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.
Jesus says this is “the Lord’s doing,” and it is “marvelous in our eyes.” That word marvelous matters. The proper response to the risen Son is not merely that we have understood the argument correctly. It is wonder. The one rejected by men has been chosen by God.
The Blessing of the Animals is an occasion for Christians to give thanks to God for the creatures he has made, to pray for animals entrusted to human care, and to remember our responsibility as stewards within God’s creation.
Michael fights, but the victory does not rest upon Michael. We resist, but the victory does not rest upon our spiritual strength. The saints conquer “by the blood of the Lamb.” That is where our confidence rests. When temptation exposes our weakness, the blood of the Lamb has not changed.
Michael and his angels truly fight, but Revelation itself identifies the decisive ground of victory: the blood of the Lamb. Angelic warfare serves the victory of Christ; it does not supplement it. Michael is not a second savior standing alongside Jesus.
The second son warns us that religious language can become a shelter from obedience. We may know what faithful Christians are supposed to say. We may know how to speak about forgiveness, generosity, prayer, holiness, service, and love. The question is whether our lives are following our confession.
That is what grace does. It does not merely forgive the old life and leave us sitting where we were. It calls us into a new one. Christ calls before Matthew follows. Christ gives before Matthew proclaims. And the same Lord still calls sinners today.