Detail of Holy Spirit Hole,
Saints Peter and Paul, Söll, Austria
(About this Image)

And suddenly there came from the sky
a noise like a strong driving wind,
and it filled the entire house in which they were.
Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
(Acts 2:2–4)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the First Reading
Pentecost Sunday
Acts 2:1–11
June 5, 2022

We celebrate this week the feast of Pentecost. It is a Jewish feast indeed one of the great pilgrimage feasts when Jews were encouraged to go to Jerusalem and offer sacrifice. It was originally a harvest celebration but quickly became connected with the Exodus and the giving of the Law. Pentecost means 50 and it is celebrated by Jews 50 days after the Passover and commemorates Moses bringing the law to the people.

Continue reading “Pentecost – Filled with the Holy Spirit” →

Revelations, Bible Story Windows at Table View Methodist Church,
Rev. Angus Kelly and Anika Van de Merwe, 2018–2019
(About this Image)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Seventh Sunday of Easter
Revelations 22:12–21
May 29, 2022

Today, we read the closing section of “The Book of Revelation.” It reprises its key themes:

• we should heed the revelation;
• the end is near;
• and the righteous will be rewarded.

Continue reading “Seventh Sunday of Easter – Showing Our Understanding of Revelations” →

Utopien 04, Makis E. Warlamis,
2007, Daskunstmuseum (CC BY-SA 3.0)

The angel took me in spirit to a great, high mountain
and showed me the holy city Jerusalem
coming down out of heaven from God.
It gleamed with the splendor of God.
Its radiance was like that of a precious stone,
like jasper, clear as crystal.
(Revelations 21:10–11)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Sixth Sunday of Easter
Rev. 21:10–14, 22–23
May 22, 2022

Last week, John the Seer told us that the effect of the resurrection of Jesus would be not only individual transformation but also that of our entire world. Everything and everyone would be new. Today, he will show us what this means and will once more demand that we pay great attention to the Old Testament. This week, our attention will be drawn to Ezekiel and to Isaiah.

Continue reading “Sixth Sunday of Easter – The Reality of a God-Centered Existence” →

Christ Roi,
Noel Bonardi, 1984, Col de Verghio, Corsica
(photo by Rogiro)
(About this Image)

I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
(John 13:34–35)

Fr. Bill’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Fifth Sunday of Easter
Book of Revelations: 21:1–5a
May 15, 2022

The Book of Revelation, as we have seen repeatedly, makes extensive use of the Old Testament. John the Seer’s audience would have included a substantial number of Jewish-born members and many second-generation Christians with a good Jewish pedigree. They knew the references we have quoted very well. Gentiles from the Greek-thinking world would have been expected to learn the Jewish background. The Jewish scriptures are alluring and helpful but were not their immediate thought world and some areas would be difficult for them to emotionally connect. If that is so for them, it is more a problem for us.

Continue reading “Fifth Sunday of Easter – Transforming the World” →

The Good Shepherd stained glass window
at St. Charles Borromeo

“My sheep hear my voice;
I know them, and they follow me.”
(John 10:27)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Good Shepherd Sunday
Rev. 7:9, 14b–17
May 8, 2022

Last week, we read the section of the Book of Revelations in which the Lamb of God ascended to heaven and was deemed worthy to open the seven seals of the scroll. Today, we read the passage immediately before the seventh seal was opened. In the two chapters between these two events, John the Seer has shown the great power of God revealed in the resurrection of Jesus the lamb. Remember that Revelation means “unveiling”—pulling aside those things which prevent us from seeing the truth. For John the Seer, the world is revealed as it is through the Resurrection. This, however, presents a problem. If Jesus has risen triumphantly, what about those who have followed him but have been persecuted even put to death. Where was the power of God for them?

Continue reading “4th Sunday of Easter – The Love of the Good Shepherd” →

Christ’s Charge to Peter, Raphael,
1515–1516, Victoria and Albert Museum
(About this Image)

When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter,
“Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.”
(John 21:15)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Third Sunday of Easter
Revelations: 5:11–14
May 1, 2022

The Book of Revelation does not offer different doctrines from the rest of the New Testament. Indeed, it often provides excellent summations of traditional teachings. Yet John the Seer many times offers a unique perspective Today’s reading is such an occasion.

We most often think of the Ascension from the perceptive of the Apostles. Luke understood that visualizations of this would be a bit kitsch and kept the details vague. John the Seer today is giving us a heaven’s eye view of Jesus returning to the Father and speaks only in symbols which intentionally defy visualization.

Continue reading “Third Sunday of Easter – Celebrating the Eucharist” →

The Incredulity of Saint Thomas, Caravaggio,
c. 1603, Sanssouci, Potsdam, Germany
(About this Image)

Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
(John 20:27–28)

Fr. Smith’s Commentary on the Second Reading
Second Sunday of Easter
Revelations: 1:9–19
April 24, 2022

The “Book of Revelation” is a source of great confusion and imaginative if usually erroneous speculation. Some of the latter has been so amusing that the great English convert and writer G. K. Chesterton wrote: “Though St John the Evangelist saw many strange monsters in his vision, he saw no creature so wild as one of his own commentators.” (Chesterton, Orthodoxy) This is quite unfortunate as Revelations has much to offer us, indeed some of it very practical and contemporary.

The place to begin is with its very name. It is often called “The Apocalypse.” In popular usage, this means the end times with usually a bloody conflagration. The original meaning, however, is “unveiling.” This was a genre of writing. A person would read an apocalypse not to be confused or bewildered about the future, but to be instructed on how to live now and prepare for the future. The Christians who originally read “The Book of Revelation” would have expected to have layers of misinformation and fake news unraveled and true meaning revealed. The images that we find so bewildering and intimidating would have been part of their culture. If there was any attempt to mystify or obscure, it would have been not for fellow Christians but for the Roman authorities. This was during a time of Roman persecution. The closest analogy I can think of is video games. Our younger parishioners know every character and devise in them, but they are a total mystery to me. They are the Christians, and I am the Roman authority. We see further difficulty if we imagine someone trying to decipher Minecraft a millennium hence. Similarly,some parts of “The Book of Revelation” will remain obscure. The sections chosen for our Easter readings; however, are not among them and their message will be truly clear: the resurrection of Jesus unveils the meaning of all history and existence.

Continue reading “Second Sunday of Easter – Understanding Our Lives through the Resurrection” →