Matthew 18:21-35 (The Unforgiving Servant) Made for something wonderful: to be sons and daughters of God. To minister to one another, selflessly and continually seeking their improvement To be part of a family that is united in a perfection of caring, joy, and humble sacrifice for one another To be stewards of a world that […]
Homily Notes: Faith, Charcoal, and Parish Leadership
July 19, 2015 By
I offered this homily on the Sunday we confirmed our new parish board. Story of charcoal during the summer: it gets humid in the sacristy; the charcoal ends up damp and won’t light easily. Charcoal: Made to light easily, Made for worship (let my prayer arise!) But the environment – especially humidity -can ruin charcoal’s […]
Homily – All Saints of Kyivan Rus’
June 14, 2015 By
Today we are remembering the Christian nation of Kyivan-Rus not just because they created a nation that built churches where they got baptized, married, and buried. We remember them because they accepted Christ and they filled their lives with him. Christianity didn’t just give them something new to do on Sundays – it brought the […]
Humanitarianism and Orthodoxy – a theological reflection
June 14, 2015 By
The Problem: the world (and humanity) groans in agony It’s a hard world. It chews people up, divides them, deprives them, hurts them, and does its best to take away their hope. It does its best to demean and dehumanize them. We have all seen this and we are here because we want to do […]
Homily Notes – Pentecost
May 30, 2015 By
Today is Pentecost, also known as Trinity Day. Today we celebrate both the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Disciples and the unity that is found in the One God who is Three Persons. The reality of today’s feast is not some abstract theology, but a celebration of who God is and the gift […]
Homily Notes: Living Water Must be Shared
May 10, 2015 By
John 4:5-42 St. Photini (the woman at the well) Main lessons: The example and result of Christian ministry. We are all called to it Not complicated; sacrifice of love and attention Leads to repentance and the ability to love Not the love of the pre-Christ Photini (worldly love), but the love of Christ +++ Reading: […]
Homily Notes – Myrrbearers (and Consecration)
April 27, 2015 By
Acts 6:1-7Mark 15:43-16:8 Intro: Giving your life over to the idea of God vs. giving your life over to Jesus Christ. Compare to marriage: love the idea of marriage (or whatever) vs. unity with love through a relationship Judas loved the idea of the Messiah The myrrhbearers loved Jesus Christ the Messiah; through that personal […]
The Illiberal Demand for Kosher and Halal Bacon
April 2, 2015 By
The Joy of BaconWith just a few days left before Pascha, the dominant logismoi distracting me from proper prayer (and analysis) is … bacon. I love it. I especially love the really fatty kind that just melts in your mouth. The best of the best is fried salo, a sort of bacon cut so that it […]
Problems with Talking to the Rider
March 24, 2015 By
In a previous post, I shared the strong finding from psychology that many of our moral decisions are made pre-cognitively (i.e. by the elephant), with the active mind (i.e. the rider) pretending to play the role of objective and pious investigator but actually playing the role of marketing guy for the decision the gut had […]
Becoming a Peacemaker
March 23, 2015 By
How can I become a Peacemaker? Come, ye children, hearken unto me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.What man is he that desireth life, that loveth to see good days?Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.Turn away from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. (Psalm […]
