Break Open the Word

The Sixth Sunday of Easter, 29 May 2011 Acts 17:22-31 Psalm 66:7-18 I Peter 3:13-22 St. John 14:15-21                                                                                         BACKGROUND: The Missionary Journeys of Paul The first reading for Sunday tells of an incident during Paul’s Second Missionary Journey (49-52) and his sermon in Athens.   These journeys, there were three of them, lasted from 46 through 58, and comprise the most active features of Paul’s life.   They were fundamental in pointing the early church away from a Palestinian...

The Fifth Sunday of Easter, 22 May 2011 Acts 7:55-60 Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16 I Peter 2:2-10 St. John 14:1-14                                                                                         BACKGROUND: The Diaconate One of the notable changes in church life in the last century was the revival of the diaconate as a permanent vocation.   In the past, candidates for the priesthood were first ordained to the transitional diaconate, and then ordained to the priesthood.   Although that still obtains, there are those now who are called to the permanent diac...

The Fourth Sunday of Easter, 15 May 2011 The Fourth Sunday of Easter Acts 2:42-47 Psalm 23 I Peter 2:19-25 St. John 10:1-10                                                                                         BACKGROUND: The Sundays of Easter Although we are in the midst of Eastertide, it is not too late to talk about the Great Fifty Days that stretch from Easter Day to the Ascension of our Lord and finally to Pentecost (Fiftieth).   The starting point (Pesach) and the ending point (Pentecost) are both based on Jewish festivals.   The Sund...