Spiritually Speaking (weekly adult education series) The Big Question (and Third Rail): “Why can’t women go into the altar?” The short answer; “they can”. The longer answer; “it’s complicated”. Introduction: what is going on in the altar and what is it for? Look at our ritual and how we treat sacred space (and especially the […]
Bible Study 3 – The First Four Days of (Functional) Creation
October 5, 2016 By
Bible Study 3: Genesis One – Creation as Liturgy 05 October 2016 St. Mary (Покрова) Cathedral Opening prayer (from the Prayer before the Gospel during the Diving Liturgy) Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message […]
Homily Notes: Christianity is not a change of uniform, but a change of heart
October 2, 2016 By
Galatians 2:16-20 St. Matthew 22:45-46; St. Mark 8:34-9:1 Today, Christ tells us that the most important commandment is; “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. Is this even possible? It may not be. After all, Christ also said that; It is easier […]
Homily Notes: Snakes, Poles, the Cross, and our Hero’s Journey
September 25, 2016 By
A.k.a. A homily on the Old Testament?! Matthew 22:1-14 (The Wedding Feast) & John 3:13-18 Exodus is one of the most powerful stories of human history: from bondage to freedom The place of this story created the capacity in the human heart for the coming of Christ Our own “hero’s journey” can follow the same […]
Bible Study I – The Purpose of the Bible
September 20, 2016 By
21 September 2016 St. Mary (Покрова) Cathedral Opening prayer (from the Prayer before the Gospel during the Diving Liturgy) Make the pure light of Your divine knowledge shine in our hearts, Loving Master, and open the eyes of our minds that we may understand the message of Your Gospel. Instill also in us reverence for […]
Homily Notes: Patience and the Redemption of the World
August 14, 2016 By
Reflection on the Cross For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where […]
Homily on Romans 15:1-2: On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand!
August 7, 2016 By
We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. (Romans 15:1-2) This is one of the most wonderful pieces of advice in the Bible, but it goes against our culture and some of […]
Homily: A Reflection on Romans 12:10-14
July 31, 2016 By
[A homily on the power of “doing unto others…”; “if you can’t say something nice…” and “bless your heart.”] Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; […]
Notes for a Basic Christian Homily
July 17, 2016 By
Romans 6:18-23 (Here’s St. John Chrysostom’s homily on this reading) Saint Paul ends today’s epistle ends with a restatement of the Gospel, i.e. the Good News; the thing that is supposedly central to our identity and calling as Christians: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through […]
Homily Notes: Like Politics, Salvation is Local
June 26, 2016 By
Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30 Like Politics, Salvation is Loval The Problem: How do we reconcile the Gospel that we have just heard – a very demanding call that we give up everything and take up our cross – with something Jesus says just in the very next chapter; “Come to me, all who labor and […]
