paul will go on in chapter 8 to describe how the Spirit groans with us in the meantime. Where might your sermon hold the honesty of the struggle and the hope of the rescue together, without rushing past either?Significant Cautions* This passage has been argued about for centuries — whether Paul is describing his pre-Christian past, his ongoing experience as a believer, or some other voice altogether. Faithful readers come down differently. Do not preach as if the question has been settled.* The passage has sometimes been used to bless moral failure — “even Paul couldn't do it, so why try?” That is a misuse. Paul is naming the struggle, not surrendering to it.* The “body of death” language has sometimes been used to disparage the physical body as the source of sin. That is not what Paul says. The whole human person, body and mind together, is involved in the struggle, not the body alone.* “Try harder” sermons that ignore Paul's actual point are common with this text. The point is not effort. The point is the rescue.Matthew 11:16–19, 25–30The Gospel — Come to Me, All Who Are WearySummaryTwo paired sections of Matthew 11. In the first, Jesus complains about his generation. They are like children in the marketplace who cannot be pleased — neither the dance music nor the funeral song moves them. John came as an ascetic and was called demon-possessed. Jesus came eating and drinking and was called a glutton. The wisdom of God will be vindicated, he says, by what it actually produces. The reading then skips ahead — past the harsh woes against the Galilean cities, which the lectionary omits — to Jesus' thanksgiving. He thanks the Father for hiding things from the wise and revealing them to infants. And then the famous invitation: come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.Key Ideas for Preaching* The opening verses describe a generation that cannot be pleased by either austerity or celebration. Where in your own time do you see the same dynamic — a culture that rejects every kind of religious witness, on different grounds? How might your sermon take that pattern seriously rather than dismiss it?* Jesus says wisdom is vindicated by what it produces — its deeds. Not by its claims, its slogans, or its theology, but by what comes of it in actual lives. Where in your congregation has wisdom been measured by talk rather than by fruit, and how might today's text reset that?* The thanksgiving in verse 25 is for what God reveals to “infants” — the simple, the small. That has often been misread as anti-intellectual. It is not. It is a critique of the kind of wisdom that is too sure of itself to receive a gift. What does it mean for your people to come to God like infants — open-handed, not pre-loaded with answers?* The famous invitation — “come to me, all you who are weary” — is offered to everyone, no test required. After four weeks of Matthew 10's increasingly demanding sending discourse, this is the gentlest possible turn. How might your sermon help your congregation feel the contrast and receive the invitation?* A yoke is the wooden frame that binds two oxen together so they can pull a load. A well-fitted yoke makes the work bearable; a poorly fitted one is torture. Jesus offers an easy yoke — one that fits, one that pairs the weary person with him. What does it look like for your people to be yoked with Christ in their actual daily work?* “Rest for your souls.” Not just rest for the body, though that matters too. Rest in the deeper place. What kind of rest are your people most in need of, and how might today's text point them toward it?Significant Cautions* The “easy yoke” should not be flattened into the claim that following Jesus is without cost. We have just spent four Sundays on the cost of being sent. The yoke is easy because of who it is shared with, not because the work is small.* The “hidden from the wise” language has been misused to bless anti-intellectualism. Jesus is not against thinking. He is against the kind of self-satisfied wisdom that cannot receive what is given.* “Come to me, all you who are weary” has been preached in ways that minimize the systemic causes of human weariness. People are not just personally tired; many are exhausted by work conditions, economic pressure, racism, and political structures that are wearing them down. The invitation is real, but it does not let the church off the hook for addressing what is producing the weariness.* The “yoke” image has been used by abusive religious systems to bind people to harmful authorities. Be careful that nothing in your sermon sounds like that. Jesus' yoke is gentle. Anything that is not is not his.Thematic ConnectionsThe Gospel is the natural center for the day, and it offers one of the most beloved invitations in all of Scripture. After four Sundays inside the Matthew 10 sending discourse — in which Jesus has called, sent, warned, and welcomed his disciples — the same Gospel now offers them, and us, a startling change of key. Come to me. Find rest. The same Jesus who was sending people out is the one who now invites them in.The Old Testament tracks both lead toward that Gospel along very different roads. * On Track One, Genesis 24 gives us a tender story of God's providence working through human kindness and choice. Isaac, whose binding we read about two Sundays ago, is now being comforted. Rebekah's voice (and her camels) carry forward last week's cup of cold water into a new generation. Whether you choose Psalm 45 or Song of Solomon, the paired text celebrates love that comes when winter ends. The whole track has the quality of a thaw — a turning toward warmth after the heaviness of recent weeks.* On Track Two, Zechariah's vision of the humble king on a donkey leads directly into the Gospel's “gentle and humble in heart” Jesus. Psalm 145 widens the scope: God's mercy is for all, God's compassion over everything that has been made. The track invites a congregation to see the kingdom of God as fundamentally gentle in nature.* Romans 7 sits inside the day in a fascinating way. After the Gospel's invitation, Paul's honest description of the war between desire and action gives a name to one of the heavy burdens we carry. The rest Jesus offers is not the absence of that struggle. It is the company in which the struggle is held.For preachers continuing a sermon series, this week opens a new arc. The four-week Matthew 10 sending discourse is complete. * Matthew 11 begins a movement that will carry into parables and signs in the weeks ahead. The transition from “go out” (Matthew 10) to “come to me” (Matthew 11) is itself the heart of this Sunday's word. Sending and rest are not opposites; they are two sides of the same life. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lectionarypro.substack.com/subscribe
But if it's from God… Acts 5 by William Klock There was a package slip from Canada Post below the mail slot when I got here last Friday. I was kind of annoyed, because not only did I have no idea where the package was from, for some reason I had to go all the way over to the post office in Comox to pick it up. And when they handed it to me I was perplexed. The sender was just some distribution company. The box was large and heavy. A mystery. And when I got it home and opened it up, it was still a mystery. A boxed set of about fifteen books from a ministry called Be United in Christ. Nice looking hardcovers. The set looks expensive. A few of them were reprints of books by Jonathan Edwards, Jeremiah Burroughs, and Charles Spurgeon, but frustratingly none of the others say a word about their authors and I couldn't find much online about the ministry itself or who's behind it. The books are a generous gift. But do I just put them out for you all to take home and read? Edwards, Burroughs, Spurgeon are okay. Puritans, not Anglicans, but still part of the same general theological tradition—for the most part. But are they there just to get me to trust the other anonymous books? I don't know. This is the shepherd's dilemma. I don't have time to read them or really even to meaningfully skim them. The problem would be solved if I knew something about who sent them. And I think that illustrates well what St. Luke is getting at in our text today. We'll be looking at Acts 5. [Page 1084 in the pew Bibles.] And at first Acts 5 might seem like a series stories or events that are related only because they happened in the order Luke presents them, but are kind of otherwise “random”. But the more I thought about the Chapter, the more a common theme started to take shape. So far, Luke has shown us the birth of the church through the preaching of Peter and the work of the Spirit. And then he's shown us the church taking shape, not just as some new religion—which I think is how we're often (wrongly!) prone to seeing it—but as the fulfilment of God's promises to Israel. Luke shows us the church as the new temple. God has returned to his people as he promised, but not to the bricks-and-mortar temple on the mountaintop above Jerusalem. Instead, he's come to indwell the people whom Jesus has purified with his blood. This is a human temple meant to one day fill the whole earth and with it God's presence. And Luke has shown us the church not just as a family, but as the family that Israel was always supposed to be, but failed to be; the family in which God is fulfilling his promises through Jesus and the Spirit; the family in which his kingdom, his new creation, his renewed humanity is being born. It's a community meant to take up the vocation of Jesus and to be prophets, priests and kings, proclaiming the good news about the lordship of Jesus to Jerusalem and Judah—and eventually to the whole world. But as we've seen, it's not just the proclamation. It's not just the preaching. That's absolutely necessary. But it's the lived community—the “family-ness”—of the church that backs up the message and says that this is the real deal. Because Israel had been talking the talk for a thousand years. But Israel ended up in exile in Babylon because she failed over and over to walk the walk. You can't preach light while living in darkness. You can't claim to be God's people while you worship idols. You can't proclaim new creation while living like the old. That's why, at the end of Chapter 4, which we saw last week, Luke talked for a second time about the way the church in Jerusalem became a family and took care of those in need. They were actively living out the bounty and generosity of God and his new creation. As the new Israel, they were a little land of milk and honey. And Luke held up Jospeh the Levite as particularly exemplary, because he unselfishly sold some land and brought the proceeds to the apostles to help their ministry. It wasn't a requirement for church membership. It sounds like Joseph was wealthy and so he used his wealth to build up the church and it was his way of living out new creation. And it was obviously unique—not something everyone did—because they nicknamed him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement”. And that leads straight into Acts 5 and the story of Ananias and Sapphira. This couple wanted the same sort of attention Barnabas was getting. Luke writes, “There was, however, a man named Ananias with his wife, Sapphira. He sold some property and, with his wife's knowledge, kept back part of the price. He brought the rest and laid it at the apostle's feet. ‘Ananias!' said Peter. ‘Why did the Satan fill your heart to make you tell a lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? While it was still yours, it belonged to you, didn't it? And, when you sold it, it was still in your power. Why did you get such an idea in your heart? It isn't men that you've lied to; it's God!' When Ananias heard these words he fell down and died. Everyone who heard about it was scared out of their wits. The young men got up, took him away, wrapped up his body and buried him. After an interval of about three hours, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter spoke to her. ‘Tell me,' he said, ‘did you sell the land for this much?' ‘Yes,” she replied, ‘that was the price.' ‘So why,' Peter answered, ‘did you agree together to put the Holy Spirit to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out too!' At once she fell down at his feet and died. The young men were just coming in and they found her dead, so they took her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear came upon the whole gathering and on all who heard about these things.” Great fear! No kidding. Now, growing up—and for years afterward—I thought this was a story about “tithing”. In Sunday school we would sing a