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 Presentation of Our Lord: The Message of Candlemas
Why does the Church return to Jesus’ infancy every February 2 for the Feast of the Presentation, also called Candlemas? The reason is both chronological and theological.
The Sacrifice of the Ox: A Guide to the Gospel of Luke
In Luke, Jesus begins life like an ox, in an ox’s manger, bringing good news for the poor. He bears burdens and brings prosperity.
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 Decalogue: A Rookie Anglican Guide
The Decalogue is a responsive paraphrase of the Ten Commandments, used (sometimes) in the Sunday Communion service. The priest recites each commandment, followed by a congregational response. For example, here is the first commandment: Priest: God spoke these words and said: I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods but me….
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 Book of Wisdom: Divine Intelligence or AI?
This is the fifth part of Dr. Noll’s series, “Reading and Enjoying the Apocrypha.” Many Anglicans greet the season of Advent with the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” the second verse of which says: O Come, thou Wisdom from on high, Who orderest all things mightily; To us the path of knowledge show, And…
The Book of Judith, the Jewish People, and the Advent of the Messiah
This is the fourth part of Dr. Noll’s series, “Reading and Enjoying the Apocrypha.” The Daily Office readings for November (BCP page 760) insert ten days of readings from The Book of Judith, from the Apocrypha. This book picks up themes from the Books of Maccabees, which I reviewed earlier, and adds some gender balance…
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…
