Homily – A Good Map (Sunday before Nativity)

Do we make mountains out of molehills when we saythat we (and our ancestors) are virtuous? Hebrews 11:9,10,17-23,32-40  St. Matthew 1  Three points: what we are to do with all these names; the standard of evaluation; and the place of Christ in all this. 1. Ancestors – the reading of the names.  Why do we honor […]

Homily – Our Lord’s Lessons at the Table (Holy Ancestors)

Would you heal the sick (or love the unloved, or feed the hungry) on the Sabbath?  Take the lowest seat at the table?  Invite the lowly to your feast?  More importantly, will you set everything aside for the Lord’s Feast? Colossians 3: 4-11  St. Luke 14: 16-24  Today’s reading is a parable about a “great […]

Homily – An End to Leprosy through Christ (St. Nicholas Sunday)

The pagan people of Kyivan Rus’ being united to and through Christ.  This icon is on the southern wall of the nave of our temple. Colossians 3: 12-16 St. Luke 18: 12-19 Introduction: a call to worship Our Orthodox Study Bible says that the most important lesson to be learned from today’s Gospel is that […]

Homily – The Hypocrisy of Defending Bad Habits and Rules

A Church in Western Ukraine 28th Sunday after Pentecost 1 Timothy 1: 15-17 St. Luke 13: 10-17  Click Here for the podcast that includes this homily!!!     This Gospel lesson is profound, teaching us many things about the nature of healing, hypocrisy, and thanksgiving.  Today I would like to focus on three things that […]

Homily – A Useful Reminder

 27th Sunday after Pentecost Colossians 1: 12-18 St. Luke 12: 16-21  Picture: Visiting priest, Fr. James Early came all the way from Texas to celebrate the Divine Liturgy with us.  He may not have liked the cold, but it was easily offset by the warmth of the St. Michael’s hospitality. Click here for a podcast […]

Homily – The Armor of God

27th Sunday after Pentecost and the start of Pilipivka, the Nativity Fast  Ephesians 6: 10-17 St. Luke 10: 25-37  Picture: The armor of the weekend warrior? Click here for the podcast that includes this homily!!! Lesson: Ephesians 6:11. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles […]

Zombies, Demons, and the Victory of Love

  Shownotes for Thanksgiving, 2010   Lesson:   Ephesians 4: 1-6 St. Luke 8: 26-39   There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in […]

Homily – Do Not Imitate the Evil One

St. Michael and the Bodiless Powers  Hebrews 2: 2-10 St. Luke 10: 16-21  Click here for the podcast that includes this homily!!! Day of St. Michael and all the Bodiless Powers of Heaven.   Talk a bit about Angels, and especially about those who fell. Very little is known (and far less is known dogmatically), […]

Homily – Not Knowledge or Power, but Love

25th Sunday after Pentecost  Many expect God to give them answers and power, then get mad at Him for not delivering; but God’s gift to us is neither knowledge not power, but LOVE.  And this He always offers in abundance. Ephesians 4: 1-6St. Luke 8: 26-39  There is one body and one Spirit, just as […]

UFOs, Jersey Shore, and Freedom

Orthoanalytika show: 20101109   +++ Lesson: Nothing Need Divide Us Ephesians 2:14-22; St. Luke 16: 19-31 Unity: a source of peace and joyBoth readings reinforce the consistent message of the Gospel: there are no divisions in love. Pride, meanness, apathy, lust, addiction, greed, jealousy… these things pull us apart; and while they are easy and […]