Saint Luke states that Jesus was born in Nazareth and that his parents had to travel to Bethlehem for a census, which was conducted when Quirinius was Governor of Syria. The reference to Quirinius as Governor of Syria is significant because historical records indicate that he held this position twice, first from AD 6-9 and again from AD 11-12 This means that Jesus’ birth would fall around these dates, and at least a decade after the date suggested by Matthew. [ … ]
The Ten Commandments | The Sixth Commandment: ‘You Shall Not Commit Adultery’
The Church teaches that marriage is a sacrament, which means that it is an outward sign of an inward grace. In marriage, a man and a woman are united in a way that reflects the union between Christ and the Church [ … ]
The Ten Commandments | The Seventh Commandment: ‘Thou Shalt Not Steal’
As Christians, the Seventh Commandment calls us to not steal and to respect the rights of others, including their right to property. This commandment also requires us to be responsible and respectful in our use of the resources of the earth [ … ]
Pharisees | Scribes And Pharisees – Hypocrites | Jesus And The Jewish Temple Authorities | Gospels
The scribes and Pharisees were two groups of religious leaders in ancient Judea, during the time of Jesus. The scribes were scholars who were responsible for copying and interpreting the Hebrew Scriptures (also known as the Old Testament). They were experts in the law and were often consulted on matters of religious practice and doctrine [ … ]
What Is The Christian Millennium? | What Is Millennial Thinking In Christianity? | What Do Christians Believe About The Second Coming?
In Christian tradition, the Millennium refers to a thousand-year period of peace and prosperity that is believed to follow the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This belief is based on a passage from the book of Revelation in the New Testament: ‘And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years’ (Revelation 20:4) [ … ]
Jesus Christ The Jubilee | The Acceptable Year Of The Lord | Truth In Jesus | Audio KJV Bible | God Come Home
In the Old Testament, the jubilee year was a time of celebration and redemption that was prescribed by God in the book of Leviticus. It was to be observed every 50 years and was intended to promote social and economic justice in the community… The acceptable year of the Lord [ … ]
The Ten Commandments | The Fourth Commandment: ‘Honour Your Father And Mother’
The fourth commandment, ‘Honour your father and mother,’ instructs Christians to show respect, love, and obedience to their parents. This commandment is important because it reflects the natural order of the family and promotes harmony within the family unit. It is a way for Christians to fulfil their responsibilities and duties as children, and to show gratitude for the love and care that their parents have provided for them [ … ]
What Is Christianity? What Do Christians Believe? | Nicene Creed | Credo | What Is Christian Faith In Jesus?
Christians believe that Jesus is the son of God and the savior of humanity, and that through his death and resurrection, he made it possible for people to be reconciled to God and to have eternal life. Christianity is centered on the belief in one God, who is the creator of the universe and the source of all life. Christians believe that God is loving and merciful, and that he desires a personal relationship with every person. We also believe that God has revealed himself through the Bible, which is the holy scripture of Christianity, and through his son, Jesus [ … ]
What Is Sainthood And Who Are The Saints? | How Do Saints Help Us? | Christian Prayer And Holiness
Saints are individuals who are recognized by the Christian Church as having lived exemplary lives and being in heaven, in the presence of God. They are considered to be models of Christian virtue and holiness and are often invoked for their intercession in the lives of the living [ … ]
Faith Healing | Spiritual Healing | Miracles Of Prayer
Faith healing, also known as spiritual healing, is the belief that illness can be cured through prayer, divine intervention, or the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a practice that has been present in Christianity since its inception and has been the subject of much debate and discussion within the Christian community [ … ]
Ten Commandments | Tenth Commandment | You Shall Not Covet Your Neighbour’s Goods
Envy and the evil of material possession are closely related because envy is often directed at the material possessions of others. When we see someone else with something that we desire, such as a nice car, a big house, or a fancy watch, we can feel envy and a sense of dissatisfaction with what we have [ … ]
