Wednesday, February 4th 2026
Of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
• 2Samuel 24:2, 9-17
• Psalm 32:1-2 & 6-7
• John 10:27
• Mark 6:1-6 The people that heard the Lord Christ Jesus teach were astonished! Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, in a way, the people of his hometown had formed their opinion about him, and this new Jesus, the carpenter’s son, in no way fit into their ideas of what Jesus of Nazareth should be; they were astonished. They likely questioned among themselves: how can this carpenter’s son be teaching at the synagogue such things; where did he learn them! Jesus the Lord and Christ was like Saint Paul, he was not taught his doctrine; whereas it was revealed to him! Now, the scribes and Pharisees, we know that the temple doctrine that they taught was written by men and for the protection of institutions; whereas, God’s word is the Gospel of the Lord Christ Jesus and it is spirit and life, and meant for the salvation of souls and God’s word is eternal. The Pharisees and scribes were truly pieces of work; to understand: they went as far as to instruct the people, likely at the synagogues and not the Temple, for the synagogues are where most of the instruction took place; it was where they were supposed to be reading the laws of Moses to the people. However instead of being faithful to the Law of Moses, the rabbis would invent convenient falsehoods that sounded like sound doctrine, but in itself was blasphemy against God the Heavenly Father’s commandments. In one such teaching, the Lord Christ Jesus testifies: why do you transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? In short, the scribes and Pharisees decided among themselves that if the people wanted not, to honor their father and mother they could: but only if and as long as the help and the substance and the honor that they were required by God to give to their parents was instead given to the Temple or the synagogues, which the Lord Christ Jesus quickly reminded them: the people who curse their father and mother, let them die the death. The Pharisees, scribes and Rabbis went as far as to say to the Jewish people coming to them for instruction that they would be free, if they dishonored their parents as long as they made this gift to the Temple, Jesus saying: you have made the commandment of God to have no place in your tradition and to have no effect in and by your tradition; therefore, in effect the leaders caused the people to err. Yes Christians and elsewhere we read, God saying that he takes no pleasure in burnt offerings, that meaning, sacrifice, but keep my word; truly, God the Heavenly Father said of his son the Lord Christ Jesus, behold this is my Son in whom I am well pleased, and the Lord Christ Jesus kept God the Heavenly Father’s word and he was and is God the Heavenly Father’s word. Yes Christians, this next verse, is a verse that can befuddle, but Mary was a virgin and Mary is blessed among women and Mary was the mother of the Lord Christ Jesus and she is also the mother of all disciples. Still, individuals either rightly or for their own reasons, reasons that need not be: for Mary was and is the Lord Christ Jesus’s mother and is blessed: still, this verse instructs us that Jesus, the Son of Mary along with His brothers James, Joses, Juda and Simon and his sisters – the sisters were not named, but is it not wonderful that Jesus had sisters! So we have mystery and proclamations that need not be: for Jesus is Christ, Mary was full of grace and she was a Virgin and Jesus had brothers: James, Joses, Juda, Simon and he had sisters, which in no way takes anything from the Virgin Mary our Blessed Mother nor does it take anything from the Lord Christ Jesus; Jesus being the word made flesh. Then, Christians in another line of testimony, Jesus the Christ testifies that a prophet is not without honor, but those in his own country, his kin, and those of his own house, they hold sacred their own beliefs and cannot stand to be wrong about the impressions they held about the Lord Jesus, so they honored Jesus not as the Son of God! So Christians, this visit to his own country ended up with the Lord Christ Jesus being marvelled at the people’s unbelief; there were a few of the sick who were healed, but then Jesus travelled onto other villages teaching the kingdom of heaven. Jesus, the Lord Christ, the Lord Messiah and Savior took up the testimony of John the Baptist, for it was his testimony before it was John’s: repent and believe in the Gospel for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Now, Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.

