As the deer pants for flowing streams What does the inner life look like of one who is making progress in the spiritual life? Psalms 42 and 43 give us a peek. Such a one is consumed by a burning desire for God, a desire so strong that it may Read more…
Excerpts from Tauler’s Sermon 29, Feast of the Blessed Trinity II (Johannes Tauler: Sermons, Paulist Press, 1985) We speak of what we know, and we bear witness to what we have seen. (John 3:11) All of the feasts we have observed throughout the year, whatever they have commemorated, have led Read more…
Read Acts 2:1-21. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability. (Acts 2:4) What greater gift could God give than himself? Riches, peace, power, sanctification, wisdom, suffering, death, resurrection, eternal life—nothing compares. To have the Read more…
Read Acts 1:1-11, Ephesians 1:15-23, and Luke 24:44-53. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) Repentance and forgiveness of sins is to Read more…
Read John 14:23-29. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. (John 14:27) Are you at peace? Are you calm in all situations, Read more…
Read John 13:31-35. I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. (John 13:34) What is the substance of this new glory with which Jesus was glorified? The difference now, the change, the new glory, is Read more…
Your shepherd Read Psalm 23, Revelation 7:9-17, and John 10:22-30. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. (Psalm 23:1) If the Lord is to be your shepherd, you must be his sheep. If the Lord is your shepherd, he will care and provide for your every need. He Read more…
Read John 20:19-31. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained. (John 20:23) After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples singly and in groups. He had different words for each. “Why are you weeping?” “Put your Read more…
Read John 20:11-18. Why are you weeping? (John 20:13) Angels seem usually to appear to announce big news. You are going to have more descendants than there are stars in the sky. You are going to have a baby. To you is born a savior. But these angels have only Read more…
Read Philippians 2:5-11. Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And Read more…