Category Archives: Uncategorized

Sin and Worn Out Shoes

I’ve been married for nearly forty-three years: thanks be to God. Among the many things I’ve learned — some the easy way and too many the hard way — is this: in conversation with your beloved, you must always be … Continue reading

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The Ferocious Beast

The following parable is from The Wounded Healer by Henri Nouwen. Though AI was not on the horizon when he wrote, the modern, technological world was, and it was playing havoc with man’s mental and spiritual condition. I do not … Continue reading

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Introduction To The Apocrypha

Apostles Anglican ChurchFr. John A. Roop Introduction To The Apocrypha The Lord be with you.And with your spirit.Let us pray. Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, … Continue reading

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Introduction To The Apocrypha: Susanna

Apostles Anglican ChurchFr. John A. Roop Introduction To The Apocrypha: Susanna SUSANNA (Chapter 13 of the Greek version of Daniel) 1 There was a man living in Babylon whose name was Joakim. 2 He married the daughter of Hilkiah, named … Continue reading

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The Body

St Paul, reflecting on the plurality and untidiness of the communities that are springing up, is driven to conclude that what is happening in these assemblies (the Greek word we translate as ‘church’ originally meant something like a convocation, a … Continue reading

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Monastic Captivity

Following is an “opinion piece” that I recently read online: It’s hard for us to remember that people became saints and were able to live a “legitimate” spiritual life for nearly five centuries before the Church fell into it’s “monastic … Continue reading

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Confusion

From a letter written by C. S. Lewis to an Italian Roman Catholic priest and frequent correspondent: August 10, 1953 Dearest Father, I think almost all the crimes which Christians have perpetrated against each other arise from this, that religion … Continue reading

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Gratia in Momento

There is grace in every moment, grace sufficient for that moment: not grace as a theological abstraction, not grace as the general, favorable disposition of God, but grace as the presence and power of God working for good and for … Continue reading

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Ember Days

All throughout the discernment process for ordination and, indeed, all throughout my priesthood until this very day, a verse from Psalm 69 has been a haunting refrain and prayer. It is not coincidence, I am sure, that it was appointed … Continue reading

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How Much Larger

Are we alone in the universe? Certainly not: there are angels and archangels and all the company of heaven, and there are powers and principalities neither good nor even benign. The former aid us in the war we wage against … Continue reading

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