Author - Fr. Barnabas Powell

To Repent is to Refresh!


Christ is risen! I like this quote: “A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you’ve been taking.” Yep, I bet you know that feeling of being so fed up with the everyday activities of life that you say “STOP!” And yet, why is it that...

Bright Friday – ZEAL!


Christ is risen! “What would Jesus do?” That phrase was popular a few years ago, and I confess to being amused by this fad of “easy religion.” One of the main reasons was that the life of Jesus is not easily categorized as the comfortable “Jesus” we moderns would prefer....

Bright Thursday – REFRESHING!


Christ is risen! Ah, the beauties of Springtime! And the hay fever! For those of us susceptible to the reign of terror that is pollen season; the watery eyes, the stuffy nose, basically all the bad stuff on all the commercials we see for medicine to combat this scourge of...

Bright Wednesday – SEEKING!


Christ is risen! “Most men lead lives of quiet desperation and go to the grave with the song still in them.” This startling quote from the great American poet Henry David Thoreau captures an insight into the challenge of our human lives. All too much of the time I find myself...

Bright Tuesday – REJOICE!


Christ is risen! The young man was very frustrated. His dad had just gotten him a new hunting dog and this was the first time the young man had to train the dog himself. The process was a lot tougher than the boy realized and he was out of answers....

Bright Monday – KNOWN!


Christ Is Risen! What joy! What happiness! What a celebration! Words fail. Songs sung over and over again still cry out for more! Death is conquered by the Unconquered Son. O what news! The whole earth basks in the glow of the Victory of Christ over death! No more fear!...

Holy Friday – The Sealed Tomb


On this Holy Friday: Let us pray to the Lord, O God and Father: How can the light of the sun pierce the terrible darkness of this day and its events? Your only Son, the true light, in the darkness of his ordeal, was pleased to embrace in his humanity the...

Holy Thursday – Anguish in the Upper Room


On this Holy Thursday: Let us pray to the Lord, O you whose love for us is eternal and unchanging: Today, as your Son reclined at table with his chosen friends, he gave them the mysteries of his life-giving love for us, to be present forever on the altars of his...

Holy Wednesday – Holy Oil


On this Holy Wednesday: Let us pray to the Lord, O Lord who, in Your mercies and bounties, heals the disorders of our souls and bodies, do, the same Master, sanctify this Oil, that it may be effectual for those who shall be anointed therewith, unto healing, and unto relief from...

Holy Tuesday – 5 Wise and 5 Foolish


On this Holy Tuesday: Let us pray to the Lord. O you who observe all things with your eye that never sleeps, who afford us such saving lessons in your desire to grant mercy to all who seek it: We give thanks to you for raising us from bed and sleep...