The 17th Chapter of the Gospel according to St. John contains what is generally referred to as The Great Intercessory Prayer of Jesus wherein among several petitions he intercedes on behalf of his disciples. To quote: “I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours…but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.” And in the Apostle Paul’s First Epistle to Timothy we read: “First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgiving be made for everyone…so that we may

This Sunday we observe the feast of the Trinity, the only major Christian festival that features a doctrine of our faith rather than an event in its sacred history. It has been a feast day in the Western Church since the ninth century and it celebrates the central mystery of our faith because the doctrine of the Trinity alone informs us who God is. To quote one source: “It is the mystery of God in himself.” And where does the unfolding of this mystery begin? Like the entire sweep of the biblical account of our salvation history it begins in Genesis when God says: “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness… .” In other words, in the beginning there was a pluralism

In the Gospel according to St. Matthew (28:19) we read: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit….” This is known as the Great Commission. But how was it to be inaugurated and accomplished?

In biblical times there were several pilgrimage festivals a year in the Jewish tradition; the first of which was Passover, followed fifty days later by the Festival of Weeks. In Greek fiftieth translates as Pentecost. Consequently, fifty days (Pentecost) after Christ’s death and resurrection there was another occasion when Jews from around the Mediterranean area gathered in Jerusalem to observe a major religious and, in a sense, obligatory feast of their faith tradition. It is reasonably

From the Gospel according to St. John (Chapter 16:7) we read: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”  With these words, spoken to his disciples, Jesus foretells of two post resurrection events that they will eventually experience: his ascension into Heaven to be “exalted at the right of God”; and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The first of these events comes 40 days after Christ’s resurrection on Easter, and it is always a Thursday (indeed sometimes referred to as Holy Thursday); the second comes after 50

This Sunday is the Nation’s observance of Mother’s Day, and therefore it is perhaps fitting and timely to look to our patron saint, Mary, mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, for guidance and inspiration now that we are about to enter a new era under the leadership of a new rector.

In the course of Church history much has grown up around the persona of Mary theologically, dogmatically, and in terms of veneration. The New Testament records Mary’s presence approximately a dozen times; and she is one of two persons mentioned by name in the Nicene Creed. Throughout all these events and circumstances, she remained true to her “call” that God’s love would prevail. She was never shaken in her faith. And this sense of purpose as