Category Archives: Praise

He is Risen: A reflection on the Resurrection of the Son of Man

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, Now and Ever and Forever. Amen! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!  Христос Воскресе! Воистину воскресе!  (Khristos voskrese! Voistinu voskrese!) My beloved in Christ,  Today, we celebrate the power and glory of our great God and Father who raised JesusContinue reading “He is Risen: A reflection on the Resurrection of the Son of Man”

Holy Saturday: Silence in the Tomb

It is written in the First Book of Kings that God said to St. Elijah the Prophet, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord: and behold the Lord passeth,” (1 Kings 19:11). Following this, St. Elijah in obedience ascended to the crest. When he got there, there was a strong wind, soContinue reading “Holy Saturday: Silence in the Tomb”

Putting the “Good” in Good Friday

What makes Good Friday “good?” It’s a common and seemingly innocuous question that sometimes occurred to me as a child. On the surface, the name seems like a misnomer. One interpretation points us in that direction—it is theorized that the term “Good Friday” originated from Old or Middle English, where the word “good” might haveContinue reading “Putting the “Good” in Good Friday”

Maundy Thursday: A Recentering of Our Hearts

As college students, we often find ourselves chasing after grades, jobs, expectations, and many other things. We feel rushed, needing to have everything under control. Within this high pressure culture, idolatry easily takes root in our hearts, leading us away from truly seeking God and living in obedience. As we go about this Holy WeekContinue reading “Maundy Thursday: A Recentering of Our Hearts”

Holy Wednesday: Reflection on the Nature of True Surrender

Last Friday, my pastor told my small group one of the most insightful truths I’ve heard: “Being a Christian isn’t about trying harder; it’s about surrendering more.”  Naturally, I began applying this idea beyond faith. As a Penn student, I am quick to sacrifice sleep, meals, enjoyment, and even my hair (as an engineering major)Continue reading “Holy Wednesday: Reflection on the Nature of True Surrender”

Returning to the Secret Place: Lessons from Holy Tuesday

While there are no clear dates written in the Scriptures, the Tuesday before Christ’s crucifixion, Holy Tuesday, is widely believed to have been the day that Jesus shared so many of what would become His final parables and teachings. Although Jesus speaks on many things—from doubtless faith that can move mountains (Matthew 21:21) to theContinue reading “Returning to the Secret Place: Lessons from Holy Tuesday”

The Garden of Gethsemane: Christ’s Perfect Humanity

The Garden of Gethsemane is one of the most intimate pictures of Christ’s perfected humanity throughout the gospels. The night Jesus was betrayed, he came to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with his disciples. I focus on how Jesus is both entirely human and perfect at Gethsemane, setting an example for how we areContinue reading “The Garden of Gethsemane: Christ’s Perfect Humanity”

The Son of Man: Embodied Humility

On Palm Sunday, we often think of Jesus Christ entering Jerusalem on a donkey with the Jewish crowds cheering, “Hosanna!” Yet, this story as frequently told, does not do justice to the prophetic power of this story.  This entrance into Jerusalem has been prophesied in the Old Testament, hundreds of years before Christ. Zechariah 9:9Continue reading “The Son of Man: Embodied Humility”

An Eye Towards Eternity

With wonder, the people of Judea spread the story in hushed excitement. Not two centuries after the revolt of Judas Maccabeus, a time of subjugation had befallen the Jewish people; the centurions of the Great Babylon tread on the streets of Jerusalem. There were rumors, as there often are in times like these, of forebodingContinue reading “An Eye Towards Eternity”