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 … [Continue reading]
Bible Study 2: How we got the Old Testament
28 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 … [Continue reading]
Homily Notes: Snakes, Poles, the Cross, and our Hero’s Journey

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 … [Continue reading]
Bible Study I – The Purpose of the Bible
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 … [Continue reading]
For Labor Day Sunday: hard work as virtuous action
On this Labor Day weekend, let us rededicate ourselves to Christ and His work. We know what happens outside these doors when people refuse to work. What it does to their own souls, what it does to our economy, and what it does to our culture. And … [Continue reading]
Homily Notes: Patience and the Redemption of the World

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 … [Continue reading]
Homily on Romans 15:1-2: On Christ the Solid Rock I Stand!

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, … [Continue reading]
Homily: A Reflection on Romans 12:10-14

[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, … [Continue reading]
Notes for a Basic Christian Homily

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 … [Continue reading]
Homily Notes: Why worship is the right response to chaos

Romans 5:1-10 Matthew 6:22-33 It has been a difficult week. It is meet and right for us to gather together and worship in difficult times; Because worship reminds us who we are – not victims or partisans in a troubled world, but sons … [Continue reading]