song about how Ananias and Sapphira got together to conspire a plot to cheat the church and get ahead. They knew God's power but did not fear it, tried to cheat the Holy Spirit. Peter prophesied it and they both dropped dead. Uh! (That “Uh!” was the good part—one of the few times you could be rowdy in church.) And the chorus of the song went on to sing about how God loves a cheerful giver, give him all you've got. It had me terrified as a kid. I didn't have any income, but I knew that someday when I did, I'd better give God his due or I might drop dead. No one ever talked about the part where they lied about what they were giving. And no one ever paid attention to the context of the story. It is a terrifying story. Even the people in the church who saw it and heard about, Luke writes, were pretty terrified. But the way we usually hear about Ananias and Sapphira, I think, gets us worried about the wrong thing. Because, Brothers and Sisters, this is isn't a story about tithing; it's a story about the need for holiness. It's a story that reminds us that if we're going to be God's temple, if we're going to be the place where he dwells in the person of his Spirit, if we're going to be the place where the world meets God, we need to take holiness seriously. The first thing that ought to tip us off here is the way these first chapters of Acts are all centred on the temple. More specifically, they're focused on how the church has become the new temple and how it—particularly through Peter and John spending their days in the old temple—how the church is confronting and challenging the old: the old temple, the old Israel, and the priests and elders associated with both. The second thing that ought to tip us off is the nature of the story. It's not a common thing, even in the Bible, for God to just suddenly strike someone dead. But the few times we do see that happen, what's it associated with? Think Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, playing around with the holy things of God and offering “strange fire” on the altar. Zap. Dead. Instantly. And poor Uzzah when David's men were rescuing the ark of the covenant from the Philistines. They didn't carry it the way God had told them to. Instead, they put it on a cart. And the cart started to tip and Uzzah—well meaning, but horribly wrong—reached out to steady it. And zap! Uzzah was struck dead on the spot. I can think of a few other slightly less dramatic. There was Achan who, in the ruins of Jericho, stole some of the treasure that belonged to the Lord. His sin had consequences for the whole community of Israel in their next battle, but maybe most importantly, it was the Lord who revealed the guilty to Joshua. And Achan and his family died. Or King Uzziah who arrogantly entered the temple to burn incense and was immediately struck with leprosy. The point is this, Brothers and Sisters, if you're going to walk with God, holiness is not an option. The wages of sin is death. For the vast majority of us, living and then dying is just so normal that sometimes we need a reminder that life is God's gift, that sin separates us from God, and that we die because of that separation. Sometimes the reminders are instantaneous, dramatic, and terrifying. Other times they play out over generations. Like Israel herself: generation after generation of faithlessness and idolatry that eventually led, for the northern kingdom, to annihilation—national death—and for the southern kingdom exile. St. Paul warns the Corinthians that some of them are sick and dying because they've abused the Lord's Supper. In John's revelation, Jesus warns the churches that if they aren't faithful, if they fail to properly represent him and his kingdom, he will take away their lampstands. They will, as churches, die. God requires holiness of his people and holiness is serious business. The church is God's means of making the good news of Jesus known. The church is God's means of making his new creation visible and real in the world. And if we undermine the credibility of the gospel through unholiness—well, God is patient—most of the time—but if we refuse to repent, he will make us witnesses to his power and sovereignty through his discipline rather than his blessing. Ananias and Sapphira lied because they wanted a reputation they hadn't earned. How do we misrepresent the gospel and the kingdom and Jesus? In what way do we or does the church compromise our witness? What idols have we set up alongside the cross? What things do we do that bring public shame on Jesus and the Spirit? What compromises our holiness? And do our compromises and our idolatries and our hypocrisies run so deep or are they so common that maybe we no longer even see them. But people out there do. And God does. Brothers and Sisters, that's what the story of Ananias and Sapphira is about. But Acts 5 is more than a terrifying warning to holiness. It's also an exhortation. Look at verse 12: “Many signs and wonders were performed by the apostles amongst the people. They were all together in Solomon's Porch, while none of the others dared join them, though the people spoke highly of them. But more people, a crowd both of men and women, believed in the Lord and were added to their number. They used to bring the sick into the streets and place them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on them as he went by. Crowds gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing people who were sick or infested with unclean spirits. All of them were cured.” God struck down the people who were compromising the church's gospel witness, but he blessed the ministry of Peter. As Luke notes, after the confrontation with the Jewish authorities, no one dared to join him, but when Peter went out with boldness to proclaim the good news, God made him a walking pocket of new creation. It makes me think of the dead temporarily raised on Good Friday, as if the shockwave of life was so powerful it had an almost undiscriminating effect as it went out from the cross. The same sort of thing happens with Peter. I think when we read this, our modern democratic mindset has us wondering why we don't see this happening today. Why doesn't this happen when my shadow falls on people when I'm walking around. And again, I have to come back to the biblical witness itself. The point of miracles is that they don't happen every day. And when they do happen, even in the Bible, they cluster around those times and places where God is doing something new. They clustered around Jesus and now we see them clustering around the apostles, validating them in the same way they validated Jesus. And they're happening right at the gate of the temple—God's not so subtle way to announce that, yes, he's come back to dwell with his people just as he promised, but he's not dwelling in the holy of holies in the bricks-and-mortal temple; he's come to dwell in this people purified and made even holier than the holy of holies by the blood of Jesus. Think of it like a rocket launch. There's a blast of almost uncomprehensible power that launches a rocket off the ground and into orbit. Once it's up there, it just needs a little nudge from time to time to keep it there. This was God's way of launching the gospel. Now, verse 17: “Then the high priest got up and all who were with him, namely the group called the Sadducees. They were filled with zeal [think “righteous indignation”] and seized the apostles and put them in the public jail. But an angel of the Lord came in the night, opened the prison doors, and brought them out. ‘Go and take your stand in the temple,' he said, ‘and speak all the words of this life to the people.' When they heard this, they went in at early morning and began to teach. When the high priest arrived with his entourage, they called the official assembly and all the elders of the sons of Israel, and they sent to the prison to have the apostles brought in. But when the attendants went they didn't find them in the prison. So they came and reported back. ‘We found the jail shut up with maximum security,' they said, ‘and the guards were standing in front of the doors. But when we opened up we found no one inside.' When they heard these words, the commander of the temple police and the chief priests were at a loss about them, with no idea what had happened. But then someone came with a message for them. ‘Look!' he said. ‘The men you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people.' Then the commander went with his attendants and brought them. They didn't use force, though, because they were afraid that the people might stone them.” Luke has a sense of humour. So does God. The high priest is full of zeal. This idea of “zeal” characterised what the Jews of those days thought of as faithfulness. Their heroes were men like Phinehas, who speared a law-breaking idolater to the ground; like Judas Maccabbeus, who led a revolt against the pagan Geek rulers of Israel. They were zealous for God and for his law and they burned with anger at anyone who compromised it. And that's how they felt about the apostles. Peter and John, just like Jesus, were challenging the temple. The temple leaders wanted them dead, but they also feared the people. Everyone else could see new creation and the power of God—life—bursting into the world, but all these guys could see was a threat to the status quo. And so they throw the apostles into jail. And God sends an angel to set them free and not just that, but to send them straight back to the temple, to the place where they were arrested. And there's an urgency to the angel's words. “Go back the temple. Take your stand. Speak the words of this life to the people.” The miracles were wonderful. The miracles said that God was doing something, that new creation life was breaking in. That there was something about the apostles. But Brothers and Sisters, miracles without preaching lead to superstition. Good works without preaching leave people applauding the people doing the good works. It's our proclamation, our preaching, our announcement of the good news about Jesus, crucified and risen and lord, that makes sense of the miracles and the good works. It's the preaching that points people to Jesus—not just in a generic sense to “God”, but specifically to Jesus. It's the preaching that makes clear that in the Messiah, God has provided a sacrifice that purifies us from the stain of sin to make us fit to be his temple, filled with his own Spirit, to bring his grace and his mercy and his love and his holiness and his new creation to the world. It's our life as God's working model of new creation that attracts people, but it's our preaching that calls them specifically to Jesus in repentance and faith. This whole chapter is a reminder that preaching alone without holiness and without living out new creation is not enough, but that it's also not enough to live out that new creation, to be a heaven on earth people, even to work miracles. It has to be accompanied by the proclamation of the good news about Jesus. Otherwise we're like the mystery box of books. Who's this from? Should I trust it? So the angel sends them back to preach. And there they are preaching in the temple just as the priests assemble to hold court. And they send for the accused and no one can find them, until someone runs in and shouts: “They're back preaching right under your noses!” “So,” Luke goes on in verse 27, “they brough them and stood them in the assembly. The high priest questioned them. ‘We gave you strict orders, didn't we?' he demanded. ‘We told you not to teach in this name, but look what you're doing. You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you're trying to bring this man's blood on us.' ‘We must obey God, not men!' responded Peter and the apostles. ‘The God of our fathers raised Jesus after you had laid violent hands on him and hanged him on a tree. God exalted him to his right hand as leader and saviour, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, which God gave to those who obey him.' When they heard this, they were infuriated and wanted to kill them. But then a Pharisee by the name of Gamaliel stood up in the assembly. He was a law-teacher, highly respected by all the people. He ordered the men to be put outside for a short while. ‘Men of Israel,' he said to the gathering, ‘be careful what you do to these men. Before these times Theudas rose up, claiming to be someone special and about four hundred men went off to join him. But he was killed and all the people who trusted him were dispersed. The movement came to nothing. After that Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census and drew a crowd