Lorica

Pentecost VIII 2024

Pentecost VII

Pentecost VI 2024

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. Today Our Lord sets forth the s...

“Henceforth ye shall be fishers of men” These are the Lord’s words to the Apostles, and to everyone who would follow him when they are called. “Go out to the nations, and shine as a lamp on a hill; drawing men out of the darkness and depths.” And yet, we often fish the night away and greet morning empty-handed. The net tears and breaks and we are left bruised and battered with nothing to show. Oft...

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. Behold the great mystery - the Herdsman who will not suffer even one of his flock to be lost, but will himself go into the brambles and thorns to retrieve them. Yea, though I walk the depths of the valley of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me. Fr. Patrick discusses spiritual warfare, the power of peace, and trust; and what God himself tells...

“I am the way, the truth, and the life” saith the Lord of Hosts, “except ye eat my flesh, and drink my blood, yet have no life in you.” Is it not said that we are as we eat? Is it not true that the matter we consume is the same matter of which we are comprised? .…is it really so surprising that the God of body and spirit should save us with the same means by which we fell? On this Blessed Feast of...

Supernatural Provision, prosperity, wealth, abundance. All of these have been promised by many in the name of our reading today. Some have even promised direct material gain from it. Riches, a new car, a full tank of gas, a pantry full of incredible delicacies. Will we really be given anything we ask for? Are there no limits to this promise? Ought we ask for anything at all? Today Fr. Patrick disc...

Christ is Risen! Alleluia! The Lord is risen from the dead, and has trampled death underfoot. How is it that we still experience sickness and sorrow? What last holdout must death have that we must pass through it to reach the Lord? Fr. Patrick talks about peace and joy reigning in the midst of sorrows. And finding Our King as he reigns among his enemies.

Christ is Risen! Alleluia! If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay. For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, a...

Lo the Blessed Cross is displayed Where the Lord in the flesh was suspended And by his blood from his wounds Cleansed and redeemed his Elect.

As Christ and his followers spend the week in prayer; the Enemy gathers his men for preparations of their own. The listless wanderers of the night at last set about to a purpose. The practitioners of impiety have suffered what little they can stand, and they will have payment for it. For they have never been known to forgive even the smallest of debts. “Behold: I set before you life, and death; bl...

“As was his custom” These are the words used by St. Luke the Evangelist to describe the prayer life of Christ. Yesterday we were given an example in Mary, sister of Lazarus, of piety, devotion, and sacrifice. But what of the Lord himself? Today Fr. Patrick discusses the piety and devotion of the Son of God. The perfect manifestation of the Law of God, who lacks nothing in his love for the Father a...

“But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” The age in which we live seeks to divorce Religion and Spirit. To put a rift between a heartfelt, genuine faith - and any real, tangible acts or expressions of that faith. “Be spiritual, not religious” is a maxim found on many street corners and rear windshields. But who can actually separate thes...

“Let the proud be confounded, for they go wickedly about to destroy me; but I will be occupied in thy commandments. I am small and of no reputation; yet do I not forget thy commandments.” Behold: the Humble and Holy Man. He who fills the hungry with good things, but sends the rich away empty. Who puts down the mighty from their seat, and exalts the humble, and the meek. Fr. Patrick today reflects...

Our Lord is on the battlefield, sword in hand; and is making his way to the place of his ultimate victory. Met with the propaganda of his enemies today, he proclaims the certainty of their doom, and sets the terms for those who would ally with him in the great battle. Fr. Patrick discusses faith, unity, and the call to action today. It is not enough to not be evil. It will not do simply not to hur...

As we march the long and winding road to Jerusalem and Good Friday, surrounded by penitent reminders of what is to come. We are given a curious detour up Mt. Tabor. And though it is not given full celebration until later in the year, we witness the Transfiguration of Our Lord. One last brilliant revelation before the darkest moment that will ever come to pass. Fr. Patrick talks about faith and hop...

“The Lord hath put on his apparel, and girded himself with strength” Lo, the time for battle has come! Into the wilderness our Great Champion has gone before us, and we are to follow. For who is God beside the Lord? Who teaches our hands to make war, and makes bronze bows of our arms. He has set out to destroy all those who would harm his creation. “I shall pursue and overtake them, and will not t...

“Cursed is the ground in your labors. In toil you shall eat from it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field.” The seed of the Gospel has been scattered in every direction, and it shall land on every heart. But it is up to us to till the ground and prepare to receive it. We must drag away the heavy rocks, and break th...

Fairness. Equality. Justice. We call out for these things ceaselessly. We constantly seek after and await the prize we have decided is our due reward. But what happens when the scales are really balanced? When every person is given an equal share of the perfect, loving, overwhelming, generosity of God are we really satisfied? When our brother is restored to a new inheritance, having already squand...

To whom is salvation promised? In whom do the Saints find joy and rest? What does a faithful community look like? “I thank God upon my every remembrance of you.” These are the words which begin St. Paul’s address to the Church at Phillipi. And they are followed by all manner of confident and joyful proclamations from the Great Apostle concerning both their conduct, and their trajectory. Today Fr....

The Lord will surely come, and will not tarry. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will manifest himself to all nations. Why must so much be hidden from us? Truth is often so shrouded in mystery, and buried beneath symbols and types, that we can hardly see it at all. Fr. Patrick takes on the device of parable itself today, and sheds some light on darkness as a vessel for the t...

The Day of Candlemas. When at long-awaited last the Ancient of Days returns to his Temple in Jerusalem. He who came down to Moses in a Pillar of Wind and Flame again meets face to face with the keeper of the sacred doors.… As Salvation himself is cradled and presented, the First Age looks upon him with peace. At long last his time has run its course; and the darkened eyes of the Old Man find rest...

“If God is good, why is there evil?” “If God is all-knowing, how has an enemy snuck something by him?” These questions have plagued Christians since the very beginning, and can be not only disheartening, but destructive to our faith if we are not careful. Today Fr. Patrick presents the answer the Lord himself gives in the Scriptures; along with some hope-filled refreshment for the long road of lif...

Epiphany IV 2024