Wednesday, February 11th 2026
Of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
• 1 Kings 10:1-10
• Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, & 39-40
• John 17:17
• Mark 7:14-23 Christians, when the Lord Christ Jesus teaches that nothing that enters us from the outside can defile that person, he is not saying that our habits and our behaviors -- will not be shaped by those who we associate. For indeed, as Saint Paul testifies, be not deceived: evil communications and bad company does and will corrupt good morals and good character! Truly, the Lord Christ Jesus is testifying to a spiritual understanding of what the Pharisees, scribes, and those who try to skirt the word of God actually is in practice; so individuals can pretend to be in merit. Yet, their merit is lip service not serving and worshiping only God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Yet, such disobedience makes it, so God’s word finds no place: in given traditions and doctrine and in the day-to-day living of people; it is blasphemy. Then Christians, as we go further in this testimony from Mark, Christ Jesus ask the Apostles: “Are even you likewise without understanding, but also, elsewhere says: to you, my Apostles, it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.” Therefore, know this Christians, Christ Jesus asks this questions several times to his Apostles, but he is not nagging them as some may stipulate but is saying: these things you have received -- not only with your mind but with your heart and Christ Jesus wanted them to be aware of what he knew that they had received and also that they likewise knew what they had received, but were yet unsure in their spirituality. So these things preceding are an explanation to what the Lord Christ Jesus is saying about the things that defile us: it is not the things that go into us from the outside but are the things that come out of us. Moreover, this explains the Pharisees complaining about unwashed hands of the disciples before eating and how they suggested it defiled, but then how the Lord Christ Jesus takes this practical teaching of washing hands and testifies to the truth of life: Jesus teaching us that the things that defile us are what come out of our hearts: such as evil thoughts, unchastity, promiscuity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness—selling oneself to sin, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. Such evil things as these that come from within are the things that defile us. As well, Christians, since adultery is on this list given to us, by the Lord Christ Jesus, we also know that these evil things coming from within us also defile: fornication, homosexuality, men taking up things that pertain to women, bestiality, and yes looking at a person with lust in our hearts is also adultery. So now Christians, let us turn to the testimony from the Book of Kings and the fact that the Queen of Sheba had heard of King David’s son, Solomon’s fame. As it is with the way of these individuals, Sheba brought a very great train, a retinue, with her: spices, gold, precious stones and she shared her heart with Solomon. It is unfortunate that the author of the Book of Kings did not explicitly express the exact questions of the day; almost as if, he expected the reader to understand the very questions that maybe and are typically asked in such meetings. Yet, Christians, we should also consider that the text does say that Sheba shared her heart, which is more than talk of customs and trade! So with assumption let us presume that Sheba and Solomon had a completely candid conversation. They talked about the God of creation; they talked about his law and the covenant that God had made with the Israelites; they may have talked of Solomon’s ancestors: Abraham, Jacob-Israel, Ruth and Boaz and they may have talked of Solomon’s father, King David. Of course, we have heard the rumor or suggestions and there is some evidence that Sheba became of follower of the one true God and even gave birth to a child, who continued in that tradition: we should not ignore these things, but we cannot say they are certain either. This next statement that says: King Solomon explained everything she asked is very open and ambiguous. Still, again with a little analysis we can construct some of the likely questions that Sheba may have asked. Of course, we cannot say that these questions were asked, but only that there is a probability. Sheba likely asked many things about human behavior; since she shared her heart with King Solomon. Sheba may have asked him, whatever gave you the idea to split the child in two, so as to test the two women who had come before you! Solomon may have answered; I felt the presence of God and the idea came to me and I tried it to see what would become: the true mother revealed herself, while the lying woman also revealed herself. Then the Sheba Queen may have inquired about the Temple that was built and the palace that Solomon built; yes, in the sharing of one’s heart she may have asked these and many more questions. When the time for the visit to King Solomon was coming to an end the Queen of Sheba stated plainly: blessed are your men, blessed are your servants and they stand before you to listen to your wisdom. Now Christians before we speak of Sheba going home; let us consider one extraordinary thing the testimony of Solomon teaches us: there is not enough wealth in the world to equal the soul of a man. For Solomon truly had all the wealth of the world, but yet he chose to be disobedient to truth. Not for the pleasure, for Solomon had that kind of pleasure and beyond measure; rather, it was because he grew weary of his heathen wife’s nagging and he committed idolatry to appease her, which started the cascade of the divided kingdom and the dispersion. Still, Sheba the Queen left Solomon and went to her home country and was the better for her visit. Whereas, King Solomon continued in his judgment and justice. Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.

Wednesday, February 18th 2026
Aah Wednesday
• Joel 2:12-18
• Psalm 31:3-5, 12-14 & 17
• 2 Corinthains 5:20 — 6:2
• Psalm 95:8
• Matthew 6:6, 16-18