Ten Commandments | The Ninth Commandment: ‘Thou Shalt Not Covet Thy Neighbour’s Wife’
‘Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife’ is a commandment against adultery. It has a broader application to encompass any form of envy or coveting of a person’s spouse or sexual partner. It is an instruction for Christians in terms of their intimate relationships and sexual space [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses | Dietary And Ritual Purity Laws | What Defiles A Man | Jesus And Jewish Law | Original Sin | Parables
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus continues to teach the people the true meaning of purity. In preceding verses, Jesus has told the scribes they are hypocrites, with a mistaken idea of what truly constitutes prayer, who lead people through their teachings to distorted and false understandings of how to love God and how to do well by other people within the community [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses | Pharisees | The Law Of The Sabbath | Jesus The New David | Lord Of The Sabbath | Gospel Faith
In today’s Gospel verses, Jesus teaches that the Pharisees have got it all wrong in relation to the Sabbath. While God gave the Sabbath to man as an opportunity to rest and to devote himself to divine worship, the Pharisees have choked the meaning of the Sabbath in a mass of legalese, turning it from being a time of joy into a time of anxiety and empty observance [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses | Behold The Lamb Of God | Come and See! | Disciples Witness Jesus | Christian Vocation
‘Behold the Lamb of God.’ Throughout the Bible, we are called to know and to develop our relationship with the Lamb. It is in Genesis the Lamb is first mentioned, provided by God as a sacrifice to take the place of Isaac. Through the history of Jewish ritual, a lamb is offered in sacrifice, for expiation, reparation, sanctification. The prophets speak of a meek, tame lamb, sheared without opening its mouth. In the Book of Revelation, or Apocalypse, the full meaning of the Lamb will be revealed, as the king, the Spouse, the lamp, the temple, the place of our eternal dwelling. The Lamb spans all history. And John the Baptist has already, in John’s Gospel, recognised and declared Christ as the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses For Lent | God So Loved The World | Good And Evil | Jesus The Light Of Truth | Christian Faith | Audio KJV
Through the time of Lent, we recall the Exodus. We recall the release of the then chosen people of God from their slavery in Egypt and their time in the wilderness on their way to the promised land, during which time God provided for them [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses For Lent | Jesus Announces His Glorification | Jesus’ Crucifixion Is Near
Jesus’ Passion is near. It is almost time for Jesus to permit himself to be crucified. It is true to this that the Greeks, non-Jews, have come to seek Jesus and to hear his word. Jesus’ mission, to come to earth to save everyone, is becoming fulfilled [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses | The Calling Of The First Disciples
The first two disciples called by Jesus are disciples of John the Baptist. It is he who looks to Jesus and directs his disciples to look and so behold the Lamb of God. They are sent by John, through being told by him to recognize Jesus. John shows them the way to Jesus – as ‘the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord.’ [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses | The Finding Of Jesus In The Temple | The Hidden Life Of Jesus At Nazareth
The infancy narratives of Jesus are more than mere history. Luke’s accounts of Jesus’ infancy constitute a theological and Christological prologue to his Gospel. Many great truths of the Gospels are here prefigured. We may think of the Jesus’ infancy narratives given to us in Luke as a beautiful gateway, through which we enter to encounter the Gospels as a whole. This would certainly be appropriate to the spirit of our celebrations of Christmas, when we rejoice that God has answered our calls to be with us, as we celebrate the great mystery of the Incarnation [ … ]
First Communion | Catholicism And Christianity | The Children At Mass | Spain | God And Vocation | Tomàs’ Gospel
On the square: a church with no regular priest. Still, the church was open, that first exploration, and it was clean, loved and well-maintained. Prayerful, you might say. The interior walls new brick. Simple and holy. Two women were making arrangements with the flowers and such like and they looked at me blankly then upon enquiry in Spanish they told me there was to be a Mass on Sunday [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses Advent & Christmas | The Nativity Of The Lord | Christ Is Born | The Shepherds Hear The Good News | Christmas Midnight And Dawn
