I Corinthians 13: 4 After opening his teaching on love with the virtues, patience and kindness, St. Paul takes a turn in his approach. He began by saying, “Love is … “; now, he opens a longer list of love’s traits by saying, “Love is not …. “. This...

I Corinthians 13:4 Please refer to our earlier segment, “Love is Patient”, and review the introductory paragraphs. Those are applicable here as well. St. Paul continues, in verse 4, to shed light on the gift of God’s love – “Love is kind”. Once again, we appeal to the original...

I Corinthians 13:4 As we embark on this quest for understanding and encouragement through St. Paul’s explanation of love, a few reminders may be in order. You will recall that the letter was originally written in the Greek language of that day (mid-first century). We will, therefore, make some...

I Corinthians 13: 1-3 When St. Paul arrived in Corinth in 50 A.D., he found a city that reflected the world of that day. Its culture, economics, art and religion were touted around the Mediterranean Sea and throughout the Roman Empire as the model of happy, successful living. Although...

At the center of Israel’s covenant relationship with God, we hear: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5). When asked to tell the greatest commandment in the Law, Jesus replied, “You shall love the...

II Kings 7: 1-16; 4 Kingdoms 7:1-16 In the previous study, we chronicled the horrible situation in the city of Samaria. It was as though a dark cloud hung over the city and the specter of hopelessness flooded their homes and hearts. We were also reminded that our great...

II Kings 6: 24-33; 4 Kingdoms 6: 24-33 A country gospel song from a few decades ago reflected the troubling conditions in our world and proclaimed the expected relief in the Second Coming of our Lord. The opening lines may be also applicable to many in the present day:...

(Note: The following is a modified version of a homily delivered at St. Stephen on June 3, 2012. As you would suspect, it was much longer and required much editing from the transcribed text. However, we offer this in hope that it will be a source of edification and...

Our world today is inundated with noise, confusion, disturbance, fear, conflicts, rudeness, selfishness, ungratefulness, ………. . While many of these conditions exist in the physical, visible realm, many others wander unseen and silently within our minds and souls. Jesus said, “Come unto Me, all who labor and are heavy...

II Kings 5: 1-14; 4 Kingdoms 5: 1-14 It is clear from reading the Old Testament, that God teaches us much through the lives of other people. From the life experiences of those who have gone before us, we are gifted with examples, guidance, warning and inspiration for our...