after himself. But he was killed and all those who trusted him were scattered. So my advice to you now is this. Leave off from these men; let them be. You see, if this plan or work is merely human in origin, it will come to ruin. But if it's from God—well, you won't be able to stop them. You might even be found to be fighting against God.' They were persuaded by him and called the apostles back in. They beat them and told them not to speak in the name of Jesus. Then they let them go. They, however, went out from the presence of the assembly celebrating, because they had been reckoned worthy to suffer disgrace for the name. And all day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not stop teaching and proclaiming the Messiah.” The assembly has the apostles beaten, but they know the scriptures. They've seen how Jesus suffered and died as part of his ministry to fulfil those scriptures. So Peter and John and the others take this opposition as confirmation. And Luke goes into these details here, because this is going to be a pattern throughout the book of Acts. Suffering for the name of Jesus is a privilege. But he also highlights the importance of the church's integrity to its—to our—witness. Again, we are God's temple. He's returned as he promised, not to the stone building that once sat over Jerusalem, but by filling us—the people purified and made holy by the blood of Jesus. The beauty of a human temple is that it can grow and grow and grow until it fills the earth with God's presence, with his wisdom, with his gospel life. But it's also important that the temple remain pure. Jesus has purified it. The Holy Spirit has sanctified it. But we're still human. We're not perfect—not yet. Brothers and Sisters, this is why, as Paul puts it, we need to put on the Messiah. To put off the old, corrupt, sinful and selfish way of being human and put on Jesus and the new life of the gospel, the new life of the Spirit. To be the holy people Jesus and the Spirit have made us. To walk in integrity: in our personal affairs, in our relationships, in our marriages, in our business, in our politics, in our finances, in our life together as the church, as the temple. We really do need to be the new humanity and God's new creation. We need to be—so much as Jesus and the Spirit make it possible—to be God's future right here in the present. And we need to take our stand and proclaim the name of Jesus so that when people notice our holiness and our integrity, they'll also know that it's not just us, but that it's all about this Jesus who died and rose again—for us, for them, for the sake of all creation—to forgive, to purify, to heal, and to set to rights. I can't say exactly what it's supposed to look like. Acts was unique. The rocket ship was launching. Now it's in orbit. Our shadows are highly unlikely to heal anyone, and yet Peter's shadow and Peter's preaching really do represent the ministry of the faithful church to bring healing to the world, to wipe away tears, to announce what Jesus has done and what Jesus is doing and what Jesus will, finally, one day finish as we bring hope to the world. Do it with integrity, Brothers and Sisters. And do it in holiness. Let us pray: O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not our hold on things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Pastor focuses in on Gamaliel's Speech found in Acts 5:34-39. We know about Gamliel from the Bible, the writings of Josephus and rabbinical writings: Grandson of the Jewish teacher Hillel Especially influential ca 25-50 A.D. President of the Sanhedrin A devout and respected Pharisee Teacher of Saul of Tarsus (Acts 22:3) In comparing Josephus' writings with the Bible we find an issue with Acts 5:36-37 "Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered." The Controversy is the dating of the two men as this is what we know about them from Josephus: Theudas - revolt at the time of the Roman procurator, Cuspius Faus (44-46 A.D.) Judas the Galilean - rebellion in 6 A.D. According to the Acts verses written by Luke, he quotes Gamaliel as saying that Judas the Galilean's rebellion came AFTER Theudas' revolt, but what we know about these two men from Josephus, shows us that Judas the Galilean's rebellion came BEFORE Theudas' revolt. The Alternatives we can consider: Josephus was correct, Luke was wrong Luke was correct, Josephus was wrong Both Luke and Josephus were correct. Pastor leans toward "Both Luke and Josephus being correct." In Josephus' writings we read of Judas the Galilean as having led a band of people in revolt in 6 A.D. In Josephus' writings we also read that after the death of King Herod the Great (about 4 B.C.) many revolted. Josephus does not name them.but clearly these rebellions were BEFORE Judas' revolt. Consider this: Is it possible that one of those individuals was named Theudas? Then the writings of Josephus and the Bible align. Additionally, Luke gives this insight, he tells us that Gamaliel said the following, "Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered." Note that Gamaliel said ALL Judas' followers were scattered." But history shows us that Gamaliel saw Judas' rebellion as having come to nothing. However, about 25-30 years after Gamaliel spoke these words, those followers of Judas the Galilean not only were around, but had grown in number and ultimately triggered the revolt against Rome in 66 A.D. What we see is an accurate account by Luke of what took place on the day the Apostles were flogged for speaking the name of Jesus and rejoiced for being worthy to suffer for His name. Now What? Learn about God at https://www.awakeusnow.com EVERYTHING we offer is FREE. View live or on demand: https://www.awakeusnow.com/tuesday-bible-class For the full list of videos in this series, Dig Deeper, https://www.awakeusnow.com/dig-deeper For more check out our Sunday series, God ACTS! https://www.awakeusnow.com/god-acts-then-now Join us Sundays https://www.awakeusnow.com/sunday-service Or watch from our Youtube channel https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeUsNow/streams Watch via our app. Text HELLO to 888-364-4483 to download our app.
By Mario Seiglie - Take a look at Jesus Christ's ministry in this PowerPoint presentation, His travels and the people He dealt with. There were four main groups of people with different beliefs. In Part 2, we focus on the last two groups: those who were religiously compromised and the gentile world around the Sea of
By Mario Seiglie - Take a look at Jesus Christ's ministry in this PowerPoint presentation, His travels and the people He dealt with. There were four main groups of people with different beliefs. In Part 1, we focus on the first two groups: those who were strongly religious and those who gave Christ financial support
Saint Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles, a Galilean; the Gospel accounts say little more about him. It is said that, after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he traveled in the service of the Gospel to Arabia and Persia, and brought to India a translation of the Gospel according to Matthew. Eusebius writes that one hundred years later Pantaenus, an illustrious Alexandrian scholar, found this gospel when he traveled in India. By most accounts Bartholomew ended his life in Armenia, where he met his martyrdom by crucifixion. According to many, he and Nathaniel are the same person: the Gospel accounts that speak of Bartholomew do not mention Nathaniel; and St John's Gospel,which mentions Nathanael as one of the Twelve, does not mention Bartholomew. But according to the Greek Synaxarion, Bartholomew and Simon the Zealot are one and the same. Saint Barnabas was one of the Seventy, from Cyprus, a Levite and at one time a fellow-student with St Paul under Gamaliel. After Christ's Ascension, he led the Seventy until the Apostle Paul's conversion. He is mentioned often in the Acts of the Apostles, which describes some of his travels as a companion of St Paul. By all accounts, he was the first to preach the Gospel of Christ in Rome and in Milan. His wonder-working relics were discovered on the island of Cyprus in the time of the Emperor Zeno; on this basis the Church of Cyprus was established as an independent Church, since it had an apostolic foundation.
Jupiter takes center stage this June
The day of Pentecost marked one of the most dramatic moments in Christian history when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples with unmistakable power. The disciples had been waiting together in Jerusalem, following Jesus' instructions to tarry until they received heavenly power. Their waiting wasn't passive but filled with expectation, like a family in a hospital waiting room anticipating good news. When the Spirit arrived, it came with the sound of violent wind and flames of fire that rested on each person, representing God's uncontrollable yet constructive power.The most remarkable aspect of this event was that the disciples began speaking in languages they had never learned. These weren't unintelligible utterances but real languages that the international crowd in Jerusalem could understand perfectly. Jerusalem was filled with pious Jews from every nation who spoke different languages, and they were amazed to hear these Galilean fishermen declaring God's mighty works in their native tongues. This miracle reveals something profound about God's heart - that divine love transcends all cultural and linguistic barriers.The Holy Spirit's work extends far beyond that first Pentecost day. The Spirit serves as a divine artist, painting countless portraits of Jesus on human hearts using the unique gifts, cultures, and backgrounds of each person. Rather than erasing our particularities, God uses them to draw people into divine love in fresh and meaningful ways. The Spirit gives each person gifts not for personal glory but for the common good, enabling us to help others understand God's love in their particular context. Even during seasons of spiritual drought when we might not feel the Spirit's presence, we are invited to wait expectantly for God's movement, knowing that the Spirit continues to work in unpredictable but always loving ways.Discover the incredible power of Pentecost and how the Holy Spirit transforms ordinary people into extraordinary witnesses for God. This powerful biblical story from Acts 2 reveals one of the most dramatic moments in Christian history when the Holy Spirit descended with wind and fire upon the disciples in Jerusalem. Learn about the miraculous gift of speaking in tongues, where disciples suddenly spoke languages they never learned, allowing people from every nation to hear God's message in their native language. Explore how God speaks people fluently, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers through divine love and grace. Understand the Holy Spirit's role in drawing people to God, giving spiritual gifts for the common good, and working as a divine artist who paints portraits of Jesus on human hearts. This message examines how the Spirit uses our unique personalities, backgrounds, and cultures to reveal Christ to others in fresh ways. Whether you're experiencing spiritual growth or going through a season of spiritual drought, discover how to wait expectantly for the Holy Spirit's movement in your life. Learn practical ways to recognize the Spirit's work, understand your spiritual gifts, and be open to God's unpredictable but loving transformation. Perfect for anyone seeking to understand the Holy Spirit's power, spiritual gifts, divine calling, Christian transformation, biblical miracles, Acts 2 Pentecost, speaking in tongues, spiritual awakening, God's presence, divine love, Christian faith, spiritual growth, biblical teaching, and how God moves in our lives today. This biblical exposition offers hope and encouragement for believers at any stage of their spiritual journey.
Were the Middle Ages really a thousand years of ignorance, brutality, and superstition? Host Matt Trump, a physicist, says no and has the receipts. Drawing on Johan Huizinga's classic "The Autumn of the Middle Ages" and a revelatory 1982 essay by mathematician James Franklin, Matt makes the case that the Middle Ages were actually a period of extraordinary advancement in philosophy, science, architecture, and literature, and that the Renaissance was the gap, not the golden age. Gothic cathedrals, Thomas Aquinas, Nicole Oresme's pre-Galilean mechanics, the myth of prima nocta, chastity belts, flat earth belief, and the Black Death all get their moment. A rich, wide-ranging episode that will make you rethink everything your history class told you.
