Ashes to ashes….
The cross of ashes, traced upon the forehead of each Christian, is not only a reminder of death but inevitably (though tacitly) a pledge of resurrection. The ashes of a Christian are no longer mere ashes. The body of a Christian is a temple of the Holy Ghost, and though it is fated to see […]
The Great Litany
On the first Sunday of Lent, Feb 14th at St. John’s we will pray the “Great Litany.” For 472 years Anglicans have prayed with deep faith this litany during penitential times and in times of discernment, distress, war and disaster. The Great Litany (BCP: 148-53) was written by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and first published in […]
The Great Vigil of Easter, April 4, 2015
Tonight at the Great Vigil of Easter the baptismal themes that were explored during the season of Lent reach their logical conclusion in the words of this prayer, “Through the paschal mystery, dear friends, we are buried with Christ by Baptism into His death, and raised with Him to newness of life.” (BCP, 292) As […]
Good Friday, April 3, 2015
Tradition explains that Jesus hung dying between the hours of 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm. For three hours He hung between “two robbers… one on the right and one on the left.” (Matt 27:38) Tradition also explains that one is identified as a “good thief” and the other as a “bad thief.” This seems appropriate as […]
Monday of Holy Week, Mar. 30, 2015
On Monday of Holy Week we read about the anointing of Jesus while He was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper. This narrative is found in Mark 14:3-9 or in John 12:1-11. While Jesus sat at table eating a woman, identified in John’s Gospel as Mary (not the Mother of our Lord) […]
