Husband, father, and Anglican priest living in the North Georgia Mountains. Sermons, reflections, and articles promoting the "Ancient Faith for Modern Times". Subscribe below to get the latest posts in your inbox.
The servant wants two kingdoms at once: mercy for himself and strict accounting for everyone else. Jesus says the life of the Kingdom cannot be divided that way. Christian forgiveness begins by remembering the King.
“You Have Gained Your Brother.” Matthew 18:15–20. Jesus gives the Church a way to confront sin without gossip, speak truth without cruelty, and exercise discipline for restoration. The goal is not to prove that we were right. The goal is to gain our brother.
“Get Behind Me.” Matthew 16:21–27. Peter confesses the right Christ but tries to lead him away from the cross. The disciple’s place is behind Jesus. The road is cross-shaped, but the destination is glory.
August 24: Feast of Bartholomew the Apostle. Before Philip called him, Jesus had already seen him. The collect asks the Church to love what Bartholomew believed and preach what he taught. The kingdom of God does not depend on our prominence.
August 24: Saint Bartholomew. The collect asks two things: love what he believed, preach what he taught. Not a rehearsal of his martyrdom. Not a chronicle of his mission. Just belief and proclamation; the whole apostolic vocation in a single petition.
Matthew 16:13–20. The disciples worshiped Jesus in the boat two weeks ago. What is different at Caesarea Philippi? Peter adds the messianic title. There is no new miracle in this scene. And Jesus names the Father as the source: flesh and blood has not revealed this.