I love it when our hierarchs write homilies for us! – Fr Anthony + BARTHOLOMEW, By God’s Mercy Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical PatriarchTo the Plenitude of the Church: Grace, mercy, and peace from the Savior Christ, born in Bethlehem Beloved brothers and sisters, children in the Lord,“For to us a child is born, […]
Guest writer: “Come When Called” by Nicholas Perkins
January 1, 2014 By
Skeletons danced in silver mist, and Kira wondered whether he was dreaming. He pinched his arm and gasped. Nope; definitely still awake. There really were dancing skeletons, and the cavern floor really was covered in a swirling layer of silver mist. His breath was hot and stifled behind his mask, and his robes were starting to stick to his […]
Waiting Tables, Nepsis, and Diaconia
December 27, 2013 By
A few days ago, I wrote about how much we are like the toy monkey with the cymbals: our buttons get pushed and we start to clang. It’s as if everything were pre-programmed. Psychologists have found that this isn’t far from the case. My favorite political psychologist Jonathan Haight puts it this way when summarizing […]
Day Forty – Christmas is for Church
December 24, 2013 By
Even if Professor William Tighe is correct and the Church was re-appropriating the date from the pagans (possible, but there were competing claims), the broader evangelical point made below remains valid. It even gains additional urgency: the Church needs to redefine the significance of December 25th away from its commercial and secular drift! – […]
Day Thirty-nine – Comfort
December 23, 2013 By
The most iconic image of the comfort is found in Psalm 22/23: “Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” Those words bring to mind all the warm fuzzies of a mother’s hug and all the calm of a father’s protection. Psalm 22/23 is like the greatest spell; reading, singing, or chanting it provides immediate […]
Day Thirty-eight – Never
December 23, 2013 By
2 Timothy 3: 3-9 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more […]
Teaching the Divine Liturgy – Meditations
December 22, 2013 By
Here are my notes from the teaching Divine Liturgy served on 22 December 2013 Prologue: Please meet the love of my life…I was nervous the entire week leading up this “Teaching Liturgy.” It was hard to figure out why. After all, I’ve been here for more than six years. That’s hundreds of homilies. I […]
Day Thirty-seven – Candy Canes
December 21, 2013 By
I don’t know if I’ve ever eaten a candy cane. I tried one once, and it was way too sweet. We have about a dozen of them in the house. We use them for tree ornaments. They are like family heirlooms; I’m pretty sure I got them from my mom. She probably got them from […]
Day Thirty-six – Hats
December 20, 2013 By
I was born and raised in Georgia. Growing up there, just about everyone wore baseball caps. It makes sense – they are really useful. They are the best hair-style, bar none. Why mess with your hair when you can just put a hat on and go? I should point out that there were some […]
Day Thirty-five – Strange Christmas Traditions from around the World
December 20, 2013 By
Today I got to pick up my oldest son, Nick from the airport. He’s an amazing young man; has a sound spiritual life, loves God, has a really strong allegorical mind, and is getting things done as a first year at the Air Force Academy. I love to read his stories. He writes really well […]
