The giving of the Holy Spirit is the last big piece of our salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ became incarnate, taking on and changing our nature, teaching by word and example, and was crucified, buried and rose from the dead, enabling our flesh to defeat death. Then after 40 days He ascended, showing us that our human flesh could be with God in eternity. Then according to the promise, the Holy Spirit was given, without which our salvation would ot be possible. We look at the ministry of the Holy Sprit by explaining “O Heavenly King”, and the various names and symbols for the Holy Sprit. The “take home” message is that in order to have the Holy Spirit abide in us, since He is the Spirit of Truth, we must live according to the truth. This entails much more that only not telling a lie!
Category: Homilies
Christology and moral teaching in the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus Christ. Sunday of the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council.
The Christology of the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus Christ (which He made just before His arrest on Holy Thursday) is explained, and then the moral application of this prayer which is as important as the dogma in it is discussed. Our Lord proves that He is equal to the Father, and gives us two instructions on what we must do to be saved. Both instructions are intimately related to His relationship with the Father, and consequently what our relationship should be with God and our neighbor.
7th Sunday of Pascha – Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council Why do we commemorate the First Ecumenical Council and read the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus between Ascension and Pentecost?
7th Sunday of Pascha – Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council. Why do we commemorate the First Ecumenical Council & read the High Priestly prayer of Jesus between Ascension & Pentecost? John 17:1-13 John 17:1-13 2010 Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, with Emperor Constantine (Arius, whose heresy was repudiated, is underneath… Continue reading 7th Sunday of Pascha – Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council Why do we commemorate the First Ecumenical Council and read the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus between Ascension and Pentecost?
The Meaning of Ascension. Audio Homily.
Because Jesus Christ took on our flesh in every way, His ascension tells us that we will ascend in the flesh. This will be accomplished by living according the the Holy Spirit, Who was promised to us after His ascension.
Ascension – 11 questions and answers, and The whole of our faith is Jesus Christ. Two prophesies, one fulfilled, one being fulfilled.
hat significance does the event of the Ascension of Jesus Christ have for the Christian? We should understand why we celebrate any feast, and its inner meaning. In the gospel reading for liturgy on the Ascension, two gifts are mentioned by Christ. One is given and one is promised. What are they? Comment on their… Continue reading Ascension – 11 questions and answers, and The whole of our faith is Jesus Christ. Two prophesies, one fulfilled, one being fulfilled.
The Sunday of the Blind Man. What must I do to be saved?
The story of the healing of the blind man who washed in the pool of Siloam is a primer on what we must do and must not do – to be saved. We discuss some very important dogma presented at the beginning of the reading (what does it mean when is says Jesus “passed by” – it is something very specific, personal and important, questions abut sin, what our Lord’s important statement about work during the day means), and then we look at the character of the blind man, and the ruling Jewish elite. A clear pattern emerges of the things WE must do, and the things that God will do it we do these necessary things.
You can’t be saved unless you have character. God will not give it to you. Text/Audio. Sunday of the Blind Man.
Today, brothers and sisters, it’s already the fifth Sunday of Pascha and the Sunday of the blind man, and in keeping with all the other Sundays it is a day in which we read about someone who is enlightened and the process of their enlightenment, and we have another important characteristic of enlightenment especially shown today. It is shown in some of the others too, in St. Thomas, in the Samaritan Woman, but especially here we see incredible courage; we see incredible character. You can’t be saved unless you have character. God’s not going to give it to you. You can’t be saved unless in your heart you want to be honest and in your heart you want to be courageous. You won’t be saved unless you have good character. Don’t depend on God to give it to you. You have to have it. You have to have a desire to be good. This is good character. Whether or not you make mistakes and you have sins – that’s not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about what is it that you desire and what is it that you value and how do you order your life? …
5th Sunday of Pascha – The Samaritan Woman. Literacy, thirst, humility. zeal.
he story of the woman at the well, the Samaritan woman, Photini, must be understood in a historical, theological, mystical and practical context. She said “the well is deep”, and this story can be discussed from many perspectives, many of which are, alas, unintelligible to most because of their low level of theological knowledge and interest. The most important one for us is what we must do do get the living water, the Holy Spirit. Saint Photini shows us several things that we MUST be if we are to be saved – theologically literate, having thirst for righteousness, humility, and zeal. Her conversation with the Lord and subsequent actions show all these things. Audio also available.
The doctrine of the cross in the hymns of the Octoechos Victory over death and healing. Sunday Octoechos Tone 3
The Orthodox dogma about the cross is often displayed in the Sunday hymns for Vespers and Matins. Many or even most who identify with Christianity and are not Orthodox only have a legal view of what happened on the cross. For us Orthodox, what happened on the cross was the destruction of death, and our healing. We have a relational view. What good is it to be forgiven and not also healed? Two hymns from the Sunday Octoechos help illustrate a part of our understanding of the significance of the cross: “By Thy cross, O Christ our Savior, the dominion of death hath been destroyed, and the deception of the devil hath been abolished; and the race of man, having been saved by faith, doth ever offer praise to Thee” (Lord I have cried, Sunday Octoechos, Tone 3), “Thy precious cross do we worship O Christ, and Thy resurrection do we praise and glorify, for by Thy wounding are we all healed.” (Lord I have cried, Sunday Octoechos, Tone 3)
The paralytic at the sheep’s pool. The healing of the paralytic teaches the doctrine of baptism and gives important baptismal admonitions.
The healing of the paralytic teaches the doctrine of baptism and gives important baptismal admonitions.