Being Pruned by the Word

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.  He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit.  You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you.  Remain in me, as I remain[read more]

The Spirit and the Flesh

David became the father of Solomon, whose mother had been the wife of Uriah.  Matthew 1:6 Today’s gospel features Matthew’s historically contorted genealogy of Jesus in order to show that there are 14 generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile, and fourteen more from the exile to Jesus. Matthew’s goal, of[read more]

Sweet and Sour

So I went up to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll.  He said to me, “Take and swallow it.  It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey.”  I took the small scroll from the angel’s hand and swallowed it.  In my[read more]

Dead or Alive?

You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover[read more]

We Ascended Into Heaven

“So you also are now in anguish.  But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.  On that day you will not question me about anything.  Amen, amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give[read more]

What We Shall Be Has Not Yet Been Revealed

The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 1 John 3: 1-2[read more]