What does a $1.5 billion AI lawsuit have in common with your unwritten will?In September 2025, Anthropic agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle the largest copyright lawsuit in U.S. history. The reason was simple. They built first and cleared rights later. Documentary filmmakers have been making the same mistake for decades. And in this Deep Dive, host Christian Taylor argues that the lesson runs deeper than music licensing or AI training data. It is the same lesson Jesus taught in Luke 14, the same lesson surgeons learn from pre-op checklists, and the same lesson Christian is living through right now as the primary caregiver to her father with Alzheimer's disease. Plan ahead. Count the cost. Do the hard things first.In this Deep Dive on Documentary First Episode 277 with veteran ARC Producer Teddy Cannon, Christian unpacks the deeper meaning of Teddy's central argument: bring the unglamorous work in at the top of every project, or pay catastrophically downstream. Anchored in Luke 14:28 and Teddy's case study of a $50,000 to $70,000 Jackson 5 music clearance fee, this episode traces a single principle from filmmaking to surgery to aviation to the Anthropic AI copyright lawsuit and finally to estate planning and end-of-life care.In this episode, Christian explores:The spine of this episode is a single line from Luke 14:28 of the Bible. "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won't you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?" Christian draws the parallel from a Galilean carpenter to a veteran Archival Rights and Clearance Producer. Both saying the same thing across two thousand years. Both warning that the cost of finishing must be counted before the foundation is poured. The episode then turns personal, examining what happens when that wisdom is ignored at the scale of a single family and a single life.Why Anthropic's $1.5 billion AI copyright settlement is the same mistake documentary filmmakers have been making for decadesWhat an ARC Producer (Archival Rights and Clearance Producer) actually does, and why their role traditionally lives at the bottom of the production food chainHow a $50,000 to $70,000 Jackson 5 music clearance fee can sink an entire nine-episode film seriesWhy every documentary needs Errors and Omissions Insurance and a Rights Bible before distributionWhat surgeons, pilots, and contractors have in common with filmmakers who skip pre-production planningWhat Jesus taught in Luke 14:28 to 30 about counting the cost before building the towerWhy the Galilean carpenter and the veteran ARC Producer are saying the exact same thing two thousand years apartHow the same wisdom that protects a film from collapsing also protects a marriage, a business, an inheritance, and a familyWhat it is like to become the primary caregiver to a parent with Alzheimer's disease when no estate plan was ever writtenWhy doing the boring planning work upfront is not unloving, and what the wise ones do that everyone else avoidsChapters:0:00 The 2,000-Year-Old Lesson0:15 Intro: Bringing Gold to the Surface0:41 What is an ARC Producer?1:35 The Jackson 5 Sticker Shock2:12 The "Boring Person" at the Top3:04 From Surgeons to Pilots: Skipping the Checklist3:42 AI Companies and the Billion Dollar Mistake4:26 The Parable of the Tower5:06 Counting the Cost5:55 A Personal Deep Dive: Caregiving and Planning7:20 Being the "Editor" of a Life7:37 Final Thought: Look Anyway8:09 Final Ask: One ShareFrequently Asked Questions:What is an ARC Producer in filmmaking?An ARC Producer, short for Archival Rights and Clearance Producer, is the person on a film production team responsible for tracking down third-party footage, music, photographs, and documents, and securing the legal permissions to use them. ARC Producers manage licensing, clearance logs, and the Rights Bible that every film needs to secure Errors and Omissions Insurance and distribution. Historically, ARC Producers are brought in during post-production, but bringing them in during pre-production protects filmmakers from catastrophic licensing costs at the end of a project.Why should filmmakers bring an ARC Producer into pre-production?Bringing an ARC Producer into pre-production allows filmmakers to budget for rights and clearances before footage is shot or music is selected. This prevents the most expensive mistake in documentary filmmaking, which is locking a final cut around archival material or songs that turn out to cost tens of thousands of dollars to license. Pre-production clearance also strengthens storytelling by ensuring filmmakers know which materials are realistically available and affordable from the start.What can Anthropic's $1.5 billion AI copyright lawsuit teach filmmakers about clearance?In September 2025, Anthropic agreed to pay $1.5 billion to settle Bartz v. Anthropic, the largest copyright settlement in U.S. history. The case alleged Anthropic trained its AI on pirated books without permission. The lesson for filmmakers is identical to the one ARC Producers have been giving for decades. Building a product or film first and clearing rights later is more expensive than clearing rights upfront, no matter the scale of the company.What does Luke 14:28 say about counting the cost?In Luke 14, verses 28 through 30, Jesus tells a brief parable about a man who wants to build a tower. The parable asks whether the builder will first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it. The point is that laying a foundation you cannot afford to finish leaves the unfinished structure visible to everyone. The principle applies to filmmaking, estate planning, and any major project that requires resources to complete.What can caregivers and filmmakers learn from each other about planning ahead?Both filmmakers and family caregivers face the same trap. The unglamorous planning work, whether a music clearance memo, an estate plan, or a will, is easy to put off because it asks people to look at things they would rather not look at. Filmmakers avoid thinking about the end of a budget. Families avoid thinking about the end of a life. In both cases, the people who do the boring work upfront protect the people who come after them.About the Topic:Bartz v. AnthropicBartz v. Anthropic is the class-action copyright lawsuit filed by authors Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber, and Kirk Wallace Johnson against Anthropic AI for training its Claude language model on pirated books downloaded from Library Genesis and Pirate Library Mirror. The case settled in September 2025 for $1.5 billion, the largest copyright settlement in U.S. history. Anthropic agreed to pay approximately $3,000 per affected work and destroy the pirated files.New York Times v. OpenAIThe New York Times filed suit against OpenAI and Microsoft in December 2023, alleging that OpenAI trained ChatGPT on millions of Times articles without permission. The Times is seeking billions of dollars in damages. The case is one of more than fifty pending AI copyright lawsuits in the United States and represents the largest active threat to current AI training practices.Music Industry v. AI CompaniesUniversal Music Group, Concord Music, and other major music companies have filed suit against Anthropic and other AI companies for scraping copyrighted song lyrics to train AI models. Suno and Udio, two AI music generation platforms, face similar litigation from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and major labels. The disputes mirror the music licensing challenges documentary filmmakers have faced for decades.Luke 14:28-30: The Parable of the TowerIn the Gospel of Luke, chapter 14, verses 28 through 30, Jesus uses the image of a man building a tower to teach about the cost of discipleship. The parable's principle has become a foundational text on planning, prudence, and foresight in Western thought. The phrase "counting the cost" entered common English usage directly from this passage.Teddy Cannon and Crux...
Gary Dorrien is spending six weeks teaching the history of Christian social ethics in America — and this week Aaron and I turned the lens on Gary himself, which he immediately identified as the worst session of the class. What followed was an hour of Gary tracing his own formation from a kid on Union Road in Midland who couldn't stop staring at the crucifix, through graduate school, liberation theology, democratic socialism, and fifty years of theological labor held together by Rauschenbusch's conviction that capitalism has overdeveloped our selfish instincts and shrunk our capacity for public ends. The crucifix, a seven-year-old on railroad tracks, and why the moral influence theory was second nature before Gary knew it was a theory Going to mass every morning at Union Seminary while reading Barth, Tillich, and Niebuhr — and the Jesuit friends who told him he was obviously a Protestant Gustavo Gutiérrez reading Rauschenbusch for the first time and asking why Americans don't talk about this treasure James Loder, a thousand-page manuscript, and the line "maybe you can find the book in here" His love Brenda — and why Gary can say almost nothing else except that his is a story of being saved by love and grace Why Hegel still grips him fifty years later — and why most people only know the wrong Hegel The six interpretive traditions of Hegel and why the theological-metaphysical one is the one most seminaries quietly abandoned William Temple, Whitehead, and why Gary became an Anglican almost entirely on the strength of one book Capitalism is bad for us and a catastrophe for the planet — a blunt response to a pastor whose congregation looks like a list of what capitalism does wherever it lands Purity politics, DSA, AOC, and why ridicule works but isn't good for us The flickering Galilean vision — and why it keeps flickering not despite being wrong but because it's right Previous Episodes with Gary or Aaron the Niebuhr You Thought You Knew What Would a New Abolition Be? Gary Dorrien on the Black Social Gospel, Ida B. Wells & Reverdy Ransom Social Ethics for This Moment What God Do They Worship In There? The Black Social Gospel and the Crisis of American Christianity Theological Ethics & Liberal Protestantism James Cone and the Emergence of Black Theology The Future of Faith & Justice Theology for Action The Sacred, The Political, and Why We're All Vulnerable Come keep thinking with us — Theology Beer Camp 2026 This is exactly what we will be sitting with at Theology Beer Camp this October 8–10 in Kansas City. Our theme this year is the God-podcalypse. Cornell West is coming. So are a lot of your favorite theologians and podcasters and six hundred of your soon-to-be-favorite people. We are going to think together about what it means to be a people of faith in catastrophic times — without deodorizing the catastrophe, and without giving despair the last word. Don't wait. → TheologyBeer.Camp JOIN THE CLASS - Theology for Troublemakers: Christian Social Ethics from the Margins This 6-week online course, led by Dr. Gary Dorrien and Dr. Aaron Stauffer, recovers the radical tradition of Christian social ethics — from Reverdy Ransom and Reinhold Niebuhr to James Cone and the Welfare Rights Movement — and asks what faithfulness demands of us right now. Weekly lectures, live Q&A conversations, guest lecturers, and an online community included.
