Today, the first Sunday of Lent, is our annual commemoration of the Restoration of Icons in the year 843 after a century of iconoclasm in the Byzantine world. Once a year we commemorate this event. But every Sunday, at every Liturgy, we celebrate the restoration of the most important icon - namely every Christian …
Before Lent, a Party!
My hometown Patra is famous for two reasons, maybe three. It’s where the Greek Revolution officially began on 25 March 1821. But today it is most famous for its annual Carnival, Καρναβάλι, the best in Greece and one of the best in the world. It is almost as old as the Greek Revolution and …
The luminous eye of compassion
The key word in today’s Gospel reading is “see” - When did we see you…? is the question repeated by both sets of people! Compassion is all about seeing. That’s the message today. Notice in the parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite saw the wounded man and passed on the …
All that is His
A man had two sons... There are three characters in today's parable of the prodigal son, and so three acts, with each act centered around one of the three characters in the story. The parable is also a demonstration of the Beatitudes: poor in spirit - young son mourner - young son meek - young …
Blessed are the persecuted
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness/justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:10) Blessed are YOU, when when people revile you and persecute you and speak all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. (Matthew 5:11) Eight Beatitudes were spoken in the third person plural …
Blessed are the peacemakers
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God. μακάριοι οἱ εἰρηνοποιοί, ὅτι αὐτοὶ υἱοὶ θεοῦ κληθήσονται. We attained the highest summits of the Beatitudes with the merciful and the pure of heart. But what do you do when you’re at the heights of Christian faith, spirituality and commitment to Jesus? You …
After a Billion Years…
The anticipation has been building the last few days that a big announcement would be made today, and sure enough it came this morning. Gravitational waves have been detected for the first time, the result of two black holes colliding and merging a billion years ago. Einstein predicted their existence a hundred years ago when …
Blessed are the pure in heart
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” μακάριοι οἱ καθαροὶ τῇ καρδίᾳ, ὅτι αὐτοὶ τὸν θεὸν ὄψονται. With this beatitude we are at the absolute summit. This is the holy of holies of the holy of holies! I looked at close to 50 translations. The majority say “pure in heart.” Jesus …
Blessed are the merciful
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy." μακάριοι οἱ ἐλεήμονες, ὅτι αὐτοὶ ἐλεηθήσονται Today we enter the holy of holies of the Beatitudes. Everything so far has been preparation. Poor in spirit, meek, mourners, hungry and thirsty for justice - qualities that describe the disciple who follows Christ. "But I will show you …
Blessed are the hungry and thirsty
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for justice/righteousness, for they shall be filled/satisfied.” μακάριοι οἱ πεινῶντες καὶ διψῶντες τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ὅτι αὐτοὶ χορτασθήσονται. (No attempt to expand my notes into something more readable. The audio file is much better.) What do you desire? What do you long for? Wealth? Recognition? A happy marriage? Successful …
Ancient Answers 