Christians, what is Christ Jesus teaching his disciples and what are we to learn: it is clear; the person who does an act of charity to be notice and to receive laud is not doing this righteous deed: out of love or even to make amends but for self-gratification. To God the Heavenly Father and His Son the Lord Christ Jesus it means nothing: they take no pleasure in such offerings and there is no forgiveness in such spectacles. Such spectacles are meant by the individual to bolster their public image, to feel superior, but in truth they know their own cheapness -- no matter the extravagance of the deed and instead of merit of goodness they show themselves to be a tree that cannot bring forth good fruit – no matter the grandiose nature of the display. Now Christians, let us turn now to the testimony from Joel! In this first line, in this testimony from Joel, we are seeing, the: what and how and why and when and we should realize that with God it is the same today, yesterday and forever. Yes, God is saying to return and to return means to repent, repent with your whole heart, with weeping and mourning; rend your hearts -- not your garments and return to the Lord God the Heavenly Father, the creator of all that is seen and unseen and known and unknown. Christians, ask yourselves why God our creator wants us to repent of our sins and turn away from preferring the darkness and to turn away from idolatry. Truly, it is because God knows his creation better than we ourselves can ever know ourselves: indeed, we were created in the image, of holiness, in God’s own image, and when we or any person does not embrace this image, we only cause harm to ourselves in degree but ultimately, according to the Lord Christ Jesus unless we repent, we will all perish. Now because God knows his creation better than the person can know themselves: this is also why Saint Paul, Apostle testifies, to the Philippians: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” As well, Christians, in honor of the Lord Christ Jesus let us remember what he tells to the Samaritan woman, saying: you worship, you know not what; we know what we worship: for salvation is of and comes from the Jews. The Lord Christ Jesus then saying: God is Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and truth. The Lord Christ Jesus also testifies that the word he testifies is of spirit and life. Therefore, consecrate us Lord Christ Jesus in truth; your words, God the Heavenly Father, are truth. Christians, as we continue, there is also a parallel when Joel says: who knows, perhaps if he will return and repent and leave a blessing behind him: whereas, Saint Paul, Apostle says unto Timothy in kindness we testify to Christ Jesus’s gospel of spirit and life, and perhaps God may grant that a person will repent and come to know the truth. For although, in the Johannine Epistles the testimony is: if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. However, this statement is addressing the fact that we all have sinned and if we say we have not, then the truth is not in us: it is saying that sin is not welcomed, but if we are faithful to repent, confess and turn away from our sins, then we will be forgiven. Whereas, both in Joel and the letter to Timothy it is a perhaps and a maybe God will grant them repentance: in Joel to the Israelites who knew God the Heavenly Father: in Timothy to those who are quarrelsome, Saint Paul stating, “God knows those who are his, and that every person that names the name of the Lord Christ Jesus they are to depart from iniquity, unrighteousness and depart from sin and sinfulness and this is also what Joel is saying but in different terms, Joel saying: turn unto the Lord God the Heavenly Father for he may relent that is turn away from letting his wrath fall upon them. Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.

Wednesday, February 25th 2026
Of the First Week of Lent
• Johan 3:1-10
• Psalm 51:3-4, 4-12, & 18-19
• Joel 2:12-13
• Luke 11:29-32
Christians, Jesus Christ testifies to the people that this is an evil generation, but we should not consider this word generation to be – only the people who were living during the time while Christ Jesus walked on the earth, but rather, the Lord Jesus Christ is referring to people before the Virgin’s birth and up until the time that the Lord Christ Jesus comes again to judge the living and the dead: this then is the correct meaning, of this evil generation, too that Christ Jesus is testifying. We should also look at a couple of verses that show the exact nature of what is of Christ Jesus and then also: what is of false prophets and false advocates and false teachers; although in both of these examples they are addressing singular individuals, yet there is a broader understanding of the language, too that the Apostle’s did testify. To wit: there was a certain man named Simon, who bewitched the people of Samaria. Now, this Simon saw that by the laying on of hands, by Simon-Peter, Christ Jesus’s Rock on whom he did build his Church, that the Holy Ghost, namely, the Holy Spirit was given unto them. Now Christians, this is the important language to notice, so as to get the correct understanding of our ministry and the ministry in Christ Jesus: for Saint Peter, Apostle turned to this Simon, this Simon who had bewitched the people with his sorceries, and said unto him: your money perish with thee, because you have thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Then Saint Peter, the Apostle continued; you have neither part nor lot in this matter: for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Christians, this phrase: not being right in the sight of God is used as the most extreme and eternal consequences to a person’s disobedience toward God’s and Christ Jesus’s gospel of spirit and life. The second example is even more emphatic in language, sharp to the point of blindness. Now, this language can be misunderstood, but Saint Luke the writer of The Book of Acts, yes, the same Luke who wrote the Gospel of Luke, tells us: that Paul and Barnabas came across a certain man named Elymas, (which is interpreted as a sorcerer), a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-jesus, this Bar-jesus was with the deputy of the country. We can rightly say that Elymas preferred the darkness for he resisted hearing the gospel of light, Christ Jesus’s Gospel of spirit and life. Now after, Elymas continued to stand against Saint Paul, Apostle and Barnabas, the Apostle Paul being filled with the Holy Spirit, set his eyes upon him, and said unto him: Elymas you are filled with all subtilty and all mischief, you are a child of the devil and you are an enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord God the Heavenly Father and His, Son the Lord Christ Jesus, the way, the truth, and the life? Now Christians, hear this language for it is important to know: Saint Paul, Apostle said: behold the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing for a season. With Saint Paul’s pronouncement blindness, immediately fell upon Elymas, sorcerer and false prophet and he went about seeking some person to lead him by the hand. While Sergius Paulus, the deputy, a prudent man having heard the gospel of spirit and life was astonished at the doctrine of the Lord God, the Lord Christ Jesus. So, now Christians, referring back to the Gospel of Luke, we see the Lord Christ Jesus testifies that it is an evil generation that seeks a sign; whereas, our life is not of signs but is of Christ Jesus’s gospel of spirit and life: they are the spirit of truth; they are of complete joy; and they are of a peace that goes beyond all understanding. Moreover, they are the promise of eternal life; the hope that has been given since before the ages began. Now Christians, although these two incidents prayed about here may be referred to as signs, in the true nature of signs they were not that, but were occurrences that came to be in the matter of the course of the day. Now Christians, in the name of the Lord Christ Jesus let us pray and be thankful. Amen.