Letters On The Page

Image in Public Domain Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer Sixth Sunday of Easter   Acts 16:9-15      Revelation 21:9-14, 21-27         John 16:23-33 Before Scriptures : A word in English that is shared in all three readings today is the word “come.” The word “come” has a different focus in the three readings. The Greek words that are used for the English word “come” are also different in each passage. In Acts 16, Paul sees in a vision a man from Macedonia saying “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” Paul responds accordingly. In the Epistle, an Angel says to John “Come. I will show you the Bride, the wife of the lamb.” In the Gospel, Jesus is giving last minute instructions to the Apostles on his way to Gethsemane. He warns the Apostles, “The hour is coming…”  Acts 16:9  Διαβὰς          Revelation 21:9  Δεῦρο      John 16: 25, 32 ...

Image in Public Domain   Video of Divine Service at St. Luke, Rensselaer   2025 Easter 5 Acts 11:1-18               Revelation 21:1-7            John 16:12-22 Before the Readings : A theme that arises from the three readings today is that there is “more to come.” As the Church continues its seven Sunday celebration of Christ’s resurrection, we receive the miracle of Christ’s resurrection and look forward to more that is to come through God’s grace. The “more to come” includes the explanation in Acts 11 by the Apostle Peter to the brothers that the Holy Spirit calls both Jews and Gentiles into the faith. The cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ unites Jew and Gentile. Thus, the Holy Spirit propelled Peter to baptize the Gentile Cornelius and his family. The reading from Revelation shows us the culmination of God’s promises in Christ’s resurrection. In t...

In reading great literature I become a thousand men and yet remain myself. Like the night sky in the Greek poem, I see with myriad eyes, but it is still I who see. Here, as in worship, in love, in moral action, and in knowing, I transcend myself; and am never more myself than when I do”.  [12]    C.S. LEWIS,  An Experiment in Criticism , 89. Official Website of C S Lewis