Reflections

Education - A ministry of the Church Acts 18:24-28 Elizabeth Mathews Epiphany MTC, NY On his arrival he greatly helped those who through grace had become believers, 28  for he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Messiah [ b ] is Jesus.   Tell me and I will forget, Show me and I will remember, Involve me and I will understand                            …. a Chinese proverb Apollos was an eloquent man born in Alexandria a place dominated by Jews, and known to be a city of scholars. Have a Conviction : “know your fundas” this was what one of my professors wrote on the board at the beginning of his class. Knowing your fundamentals gives you an understanding to the root of the subject. We as Christians need to have this understanding to have a conviction. Apollos, we see had firm belief...

Education – A Ministry of the Church Nehemiah 8:1-8 Jaunita John Epiphany MTC, NY 8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. Many of us are blessed with the ability to go out into the world, pursue a calling, and excel in our respective vocations. As we choose to shoulder the responsibilities that accompany these life decisions, our primary objective through it all should be to exemplify Christian values and—whether through words or by actions—clearly instruct others in how to live a godly life.   Ezra, a priest and a teacher of the law, received the task of bringing out the Book of the Law of Moses. Ezra faithfully read aloud from the Book from daybreak until noon to an attentive assembly. The audience listened as Ezra read from a high wooden platform, where all could see him. Ezra praised God and the people worshipped. Furthermore, the Levites read from the Book o...

Education – A Ministry of the Church Titus 2:1-5   Mathew Lukose Epiphany MTC, New York 1.But as for you, teach what is consistent with sound doctrine. Apostle Paul is instructing Titus to teach doctrines that will mold healthy church and healthy families. A healthy church consists of both young and old members. In this passage we see that it deals with older women encouraging younger women to live the proper Christian life.  In Jesus Christ, not only are the barriers between race and sex removed, but also barriers between age groups are expunged. Today the world is so engrossed in false doctrine that is having negative results on the moral conduct of the people, especially in the realm of the home.  Today’s passage highlights the important responsibility God has given us to spread His word in view of the many false teachings. Sound Christian doctrine not only brings us in to an intimate relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ; but also equips u...

Peace in the midst of violence Matthew 5:38-48 Rev. Shibi Abraham Youth Chaplain, North East Region 45 so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. One of the reasons why during our Holy Communion service the priest says “Peace be with you all.” is because peace is one of the most sought after things in the world.  As individuals and as communities we have so much material wealth but we lack peace.  The salvation that Jesus Christ offers includes peace (John 14:27 – Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give you, I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.)  This is the peace that enabled David to write in Psalms 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff – they comfort me. ...

Peace in the Midst of Violence Romans 8:18-28   Shannon Thomas Long Island MTC, New York  18 I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. Before last week, many of us may have never heard the name Omran Daqneesh. However, in recent events, Omran Daqneesh became the face that represented thousands of children killed and injured in the midst of brutal civil war. Omran Daqneesh is a five-year-old boy who was pulled out of a damaged building from an airstrike that struck the war torn country of Syria. The photo of Omran posted all throughout media is one where he is covered in dust, smeared in blood, and sitting in the bank of ambulance, completely dazed and seemingly in shock. One of the cameramen that captured footage of Omran being pulled out of rubble said, “he did not say a thing. He was traumatized from the shock… He did not scream, he did not call anyone…. with his innocence, ...

Peace in the Midst of the Storm Ephesians 6:10-20 Mrs. Neethi Prasad  w/o Rev. Christopher Daniel Bethel MTC, Frankfort, IL 12 For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.   There were once two parents who used to cover the eyes of their only child whenever there was a fight, quarrel, or action-oriented scene in the movies they were watching together. So, according to the child, movies had no struggles, no fights, no bad times, and everything was happy and good all the time. Growing up, this child always compared his life to the movies and thought that there would be no struggles in life. Similarly, he grew up to believe that everything in life was going to be one smooth ride with everything ending in happiness. When we read and study the Word of God, we are taught that while w...

