Darkened Glass Reflections

Category: Church Calendar: Holy Days and Seasons

  • Baptism: Deeper than the Water

    Baptism: Deeper than the Water

    Baptism is more than a bath. It is deeper than the water. Baptism makes visible our union with Christ. He takes our sin upon Himself. He pours His resurrection power, Spirit, and life upon us. We are united with Him. Scripture speaks frequently of the believer being “in Christ” and of Christ being in the…

  • Christmas: The Love of God Revealed To and Through Us

    Christmas: The Love of God Revealed To and Through Us

    The entire life of Christ—from conception, to birth, His earthly life and ministry, to His death, resurrection, and ascension—revealed the love of God. It was an invitation to unite the life of God with the lives of mankind. May His love guide us as we celebrate His life, not just on Christmas but throughout the…

  • St. John of the Cross: The Dark Night of the Soul and Knowing God

    St. John of the Cross: The Dark Night of the Soul and Knowing God

    This article shares some thoughts about growing in our knowledge of God as He reveals Himself to us in our hard times; for the commemoration of St. John of the Cross.

  • First Sunday of Advent: One Year, One Thing

    First Sunday of Advent: One Year, One Thing

    “If every year we would root out one vice, we would soon become perfect men.” In this post, I invite the reader to think of one sin that they want to overcome and commit it to the Lord in the coming year.

  • Feast of St. Andrew: Drawing People to Jesus

    Feast of St. Andrew: Drawing People to Jesus

    For the Feast of St. Andrew: The first apostle to follow Jesus was a man who led others to Christ without gaining recognition.

  • Ascension, Visitation, Pentecost: A Pro-Life Perspective

    Ascension, Visitation, Pentecost: A Pro-Life Perspective

    This article is based on a homily I shared yesterday at my church’s monthly Liturgy for the Preborn outside Planned Parenthood in Hempstead, NY. Since the feasts of Ascension, Visitation, and Pentecost were occurring close together, it provided an opportunity to reflect on how these three events in the life of Christ and the Church…

  • Lent and Fasting

    Lent and Fasting

    Some people will go through Lent and get nothing out of it. However, that is not because there is a problem with the season or the traditions associated with it. It is a problem with how that particular individual is approaching the situation. As we give up food or pleasures for Lent, let us take…

  • Spiritual Warfare XVIII: Concluding Thoughts

    Spiritual Warfare XVIII: Concluding Thoughts

    Spiritual warfare may not seem like it should be part of the Christmas message. However, Satan does not care about our calendar. He will attack whenever it is convenient for him. Life and hardship continue in spite of Christmas. In fact, we cannot remove Satan or the demonic from the Christmas story.

  • Ascension and Pentecost IV: The Ascended Christ Sends the Indwelling Spirit

    Ascension and Pentecost IV: The Ascended Christ Sends the Indwelling Spirit

    This conclusion to this series will show how the indwelling Holy Spirit provides our connection with the ascended Lord Jesus Christ and enables us to observe all that He has commanded us (Matthew 28:19–20).

  • Ascension and Pentecost III. The Gospel of Forgiveness

    Ascension and Pentecost III. The Gospel of Forgiveness

    One of the most important, and in many churches least emphasized, elements of Jesus’ post-resurrection teaching is the message of forgiveness. Yet, it is central to Jesus’ final instructions to His disciples, and it should be central to our message. As He prepared them for their forthcoming ministry, He said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If…