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Visitor’s Sunday this Sunday Oct 10, 2010

Visitor’s Sunday this Sunday Oct 10, 2010. Flyer image, plus a link to the flyer if you want to send it to others.

Two Identical Definitions of Christianity. What is the way of the Cross? Important questions we must answer. Audio Homily 2010

The Epistle and Gospel for the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross both contain identical ‘definitions’ of Christianity. They both involve the cross, which is an instrument of death and of life. All Christians must voluntaily be crucified with Christ, and tak up their cross. This is explained by our Lord’s instruction that we must ‘lose’ our life to save it, and His uestions: For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? We must understand this if we are to truly live the Christian life and know Christ.

To Pray For Someone More Diligently. Prayer Of St Silouan Of Mount Athos For All People. Audio talk and prayer texts.

This is another in our short after liturgy catechetical talks. We discuss 2 prayers that everyone should have for their personal prayer rule. The prayer of St Silouan is especially important. St Silouan prayed for all the people of the world. This is a sure sign of love. We must cultivate habits that build this kind of love. The audio explains a little about these prayers and quotes them. The word document contains these two prayers. It can be printed and cut into quarters to have 4 sheets with both prayers.

Exaltation of the Cross. Three questions about the Cross. Catechetical talk.

Three Questions About The Cross regarding the sign of the cross,prostrations on Sunday and ,venerating the cross or any icon in church. The text follows the talk very closely. These talks are designed to get a little information into the faithful right after the liturgy before it becomes too chaotic to teach.

Sunday before the Exaltation of the Holy Cross – John 3:13-17. Audio Homily 2010

Synopsis:A line by line exegesis of the important passage John 3:13-17, with particular emphasis on how the cross and the resurrection must be thought of in the same “breath”, and how we must live because of the cross.

Homily on the Exaltation of the Holy Cross We preach Christ crucified What is the way of the cross? 1 Corinthians 1:18-24. Text Homily.

SYNOPSIS:Main points of this homily, which may express my deepest Christian feelings more than any other homily I have ever spoken: What is the preaching of the Cross? The preaching of the Cross is preaching about the way of the Cross. ** Our Lord spoke about the way of the Cross. It’s rather mysterious, really. And the reason it’s mysterious is because of our sins, because the way of the Cross is the way of life; and yet, in order to gain it, we must die. The way of the Cross is the way of joy — or to joy. But in order to gain it, we must undergo tribulation and be sad. ** This is the way of the Cross: To know that you are missing something that is so critically important to your soul; to know that you’re missing wisdom and compassion and gentleness and humility and wholeness. And that the only way to gain this is to follow Christ and to cleave to Him, to hold onto Him, no matter what. ** If your heart doesn’t ache for what you should be and what others should be, then you’re not following the way of the Cross.

Nativity of the Theotokos. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Text/Audio Homily.

SYNOPSIS:Before the homily, a little bit about those special “moments of clarity” and what we should expect each time in the holy services. The homily addresses the Epistle reading, where the Apostle tells us: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” This is the totality of the Gospel, just as the two great commandments are the totality of the law. If we fulfilled this command, we would never sin! Let us explore how to attain this “mind”. Everything we do or think of doing should be evaluated in the light of this command. The Church has the mind of Christ, and we are part of the Church. If we have the mind of Christ, then we have all wisdom, all holiness; nothing would confuse us. We would always choose the right way, because Christ always chose the right way.

Nativity of the Theotokos, Sep 8/21. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Audio Homily.

Synopsis: Before the homily, a little bit about those special “memoents of clarity” and what we should expect each time in the holy services. The homily addresses the Epistle reading, where the Apostle tells us: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” This is the totality of the Gospel, just as the two great commandements are the totality of the law. If we fulfilled this command, we would never sin! Let us explore how to attain this “mind”. Everything we do or think of doing should be evaluated in the light of this command.

The Canaanite Woman. Exactly how to pray. Audio Homily 2010

Synopsis:The Caananite woman teaches us *exactly* how we should pray: with knowledge, simplicity, persistence and humility. A close examination of her encounter with Christ shows these virtues plainly, and should also show us which ones we are lacking in (definitely at least 3 of the 4!).