Jesus Anointed at Bethany

Reading: John 12:1-11 Reflection: The Instagram page @land_geist recently posted maps from a Pew Research Center study from 2018 on Europeans who believe in God with absolute certainty and those who say that their faith is very important in their lives. Our country is highly positioned in both researches, ranking first and second. The results of the Corruption Perception Index (Source: Transparency International, 2022) were also published. In this study, we ranked third, just behind Russia and Ukraine. There will surely be those who conclude that this poor ranking on the corruption scale is due […]

Continue reading

Tortured under Pontius Pilate

Reading: Tortured under Pontius Pilate (Apostles’ Creed) Reflection: As I write this, the thought comes to mind that the story of the Old Bridge in Mostar and its creation can serve as an illustration for what I want to say. I’m not sure if that’s the case, but I’ll tell the story anyway. It was long believed that the bridge took nine years to build, but today the prevailing opinion is that it was built in one season. This quick construction project was preceded by eight long years of thinking, preparation, and failed attempts by […]

Continue reading

Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary

Reading: Conceived by the power of the holy spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Apostle’s Creed) Reflection: The Christian faith is grounded in the historical event in time, of the man, Jesus of Nazareth. This article of the Creed points us to the beginning of that history, a beginning that the Church celebrated only a few days ago, on March 25, at the Feast of the Annunciation. Our Orthodox brothers and sisters will celebrate this feast on 7 April, so if you missed it you get a second chance! In the Evangelical (or Pentecostal / […]

Continue reading

Conceived by the Holy Spirit, Born of the Virgin Mary

(Published for the first time on 28.03.2020.) Reading: “Conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary” (Apostles’ Creed); Luke 1:31,34 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. (…) “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” Reflection: Yesterday alone, almost 1000 people died in Italy. The number of infected people in the US has surpassed the number in China. In our country, the number of infected people is increasing with more testing. In the past week, we have been […]

Continue reading

I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord (II)

Reading: I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord (Apostles Creed) Reflection: I try to use this creed, the Apostles’ Creed, at least once each day as part of my prayer times. Although these words are not my own, I’ve come to appreciate the reality that prayer is too important for me to do it on my own. Attempting to sustain a life of prayer based on my own thoughts and ideas, no matter how close to God or how filled with His Spirit I may be, simply leads me to re-cycle my […]

Continue reading

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord

(The text was previously published on 26.03.2020.) Reading: And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. (Apostles’ Creed) Reflection: Yesterday, Bill Rieflin passed away. You probably don’t know who he is. He played drums in some of my favorite bands like Lard, Ministry, and Swans. However, he will be remembered as the second drummer of R.E.M. This band, the flagship of American alternative rock, introduced us – Bosnians and Herzegovinians – to the terrible year of 1992 with the song ‘Losing My Religion’. Upon hearing this news, I remembered that time and the strange […]

Continue reading

Creator of Heaven and Earth (III)

Reading: Creator of Heaven and Earth (The Apostles’ Creed); Isaiah 66,1-2 This is what the Lord says: “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?” declares the Lord. “These are the ones I look on with favor: those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word.” (Isaiah 66,1-2) Reflection: The biblical account of creation is of immeasurable value, and yet […]

Continue reading

Creator of Heaven and Earth (II)

(Originally published on March 24, 2020) Reading: … the Creator of Heaven and Earth. (The Apostle’s Creed); Psalm 8 A Psalm of David. 1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. 2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man […]

Continue reading

Creator of Heaven and Earth

Reading: … the Creator of heaven and earth. (Apostles’ Creed); Psalm 8 A Psalm of David. 1 Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants     you have established a stronghold against your enemies,     to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens,     the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,     which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,     human beings that you care for them?[c] 5 You […]

Continue reading

In God, the Almighty Father

Reading: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic […]

Continue reading