Fr. Sophrony Sakharov, a highly esteemed Russian monk who died in 1993 at his monastery in England, used to say, ‘To be a Christian, one must be like an artist.’ Just as artists are captivated by the subjects they paint and by the desire to portray them as perfectly as possible, so too the …
Bystanders are important too
Susan Holman is a researcher and writer at Harvard University. She has published several books about the early church. Her most recent book is titled Beholden: Religion, Global Health, and Human Rights, published by Oxford University Press. In the beginning of her book she talks about the death of her father in 2009 and …
Prescription for Healing
Today's Gospel reading follows the transfiguration. Something truly extraordinary happened on the mountain. Yes, Jesus was transfigured - but something even more important in the heart of Jesus happened: He revealed his purpose to two witnesses from the old covenant - Moses and Elijah. Luke tells us he spoke to them of his "exodus" (Luke …
Boat on the Sea of History
Today’s Gospel reading (Matthew 14:22-34) has given rise to the traditional image of the church as a boat. Matthew certainly has a bigger church orientation than the other gospels - for example: Peter the rock on which Jesus builds the church; the command to go and baptize. For the first time the disciples are …
Some Biblical Thoughts on the Transfiguration
“Welcome one another, therefore, as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” A beautiful welcome today from St. Paul's letter to the Romans. A welcome on this feastday of the Transfiguration - a day that reveals the glory of God to us. Jesus said: "The queen of the South will rise at …
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What Jesus Really Meant
It's easy to not take seriously today's Gospel reading (Matthew 6:22-33). But are we hearing it correctly? Is Jesus really telling us that food and clothing will drop down from heaven? No, the key statements are at the beginning and the end! What comes in between is poetry! No one can serve two masters…. You cannot serve God …
The Tao of All American Saints
Sermon for July 3rd, Second Sunday of Matthew & Sunday of the Synaxis of All American Saints Two Gospel readings today: the normal reading for the Second Sunday After Pentecost (Matthew 4:18-23) and also for The Synaxis of All American Saints (Matthew 4:25-5:12). The Synaxis of All American Saints is observed on this Second Sunday …
“… and also much cattle”
In the Liturgy of Holy Saturday, the Orthodox Church includes 15 readings from the Old Testament - mostly readings that directly or symbolically refer to the Passover, to Resurrection, or to Baptism. These readings are remnants of the original all-night Paschal Vigil which developed in the church during the centuries of its prominence in the Roman …
A goal without a plan opens doors
The Liturgy readings on this Third Sunday of Pascha (Acts 6:1-7; Mark 15:43-16:8) present us with two different types of Christians. But perhaps the most important message today is more mystical.
A Mother’s Day Answer to Thomas
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life - the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you… Thus begins the first letter of …
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