Ritual, Myrrhbearers, and Dealing with Insult to Injury St. Mark 15:43-16:8 Notes (that I mostly ignored) We have a concept: adding insult to injury. It describes how tough it is when something bad has already happened and then something happens … [Continue reading]
Bible Study #31: The Battle of Jericho
Bible Study #31: The Battle of Jericho Fr. Anthony Perkins, St. Mary's (Pokrova) in Allentown 17 April 2018 Opening Prayer: Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we … [Continue reading]
Homily on Trust, Magic, and the Melt Down on Aisle Three
Trust, Magic, and the Meltdown on Aisle Three Homily on St. Thomas Sunday Fr. Anthony Perkins One of the themes in today's Gospel reading is belief. We live in a world where it is hard to know what to believe. It's no longer just a matter of … [Continue reading]
Palm Sunday Homily – The Deliverer
Homily for Palm Sunday Philippians 4:4-9; John 12:1-18 How far are we willing to go for what is true? How far are we willing to go for what is good (virtuous)? How far are we willing to go for peace (not the cheap peace of … [Continue reading]
Homily – Sacrifice is More than Deferred Gratification
Homily on the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt (St. Mark 10:32-45) What are you willing to sacrifice for a better life? To improve the lives of those around you? The power of deferred gratification. Save now ? for something big later. We use … [Continue reading]
St. John of the Ladder and a Defense of Tradition
A Meditation on St. John's "The Ladder of Divine Ascent" The farmer's wealth is gathered on the threshing floor and in the wine press, but the wealth and knowledge of the monk is gathered during the evenings and the night hours while standing at … [Continue reading]
Homily of the Cross and The Way
Homily on the Third Sunday of Great Lent, the Sunday of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross. St. Mark 8:34-9:1 Notes: Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Self Denial. We deny … [Continue reading]
St Gregory Palamas, Marriage, and the Uncreated Light
Check out this episode! +++ Marriage as a Metaphor for Orthodoxy Homily of St. Gregory Palamas Today we celebrate the life and teachings of someone who really got it? St. Gregory Palamas; he experienced God's love for him in a real and tangible … [Continue reading]
Homily for Sunday of Orthodoxy (F&W)
How does the Gospel transform lives? There is no enchantment that goes through parish rosters to change those listed on it into heirs of the Most High. It's not even enough for us to mutter the right theological incantation. So what does it take? … [Continue reading]
Sunday of Forgiveness
The homily is the Epistle of the Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops outside Ukraine on Great Lent. The extra words and music were taken from the service of forgiveness at the end of Divine Liturgy. Check out this episode! *** The Great Lent (2018) … [Continue reading]