Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SoundOn Readings Here Ascension of the Lord Acts 1:1–11; Ephesians 1:17–23; Matthew 28:16–20 It begins on a mountain in Galilee. The eleven are there. They have come far with Jesus. They have heard him. Followed him. Failed him. Seen him risen. Now they stand before him once more. And Matthew tells us something very honest: ...
Remaining Teachable
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SoundOn Readings Here Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter Acts 18:23–28 Apollos is impressive. He is intelligent. He speaks well. He knows the Scriptures. He is passionate. He is on fire. And yet, he still needs help. That is what makes this reading so real. Because many people are like that. ...
Lesson in Trust
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SoundOn Readings Here Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter Acts 18:9–18; John 16:20–23 What is trust? Whom do you trust? When life does not go the way you imagined, do you have someone to lean on? Sharing the story of Jesus does not always move along smooth roads. Very often, it moves through rejection. ...
Chosen to Stay with Jesus
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SoundOn Readings Here Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle Acts 1:15–17, 20–26; John 15:9–17 We know almost nothing about Matthias. He is not one of the famous names. He does not stand out in the Gospel story. He does not speak any recorded words. And yet, he is chosen. That already says something important. ...
Paul in Athens
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SoundOn Readings Here Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Acts 17:15, 22—18:1 Paul arrives in Athens and sees a city full of idols. Temples. Altars. Statues. Religion everywhere. And yet, something is wrong. Because a city can be full of religion and still be far from the living God. ...
How to Pray Like Paul and Silas
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SoundOn Readings Here Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Acts 16:22–34 Most of us do not pray like Paul and Silas. If we were beaten, humiliated, thrown into prison, and locked in the dark, we would probably panic. We would think about the future. We would replay the injustice. We would ask, “What will happen to me now?” ...
Lydia’s Open Heart
Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on SoundOn Readings Here Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter Acts 16:11–15 Sometimes the Gospel enters a place in a way nobody expected. Paul had seen in a dream a man from Macedonia crying out, “Come over and help us.” So he went. But when he arrived, the first person to welcome the Gospel was not the man from his dream. ...
Come, Holy Spirit
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. ...