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 …
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 …
Life as an Entrance
A man was opening a new business and one of his friends sent him flowers for the occasion. They arrived at the new business site and the owner read the card, which said: "Rest in Peace." The owner was angry and called the florist to complain. After he had told the florist of the obvious …
Perfected in forgiveness
As I think upon the Cross of Jesus Christ today, I remember the first words that Jesus spoke on the Cross: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” Forgiveness, the hardest thing for human beings to do. Yet, the thing most characteristic of the one who was God and Man! …
The Next American Orthodox Saint?
Did you know that there are American Orthodox saints? We already have quite a few that have been canonized by the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), and I pray that this simple Eskimo woman of Alaska will be the next one. She died in 1979, and there is a push for the OCA to officially …
Restoration every Sunday
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 …
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