St. Luke 10:25-37 (Good Samaritan) St. John 1:43-51 (Philip and Nathaniel) The goal and necessity of the human life is union with God; the Good News is that this is possible through Christ (e.g. Vladimir Lossky). Should amaze us. Doesn’t? Perhaps because we have already made ourselves gods Or at least conceived of divinity as […]
ON THE FIRST SUNDAY of the Great Fast our Church celebrates the triumph of Orthodoxy, the victory of true Christian teaching over all perversions and distortions thereof—heresies and false teachings. On the second Sunday of the Great Fast it is as though this triumph of Orthodoxy is repeated and deepened in connection with the celebration of the memory of one of the greatest pillars of Orthodoxy, the hierarch Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, who by his grace-bearing eloquence and the example of his highly ascetic private life put to shame the teachers of falsehood who dared reject the very essence of.Orthodoxy, the podvig of prayer and fasting, which enlightens the human mind with the light of grace and makes it a communicant of the divine glory.
Healing the Divisions of the Orthodox in Ukraine; the Diaspora as a Model for Reconciliation
November 19, 2016 By
This paper was prepared for presentation at conference; “Ecumenical Encounters between East and West. Catholicism and Orthodoxy in Ukraine” on Saturday, November 12th 2016 at La salle University organized by the St. Sophia Religious Association of Ukrainian Catholics, Inc. and the Lasalle University M.A. Program in Eastern European Studies and supported by the Shevchenko Scientific […]
Bible Study 7: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (and the Logos!)
November 10, 2016 By
Bible Study St. Mary UOC (Pokrova) 9 November 2016 Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob Opening prayer (from the Prayer before the Gospel during the Diving Liturgy) Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message of Your Gospel. […]
Bible Study 6: Cain & Abel, the Nephilim, the Flood, and the Tower of Babel
November 2, 2016 By
Opening prayer (from the Prayer before the Gospel during the Diving Liturgy) Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message of Your Gospel. Instill also in us reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that overcoming all […]
Homily Notes: A Thorn in the Flesh
October 30, 2016 By
The Balance of Mystery and Persecution 2 Corinthians 11:31-12:9 (Epistle) The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. [In Damascus the governor, under Aretas the king, was guarding the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desiring to arrest me; but I was let […]
Bible Study 5: Genesis One – Resting… and Falling
October 27, 2016 By
Opening prayer (from the Prayer before the Gospel during the Diving Liturgy) Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message of Your Gospel. Instill also in us reverence for Your blessed commandments, so that overcoming all […]
Homily Notes: The Law of (Joyfully) Sowing and Reaping
October 23, 2016 By
A Universal Law (cause and effect): Whoever sows sparingly will reap sparingly; whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully. (2 Corinthians 9:6) Explain metaphor. What is sowing? What is reaping? What are WE supposed to sow? Ourselves. The Gospel. (same thing) What are we going to reap (what is a bounty? What will we really enjoy?!) […]
Bible Study 4: Genesis One – Image and Likeness
October 12, 2016 By
Bible Study 4: Genesis One – Image and Likeness St. Mary (Покрова) Cathedral Opening prayer (from the Prayer before the Gospel during the Diving Liturgy) Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message of Your Gospel. […]
Homily Notes: the high calling of the royal priesthood
October 10, 2016 By
Luke 5:1-11 The calling of the Apostles: be fishers of men! [a note on the purpose of the homily; it convicts, but does not accuse. We don’t give the “Devil’s Homily”.] Why? Why is the Gospel so important? [explain] Profound claim: “it is no longer I who live but Christ (GOD!!!!) who lives in me!” […]
Spiritual Speaking: “Why can’t women go into the altar?”
October 10, 2016 By
Spiritually Speaking (weekly adult education series) The Big Question (and Third Rail): “Why can’t women go into the altar?” The short answer; “they can”. The longer answer; “it’s complicated”. Introduction: what is going on in the altar and what is it for? Look at our ritual and how we treat sacred space (and especially the […]
