Here are the notes from the talk I gave at the Foreign Policy Research Institute on 07 November 2017 at the National Liberty Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They asked me to talk about the effect of religion on the conflict in Ukraine for their 21st Annual Templeton Lecture on Religion and World Affairs. It is a […]
War, Ukraine, and Orthodox Epistemology
March 13, 2014 By
“Love your enemies… unless they invade your ancestral homeland, overthrow a government you prefer, or enact policies you find abhorrent.”The Antigospel of Satan (i.e. “Things Jesus NEVER said”). Introduction: the temptation of demonization in times of warI have seen what what war does to the souls of good people. Far too often, the temptations of […]
Homily – The Enlightened Moral Psychology of the Samaritan Woman
June 2, 2013 By
Homily Notes: Samaritan Woman St. John 4:5-42 “He told me all I ever did.” (St. John 4:29) This is not new for God. His omniscience has long been recognized. The prophet David proclaimed it in song in Psalm 138, which includes these words (7-12); Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I […]
20120916 Prepping and Social Media with Father John Peck
September 21, 2012 By
Listen to the Show In this episode, I start by sharing the news and press release from the third meeting of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America, then move into a wonderful interview on Orthodox media and prepping with Fr. John Peck. Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North & Central […]
Homily – Taking work (and liturgy) seriously
September 4, 2012 By
St. Matthew 21:33-42; 1 Corinthians 16:13-24 Work: A Homily for Labor Day Weekend This week’s epistle reading is a wonderful reminder that no parish exists in isolation (any more than Christians exist in isolation), and that the bonds between our parishes should be strengthened and cherished. I strongly encourage everyone to visit other parishes, especially on […]
20120206 A Pregnant Creation, Mail Call, and Islam
February 4, 2012 By
Podcast Notes Homily on Zacchaeus et al. (due to the delay in recording, this was bumped by a Homily on the Publican and the Pharisee) Mail Bag What should I do if there are no regular Orthodox services in my area? What are the most healthy expressions of sexuality? (note on recent decision to ban […]
20120120 Theophany, Local News, and a Review of History
January 22, 2012 By
Podcast Notes: Talk a little about Theophany. Before the news… A word from a sponsor (satire) – Guido-vich and Mak-mech-enko Revenue Consultants.With the new immigration comes new opportunity. The first immigration brought hard work and selfless dedication to building communities and parishes. The second immigration brought a faith that had been forged by circumstances too difficult […]
20120113 Spirituality of Christmas and Theophany
January 15, 2012 By
In this (welcome back) edition, we go back to the old format; starting with a reflection, covering a few news stories and satirical advertisements and the like, then finishing with the Volya (Freedom) segment that treats a topic of interest in some detail. But before we begin, I reckon that I owe you an explanation: […]
Homily: New Year’s Resolution – Sunday before the Nativity
January 1, 2012 By
Sunday before the NativityHebrews 11:9-10,17-23,32-40St. Matthew 1:1-25 On this first day of the year, we look backwards and forwards; taking stock of what has gone before and and deciding what to do in the year to come. It is the same with today’s Epistle and Gospel readings. Looking backwardsThe first thing we notice when reading […]
Homily: Preferring Religion to God
December 11, 2011 By
“Get out of the way and let God do His work!”St. Luke 13:10-17 In today’s Gospel, we have an instructive encounter between Christ and the religious authorities. Christ was teaching in the synagogue and in the midst of the usual activities or scripture reading, psalmody, lecturing, and discussion, something unexpected happened: Christ healed a woman […]
