Author: seraphimholland

Grace and Labor. Text Homily.

Excerpts from the homily:
Today in both the Epistle and the Gospel that are appointed for today, the 12th Sunday, we hear about grace and about labor…

So this is the Gospel: That Jesus Christ is risen from the dead and, because He is the God-man and in His humanity rose from the dead, we can rise from the dead.

Now, how does this occur? Just knowing about the Resurrection does not make the Gospel effectual in your life.

St Paul said: “I am the least of the Apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. And His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly then they all.”

Here we see how the Gospel is fulfilled in a man. What a powerful statement, to say by the grace of God I am what I am. It is true. By God’s grace we do everything. Anything that we do that is good is by God’s grace helping us. We breathe by His grace. We know Him by His grace. We have holy thoughts and feelings in our hearts by His grace. Everything is by His grace.

But inherent in his statement is not just: By His grace I am what I am right now; but, “I will become what I should be by His grace.”

It is good for a Christian to notice, to know what he is now; what is good about you, what is not good about you; what needs to be improved. It is good to know these things. But in knowing these things you should also have the sure confidence that you will become what you should be.

But this perfection comes through labor. Grace with labor. Grace alone does not cause a man to be saved.

I have told you before, many times; the greatest heresy of all is that salvation can be had without labor, that believing can be done without labor. To believe is also to do. And so Saint Paul says that he labored and not in vain or the grace bestowed upon him was not in vain because he labored, he says, more abundantly then they all. …

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A Christian Understanding of Freedom by Archbishop Dmitri of Dallas and the South

People generally use the word freedom in order to describe two things: the first and perhaps most persistent meaning of the term is simply lack of subjection to any kind of ownership or tyrannical authority, the lack of restriction of one?s actions, the absence of obstacles to self-determination or personal choices, the right to make up one?s own mind with regard to occupation, speech, assembly, religion and so on….

In this particular article it is not our intention to dwell on the matter of freedom as described above, making this a plea for law and order. Rather, we wish to present a general account of the Orthodox Church?s understanding of freedom, in light of Christ?s work of redemption, His “breaking the chains of hell and overthrowing the tyranny of hades.” …

The Dormition troparion and kontakion in English and Church Slavonic, Exapostilarion with additional verses and Dormition stichera on “Lord I have cried” sung by the choir at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox church in McKinney, TX. 15/28 August 2011. Video

The Dormition troparion and kontakion in English and Church Slavonic, Exapostilarion with additional verses and Dormition stichera on “Lord I have cried” sung by the choir at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox church in McKinney, TX. 15/28 August 2011. Video

“Mary hath chosen that good part” and “blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.” Dormition of the Theotokos.

The usual reading for feasts of the Mother of God is actually a composite reading in which she does not appear at all, but another “Mary” (the sister of Lazarus) is mentioned, who shares her name. The reason why is because this selection, coupled with a later part of the same Gospel succinctly sums up the virtues of the Theotokos: “Mary hath chosen that good part” and “blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it.” On this great day, let us examine ourselves, as to whether we have also chosen that good part, and kept the word of God. This is why we venerate the Most Holy Theotokos with such love; our veneration is in vain if we do not also emulate! Let us examine how we can accomplish this.

Illumined With Effulgence Of The Virtues. To Be In The Presence Of God

Old for the new but still new for the old since we are in the post-festival period of the Transfiguration, this short homily highlights something we must keep in mind every day.

Synopsis: The most important aspect of the Transfiguration of our Lord on Mount Tabor is that it is a harbinger of things to come. The apostles were not ready to be in the presence of the divine uncreated light of God, and yet in the end we all will be in His presence. What must we do to become ready? The aposticha for the forefeast teaches us: “Illumined with the effulgence of the virtues, let us proceed to the holy mountain, that we may behold the divine Transfiguration of the Lord.” (Vespers Aposticha, August 5, Forefeast of the Transfiguration). Let us look at what happened to the apostles and why and what we must do as the aposticha teaches.

Old Testament Appearances Of Jesus Christ. Exegesis of the Parables For Transfiguration Vespers

Old for the new, but still new for the old since we are in the midst of the after-feast for transfiguration, the Parables at Transfiguration Vespers are important to understand. Similar events to the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ occurred in the Old Testament. Three selections from the Old Testament are read during the Vespers, involving Moses twice and also the Prophet Elijah. These parables are briefly explained.

Understanding the Law of God in the Paraklesis Canon, Ode 5

New for the old, and old for the new (although at least some parishes chant this canon weekly); we are currently chanting the Small Canon to the Theotokos in the Paraklesis service nightly, and giving short meditations on the content of this beautiful prayer.

A meditation on the 5th Ode of the Small Paraklesis Canon to the Theotokos, especially about how to understand the law of God. It is not even close to what the West thinks! The following hymns are discussed:

“Lord, enlighten us by Thy precepts and by thy commands; and by the power of Thy lofty arm bestow Thy peace upon us all, since Thou art Friend of man.”

“Dissipate the gloom of my trespasses, O bride of God, with the clear brightness of thy radiance; for thou didst bear the Light divine which was before all-time.”

“Heal me, O Pure one, of the sickness which the passions bring, and make me worthy of a guardiancy; and by thy prayers intercessions grant thou health to me.