Friendship and Fear of the Lord

In today’s reading from Sirach we hear both inducements toward and warnings about relationships. We are told that we all have many acquaintances in life, but very few confidants. We are also told to test our friendships. At first glance, this may seem a bit harsh and even somewhat cynical to us. Yet, the truth is that in every relationship that has the possibility of deepening, we are always consciously or unconsciously testing the other. Sirach tells us not to be too ready to trust another because what is deepest in us is so vulnerable. Thus, we tend, in a[read more]

Without Him Not a Single Thing Has Come To Be

In the origin there was the Logos, and the Logos was present with GOD, and the Logos was god.  This one was present with GOD in the origin.  All things came to be through him, and without him came to be not a single thing the has come to be.  In him was life, and[read more]

Truth and Solitude

In Christ we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped in Christ. Ephesians 1” 11-12 Jesus began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware[read more]

Learning To Love God

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”  Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel!  The Lord your God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with[read more]

Living Originally in an Unoriginal World

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, virtue with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with devotion, devotion with mutual affection, mutual affection with love. 1 Peter 1:5-7 But those tenants said to one another, “This is the heir.  Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance[read more]

Change As Awful and "Awe-full"

Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us, / he sets himself against our doings, / Reproaches us for transgressions of the law / and charges us with violations of our training. / He professes to have knowledge of God / and styles himself a child of the Lord. / To[read more]