Our Journey

Thanks for joining with us!

Daily Readings from the Holy Scriptures of the day follow for you after these welcoming thoughts.

Original post was on Christmas Day – December 25, 2019 and reposted December 2021

From today’s Orthodox Christian Holy Scripture (Bible) in Matthew 1:18-25, we read ‘…”she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: “Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel” (which means, God with us).’

Today, we acknowledge the birth of Jesus Christ with the exclamation to each other “Christ is Born!”

Today, we recall the beginning of the “New Testament” of the Holy Scriptures.

Today, we give prayful thankgivings to the Holy Trinity, our Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, for the reality that “God …is…with …us”!

In future postings, we will return again and again to the fulfillment of Holy Scriptures Old Testament prophecies and teachings foretelling Jesus Christ, and as documented in the New Testament

Resolutions

My own New Year personal challenge is before me is from St. Paul’s First Letter to Timothy 6:11-16

“Timothy, my son,

aim at

righteousness,

godliness,

love,

faith,

steadfastness,

gentleness.

Fight the good fight of the faith;

take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

In the presence of God who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ;

and this will be made manifest (clear to us) at the proper time by the blessed and only Sovereign, and King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has ever seen or can see.

To Him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

Good News!

In today’s December 29, 2019 posting, we start to return to the earlier theme that Jesus Christ came among us and fulfilled the prophecies written in the Old Testament of the Holy Bible.

Today’s Bible Gospel reading is from St Luke 24:36-53

‘At that time, Jesus, having risen from the dead, stood in the midst of his disciples and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were startled and frightened; and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do questionings rise in your hearts? See my hands and feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, “These are my words which I spoke to you, while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you; but stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and they returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.’

Epistle (New Testament letter) Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians 1:11-19

St. Paul testifies that the Good News (Gospel) is revealed from Jesus Christ to him. The following excerpt is from St. Paul’s letter written to the members of the Church in Galatia (located in that area of the Mid-east now part of the country of Turkey)

Today’s Epistle reading

‘Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.