Jesus is born into what must have been, for Mary and Joseph, the most trying, indeed tedious, of circumstances. Who of us likes filling in a tax return? And we don’t usually have to travel to a different city to do so, let alone know that our taxes are dictated by a foreign and conquering power [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses Advent & Christmas | The Magnificat
In this, the Magnificat, Mary’s soul overflows with joy as she contemplates the wonderful blessing God has bestowed on her, surpassing indeed the gifts to any other person in history. Through her obedience and humility, Mary has been magnified herself by the Lord, such that we now recognize her greatness and call her blessed – each day, indeed, as we recite or sing the canticle as part of evening prayer [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses Advent & Christmas | Virginal Conception Of Jesus | Emmanuel | God Is With Us
According to Jewish law, couples became engaged around one year prior to marriage, and this engagement was most solemn and binding – an act of divorce would be needed to break the relationship. It is during this period that Mary is found to be with child of the Holy Ghost. She has done nothing wrong, she is a virgin, Christ’s conception is miraculous, but on the surface of things this was a terrible state of affairs, for Mary and Joseph also [ … ]
Miracle Of Love | Jesus In The Eucharist A Miracle | Miracles Of Healing | Old Testament Miracles | Signs | God | Audio KJV
In the Bible, a miracle is an event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency. Miracles are often seen as [ … ]
What Were The Different Sources Of The Torah – The Pentateuch? | How Was The Torah/Pentateuch Written?
The Torah, also known as the Pentateuch, is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. It is a central text in Judaism and is also revered by many Christians. The Torah is thought to be a composite text, made up of multiple sources that were written by different groups of people over a period of time and were later compiled and edited into their final form. The process of compiling and editing these sources is known as the documentary hypothesis [ … ]
Why Is Christmas Celebrated 25th December? | Jesus’ Birth | Nativity | Pre-Christian Winter Solstice | Death / Rebirth
As Christians, we celebrate the birth of Jesus on Christmas Day, observed on December 25th each year. While the date of Jesus’ birth is not known, and is not in the Bible, the celebration of Christmas Day on December 25th has been a tradition since at least the 4th century. It is thought that the early Christian church may have chosen this date in order to co-opt the celebrations of the winter solstice and other pre-Christian holidays that were observed around this time of year [ … ]
Miserere Mei | Psalm 51/50 | KJV King James Bible Psalms | Have Mercy Upon Me | Audio Bible
Traditionally ascribed to King David, upon the discovery of his adultery, this psalm represents and enacts a perfect act of contrition, from the awareness and acknowledgement of sin, through acknowledgement of God, to celebration and renewal in faith with God [ … ]
Confession | The Sacrament Of Reconciliation | We Confess Our Sins To God | Forgiveness Of Sin | Jesus | Faith Healing
Christian confession is an act of admitting one’s sins and seeking forgiveness from God through Jesus Christ. It is a practice that is central to the Christian faith and is rooted in the belief that sin has separated humanity from God and that confession is necessary for the restoration of that relationship [ … ]
Saint John Chrysostom
Saint John Chrysostom was born into a wealthy family in Antioch, which was then one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in the Roman Empire. He received an excellent education in rhetoric and philosophy, which prepared him for a career in law or public speaking. However, he was drawn to Christianity and eventually decided to become a monk [ … ]
Christian Prayer | Jesus In The Bible Teaches How To Pray | Healing Prayer | Miracles | How Do I Pray? | Teach Me To Pray
Prayer is a form of communication between a person and a higher power. It can take many forms, from a casual conversation to a formal ritual, and can involve petition, thanksgiving, and confession. Prayer can be silent or spoken, individual or communal, and may be directed to God, a saint, an angel, or any other object of worship. Through prayer, an individual expresses their innermost thoughts and feelings to the divine, seeking comfort, guidance, and strength. Prayer can be used to foster a connection to the spiritual realm, bring a sense of peace, and help one cultivate a sense of purpose and meaning in life [ … ]
