One other thing about Hebrews 6:4-6 perplexes me. The NAS has “again crucify,” and the NIV says, “they are crucifying the Son of God all over agin.” The Vulgate has the “again,” too: “rursum crucifigentes.” But where is this “again” in the Greek? There is only ἀνασταυροῦντος. Liddel & Scott give the meaning “affix to […]

Those who have been once illumined and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the coming age, and have fallen away—it is impossible to renew them again to repentance who again crucify to themselves the […]

I received a letter Monday evening from St. Tikhon’s. I am accepted to the M.Div. program starting this fall. I sent an email to twenty or thirty people sharing the news, and I was touched that almost everyone replied with congratulations, good wishes, and generous words. What support I have! My heart is strengthened thinking […]

I’ve been a few weeks in the blogosphere now, writing an occasional post, making my own template, learning CSS layout techniques, and discovering other blogs out there. I like how this blog encourages me to reflect more deeply more often. I like how it helps me put some long-thought thoughts to paper and explore their […]

Today’s reading from Isaiah reminds us how we should fast. Here we are almost at Lazarus Saturday, and still the Church calls us to take up the fast, renew our efforts, purify our practice. “And if any has tarried even until the eleventh hour, let him, also, be not alarmed at his tardiness.” Isaiah has […]

My breath verse for the week is John 3:19-21:
The light is come into the world,and men loved the darkness more than the light;for their deeds were evil.For everyone who does evil hates the light,and does not come into the light,lest his deeds be exposed.But he who practices the truth comes to the light,that his deeds […]

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this for certain? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God; and I have been sent to speak to you, and to […]

The Pharisee asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus doesn’t really answer. Have you noticed? He inverts the question. He tells a long parable, and at the end, He asks, “Which of these was a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers’ hands?” He acts as if the parable has given the Pharisee […]

I have found the week’s verse: from tomorrow’s Gospel, Mark 8:34 - 9:1:
“If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the Gospel’s shall save it. […]

How shall I pray for the Pope? Last night I had no idea. Usually when someone dies, we ask God to have mercy on him. I suppose even John-Paul needs mercy, but that the petitioner be me seems like the height of arrogance. I wanted to pray to the Pope to ask him to pray […]