Readings Here SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Acts 8:5-8.14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21 In two weeks the Church will sing again: Come, Holy Spirit. We know the story of Pentecost. Wind. Fire. Boldness. A new language for the mighty works of God. We know, too, that the Spirit was given to us. And yet many of us wonder: ...
At the Edge of the Sea
Readings Here Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter Acts 16:1–10 They wanted to go east. And the Spirit said no. They tried another road. Again, no. Twice the way was closed. Twice the road ended. And so they kept going, not because they understood, but because they obeyed. Until at last they came to the edge of the sea. ...
No Longer Slaves, but Friends
Readings Here Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter Acts 15:22-31; John 15:12–17 There is something astonishing in today’s Gospel. Jesus says: “I no longer call you slaves, but friends.” A slave hears the order, but not the heart. A slave receives commands, but is not told the mystery. A slave stands outside the door. ...
Obedience and Joy
Readings Here Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter Acts 15:7–21; John 15:9-11 Our world does not like the word obedience. It sounds weak, old, unfree. We admire resistance. We praise rebellion. We suspect every authority. And often, we have reasons. Authority can become corruption. Religion can become control. Rules can become burdens. But the question remains: ...
The Path of Salvation
Readings Here Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter Acts 15:1–6 Jerusalem was the city of pilgrimage. The psalmist rejoiced: “We will go up to the house of the Lord.” But not every journey to Jerusalem was filled with singing. Paul and Barnabas also went up. But they did not go to celebrate a feast. ...
The Peace of Christ
Readings Here Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter Acts 14:19–28; Psalm 145; John 14:27–31a The world speaks of peace. But its peace is often built on fear. It calls armies peace. It calls weapons safety. It calls domination order. The empires always said the same: Submit, and you will have peace. But the peace of Christ is not like this. ...
From Idols to the Living God
Readings Here Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter Acts 14:5–18; Psalm 115; John 14:21–26 A lame man stood up. And when he stood, a whole city fell down. The cripple rose in body, but the crowd sank in spirit. For they saw the wonder, but missed the source. They looked at Barnabas and called him Zeus. ...
More Than They Seemed
Your browser does not support the audio element. Readings Here Fifth Sunday of Easter Acts 6:1–6; 1 Peter 2:4–9; John 14:1–12 The first Christians did not look impressive. They were few. They had no armies, no wealth, no public power, no great place in the world. Many of them were people the empire barely noticed— slaves, workers, widows, the poor, the ordinary, the ones history usually leaves out. And yet Peter says to them: ...
When the Word Keeps Working
Your browser does not support the audio element. Readings Here Saturday, Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Acts 13:44–52 Something happened when Paul preached that first sermon. It did not end when the speaking ended. It stayed with people. It moved through the city. It passed from mouth to mouth, from house to house, from one restless heart to another. For a whole week, people carried it. ...
Two Wonders
Your browser does not support the audio element. Readings Here Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter Acts 13:26–33 Paul has now reached the center of his sermon. He has traced the long road: the ancestors, Egypt, the desert, the land, the judges, the kings, David, and then John the Baptist. All of it has been moving toward this moment. The Saviour has come. And now Paul says the most astonishing thing of all: ...