Ephesians 4:1-6. I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, […]
The Holodomor, Lazarus, and the Rich Man
November 9, 2015 By
Holodomor (dedication and blessing of the Holodomor Memorial in DC). Background info: the Holodomor (i.e. murder by starvation) was an intentional policy of the USSR under Stalin. In 1932-33, the Soviet regime killed upwards of ten million people (the number is disputed, but no one doubts that it was several million) through the forced acquisition of […]
Homily Notes: Tending the Garden of our Souls
November 1, 2015 By
November 1st; Tone 5, The 22nd Sunday after PentecostSt. Luke 8:5-15: The Gospel of the SowerGalatians 6:11-18: Boasting on nothing but the Cross “Have you rejected Satan and all his works and all his pomp and all his pride? Have you rejected Satan and all his works and all his pomp and all his pride? Have […]
20151008 – Youth, Orthodoxy, and Social Media (and PKs)
October 30, 2015 By
In this episode, I interview Joshua Oryon, Orthodox Christian, grown-up PK, and social media power user and content provider. We discuss the dangers of social media for our youth and how priests’ families can nurture faith in “the aquarium.” Check out this episode!
Homily Notes: The Widow of Nain (Tears, Childolatry, and the Resurrection)
October 25, 2015 By
Homily Notes: St. Luke 7: 11-16 (The Raising of the Nain Widow’s Son) Warm-up. The Holy Fathers of the Ecumenical Councils and the revelation of the Harmony of God. The ContextScriptural Context: Because the Lord, while not even present, had healed the centurion’s servant, H now performs another even more remarkable miracle. He does this […]
Homily Notes: Giving the Gift of Your Patience
October 18, 2015 By
Homily Notes: St. Luke 6: 31-36 And as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit […]
Homily Notes: On the Proper Response to Meeting God
October 11, 2015 By
2 Corinthians 11:2, 5-6. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not […]
From the Archives: An Explanation of the (Christian) Heresy of Islam for Orthodox Believers
October 10, 2015 By
A friend of mine has been encouraging me to put something together on this for a church publication. I wanted to write so much more (e.g. presenting more of the patristic work on the subject), but time and space didn’t allow for it. I am guessing that some of the audience will find the title […]
Homily Notes for the Sunday after the Cross: The Impotence of the Law
October 4, 2015 By
This was my first homily at Pokrova Parish in Allentown, PA. Warm-up: on the Cross. Don’t be ashamed of the Cross! Don’t be ashamed of following the Christ who died on the Cross! Don’t be afraid to follow him in persecution and even death. Today’s Epistle reading is so powerful: “We are not justified by […]
Notes from a Baptismal Homily – Baptism as Cosmic Spiritual Warfare
August 29, 2015 By
Welcome Guests. Congratulations. What is it that just happened? What is it that baptism accomplishes? There are many ways to look at it: In secular terms, the community of St. Michael’s welcomed a family into formal membership. This is, of course true, and while happy as we have been so happy them as worshipping and […]
