6 June 2021 On Maundy Thursday, during the Last Supper, the Lord instructed His disciples and the Church to celebrate the Eucharist until He returns: this is our vocation.  The institution of the Feast was largely owing to the influence of Blessed Juliana in the 13th century, a devout nun of Liège, Belgium, who responded…

by Patriarch Craig Bates Trinity Sunday, 31 May 2021 I’d like to show you how John 3:16-17 and 3:3 connect and how important they are for preaching and living the Gospel, the good news. Jesus reveals God’s love God did not send the pandemic, either as a punishment or a way to draw us to…

23 May 2021 Today we join the Church around the world in celebrating the Feast of Pentecost.  The Christianisation of Jewish feasts The early, pre-Nicene[1] Church was simple in its liturgical celebrations.  They had three celebrations, one every Sunday and two annually:  Sundays: The Lord’s Day, a “mini Easter” Because the Resurrection is important, Pascha…

16 May 2021 Today we join the Church in celebrating Christ’s ascension to heaven.  After 40 days of Easter, in which the disciples were gradually grasping Christ’s death and resurrection, when all seemed to have been fulfilled, they finally asked the resurrected Lord, “Is this the time when You will restore the kingdom of Israel?” …

6th Sunday of Easter, 9 May 2021 I’d like to share with you what our second lesson says: what does it mean to be born of God?  Today’s Gospel continues the discourse of the organic relationship between God and Jesus and, since we’re in Jesus, humanity.  As we heard last Sunday, Jesus is the True…

5th Sunday of Easter, 2 May 2021 An attribute of children is their desire to learn: many are curious and ask a litany of questions.  At a young age I asked my parents where I came from: they joked that I came from a banana or coconut tree; I would say, “No, that can’t be”. …

4th Sunday of Easter, 25 April 2021 Today is known as Good Shepherd Sunday. In John 10:22, Jesus attended a religious feast in Jerusalem: the Feast of Dedication, also known as the Feast of Lights or Hanukkah.  The feast celebrates the rededication of the temple after its desecration in 167 BC.  During the feast the…

3rd Sunday of Easter, 18 April 2021 We Christians gather on Sundays to proclaim the power of Christ’s Resurrection: we sing hallelujah, dance, acknowledge God’s presence in the Eucharist and hear His holy Word.  However, Christians aren’t immune or exempt from the problems the world encounters.  Let’s ask ourselves, how should Christians face such difficult…

2nd Sunday of Easter, 11 April 2021 Easter is a time of great celebration: with joy and gladness we celebrate Christ’s victory on the cross.  As we reflect upon it, we have the eternal hope humanity needs.  The Song of Moses After Moses and the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, they were overjoyed…

4 April 2021 The season of Easter is truly a joyful celebration, as all Sundays should be.  Every Sunday is a celebration of Christ’s Resurrection; some call it the “mini resurrection”.  The Resurrection is the bedrock, the foundation of Christianity.  There were many things Jesus said to His disciples that didn’t make sense.  Even in…