Sermons & Homilies
Throughout his epistles, St. Paul often uses the image of the body to show the unity and diversity of the Church. Each of us is called for a specific task in the Church, some to teach, others to minister to the sick, some to shepherd the flock, others to support the shepherd, some to sing and conduct services, others to support the church and her mission financially.
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The names of the Holy Glorious Pre-eminent Apostles Peter and Paul are sweet food to the tongue which utters them. This food is most nourishing for the heart. Through their names we remember their persons. Through their persons our hearts are impressed upon by their lives, deeds, and words. Not only this, but by their names we are able to impress upon their hearts our needs and petitions, if we invoke them with humility, faith, fervency, and honesty. Let us first remember them that we may move our hearts to call upon them and move their hearts towards us.
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When we consider our death, do we approach it with a dreadful fear of God, or do we approach it with a sober and conscientious love toward God?
In today’s epistle reading, the Apostle Paul is writing to his spiritual son Timothy, and this will be the last epistle that the Apostle will ever write, because, as he says, “the time of my departure is at hand,” (2 Tim. 4.6ff) because he is soon to go on to Rome where he will be executed and die a martyr’s death under Nero.
If we find ourselves in such a state, or if we see that we’re in danger of slipping into it, or if we simply wish to avoid it altogether, the solution is simple—put prayer first. The hours in the day are few, and our time in this life is fleeting. We have to make the time for prayer.
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This quintessential phrase of the Gospel of John — “come and see” — is exceedingly poignant. It occurs precisely three times in St. John’s Gospel.
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