Peace in the midst of Violence Romans 12:14-21   George Abraham Long Island MTC, NY 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. News of violence and radical movements has filled the media these days. Regardless of where we are, we are in a constant state of alert, triggered from fear. It is quite common to see and hear people treat each other as if they are the enemy when it seems one's way of life is threatened. Such is the behavior we see all around world. The answer to any injustice has been violence and it triggers a domino effect of violence causing such harm to humanity than ever can be imagined. As a result hatred grew between religious groups, countries, people of different colors and race. As Christians living in midst of this turmoil, we should be mindful of who we are and what is our purpose in this world. As it says in Mathew 5:9, Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. How can we as Christians be the...

Peace in the midst of Violence 1 Samuel 24:1-12 Moncy Mathews Baltimore MTC, MD 5 Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his (Saul’s) robe… 12 May the Lord judge between you and me. And may the Lord avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you. Peace hardly makes the news in the world we live in today; rather the trendy news usually involves violence. There is so much violence within our community, neighboring homes, schools and ironically even in churches. Violence has permeated so much in our society and culture, it has become a lifestyle and we have been de-sensitized to it. We need to reform this type of thinking. Reformation of a lifestyle has to begin first internally by the renewal of one’s mind, becoming “conscience-stricken” people. Before we examine the violent tendencies of the people around us, let us first take an inward look at ourselves and correct the destructive thoughts and habits that plague ...

Peace in the midst of Violence Psalms 1   Gracious John  St. Andrews MTC Yonkers, NY 1. Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take  or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.   Do we think we are blessed? No, not the car we drive or the driveway we park it in, or our family life, or the job that pays for everything, but us... are we blessed? Blessed comes from  esher  (content or happy) and esher comes from  ashar  (right or straight). It reminds us to be content with our circumstances and to walk honest, clean, and pure lives. It mentions nothing of what we foolishly and readily substitute as blessed. To  be  blessed requires us to refrain from that which God disapproves. The psalmist uses three main verbs: walk, stand, and sit. This is the pat...

Peace in the Midst of Violence. 1 Thessalonians 3: 6-10 Sherly Thomas St. Thomas MTC, New York 6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love. He has told us also that you always remember us kindly and long to see us—just as we long to see you . The book of 1st Thessalonians is a letter from Paul which provides a close look at the personal relationship Paul had with the Thessalonian Church. Paul had left Thessalonica abruptly after a rather brief stay. Recent converts from paganism were thus left with little external support in the midst of persecution. Paul’s purpose in writing this letter was to encourage the new converts in their trials and to give instruction concerning godly living. Paul expresses his concern for Thessalonian’s faithfulness. He was fearful that Satan will take the opportunity to tempt them in their afflictions and his labor would be in vain. So Timothy was sent to establish and encoura...

The Sacrament of Holy Qurbana Luke 22:7-20 Rev. Denny Philip Diocesan Secretary “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood."   The synoptic gospels, the first three gospels, narrate the story of Jesus celebrating the Passover meal with His disciples. The passage vividly narrates event as well as clearly expresses the faith of the early Christian community who participated it. The Holy Qurbana as the foretaste of the Kingdom: The sacrament of Holy Communion is an experience where Jesus offers the foretaste of the kingdom which was the content of the teachings of Jesus. Kingdom was not only a futuristic experience. In their times of struggle, the early Christian community was able to experience the future in the present. It is this experience of the future in the present that gives hope and enthusiasm to the present life. Holy Qurbana as the enactment of celebration on the cross: In the sacrament of Holy Communion, the Christian co...

The Supremacy of the Word of God Hebrews 10:32-39 Stacy Babu Mathew Christos MTC - Pennsylvania 38 but my righteous one will live by faith. My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.”39 But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved .   If we look out into the world today, we are bombarded with chaos. The world is changing and we can see the signs of the second coming of Jesus Christ. As believers we were told that our lives would be harder and that we would face tribulation (John 16:33), but we are also reminded that we serve a God that has overcome the world.  How can we push forward in our world today? How can we as Christians use the promise of divine strength, courage and grace to face the challenges and storms that we are engulfed in? We all face unpleasant situations everyday. These unpleasant experiences can come out of any area of our life. In these times of tribul...