The Ten Commandments | The Third Commandment: ‘Keep Holy The Lord’s Day’
The third commandment of the Ten Commandments, ‘Keep holy the Lord’s day,’ is a call to set aside time on a regular basis to rest from one’s daily work and to focus on the worship and service of God. This commandment is often understood to refer to the Christian Sabbath, which is traditionally observed on Sunday, the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ [ … ]
The Ten Commandments | The Second Commandment: ‘You Shall Not Take The Name Of The Lord Your God In Vain’ | King James Audio Bible | KJV
The second of the Ten Commandments, ‘You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,’ is a call to reverence and respect for the divine name and for the faith it represents. The second commandment prohibits the abuse of God’s name, i.e., every improper use of the names of God, Jesus Christ, but also of the Virgin Mary and all the saints [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses | Jesus Christ The King | Parable Of The Wise And Foolish Virgins
Christ prepares to be crucified. This may seem very strange as we look forward to Advent, and these really are the events of Holy Week. And yet this declaration of Christ’s coming again can be seen as a wonderful culmination of the Church year. Christ’s promise of resurrection and eternal life marks the summit of Christian faith. The declaration of Christ the King, our knowledge Christ is King, is a wonderful thought to carry through the coming weeks of Advent as we prepare to celebrate Christ’s birth [ … ]
Daily Bible Verses For Lent | The Sign Of Jonah | Circumcision Of The Heart | The Evil Generation Seek A Sign
The crowds gather to see and to hear Jesus. Among them, as Matthew relates in his Gospel (Matthew 12: 38-42), are the scribes and Pharisees, who ask for a sign from Jesus to prove his divinity. Jesus refuses to confirm his preaching with dramatic signs. It is his teaching Jesus wishes the people to hear. Through seeking to taunt Jesus, and through their unbelief, the scribes and the Pharisees express the hardness of their hearts. Christ is present to them and they refuse to see. Christ is speaking to them and they refuse to hear. Through the Gospel, we have witnessed Christ’s miracles. And we are called to hear his word. ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign.’ [ … ]
Ash Wednesday | Our Lady Vulnerata | Extracted From The Gospel According To Tomàs | A Novel
Duly, we are ashed. Communion follows. Adedokun, serving, puts it all together, takes it all apart. Our thoughts rest, solemn, as we aren’t asked to sing our way out of it. It is one of the good times. Quietly, just sitting like that, it’s pretty good. Dry. All careful-minded. It seems they must see we are taking it the way it is meant to be – solemnly [ … ]
A Bishop’s Lenten Homily | Extracted From The Gospel According To Tomàs | Part 2
Then at ten-past-ten we go upstairs. Visiting teachers often prefer this space.
There is natural light and fresh air. Today, we sit on chairs only, gathered around close, with no desks in the way of us. His Grace works from a flip-book. A set-piece. He sits always gently bobbing – the quiet thrill of it. The flip-book has clearly seen previous use. And big Clarks shoes and fade-to-black socks… There is a quiet examination of consciousness. I confess… Then we say a Hail Mary. Some part of what the Archbishop says to us is this:
‘What I should like to do today is to pose to you possibly the most important question, which is this: How can we ready ourselves for the experience of Easter? [ … ]
A Bishop’s Lenten Homily | Extracted From The Gospel According To Tomàs | Part 3
On Tuesday, His Grace turns to the theme of Jesus’ hidden years. His Grace asks the students to consider questions concerning what really happened: ‘Who, for instance, was Joseph? Was [ … ]
A Bishop’s Lenten Homily | Extracted From The Gospel According To Tomàs | Part 5
On Thursday, there is more lost-history to contemplate. More Christian life unknown. Certainly, His Grace tacitly withdraws some measure of the veil of – more creative years. Though what he has to say does not overtly contradict received Church teaching.
His Grace moves the beginnings of Christian faith – the Church – as from stunned remains: Jerusalem razed – as our first generations looked back onto it.
This nexus of salvation-history – all history pointed forwards-backwards either way in faith in Jesus. As, in intervening centuries, disparate communities scatter through what is becoming a wreckage of Empire, spiritual waste, gather their scraps, and they begin to communicate. Truth-recalled – reverse-transcribed like RNA like a retrovirus – penetrated into the pagan world laid out for it – became life [ … ]