10th Sunday of Pentecost (HTML format)
The "Golden Chain" connecting faith and prayer and fasting.
Matthew 17:14-23
2008
Also in Format: Adobe PDF or Word DOC or mp3 You can watch this sermon on the following video platforms: YouTube, Yahoo, MySpace, Metacafe, Google, Revver, AOL Video, DailyMotion, Blip.tv and Veoh
SYNOPSIS:The story of the healing of the demoniac boy illustrates two kinds of belief (faith) and two kinds of unbelief. If we want to have true and saving belief we must recognize the relationship between faith and prayer and fasting (and also understand that "fasting" involves much more than just abstaining from certain kinds of food).
10th Sunday of Pentecost (HTML format)
Why fast?
Matthew 17:14-23
2009
Also in Format: Word DOC or mp3 You can watch this sermon on the following video platforms: YouTube, Yahoo, MySpace, Metacafe, DailyMotion, Blip.tv, Veoh,
10th Sunday of Pentecost (HTML format)
Galations 5:22-26 Matthew 17:14-23 John 17:1-13
2010
Also in Format: Word DOC or mp3
10th Sunday of Pentecost (mp3 format)
A very common question and the 2 ways to understand the answer.
Matthew 17:14-23
2011
SYNOPSIS:The story of the exorcism of the lunatic son contains a very important question that all of us ask everyday - "Why?" We ask this question consciously and unconsciously and even dissatisfaction, confusion and ignorance are forms of this question. The solution is given in two parts. Firstly, our Lord tells us but we asked this question because of our unbelief, and the solution to this unbelief is given; prayer and fasting, and, very importantly, our admission of our unbelief and prayer that the Lord will help us to believe.
5th Sunday before Great Lent (HTML format)
We are going to do violence now.
Romans 13:11-14, Matthew 6:14-21
1999
Also in Format: Word DOC
SYNOPSIS:Today is the Sunday of Forgiveness, and it is also the day we enter Great Lent. After we pray the Vespers service of Forgiveness early this afternoon, we will then be in the Holy Fast. Why is it that we fast? We have a blueprint for our life, and why we fast, in the Gospel today.
4th Sunday of Great Lent (HTML format)
By St Ignatius Brianchaninov
2011
Also in Format: Word DOC
SYNOPSIS:Homily by St Ignati Briachaninov: The Lord said to His Apostles about the evil spirits, "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting" (Mark. 9:29). Here is a new aspect of fasting! Fasting is acceptable to God when it is preceded by the great virtue of mercy; fasting prepares a reward in heaven when it is foreign to hypocrisy and vainglory; fasting works when it is joined with another great virtue - prayer.
How does it work? It not only tames the passions in the human body, but it enters into battle with the spirits of evil, and conquers them.
St Ignaty goes on to explain in great detail how fasting works and why we must fast, and what our disposition must be. This may be the most important text on fasting you will every read! Your battle against the spirits of the air is very weak unless you understand St Ignaty's words!
4th Sunday of Great Lent (mp3 format)
Mark 9:17-31
2011
SYNOPSIS:Why do we fast? Few people understand that we fast because of a requirement of our nature and because of the nature of the demons. "This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting" (Mark. 9:29). Let us understand why we fast and put off all legalism concerning this essential practice.
Why do we fast? Because we love God more than the gifts He gives us. Patriarch Daniel of Romania
Beloved brothers and sisters, what is the purpose of Great Lent?
Also in format: Word
NB: Just one resolution for Great Lent. Fasting and prayer
Also in Word format
Why did Jesus fast for forty days?
True Fasting, by St John Chrysostom
Why did Jesus fast for forty days?
“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.“
The faith of the centurion with the sick servant.
The Christian definition of freedom and how to obtain it
4th Sunday after Pentecost
Romans 6:18-23 Matthew 8:5-13
Prayer, fasting, vigil and all other Christian activities, however good they may be in themselves, do not constitute the aim of our Christian life, although they serve as the indispensable means of reaching this end. The true aim of our Christian life consists in the acquisition of the Holy Spirit of God. As for fasts, and vigils, and prayer, and almsgiving, and every good deed done for Christ's sake, they are only means of acquiring the Holy Spirit of God. But mark, my son, only the good deed done for Christ's sake brings us the fruits of the Holy Spirit. All that is not done for Christ's sake, even though it be good, brings neither reward in the future life nor the grace of God in this. That is why our Lord Jesus Christ said: He who gathers not with Me scatters (Luke 11:23). Not that a good deed can be called anything but gathering, since even though it is not done for Christ's sake, yet it is good. Scripture says: In every nation he who fears God and works righteousness is acceptable to Him
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