Just days after Christ was born, the world began to fight against Him. Herod sought out to kill Him, just to maintain his power and influence over the people. Not much has changed in two thousand years. The world still hates God and His Church and is still trying to kill our children. An angel sent Joseph to protect the newborn Christ and His mother. Our job is to protect our children, bring them to Church, teach them to love the Lord and feel God’s love and protection.

For weeks leading up to the Feast of Christmas, the Church has been singing the hymn “Christ is Born; Glorify Him. Christ is come from Heaven; Encounter Him!” Now that Christmas has arrived, everything is reading for our encounter with Christ. The only thing that remains is for us to accept the invitation and have a real living encounter with Christ, not just on Christmas Day, but every day.

Each year on the Sunday before Christmas, the Church invites us to recall a long list of names which represents the human ancestry of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is much more than just a list of names, as the names call our mind to a long history of God’s prefect timing to rescue his people. Whether it be Adam in the Garden or Noah and the flood, God has never abandoned His people. Always at just the perfecting timing, He comes, and He will come again, to save us.

When we hear about healing miracles in the Gospel, we often forget that we are speaking about much more important issues than physical illness. As Christ explains in the Luke 13.10-17, with the story of the women who had been bent over for eighteen years, “whom Satan had bound,” the Scriptures speak of spiritual illness. For those looking on, although they were not physically ill, they were spiritually ill. This is the danger when we confuse our physical health with our spiritual health.

In the Gospel we hear about a blind beggar that, although he could not see with his yes, knew he was in the presence of God. He cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Once he spoke to Christ, his eyes were opened and he could see the face of Christ. With his eyes opened, he spent the rest of his life glorifying God, and those around him believed and were saved. That what it means to be a servant of God.

A Bible Study on the Book of Romans based upon the homilies of St John Chrysostom. Originally recorded Tuesday, November 27, 2018, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

http://www.LiveANewLifeInChrist.org/romans

When the Gospel speaks of a wealthy man who asked Christ, “What must I do to inherit eternal life,” after hearing the young rich man admit, “All these I have done since my youth,” the Gospel goes on to remind us that we each lack one thing. We can’t get to heaven depending on ourselves and upon our wealth and resources. He wants us to totally depend upon Him for everything. God doesn’t care how many rules we follow. He doesn’t care about how much money we give. He only wants us to be in Church. He wants to be “ALL IN.”

As we approach the American celebration of Thanksgiving, each year coincidentally, the Church brings our attention to the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke12.16-21) whose crops were so plentiful, he decided to tear down his barns to make room for larger barns rather than use his blessings to help others. Unfortunately for him, his soul was required of him that night and, as a fool, he was not prepared.

A Bible Study on "Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans", based upon the Homilies of St John Chrysostom.  Each session will feature chapter/verse study, interpretation from one of the greatest Church Fathers, a moral teaching, and a weekly “Life Application” to encourage us to Live A New Life In Christ during the week. You will be sure to be inspired by the words of “The Golden Mouth” St John.

A Bible Study on "Saint Paul's Letter to the Romans", based upon the Homilies of St John Chrysostom.  Each session will feature chapter/verse study, interpretation from one of the greatest Church Fathers, a moral teaching, and a weekly “Life Application” to encourage us to Live A New Life In Christ during the week. You will be sure to be inspired by the words of “The Golden Mouth” St John.