Author Archives: stmichaelssurrey

Sunday’s Reflection: Commemoration of William Wilberforce.  William Wilberforce was an English politician whose commitment to Jesus Christ made him lead a forty-year campaign for the emancipation of all slaves throughout the British empire. Wilberforce entered the House of Commons in … Continue reading →

Matthew chapter 12 is important because this is where Jesus is being challenged over and over by various groups of people. What we are reading today is some of the response to those ongoing challenges. Jesus used parables to teach … Continue reading →

Today’s lesson comes from a section in Matthew where John the Baptist and Jesus are talking about what Jesus’ ministry is going to be. John the Baptist had a different picture of what Jesus’ ministry would bring to the world. … Continue reading →

Welcoming Christ: Today, we hear Jesus telling the disciples about the work that they are going to do for Christ. Jesus tells them, 40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me.” Seems simple, but it … Continue reading →

Laborers, All of Us: Matthew 9:35 summarizes Jesus’ ministry in nearly the same words as 4:23, the introduction to the Sermon on the Mount.  Jesus goes about (1) teaching (2) proclaiming and (3) curing. Jesus commissions the disciples to become his partners in these activities (10:7-8). … Continue reading →

God’s Call Is a Call to Obey God’s Revelation: In Genesis 12,Abraham’s call began with God speaking to him. We don’t know exactly how this happened. Maybe, God spoke to him through a fiery bush, through a cloud, a blinding light, … Continue reading →

Sunday’s Reflection: The Trinity is a theological concept that speaks about our (Be) Longing into a community… The idea of God as three yet one is simply a description of how we shape and experience the love of God in our faith community: … Continue reading →

The Ascension is the fulfillment of Jesus’ conversation with the Father found here in the Gospel according to John. It is not just that he ascends into heaven somewhere beyond the clouds; Jesus re-enters into the full presence of God … Continue reading →

Some thoughts on today’s scripture – John 14: 15-21             Jesus is aware that the imminent loss of his physical presence will be a big blow for his disciples. He reassures them “‘I will not leave you orphaned”. The loss of … Continue reading →

Some thoughts on today’s scripture – John 14: 1-14      Last week Jesus shows us his divine nature by stating “I AM the gate of the sheepfold” along with other I Am sayings: …the bread of life…the living water…etc.  This passage (vs.6) … Continue reading →