A few pertinent questions and answers, regarding paralysis and illness and healing in general, from a longer set about the healing of the paralytic at the sheep’s pool.
Month: February 2010
The Healing of the Paralytic – Mark 2:1-12 What is the “press”? How do we get past it?
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There is a man who is paralyzed, and he has asked his friends to help him. He has four that will take him on his bed, and want to bring him to Christ. Because of the press (the crowd of people), he couldn’t get to Jesus.
What is this press, brothers and sisters? …
So how do we get past the press? …
The Invisible Amalek. Typology of the Cross. 2nd Week of Great Lent – FRIDAY Matins
“Stretching out Thine hands upon the cross, O Lord, Thou hast killed the invisible Amalek and rescued thy people: therefore we sing the praises of Thy power.” Great Lent, the Second Week, Friday Matins, Ode V of the Canon
How wonderful the matins canon is! Any canon, but especially, it seems, those during Great Lent, interprets the Old Testament in the light of the New. There is a profound mix of history, typology and theology in our services, and the soul is thrilled to hear divine truths expressed in varied ways, with examples from the Old and New testaments.
Only in the light of our Lord’s passion can we understand the actions of Moses when his people fought the king Amalek: …
The Holy Eucharist and hearing the voice of God – Isaiah 6:1-12
Most people have heard or read this passage from Isaiah and understand that it refers to the Holy Mysteries. It is a prophesy of what was to come – after the incarnation of the God-man Jesus Christ, we would be fed with the bread which came down from heaven – the holy Eucharist.
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As in all of Holy Scripture, true understanding is in the details. Those who have “ears to hear” listen closely, and perceive all shades of meaning. Those who do not have such ears are those whom the Lord orders Isaiah to give the message: …
The Good and Bad example of Lamech
And Lamech said … I have slain a man to the wounding of myself, and a stripling to my own bruising. Sevenfold vengeance shall be taken for Cain: but for Lamech seventy times sevenfold.
What are we to glean from this first recorded instance of Hebrew poetry? …
Evil Jealousy and false pretence. Cain kills Abel.
2nd Week of Great Lent – TUESDAY Vespers. Genesis 4:8-15
Today the scripture gives us an account of the first murder in human history. Cain murdered his brother Abel because of jealousy. … How stealthily jealousy operates! … How powerful our secrets are! …
St. John of the Ladder on Corporate Prayer
St. John of the Ladder on the importance of praying together, since solitary prayer is so difficult for all but “the very few”.
HAITIAN ORTHODOX PRIEST TO SPEAK AT ST. SOPHIA GREEK ORTHODOX AND ST JOHN RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRALS IN WASHINGTON, DC
On Friday, March 5, 2010 at 8:00 PM at St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC, Fr. Gregoire Legouté of Port-au-Prince and his wife Rose will give eyewitness accounts of the hardships Orthodox Christians in Haiti are facing as a result of the violent earthquake that devastated their poor Caribbean nation. …
Triumph Of Orthodoxy. Pleasures Of Sin For A Season. Audio homily 2010.
What is the triumph of Orthodoxy? A short synopsis of the historical background, then discussion of what this triumph is for the individual. It involves “faith”, understanding that the pleasures of sin are for a season, and believing that a good thing CAN come out of Nazareth.
The First and most deadly sin of Cain. 2nd Monday of Great Lent.
What was the worst sin of Cain? Do not say “murder”! Cain became a murderer because of his previous sins, and the single greatest sin a man can commit, which eventually led him to murder his brother Abel. Cain’s terrible fall should make us tremble with fear, as he trembled till the end of his days, because the beginning of it was so ordinary, and such a common sin. …