Frescos in St. George Church in Macedonia show Jesus and the harrowing of hell

From a sermon by St. Maximus of Turin, Bishop, 5th Century AD:

“I have caused an unfailing light to rise in heaven.”

And as in heaven no night can follow day, so no sin can overshadow the justice of Christ. The celestial day is perpetually bright and shining with brilliant light; clouds can never darken its skies. In the same way, the light of Christ is eternally glowing with luminous radiance and can never be extinguished by the darkness of sin. This is why John the evangelist says: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never been able to overpower it.’
Continue reading Holy Saturday Reflection from Palmer Maxwell: An unfailing light →

Icon of Christ’s Descent into Hell from an unknown Russian artist, c. 1500

The cross on which Jesus Christ was crucified is, and always will be, a sign that is ambiguous because it represents at one and the same time two seemingly contradictory realities: suffering and salvation.

Continue reading Good Friday Reflection from Palmer Maxwell: A bridge from death to life →

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action.

“And because there is only one you in all of time, this expression is unique.

“And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium…the world will not have it.

“It is not your business to determine how good it is, nor how valuable, nor how it compares with other expressions.

“It is your business to keep it yours clearly and directly, to keep the channel open.”

Martha Graham (1894-1991) was an American choreographer and dancer. Above: Martha Graham with her partner and husband Erick Hawkins in rehearsal in New York City in May, 1950. Other images show members of the Martha Graham Dance Co.