IntroductionChrist promised his disciples power from on high. This power? The Holy Spirit would come upon them and empower them to carry the gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth. But how do we know this promise is real? How do we know that Christ is truly with us until the end of the age? How do we know that Christ is my Christ? The answer begins at Pentecost, where heaven broke open upon a small, crowded city, and history was radically changed.What are these tongues?The city is packed. People from all over the world fill the streets. Then, all of a sudden, wind and fire descend on the gathered disciples. One might think this is just a storm. However, one quickly realizes that this is God's visible presence. This is what we call a theophany: a visible manifestation of God himself.The rushing wind echoes Ezekiel's breath of God giving life. The fire recalls every terrifying moment in Scripture when people either encounter God or are consumed by him. We think of Mount Sinai and the burning bush. We think of fire falling on Sodom and Gomorrah, or the judgment that came upon those who offered false worship. This kind of fire has a way of reducing things, and people, to ash.Which makes the next detail stunning: the disciples were not consumed. The fullness of God's glory fell upon them, and they were not reduced to a pile of ashes. The tongues of fire did not destroy them, but equipped them to bring the gospel to the nations. This is the great declaration of Pentecost: the people of Christ have passed through the first phase of the day of the Lord. The fire of judgment fell, and they are still standing. Those who bow the knee to Christ pass through fiery judgment, and emerge as heralds.Why the International People? Pentecost is the Feast of Weeks, one of the great pilgrim feasts of Israel. Jerusalem would have been packed with Jewish pilgrims from across the known world making this an international gathering. When the Spirit fell, these Galilean fishermen began proclaiming the gospel in the native languages of their listeners, Galilean accent and all. The crowd was dumbstruck. This was no language course. This was God reversing Babel.Remember the scene at Babel? The earthlings tried to capture God, to harness his power for their own glory. God responded by scattering humanity and confusing their language. Now, at Pentecost, he calls the nations back together. God does this by his own gracious condescension. The gospel is not the property of one nation or one nationality. It goes to all nations, in every tongue, because the God of Israel is the God of the whole earth.Why the double reaction?The crowd split. Some were amazed and perplexed. They could not explain what they saw, but they knew it was the Lord's doing. Others were dismissive, accusing those speaking in tongues of having had too much to drink. We are invited to ask ourselves: what is your reaction? Is this the Lord's divine blessing at work? Or does it seem like a strange, drunken spectacle?There are two reactions to one event. This pattern runs through the whole book of Acts and through all of Christian history. The seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent will always be at war until the final day of the Lord. But even now, we already taste the spiritual blessings of Pentecost, as Paul says the first fruits of the final victory harvest, and we wait for the full physical blessings when Christ returns to fulfill Zechariah 14.ConclusionPentecost is the bridge between heaven and earth. It is the moment God accomplished in Christ what humanity attempted at Babel and failed. Man will not capture God, but God captures man. The glory of God does not stay locked away in the highest heaven. By the Spirit, God's glory dwells within his people. Our God is sanctifying us, uniting us to our Savior, and sending his people out with a gospel that reaches to the ends of the earth. Let us see the beauty of that. Let us draw near to the Christ who has drawn near to us.
Sponsor LinkTo check out our special NordVPN offer for Astronomy Daily listeners: Click HereAstronomy Daily — S05E90 | Wednesday, April 22, 2026 In today's episode, Anna and Avery cover six stories spanning the fading power of humanity's most distant probe, fresh evidence for ancient life on Mars, a landmark black hole measurement, a SpaceX reusability milestone, a sobering assessment of the Artemis spacesuit programme, and tonight's moon and Jupiter conjunction. Story 1 — Voyager 1 Powers Down the LECP Instrument • NASA's JPL shut down Voyager 1's Low-energy Charged Particles experiment (LECP) on April 17, 2026, to conserve dwindling power. • The decision followed an unexpected power drop during a routine roll manoeuvre in late February that nearly triggered an automatic emergency shutdown. • Seven of Voyager 1's ten original instrument sets are now offline. Only the magnetometer and plasma wave subsystem remain active. • Engineers are developing 'the Big Bang' — a plan to swap older components with lower-power alternatives — to extend operations into the 2030s. Testing on Voyager 2 is planned for May/June 2026; Voyager 1 to follow no sooner than July. • Source: NASA JPL — https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-shuts-off-instrument-on-voyager-1-to-keep-spacecraft-operating/ Story 2 — Curiosity Rover Finds Organic Molecules on Mars • Published April 21 in Nature Communications, the study describes the first use of the TMAH chemical experiment on another planet. • More than 20 organic molecules were detected in clay-rich sandstone from the Glen Torridon region of Gale Crater, preserved for over 3.5 billion years. • Discoveries include a nitrogen-bearing molecule structurally similar to DNA precursors — never before confirmed on Mars — and benzothiophene. • The experiment cannot determine whether molecules are biological, geological, or meteoritic in origin. Future missions including Rosalind Franklin and Dragonfly will build on the technique. • Source: phys.org — https://phys.org/news/2026-04-mars-rover-compounds.html Story 3 — Black Hole Jets in Cygnus X-1 • Curtin University-led study published April 16 in Nature Astronomy directly measures the instantaneous power of black hole jets for the first time. • The jets in the Cygnus X-1 system carry energy equivalent to 10,000 suns and travel at approximately half the speed of light (150,000 km/s). • Researchers used the companion star's stellar winds to 'bend' the jets, allowing calculation of their real-time power — a technique compared to watching wind deflect a fountain. • About 10% of the energy released as matter falls into the black hole is carried away by the jets — confirming a long-held theoretical assumption. • The measurement will help calibrate future observations from the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, currently under construction in WA. • Source: ScienceDaily — https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/04/260416071949.htm Story 4 — SpaceX 600th Rocket Landing • SpaceX completed its 600th successful Falcon booster landing on April 19, 2026, during the Starlink 17-22 mission from Vandenberg SFB. • Booster B1097 landed on drone ship 'Of Course I Still Love You' for its eighth successful recovery. The milestone arrived just 7 months after the 500th landing. • The tally includes 496 drone ship landings and 104 ground landings, per SpaceX VP Kiko Dontchev. • SpaceX's Starlink constellation now numbers over 10,275 satellites in orbit. • Source: Space.com — https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/spacex-starlink-17-22-b1097-vsfb-ofisly-600th-falcon-landing Story 5 — Artemis Spacesuit Crisis • NASA's Office of Inspector General report (released April 20) warns that next-generation Artemis spacesuits may not be ready until 2031 — three years after the stated 2028 target. • The xEVAS programme began as a two-company competition (Axiom Space + Collins Aerospace). Collins has effectively been removed after missing milestones. Axiom is now the sole contractor for the lunar surface suit. • OIG analysis: based on an 8.7-year historical average from contract award to first flight for comparable NASA programmes, Axiom's 2022 award points to a 2031 delivery. • NASA Administrator Isaacman has publicly maintained confidence in the 2028 date. Axiom plans a suit demonstration in 2026 on the ISS or during an Artemis mission. • A separate risk: if the ISS variant of the suit slips past 2030, the Station could run out of operational EVA suits before decommissioning. • Additional Artemis delays: SpaceX lunar Starship at least 2 years late; Blue Origin Blue Moon at least 8 months late (per separate March OIG report). • Source: SpaceDaily — https://spacedaily.com/sd-n-the-spacesuit-gap-why-artemis-iiis-2028-landing-date-is-already-slipping/ Story 6 — Skywatching: Moon & Jupiter Conjunction • Tonight (April 22), the half moon sits approximately 3 degrees from Jupiter in the constellation Gemini, near the stars Castor and Pollux. • Visible to the naked eye in the western/northwestern sky after sunset. Binoculars will reveal Jupiter's four Galilean moons. • Southern Hemisphere viewers: look northwest after dark; viewing window narrows the further south you are. • Source: Space.com — https://www.space.com/stargazing/the-moon-and-jupiter-steal-the-show-after-sunset-on-april-22Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/astronomy-daily-space-news-updates--5648921/support.Sponsor Details:Ensure your online privacy by using NordVPN. To get our special listener deal and save a lot of money, visit www.bitesz.com/nordvpn. You'll be glad you did!Become a supporter of Astronomy Daily by joining our Supporters Club. Commercial free episodes daily are only a click way... Click HereThis episode includes AI-generated content.
Pastor Matt delivered an energetic message on Acts 1-2, tracing the birth of the church through four movements: preparation, power, proclamation, and response. He began by describing how 120 disciples waited in unity and prayer in the upper room after Jesus' ascension, following His command in Acts 1:8 to wait for the Holy Spirit's power before becoming witnesses. The dramatic arrival of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost came with supernatural signs - a sound like rushing wind and divided tongues of fire resting on each disciple. Pastor Matt explained that Pentecost was a major Jewish festival celebrating God's provision, with people gathered from many nations. The disciples began speaking in other languages, proclaiming God's mighty works to crowds who were amazed that these "Galilean rednecks" could speak their native tongues. This supernatural display got everyone's attention, setting up Peter's powerful sermon. Peter's first Christian sermon masterfully connected Old Testament prophecies to current events, centering everything on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. When the crowd was "cut to the heart," Peter called them to "repent and be baptized" for forgiveness of sins and to receive the Holy Spirit. The response was overwhelming - 3,000 people were added to the church that day, creating a new community devoted to teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer, generosity, unity, worship, and daily mission.
The day of Pentecost marked a revolutionary moment when 120 ordinary believers received the Holy Spirit, transforming them from fearful followers into bold witnesses. This divine gift brought supernatural abilities, unity across cultural barriers, and an overflow of praise. The Holy Spirit empowered these Galilean believers to speak in languages they had never learned, enabling people from around the world to hear the gospel in their native tongues. This same gift remains available to every believer today, offering supernatural power for daily challenges, deeper relationships with God, and the ability to impact others for His kingdom.
It's Ruining Dinner with Diana Butler Bass on Tax day! Also, apparently, the day the Vice President told the Pope to stop doing theology. Diana Butler Bass joined me for what was supposed to be a casual religion news roundup and turned into something I didn't entirely expect — a full-on church history seminar about what happens when empire tries to silence the gospel and why it never actually works. We started where everyone started this week: JD Vance, a newly minted Catholic who received what sounds like the Peter Thiel E-Z Pass lane through RCIA, publicly suggesting that the Pope — the Pope — should think more carefully before opining about theology. The same Pope who then responded to a Pentagon threat referencing the Avignon papacy by giving an even stronger anti-war speech. We talked about Trump's Easter posts, the Jesus meme, the "I thought I was a doctor" explanation, and the remarkable spectacle of evangelicals — evangelicals — saying the president might be demon-possessed. But Diana being Diana, she kept pulling the historical threads, and we ended up somewhere genuinely useful: the long story of how American Christianity split the sacred from the secular, why that split is breaking down, what it means for a congregation trying to figure out what to do with the 250th anniversary of a nation that's currently threatening popes and bombing people on Easter Sunday, and why Whitehead's image of the flickering Galilean vision might be the most honest thing you can say right now about where hope lives. We didn't ruin anything. The ruining is, as Diana noted, already adequately covered. Want to hangout with us in person?! Join 600+ Listeners, 30 theologians, & 30 God-Pods at Theology Beer Camp 2026 this October 8-10 in Kansas City! This conversation was originally for our Substack members, but we're sharing a portion with all of you – join us at The Process This or The Cottage to catch future episodes live! Diana Butler Bass, Ph.D., is an award-winning author, popular speaker, inspiring preacher, and one of America's most trusted commentators on religion and contemporary spirituality. a Few Previous Episodes with Diana & Tripp How the Lectionary Kept Me Christian Two Books, One Night: Finding Beauty in What We Can't Control Religious Liberty & Violence – Unpacking the First 100 Days of Trump 2.0 The Interlocking Crises of Religion & Democracy Faith in a Toxic Public Square The Resurrection of Jesus 2024: The Sequel The Christology Ladder The Indictment Edition of Ruining Dinner American Saints in a Cynical Age You can WATCH the conversation on YouTube UPCOMING ONLINE CLASS - Theology for Troublemakers: Christian Social Ethics from the Margins The injustices we face are immense — but they are not unique. Previous generations confronted the same powers with theological conviction and strategic brilliance. The question is whether we'll learn from them. This 6-week online course, led by Dr. Gary Dorrien and Dr. Aaron Stauffer, recovers the radical tradition of Christian social ethics — from Reverdy Ransom and Reinhold Niebuhr to James Cone and the Welfare Rights Movement — and asks what faithfulness demands of us right now. Weekly lectures, live Q&A conversations, guest lecturers, and an online community included.
