The two readings in our Liturgy today present us with two different visions of human society: Matthew 8:28-9:1 An unredeemed society.... - dominated by violence and self-interest. Galatians 5:22-6:2 A redeemed society - imperfect but struggling, guided by the Holy Spirit toward perfection.....
Keys and a Sword
June 29th is the feast-day of Saints Peter and Paul, the two most renowned of the apostles. In the Orthodox tradition there are three primary icons of the two apostles. The first shows Peter and Paul together supporting a model church building: The second family of icons shows Peter and Paul in closeup, embracing …
Still preparing the Way
Today the Orthodox Church celebrates the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the Forerunner. He is called "Forerunner" because he appeared before Jesus Christ, to prepare the way of the Lord, in the spirit of what Isaiah had spoken: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord, Make straight in the desert a highway for our God." …
The Undivided Life
Few Gospel texts arouse as much reaction as today's reading (Matthew 6:22-33). It would seem that every “starving sparrow” contradicts Jesus; every famine and every war; the text appears to be extremely simpleminded and naive about economic problems; and it appears to encourage laziness. All these are questionable criticisms, but understandable if you only take this text …
In the name of freedom
Jesus called fishermen as his first disciples and instructed them to become "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). Does this mean that people will be forced to be followers of Jesus, caught in nets that they cannot escape? It depends on where you put the emphasis - on the fish or the fishers. Jesus clearly used the …
“Average Healthy Human”
I will always remember the summer of 1967. I was only 14 years old and blessed to reside in what was then one of the great cities of the world, Montréal, Canada. The city was experiencing a revival and huge building boom, including what was then the most modern subway in the world, the Metro. …
The Connected Life
Every once in a while I have the urge to talk about my favorite conductor, Wilhelm Furtwängler. I love what Daniel Barenboim said about him: “He understood that music is not about statements or about being. It’s about becoming. It’s not the statement of a phrase that is really important, but how you get there and …
True Images
The book of Exodus describes the escape of the Jews from slavery in Egypt under the leadership of Moses, the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, and the long journey through the wilderness. The people were quickly frustrated by their escape from Egypt and they turned against Moses and his god, lamenting that perhaps they …
Who is this Son of Man?
Today's Gospel reading (John 17:1-13) takes us back to the upper room, where Jesus had his last supper with the disciples before his arrest. On this Sunday After Ascension, one week before Pentecost, we hear Jesus speak of returning to where he was, with God his father, from all eternity. This is what Ascension is …
Different Kinds of Blindness
Who is really blind in today’s gospel reading (John 9)? The man, the people around him, his parents, the Pharisees? My quick answer: all of them! The man was blind - but he had become invisible to everyone who saw him day after day. Their blindness was one of ignoring him. They passed him …
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