The Epistle and Gospel selections today, which are rarely read together, both proclaim the Gospel – the “Good News” in both the same and different ways. Ephesians is the classic declaration of the Gospel,and the parable of the sower speaks in metaphor, but both declare that how the gospel is received by us and what we do with it determines whether or not we “bring forth fruit with patience”, and be His workmanship … unto good works”.
Category: Homilies
The Widow of Nain. 3rd Sunday of Luke. Oil and wine. Audio Homily 2010.
The Widow of Nain. 3rd Sunday of Luke. Oil and wine. Audio Homily 2010.
The Widow of Nain This is our life in microcosm. 20th Sunday. 3rd Sunday of Luke.
The miracle of the raising of the son of the widow of Nain is our life in microcosm.
Galatians 2:16-20. Christian vs Jewish justification, and why it is important. Audio Homily. 21st Sunday after Pentecost.
Galatians was written to a group of Gentiles that had been infected with Judiazing teachings; they had been taught that they were required to fulfil the rituals of the Jewish law (circumcision, washings, dietary laws, etc) to be saved. All of Galatians refutes this heresy, and teaches why Christians must be moral. This passage particularly highlights the differences between Jewish justification (which was only an external declaration) and Christian Justification, which is also a declaration, but also involves the inner man becoming righteous – that is, the obliteration of sin (not just forgiveness), and eventual perfection. Why should we care about the difference between the Jewish view and the Christian reality? Because almost everyone, to a greater or lesser degree often lives and thinks as the Jews did.
The first great catch of fish compared with the second. Audio Homily 2010
The first Great catch of fish, read in context with the 2nd great catch (which occurred three years later, 8 days after the resurrection) is truly the “Gospel” – the “Good News”, because it is a promise to us that we can change and truly become holy – all we need do is be with Jesus Christ throughout our life. We compare the two great catches, and explore what it means to be with Christ. The Epistle reading is from Galatians, them overall theme of which is that we cannot be saved bu . We are not saved by works, but we cannot be saved unless we stay with Christ throughout our life – we examine what this means.
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.
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.