Today is the feast day of Saint Athanasius, known throughout church history as the “Father of Orthodoxy.” This title is fitting, yet he is not the first of the Early Church Fathers to defend the orthodox Christian faith. He is given this honor because of his fervent defense of the biblical understanding of the nature … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Athanasius
Today is the feast day of St. Philip and St. James (the Lesser) apostles of Jesus. Most feast days commemorate one particular saint. On occasion, however, two saints will be honored together. St. Philip and St. James are commemorated together on this day because their relics were brought together to Rome in 560 A.D. The … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Philip and St. James
What does it take to be a saint? Ultimately, it takes grace and mercy of God. For we all, who are in Christ, are awaiting sainthood. In one sense, we are already saints, but in another sense, we are not yet saints. Such is the reality of the already/not yet nature of the kingdom of … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Catherine of Siena
Mark the Evangelist, widely known in the Scriptures as John Mark, has a very prominent role in the early history of Christ’s church in several respects. It is noteworthy that we are introduced to Mark’s household when an angel of the Lord frees Peter from prison in Acts 12. Upon his release, the apostle immediately … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Mark The Evangelist
Easter Sunday is one of the most recognized and celebrated holidays the world over. Today many children are eager to receive their Easter baskets to see what the Easter Bunny has brought, and left behind. Most likely it will be filled with plastic (so called) “grass“, chocolate, eggs, marshmallow Peeps, and maybe even a stuffed … Continue reading Easter Sunday: The Feast of the Resurrection
Today is Holy Saturday, the day that Jesus’ body lay in the tomb, awaiting his glorious resurrection. This then begs the question: where was Jesus’s spirit on Holy Saturday? There are a myriad of beliefs about what Jesus did during this period of time. A helpful place to start is a truth that we confess … Continue reading Holy Saturday: Did Jesus Really Go To Hell?
Good Friday is an essential day in Holy Week. On this day, Christians throughout the world remember the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. You may wonder, why do we call this day Good Friday when the crucifixion does not sound good? Other names for this day are Great and Holy Friday (as the … Continue reading Why Do We Call It Good Friday?
Maundy Thursday. I drifted lazily on my Southern Baptist roots well into adulthood having never heard the phrase. My childhood neighbors were mostly of the same ilk, giving great reverence to Easter Sunday but skipping right past all other Passion Week observances. To this day I don’t even recall Maundy Thursday being mentioned in casual … Continue reading A Baptist’s Reflections on Maundy Thursday
Palm Sunday is one of the rare days in the Church Calendar when most churches, regardless of the denomination, manage to get in the spirit of things (at least in my limited Catholic-Presbyterian-Anglican experience). Who doesn’t love a good parade of children waving palm fronds at the beginning of a service? Even Baptists can get … Continue reading Palm Sunday: The Return of the King
Lent is a sober season within the Christian calendar. As we progress through Lent, we inch closer to celebrating Easter. However, celebrations don’t have to wait until Easter, as there are feasts and occasions we can honor in the meantime. One such occasion is the Feast of the Annunciation, which we typically celebrate every year … Continue reading The Feast Day of the Annunciation
Today is the Feat Day of Saint Joseph, husband of Mary and earthly father of Jesus our Lord. In Saint Joseph we have an impeccable model of biblical manhood, and a man worthy of more of our admiration and attention. Joseph was a man who listened to the voice of God above all else and … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Joseph
Saint Patrick’s Day has been impressed in the public consciousness as a day that evokes the imagery of leprechauns, rainbows with pots of gold at the end, and the shamrock. It is also known for traditions such as dressing in green, parades, and drinking a pint of Guinness. Yet with the commercialization of this holiday, … Continue reading The Feast Day of St. Patrick
