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 […]
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.
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 […]
From the Archives: Baptism and the Baptismal Liturgy
August 29, 2015 By
Homily: Baptism and Baptismal Liturgy Welcome guests. Beautiful day. I am so happy that the [family] agreed to allow us to Baptize [their child] during Divine Liturgy. Nothing wrong with doing it after Liturgy: this is the way most of you were Baptized, and (as it was the way all the parents until now have […]
Homily: On the Need to Ritualize Gratitude
August 23, 2015 By
Reflection on the Rich Young Man St. Matthew 19:16-26 Prologue What would you give to inherit eternal life? Because we are here together right now, I know that you are at least willing to give up the best two hours of the week for worship on Sunday morning. But if that is all you are […]
Homily Notes: On Forgiveness
August 16, 2015 By
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: […]
