Today's Verse: Matthew 16:19 (NIV)
I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be[e] bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be[f] loosed in heaven.
[e] Or have been
[f] Or have been

Jesus says these words to Peter when Peter confesses that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Today's Comments: The Book of Acts is full of stories about miracles that were performed by the disciples. Paul talks about the gifts of the spirit. While there is no evidence that our belief in Jesus Christ, as the Son of the living God gives us the same powers that were documented in the Book of Acts, we do have the power to change men in both action and mind. Each of us was created with a purpose known to God. If we can pray to God and in thoughtful discernment find that purpose, then live it, I am sure that we will be given the necessary powers to fulfill God's plan for us.

We must also remember that we are part of the Church of God. The publication Concise Theology reminds us that each local church is a part of the family of God., and there are two marks of a true church:

1. The faithful preaching of the Word of God
2. The right use of the sacraments.

Last Thursday, there was an article published in the Orange County Register about my parish, Blessed Sacrament and its priest Father David Baumann. I truly believe that Fr. David uses this formula in his guiding us at Blessed Sacrament. Click on this link to read the article. While the article focuses on the ordination of homosexual clergy, the underlying reasons that we practice a theology which is orthodox are stated above. We preach the Word of God, which was and will be the same for all time, and we honor God by the proper use of His sacraments in the church.