Up until this point in the Creed, we have confessed what Christ has done in the past. When we confess “He will come again,” our attention pivots rapidly from the past to the future: What our Lord Jesus Christ will do, in time to come. We lift our eyes to the horizon of time, and we see the finish…
The Liturgical Home: The Feast of St. Barnabas
On June 11th, we celebrate the Feast of St. Barnabas, a true pioneer of the early Church. St. Barnabas may not be as well known as Peter or Paul, but his faithfulness, generosity, and encouragement changed the course of the Church. He reminds us that sometimes the most powerful witness comes not from preaching, but…
We Believe: He Ascended into Heaven
After Jesus rose from the dead, many of his followers thought that he would soon bring about the end of history, a final judgment upon all evil and wickedness in the world, and a permanent restoration of Israel. But instead, Jesus commands his disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit, and he ascends into the…
We Believe: In Accordance with the Scriptures
At first glance, it’s easy to assume that the Nicene Creed’s phrase “in accordance with the Scriptures” refers to one or two Old Testament proof texts. After all, Paul uses this exact formula in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4: Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures … he was raised on the third day in accordance…
We Believe: On the Third Day He Rose Again
As with much of the Nicene Creed, the words call our attention to more than an abstract philosophical proposition. In the Creed, we claim historical fact: the person of Jesus of Nazareth, who was truly killed, thoroughly dead, and really buried, rose again into newness of life at a specific time (on the third day…
We Believe: He Suffered Death and Was Buried
In the Nicene Creed, we confess that Jesus “suffered death and was buried.” The one who created and sustains all things willingly submitted himself to the common death of man. The dark reality that we will all face, the separation of soul and body, is one that our Savior has already embraced and overcome. Through…
We Believe: He Was Crucified Under Pontius Pilate
Pilate: An Unlikely Reference Speaking on the ever-surprising nature of Christianity, the apologist C.S. Lewis noted that, Reality, in fact, is usually something you could not have guessed. That is one of the reasons I believe [in] Christianity. It is a religion you could not have guessed. If it offered us just the kind of…
The Deep Compassion of Jesus
The compassion of Jesus runs deep: it is deeply felt in his body and deeply present in his ministry and his teaching. We can observe and imitate the consistent structure of Jesus’ compassion, learning how compassion can move us from vision to action. Most of all, we should rest in Jesus’ deep compassion for us….
Saint Thomas Sunday: A Rookie Anglican Guide
The Sunday after Easter is also called “Saint Thomas Sunday.” This Sunday, we read the story of the apostle Thomas, his doubts about the news of the resurrection, and his confession of faith when Jesus showed him his wounds. It is a day to acknowledge skepticism and celebrate belief. Most importantly, Saint Thomas Sunday is…
The Stations of the Cross: A Rookie Anglican Guide
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives…
Called By His Grace: 10 Theses on the Conversion of Paul
If we want to understand grace, we should look no further than the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle. This is not because grace is always so dramatic as to convert a murderer on the Damascus Road, but because grace can be so dramatic as to convert a murderer on the Damascus Road. As Paul…
The Liturgical Home: The Feast of St. Simon & St. Jude
As the Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude approaches on October 28th, the Church anticipates a unique celebration that honors not one but two remarkable saints and apostles. The Church commemorates them together due to ancient Christian traditions and writings that suggest their collaboration in spreading the Gospel and a shared martyrdom in distant…