We all have questions about faith. The kind that keep you up at night. The kind you hope nobody asks you. And maybe the kind that brought you here in the first place.In Part 1 of Questions for Jesus, Chris Podlich digs into one of the most common questions we received: Are the Gospels actually reliable accounts of real historical events?From ancient manuscripts to non-Christian sources, from P46 to why a first-century Galilean peasant is more historically documented than the Roman Emperor of his day, Chris makes the case that the foundation of Christian faith is a lot more solid than most people realize.Whether you've followed Jesus for years, you're just starting to explore faith, or you've got questions nobody ever gave you a real answer to, this episode is for you.Got a question for Jesus? Submit it at: https://beyondchurch.com.au/questions-for-jesus
Matthew Week 131 Matthew 23:16-22 ESV 16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred? 18 And you say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gift that is on the altar, he is bound by his oath.' 19 You blind men! For which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And whoever swears by the temple swears by it and by him who dwells in it. 22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits upon it. Exodus 20:7 ESV 7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. Matthew 5:33-37 ESV 33 "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil. 1 Timothy 6:3-7 ESV 3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 2 Peter 2:14-15 ESV 14 With eyes full of adultery, they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed—an accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow the way of Balaam son of Bezer, who loved the wages of wickedness. Luke 16:14-15 ESV 14 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. 15 He said to them, "You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, but God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God's sight. Luke 22:54-55 ESV 54 Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55 And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. John 18:18 NASB 95 18 Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves; and Peter was also with them, standing and warming himself. Mark 14:70-71 NASB 95 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders were again saying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean too." 71 But he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about!" John 21:9-10 NASB 95 9 So when they got out on the land, they *saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread. 10 Jesus *said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have now caught." John 21:15-17 NASB 95 15 So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus *said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Tend My lambs." 16 He *said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He *said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He *said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." 17 He *said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus *said to him, "Tend My sheep.
Lets investigate the truth, myth, traditions, legend, and mysteries surrounding Galilean, Jesus of Nazareth, with the help of an analytic philosopher, Christian apologist, and theologian. Enjoy this ENCORE Presentation! Books by William Lane Craig available at https://amzn.to/3Vk3kaW Systematic Philosophical Theology by W. L. Craig at https://amzn.to/3JwAVft ENJOY Ad-Free content, Bonus episodes, and Extra materials when joining our growing community on https://patreon.com/markvinet SUPPORT this channel by purchasing any product on Amazon using this FREE entry LINK https://amzn.to/3POlrUD (Amazon gives us credit at NO extra charge to you). Mark Vinet's TIMELINE video channel: https://youtube.com/c/TIMELINE_MarkVinet Mark's History of North America podcast: www.parthenonpodcast.com/history-of-north-america Website: https://markvinet.com/podcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.vinet.9 Twitter: https://twitter.com/HistoricalJesu Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/denarynovels Mark's books: https://amzn.to/3k8qrGM Audio credits: In the Arena-The Debates and Lectures of William Lane Craig podcast (episode: Examining the Historical Jesus, 08dec2023). Audio excerpts reproduced under the Fair Use (Fair Dealings) Legal Doctrine for purposes such as criticism, comment, teaching, education, scholarship, research and news reporting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
At the Procession with Palms - GospelMatthew 21:1-11When Jesus and the disciples drew near Jerusalemand came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives,Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them,"Go into the village opposite you,and immediately you will find an ass tethered,and a colt with her.Untie them and bring them here to me.And if anyone should say anything to you, reply,'The master has need of them.'Then he will send them at once."This happened so that what had been spoken through the prophetmight be fulfilled:Say to daughter Zion,"Behold, your king comes to you,meek and riding on an ass,and on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden."The disciples went and did as Jesus had ordered them.They brought the ass and the colt and laid their cloaks over them,and he sat upon them.The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,while others cut branches from the treesand strewed them on the road.The crowds preceding him and those followingkept crying out and saying:"Hosanna to the Son of David;blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord;hosanna in the highest."And when he entered Jerusalemthe whole city was shaken and asked, "Who is this?"And the crowds replied,"This is Jesus the prophet, from Nazareth in Galilee."At the Mass - Reading IIsaiah 50:4-7The Lord GOD has given me a well-trained tongue,that I might know how to speak to the weary a word that will rouse them.Morning after morning he opens my ear that I may hear;and I have not rebelled, have not turned back.I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who plucked my beard;my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting.The Lord GOD is my help, therefore I am not disgraced;I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame. Reading IIPhilippians 2:6-11Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped.Rather, he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.GospelMatthew 26:14—27:66One of the Twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot,went to the chief priests and said,"What are you willing to give meif I hand him over to you?"They paid him thirty pieces of silver,and from that time on he looked for an opportunityto hand him over.On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread,the disciples approached Jesus and said,"Where do you want us to preparefor you to eat the Passover?"He said,"Go into the city to a certain man and tell him,'The teacher says, "My appointed time draws near;in your house I shall celebrate the Passover with my disciples."'"The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered,and prepared the Passover.When it was evening,he reclined at table with the Twelve.And while they were eating, he said,"Amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me."Deeply distressed at this,they began to say to him one after another,"Surely it is not I, Lord?"He said in reply,"He who has dipped his hand into the dish with meis the one who will betray me.The Son of Man indeed goes, as it is written of him,but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed.It would be better for that man if he had never been born."Then Judas, his betrayer, said in reply,"Surely it is not I, Rabbi?"He answered, "You have said so."While they were eating,Jesus took bread, said the blessing,broke it, and giving it to his disciples said,"Take and eat; this is my body."Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying,"Drink from it, all of you,for this is my blood of the covenant,which will be shed on behalf of manyfor the forgiveness of sins.I tell you, from now on I shall not drink this fruit of the vineuntil the day when I drink it with you newin the kingdom of my Father."Then, after singing a hymn,they went out to the Mount of Olives.Then Jesus said to them,"This night all of you will have your faith in me shaken,for it is written:I will strike the shepherd,and the sheep of the flock will be dispersed;but after I have been raised up,I shall go before you to Galilee."Peter said to him in reply,"Though all may have their faith in you shaken,mine will never be."Jesus said to him,"Amen, I say to you,this very night before the cock crows,you will deny me three times."Peter said to him,"Even though I should have to die with you,I will not deny you."And all the disciples spoke likewise.Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane,and he said to his disciples,"Sit here while I go over there and pray."He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,and began to feel sorrow and distress.Then he said to them,"My soul is sorrowful even to death.Remain here and keep watch with me."He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying,"My Father, if it is possible,let this cup pass from me;yet, not as I will, but as you will."When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep.He said to Peter,"So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test.The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again,"My Father, if it is not possible that this cup passwithout my drinking it, your will be done!"Then he returned once more and found them asleep,for they could not keep their eyes open.He left them and withdrew again and prayed a third time,saying the same thing again.Then he returned to his disciples and said to them,"Are you still sleeping and taking your rest?Behold, the hour is at handwhen the Son of Man is to be handed over to sinners.Get up, let us go.Look, my betrayer is at hand."While he was still speaking,Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived,accompanied by a large crowd, with swords and clubs,who had come from the chief priests and the eldersof the people.His betrayer had arranged a sign with them, saying,"The man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him."Immediately he went over to Jesus and said,"Hail, Rabbi!" and he kissed him.Jesus answered him,"Friend, do what you have come for."Then stepping forward they laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.And behold, one of those who accompanied Jesusput his hand to his sword, drew it,and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his ear.Then Jesus said to him,"Put your sword back into its sheath,for all who take the sword will perish by the sword.Do you think that I cannot call upon my Fatherand he will not provide me at this momentwith more than twelve legions of angels?But then how would the Scriptures be fulfilledwhich say that it must come to pass in this way?"At that hour Jesus said to the crowds,"Have you come out as against a robber,with swords and clubs to seize me?Day after day I sat teaching in the temple area,yet you did not arrest me.But all this has come to passthat the writings of the prophets may be fulfilled."Then all the disciples left him and fled.Those who had arrested Jesus led him awayto Caiaphas the high priest,where the scribes and the elders were assembled.Peter was following him at a distanceas far as the high priest's courtyard,and going inside he sat down with the servantsto see the outcome.The chief priests and the entire Sanhedrinkept trying to obtain false testimony against Jesusin order to put him to death,but they found none,though many false witnesses came forward.Finally two came forward who stated,"This man said, 'I can destroy the temple of Godand within three days rebuild it.'"The high priest rose and addressed him,"Have you no answer?What are these men testifying against you?"But Jesus was silent.Then the high priest said to him,"I order you to tell us under oath before the living Godwhether you are the Christ, the Son of God."Jesus said to him in reply,"You have said so.But I tell you:From now on you will see 'the Son of Manseated at the right hand of the Power'and 'coming on the clouds of heaven.'"Then the high priest tore his robes and said,"He has blasphemed!What further need have we of witnesses?You have now heard the blasphemy;what is your opinion?"They said in reply,"He deserves to die!"Then they spat in his face and struck him,while some slapped him, saying,"Prophesy for us, Christ: who is it that struck you?"Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard.One of the maids came over to him and said,"You too were with Jesus the Galilean."But he denied it in front of everyone, saying,"I do not know what you are talking about!"As he went out to the gate, another girl saw himand said to those who were there,"This man was with Jesus the Nazorean."Again he denied it with an oath,"I do not know the man!"A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter,"Surely you too are one of them;even your speech gives you away."At that he began to curse and to swear,"I do not know the man."And immediately a cock crowed.Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken:"Before the cock crows you will deny me three times."He went out and began to weep bitterly.When it was morning,all the chief priests and the elders of the peopletook counsel against Jesus to put him to death.They bound him, led him away,and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.Then Judas, his betrayer, seeing that Jesus had been condemned,deeply regretted what he had done.He returned the thirty pieces of silverto the chief priests and elders, saying,"I have sinned in betraying innocent blood."They said,"What is that to us?Look to it yourself."Flinging the money into the temple,he departed and went off and hanged himself.The chief priests gathered up the money, but said,"It is not lawful to deposit this in the temple treasury,for it is the price of blood."After consultation, they used it to buy the potter's fieldas a burial place for foreigners.That is why that field even today is called the Field of Blood.Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiahthe prophet,And they took the thirty pieces of silver,the value of a man with a price on his head,a price set by some of the Israelites,and they paid it out for the potter's fieldjust as the Lord had commanded me.Now Jesus stood before the governor, and he questioned him,"Are you the king of the Jews?"Jesus said, "You say so."And when he was accused by the chief priests and elders,he made no answer.Then Pilate said to him,"Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you?"But he did not answer him one word,so that the governor was greatly amazed.Now on the occasion of the feastthe governor was accustomed to release to the crowdone prisoner whom they wished.And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.So when they had assembled, Pilate said to them,"Which one do you want me to release to you,Barabbas, or Jesus called Christ?"For he knew that it was out of envythat they had handed him over.While he was still seated on the bench,his wife sent him a message,"Have nothing to do with that righteous man.I suffered much in a dream today because of him."The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowdsto ask for Barabbas but to destroy Jesus.The governor said to them in reply,"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?"They answered, "Barabbas!"Pilate said to them,"Then what shall I do with Jesus called Christ?"They all said,"Let him be crucified!"But he said,"Why? What evil has he done?"They only shouted the louder,"Let him be crucified!"When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all,but that a riot was breaking out instead,he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd,saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood.Look to it yourselves."And the whole people said in reply,"His blood be upon us and upon our children."Then he released Barabbas to them,but after he had Jesus scourged,he handed him over to be crucified.Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus inside the praetoriumand gathered the whole cohort around him.They stripped off his clothesand threw a scarlet military cloak about him.Weaving a crown out of thorns, they placed it on his head,and a reed in his right hand.And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying,"Hail, King of the Jews!"They spat upon him and took the reedand kept striking him on the head.And when they had mocked him,they stripped him of the cloak,dressed him in his own clothes,and led him off to crucify him.As they were going out, they met a Cyrenian named Simon;this man they pressed into serviceto carry his cross.And when they came to a place called Golgotha—which means Place of the Skull —,they gave Jesus wine to drink mixed with gall.But when he had tasted it, he refused to drink.After they had crucified him,they divided his garments by casting lots;then they sat down and kept watch over him there.And they placed over his head the written charge against him:This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.Two revolutionaries were crucified with him,one on his right and the other on his left.Those passing by reviled him, shaking their heads and saying,"You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days,save yourself, if you are the Son of God,and come down from the cross!"Likewise the chief priests with the scribes and elders mocked him and said,"He saved others; he cannot save himself.So he is the king of Israel!Let him come down from the cross now,and we will believe in him.He trusted in God;let him deliver him now if he wants him.For he said, 'I am the Son of God.'"The revolutionaries who were crucified with himalso kept abusing him in the same way.From noon onward, darkness came over the whole landuntil three in the afternoon.And about three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice,"Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?"which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"Some of the bystanders who heard it said,"This one is calling for Elijah."Immediately one of them ran to get a sponge;he soaked it in wine, and putting it on a reed,gave it to him to drink.But the rest said,"Wait, let us see if Elijah comes to save him."But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice,and gave up his spirit.Here all kneel and pause for a short time.And behold, the veil of the sanctuarywas torn in two from top to bottom.The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened,and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection,they entered the holy city and appeared to many.The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesusfeared greatly when they saw the earthquakeand all that was happening, and they said,"Truly, this was the Son of God!"There were many women there, looking on from a distance,who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph,and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.When it was evening,there came a rich man from Arimathea named Joseph,who was himself a disciple of Jesus.He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus;then Pilate ordered it to be handed over.Taking the body, Joseph wrapped it in clean linenand laid it in his new tomb that he had hewn in the rock.Then he rolled a huge stone across the entrance to the tomband departed.But Mary Magdalene and the other Maryremained sitting there, facing the tomb.The next day, the one following the day of preparation,the chief priests and the Phariseesgathered before Pilate and said,"Sir, we remember that this impostor while still alive said,'After three days I will be raised up.'Give orders, then, that the grave be secured until the third day,lest his disciples come and steal him and say to the people,'He has been raised from the dead.'This last imposture would be worse than the first."Pilate said to them,"The guard is yours;go, secure it as best you can."So they went and secured the tombby fixing a seal to the stone and setting the guard. 1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13aPsalm 23: 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6Ephesians 5:8-14John 9:1-41Fourth Sunday of LentLectionary: 31Reading I1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13aThe LORD said to Samuel:“Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”As Jesse and his sons came to the sacrifice, Samuel looked at Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD's anointed is here before him.”But the LORD said to Samuel: “Do not judge from his appearance or from his lofty stature, because I have rejected him.Not as man sees does God see, because man sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”In the same way Jesse presented seven sons before Samuel, but Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen any one of these.”Then Samuel asked Jesse,“Are these all the sons you have?”Jesse replied,“There is still the youngest, who is tending the sheep.”Samuel said to Jesse,“Send for him; we will not begin the sacrificial banquet until he arrives here.”Jesse sent and had the young man brought to them.He was ruddy, a youth handsome to behold and making a splendid appearance.The LORD said,“There—anoint him, for this is the one!”Then Samuel, with the horn of oil in hand, anointed David in the presence of his brothers; and from that day on, the spirit of the LORD rushed upon David.Reading IIEphesians 5:8-14Brothers and sisters:You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.Live as children of light, for light produces every kind of goodness and righteousness and truth.Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness; rather expose them, for it is shameful even to mention the things done by them in secret; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light.Therefore, it says: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”GospelJohn 9:1-41As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.His disciples asked him,“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”Jesus answered,“Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.Night is coming when no one can work.While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”When he had said this, he spat on the groundand made clay with the saliva,and smeared the clay on his eyes,and said to him, “Go wash in the Pool of Siloam” —which means Sent—.So he went and washed, and came back able to see.His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said, “Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?”Some said, “It is, “but others said, “No, he just looks like him.”He said, “I am.”So they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”He replied,“The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyesand told me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.'So I went there and washed and was able to see.”And they said to him, “Where is he?”He said, “I don't know.”They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.He said to them,“He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see.”So some of the Pharisees said,“This man is not from God,because he does not keep the sabbath.”But others said,“How can a sinful man do such signs?”And there was a division among them.So they said to the blind man again, “What do you have to say about him,since he opened your eyes?”He said, “He is a prophet.”Now the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and gained his sight until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.They asked them,“Is this your son, who you say was born blind?How does he now see?”His parents answered and said, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.We do not know how he sees now,nor do we know who opened his eyes.Ask him, he is of age;he can speak for himself.”His parents said this because they were afraidof the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,he would be expelled from the synagogue.For this reason his parents said,“He is of age; question him.”So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give God the praise!We know that this man is a sinner.”He replied,“If he is a sinner, I do not know.One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see.”So they said to him,“What did he do to you?How did he open your eyes?”He answered them,“I told you already and you did not listen.Why do you want to hear it again?Do you want to become his disciples, too?”They ridiculed him and said, “You are that man's disciple;we are disciples of Moses!We know that God spoke to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from.”The man answered and said to them,“This is what is so amazing, that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.If this man were not from God,he would not be able to do anything.”They answered and said to him,“You were born totally in sin,and are you trying to teach us?”Then they threw him out.When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,he found him and said, Do you believe in the Son of Man?”He answered and said, “Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?”Jesus said to him,“You have seen him,the one speaking with you is he.”He said,“I do believe, Lord,” and he worshiped him.Then Jesus said,“I came into this world for judgment, so that those who do not see might see, and those who do see might become blind.”Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not also blind, are we?”Jesus said to them,“If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you are saying, ‘We see,' so your sin remains.
