Jesus teaches us how to practice endurance and calm in the face of the death (Luke 21). Malachi (3,4) and St. Paul (2 Thesallonians 3) compare the arrogant and idle to the righteous who fear and serve God.

Christianity is a paradox and so are all of its major tenets, such as defeating death by death and saving one's life by losing it. Jesus explains that marriage does not belong in the Resurrection because there is no death in eternal life (Luke 20). Job knew the truth of the resurrection by explaining, my redeemer lives (Job 19). St. Paul explains how we too can participate in God's tradition of good works through faith, participating in the life of Christ (2 Thessalonians).

There is one church, in this age and in the age to come (Ephesians 1). Her members have become white in the blood of the lamb through their own sufferings in the tribulation, which is what we call the sufferings and persecutions of the current age (Revelations 7). We too can become members of that faithful body if we would only love our enemies (Luke 6).

Jesus emphasizes the condition of the heart in His parable about the Pharisee and the Tax Collector at prayer (Luke 18). Jeremiah's reminder of our need to repent and the effects of sin on the world around us are an example of the heart of humility (Jeremiah 16). St. Paul's Second letter to Timothy reminds us of our need to be vigilant of Godly teaching and Holy Living while remaining humble before each other and our Lord.

Jesus follows His teaching on the Second Coming with a reminder to pray always (Luke 18). Unceasing prayer is a habit that we can only acquire through the tenacity and perseverance Jacob displays as he faces his brother, Esau (Genesis 32). We can build the persevering habits of regular prayer and the study of Holy Scripture that St. Paul prescribes to St. Timothy for his ministry (2 Timothy 3-4), for our ministry is no different and requires no less.

Jesus heads to Jerusalem (Luke 17) to offer Himself as the final sacrifice. Ruth is an example of the sacrificial life devoted to God that St. Paul teaches Timothy (2 Timothy) is exemplified by the soldier, the athlete and the farmer.

Fr. Russ Smith shared the Good News of Christ's saving work among rural peoples in Chile. Citing St. Paul's Second Letter to Timothy, he described the importance of family, evangelism and discipleship among people who may only have access to Holy Communion once per year.

Unlike His previous parables in this sequence, Jesus uses specific names and places; Lazarus, Abraham, Moses and Hades (Luke 16:19-31). This ultimate summary of His radically new understanding of Sabbath Rest at God's banquet is hacked by Amos's reminder to grieve rebellion and St. Paul's admonishment to use wealth in the service of others (Amos 6:1-7; 1 Timothy 6:11-19).

Jesus continues to teach Sabbath rest that allows honest self-reflection and prudent planning for our future judgement (Luke 16:1-13). Amos warned against Sabbath rest that produced sin and famine from the Word (Amos 8:4-12). We too suffer from famine of the Word when we read the First Letter of Timothy and the traditional roles of men and women in the church. Be not mistaken, the women of the church midwife the faithful, from the myrrh-bearing women to St. Macrina and St. Monica to the women who pray with their children and read the word in their homes today.

In St. Luke, Chapter 15, Jesus answers the Pharisees' grumbling over sinners by telling the parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son. The Israelites were Lost in Exodus 32, when they decided to gather themselves according to their own desires. St. Paul had been lost in ignorance but was found by the patience of God and His desire to save all sinners (1Timothy 1).