Genesis 1:26-3126 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”27So God created man in his own image,    in the image of God he created him;    male and female he created them.28 And God bles...  Read More

Matthew 17:24-2724 When they came to Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax went up to Peter and said, “Does your teacher not pay the tax?” 25 He said, “Yes.” And when he came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do kings of the earth take toll or tax? From their sons or from others?” 26 And when he said, “From others,” Jesus said to him,...  Read More

Matthew 17:14-2014 And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, 15 said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he has seizures and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. 16 And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” 17 And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you...  Read More

Matthew 17:1-8And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4 And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I...  Read More

Matthew 16:24-26 24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?      The New Testament, ...  Read More

     In Matthew 16:18, Jesus tells Peter, “And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” This powerful and symbolic statement has been a subject of discussion and inspiration within the church. But what does Jesus mean when He refers to "this rock"?Peter, the Rock     The name Peter itself means 'rock,' and it's a name gi...  Read More

     In the Matthew 15:21-39, scripture offers a profound insight into Jesus' universal love, mercy, and compassion. As Jesus travels northward to Tyre and Sidon, He encounters a Canaanite woman who pleads for the healing of her daughter. This passage unveils profound truths that transcend time, ethnicity, and cultural barriers.     Despite her pagan background, this Canaanite woman recognizes Jes...  Read More

     Traditions play an essential role in defining our identity and heritage. They act as guideposts, leading us down paths trodden by those before us. But what happens when traditions become more important than the principles they were meant to uphold?     The chapter begins with a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees, who question Him about His disciples breaking the tradition of the el...  Read More

     God, in His boundless wisdom and love, often employs emblematic storms to shape His believers. These storms take two primary forms: storms of perfection and storms of correction. It's important to discern the nature of these storms, as they serve different divine purposes and impart distinct lessons to us.Storms of Perfection: Trusting in Divine Power Over Human Systems    The first type, sto...  Read More

Luke 15:25-3225 “Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out...  Read More

     In Matthew 14:1-21, we find one of the most powerful examples of handling grief, and the remarkable power of compassion, as portrayed by Jesus. This story demonstrates Jesus's reaction to the heart-wrenching news of the execution of his cousin, John the Baptist, followed by His miraculous feeding of the 5000. In the first part of the narrative (Matthew 14:1-12), we hear about the unjust behea...  Read More

Luke 14:28-33 For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it? 29 Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, 30 saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish.’ 31 Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and ...  Read More