Lesson 3 - The King's Teaching Begins: A Revolutionary New Way to LiveMatthew 5:1-48. As Moses revealed God's Law on the mountain of Sinai, Jesus introduced the Kingdom of God and all its blessings on a Galilean hillside. His words brought joy and comfort to the humble and revealed what God really required of those who would truly follow Him. They also exposed the pride and hypocrisy of the religious leaders, a revelation that would only grow in the days ahead and bear its own sorrowful fruit.To learn more about Michele or to support this international ministry please visit https://intheword.com
The Liturgy of the Palms The Gospel Matthew 21:1-11 When Jesus and his disciples had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, "Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, `The Lord needs them.' And he will send them immediately." This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, "Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven! " When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, "Who is this?" The crowds were saying, "This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee." The Psalm Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29 Confitemini Domino 1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; * his mercy endures for ever. 2 Let Israel now proclaim, * "His mercy endures for ever." 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; * I will enter them; I will offer thanks to the Lord. 20 "This is the gate of the Lord; * he who is righteous may enter." 21 I will give thanks to you, for you answered me * and have become my salvation. 22 The same stone which the builders rejected * has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This is the Lord's doing, * and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 On this day the Lord has acted; * we will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Hosannah, Lord, hosannah! * Lord, send us now success. 26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord; * we bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 God is the Lord; he has shined upon us; * form a procession with branches up to the horns of the altar. 28 "You are my God, and I will thank you; * you are my God, and I will exalt you." 29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; * his mercy endures for ever. at The Liturgy of the Word The Collect Almighty and everliving God, in your tender love for the human race you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon him our nature, and to suffer death upon the cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and also share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Old Testament Isaiah 50:4-9a The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word. Morning by morning he wakens-- wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward. I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting. The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame; he who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who are my adversaries? Let them confront me. It is the Lord God who helps me; who will declare me guilty? The Psalm Psalm 31:9-16 In te, Domine, speravi 9 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble; * my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly. 10 For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing; * my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed. 11 I have become a reproach to all my enemies and even to my neighbors, a dismay to those of my acquaintance; * when they see me in the street they avoid me. 12 I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind; * I am as useless as a broken pot. 13 For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around; * they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life. 14 But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord. * I have said, "You are my God. 15 My times are in your hand; * rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. 16 Make your face to shine upon your servant, * and in your loving-kindness save me." The Epistle Philippians 2:5-11 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death-- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. The Gospel Matthew 26:14- 27:66 One of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I betray him to you?" They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?" He said, "Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, 'The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.'" So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; and while they were eating, he said, "Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me." And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, "Surely not I, Lord?" He answered, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born." Judas, who betrayed him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?" He replied, "You have said so." While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body." Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom." When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, "You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, the sheep of the flock will be scattered.' But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee." Peter said to him, "Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you." Jesus said to him, "Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." Peter said to him, "Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you." And so said all the disciples. Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. Then he said to them, "I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me." And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want." Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, "So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." Again he went away for the second time and prayed, "My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done." Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. Then he came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand." While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him." At once he came up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and kissed him. Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you are here to do." Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?" At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled." Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.'" The high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?" But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, "I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. What is your verdict?" They answered, "He deserves death." Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?" Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, "You also were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it before all of them, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about." When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, "This man was with Jesus of Nazareth." Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man." After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, "Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you." Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, "I do not know the man!" At that moment the cock crowed. Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times." And he went out and wept bitterly. When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. He said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money." After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter's field as a place to bury foreigners. For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord commanded me." Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You say so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?" For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him." Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" All of them said, "Let him be crucified!" Then he asked, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified!" So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." Then the people as a whole answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross. And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; then they sat down there and kept watch over him. Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, "You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross." In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, "He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, 'I am God's Son.'" The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. And about three o'clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, "This man is calling for Elijah." At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, "Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him." Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, "Truly this man was God's Son!" Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, "Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise again.' Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, 'He has been raised from the dead,' and the last deception would be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can." So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.
In this sermon by Chris Romig, the focus is on the imagery in Revelation 19 of the church as the "bride of Christ." Chris Romig explains how this metaphor reveals the depth of Jesus's love and commitment to His followers, emphasizing that Christians are not just servants but beloved participants in a holy covenant with Christ. The sermon explores how the stages of an ancient Galilean wedding—betrothal, the groom's preparation, a surprising return, and a grand marriage supper—parallel the Christian experience. God chooses and pays the price for His people, Jesus prepares a place for them, and believers are invited to live faithfully as they await His return. Chris Romig asserts that this waiting period should be marked by spiritual readiness and faithful living. Referencing Ephesians 5, John 14, and 1 Thessalonians 4, he encourages listeners to accept Christ's offer, value the relationship, and look forward with hope. The greatest reward, Chris Romig concludes, is not heavenly riches but eternal union with Jesus. The tone throughout is joyful, biblical, and practical, ending with a call to readiness, faithfulness, and anticipation for the ultimate celebration to come.
Saturday of the Fourth Week of LentMarch 21, 2026 Hello and welcome to the Word, bringing you the Good News of Jesus Christ every day from the Redemptorists of the Baltimore Province. I am Fr. Karl Esker from the Basilica of our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, NY. Today is Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent.Our reading today is taken from the holy gospel according to John. Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, "This is truly the Prophet." Others said, "This is the Christ." But others said, "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David's family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?" So a division occurred in the crowd because of him. Some of them even wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not bring him?" The guards answered, "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." So the Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed." Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, "Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?" They answered and said to him, "You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." Then each went to his own house.The gospel of the Lord.Homily In today's gospel we do not hear Jesus speak, but he is the center of everyone's attention. They all have an opinion about him, but they cannot figure out who he really is. Some think he is the Messiah, and for that the Chief Priests and Pharisees sent their guards to arrest Jesus. Other question Jesus' Galilean origins: "The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he?” The Pharisees are adamant: “Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee." Others say that the Messiah must come from Bethlehem. They did not know what we know from Matthew and Luke that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and is of the house of David. Jesus, however, makes little of his human origins, whether he is from Galilee or Bethlehem. In the verses that come before today's gospel reading, he declares that he comes from the one who sent him. He comes from above; it was God the Father who sent him. For saying that the Chief Priests and Pharisees were even more anxious to arrest Jesus, but the guards returned empty handed, saying: "Never before has anyone spoken like this man." So. They ridiculed the guards and the crowds who were beginning to believe in Jesus. Interestingly, a lone voice spoke up in Jesus' defense. It was Nicodemus, the Pharisee who some time before had gone to see Jesus by night. He asked: "Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?" The other Pharisees ridiculed him for his efforts; and then each went off to his own house. Listening to Jesus can bring ridicule and following him may even be dangerous. That was true in Jesus' day and is still true in our own. Even now, people are not in agreement over what Jesus represents. Jesus himself said that he had come not to judge the world, but to save it. His compassion for the outcast, the suffering and hungry drew an attentive following, but today compassion is considered weakness and attention to the needy a wasteful use of resources. Christians who adopt this attitude overlook Jesus' humanity on this earth and concentrates on his reigning in power at the right hand of God. This is a Jesus who will come in judgment for the earth, and will come at the head of a victorious army of angels. Thus, they can bless wars, whether in the Ukraine or in Iran. Of course, Pope Francis and now Pope Leo have questioned and sharply criticized this self-styled form of Christianity. Scripture teaches us that Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us. When he comes in glory, he will gather to himself all who have imitated his life of love and reconciliation. As he said in the famous parable of judgment: “what you have done to the least of my brothers and sisters you have done to me.” We need more Nicodemuses today who are willing to stand up for the justice that flows from recognizing the dignity of every human being as created in the image and likeness of God and redeemed in the blood of Christ. We may not be able to do much on the world stage, but we can begin by recognizing the dignity of each person in our home, our school and our work. May God bless you. Fr. Karl E. EskerBasilica of Our Lady of Perpetual HelpBrooklyn, NY
Today's crossword was full of surprises. The theme? A surprise. The correct spelling of DADAIST? A surprise (at least to Mike). The fabulous 51D, Nation whose name sounds like a plea for seconds, SAMOA? Unsurprisingly, based on the lead-up to this sentence, a surprise. The only thing that we were not surprised by, at all, is that John Kugelman has crafted another fine Thursday crossword. That was completely expected.Show note imagery: EUROPA, the smallest of Jupiter's Galilean moons, a possible source of alien life in its vast oceans, and a very popular tourist destination, we reckon, in the 2080s.We love feedback! Send us a text...Contact Info:We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com.Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to drop by there and strike up a conversation!
Luke 22:31-34, 39-46, 54-6231“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, 32but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” 33Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” 34Jesus said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”39And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”54Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. 55And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. 56Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” 57But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” 58And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” 59And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62And he went out and wept bitterly.
On today's episode of Words of Grace, Pastor Winslett takes us to a small Galilean town called Nain in Gospel of Luke chapter 7, where a funeral procession meets the Prince of Life. A widow, already burdened by the loss of her husband, now follows the bier of her only son. In any culture, this … Continue reading "An Interrupted Funeral Procession"
SpaceTime with Stuart Gary | Astronomy, Space & Science News
Sponsor Link:This episode is brought to you with thanks to Squarespace. Bring your stories to life with Squarespace, the easiest way to create an exceptional website, blog, portfolio, or online store. To take up our great offer and help support the show, just visit www.squarespace.com/spacetime or use the Promo Code SPACETIME at checkout.SpaceTime with Stuart Gary Gary - Series 29 Episode 13In this episode of SpaceTime, we uncover the hidden violent past of the Milky Way's supermassive black hole, delve into the origins of water on Jupiter's Galilean moons, and explore how meteor impacts are triggering dust avalanches on Mars.The Violent History of Sagittarius AFor years, Sagittarius A, the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy, has been perceived as a quiet entity. However, new research published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters indicates that it may have experienced dramatic flares in the past. Observations from the CRISM Space Telescope reveal X-ray emissions from a gas cloud near Sagittarius A, suggesting a history of explosive activity that alters our understanding of supermassive black hole evolution and the history of our galaxy.Water Origins of Jupiter's Galilean MoonsA groundbreaking study has determined that the contrasting water content of Jupiter's four large Galilean moons was established during their formation rather than evolving later. This research sheds light on the stark differences between Io, which is dry and volcanically active, and Europa, believed to have a subsurface ocean. The findings suggest that the primordial environment around Jupiter played a crucial role in shaping these moons' compositions.Meteor Impacts Trigger Dust Avalanches on MarsNew evidence indicates that meteor impacts on Mars are causing dust avalanches, creating dark streaks on the planet's surface. An analysis of images from the European Space Agency's ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter reveals that these avalanches occur primarily due to dry processes, driven by seasonal dust and wind activity, rather than water-related phenomena. This discovery enhances our understanding of Martian surface dynamics and the impact of meteor activity.www.spacetimewithstuartgary.com✍️ Episode ReferencesAstrophysical Journal LettersNature CommunicationsBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/spacetime-your-guide-to-space-astronomy--2458531/support.(00:00:00) Sagittarius A's hidden violent past revealed(00:12:45) Origins of water on Jupiter's Galilean moons(00:25:30) Meteor impacts causing dust avalanches on Mars(00:35:00) February night sky highlights and celestial events.(00:00:00) This is space time series 29, episode 13 for broadcast on 30 January 2026(00:00:47) X ray emissions from the Crism Space Telescope suggest Sagittarius A flared(00:07:59) A new study claims dust avalanches caused by meteor impacts are creating Martian streaks(00:10:22) February is the second month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars(00:12:03) February's Orion meteor showers usually peak around February 8th(00:22:18) Blue supergiant Rigel is the second brightest star in the constellation Orion(00:31:08) Rygel: Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky(00:35:09) February is a great time to look for bright stars in the night sky(00:38:04) The night sky is sparse with the old planets at the moment
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