Saint Matthias, Apostle

A snail and crabapple blossoms meditate on John 15:16: "I chose you from the world to go and bear fruit that will last."
โ€œSaint Matthias, Apostleโ€
John 15:16, adapted from the Communion Antiphon
Feast of Saint Matthias, Apostle
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from usโ€”one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.โ€ And

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No Greater Love

โ€œNo Greater Loveโ€
John 15:13
Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B)
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:11

Greater love has no one than this: 
to lay down oneโ€™s life for oneโ€™s friends.

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I AM the True Vine

โ€œI AM the True Vineโ€
John 15:1
Fifth Sunday of Easter (Year B)
ยฉ๏ธ2021 Gloria M. Chang

You brought a vine out of Egypt;
you drove out nations and planted it.

Psalm 80:8 (9)

I AM the true vine,
and my Father is the vine grower.

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Following Christ

The Crucifixion, Mosaic in the Monastery of Hosias Lukas.

5th Week of Easter, Saturday

โ€œIf the world hates you, realize that it hated me first.โ€

John 15:18

From the moment of Christโ€™s birth, danger loomed as news of an infant king reached the ears of King Herod.… Read the rest

What is Friendship?

Russian icon, The Mystical Supper (early 14th century). Fresco in Vatopedi Monastery, Mt. Athos.

5th Week of Easter, Friday

John 15:12-17

โ€œI have called you friends.โ€

Extraordinary words uttered by Jesus. Greek philosophers like Aristotle had already proven for centuries that friendship with the gods was impossible.… Read the rest