church, don't seek the world's approval
lection reflection for 14 May 2019 / reading the bible daily with the church
Back from some wonderful time away on vacation and back to reading and writing. Today's readings pick up on the theme of the church being disliked, disdained, and hated by the world. In Luke's record of the Beatitudes, Jesus teaches, "Blessed are you when people hate you, when they exclude you, insult you, and slander your name . . .
Posted in: reflections
"The hope which Christians have..."
from Blaise Pascal
The hope which Christians have of possessing an infinite good is mingled with real enjoyment as well as with fear; for it is not as with those who should hope for a kingdom, of which they, being subjects, would have nothing; but they hope for holiness, for freedom from injustice, and they have something of this.
--Blaise Pascal, . . .
God's work in the sacraments
from Martin Luther
In the sacraments your God, Christ himself, deals, speaks, and works with you through the priest. His are not the works and words of man. In the sacraments God himself grants you all the blessings we just mentioned in connection with Christ. God wants the sacraments to be a sign and testimony that Christ’s life has taken your death, his . . .
Posted in: quotessacramentstheology
the Church's double life
from George Florovsky
[The Church] has, as it were, a double life, both in heaven and on earth.
The Church is a visible historical society, and the same is the Body of Christ. It is both the Church of the redeemed, and the Church of the miserable sinners—both at once. On the historical level no final goal has yet been attained. But the ultimate reality . . .
"Let the Law have its glory..."
Luther on the Law and the Gospel
Let the Law have its glory. But no Law, no matter how divine or holy, has the right to tell me that I obtain justification and life through it. I will grant that it can teach me that I should love God and my neighbor, and live in chastity, patience, etc.; but it is in no position to show me how to be delivered from sin, the devil, death, . . .
"Unite us more perfectly to Christ..."
a prayer of St. Anselm
We love Thee, O our God, and we desire to love Thee more and more. Grant to us that we may love Thee as much as we desire, and as much as we ought. O dearest Friend, who hast so loved and saved us, the thought of whom is so sweet and always growing sweeter, come with Christ and dwell in our hearts; then Thou wilt keep a watch over our . . .
on Jesus as man and God
from Gregory of Nazianus
He was baptized as Man--but He remitted sins as God--not because He needed purificatory rites Himself, but that He might sanctify the element of water. He was tempted as Man, but He conquered as God; yea, He bids us be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world. He hungered--but He fed thousands; yea, He is the Bread that giveth life, . . .
