The farmer plows the earth, cleans, sows seed, and awaits the mercy of God. If God doesn't send rains and helpful winds when they are necessary, the farmer's toils are in vain. It's the same with us. If God doesn't send the purifying waters of His grace, we remain devoid of fruit and our works become the fodder of demons. For our passions drown them and we don't harvest anything.

Accepting the task of hospitality, the patriarch (Abraham) used to sit at the entrance of his tent (Gen. 18:1), inviting all who passed by, and his table was laden for all comers, including the impious and barbarians, without distinction. Hence he was found worthy of all that wonderful banquet when he received angels and the Master of all as his guests. We too, then, should actively and eagerly cultivate hospitality, so that we may receive not only angels, but also God Himself.

The meeting between Pope Benedict and the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams had been billed as something of a showdown. It lasted exactly 20 minutes.

It was shorter than some previous encounters, but the official description of it was "cordial". The Pope presented Dr Williams with a gold bishop's cross.

The Vatican acknowledged that discussions "focused on recent events between the Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion".

Preaching the law. Before we preach the gospel we must preach the law. Indeed this has never been more necessary than it is today when we are witnessing a widespread revolt against authority. The gospel can only justify those the law condemns. These are the respective functions of law and gospel; as Luther puts it, it is the work of the law to 'terrify', and the work of the gospel to 'justify'(1). Thus every man's spiritual history becomes a microcosm of God's dealings with the human race.