Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church – Page 42 – McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections

St. Nicholas Parish Newsletter 11-28-2010

St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas Electronic Newsletter, November 15/28 2010 http://docs.google.com/View?id=d926dxr_88dpbs3tfq Announcements Prayer Requests Schedule of Divine Services in the Coming week Fasting in the Coming week Pledge Form 2011 We mustn't despair when we struggle and continuously see nothing but the slightest progress. We all do nearly nothing, some a little more,… Continue reading St. Nicholas Parish Newsletter 11-28-2010

Commentary on 1 Timothy 5:1-10 27th Monday after Pentecost

Commentary on 1 Timothy 5:1-10 27th Monday after Pentecost
She that liveth in pleasure is dead while she liveth

A true widow
The death of Christian Charity
When is a Christian worse than an infidel?

The Healing Of The Woman With An Issue Of Blood And The Raising Of The Daughter Of Jairus Who touched me? Luke 8:41-56. Audio Homily.

The Healing Of The Woman With An Issue Of Blood And The Raising Of The Daughter Of Jairus Who touched me? Luke 8:41-56. Audio Homily. Also links to other homilies on this Gospel.

The Wisdom of Jesus, the son of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10.Wisdom, The Incarnation

Commentary on The Wisdom of Jesus, the son of Sirach or Ecclesiasticus 1:1-10.

Wisdom, Creation, The Incarnation

O Good Physician… A prayer inspired by St Ephrem the Syrian Monasticism applied to everyone! The Modern Illness in Orthodoxy

O Good Physician,
Thou callest me, demanding no payment, nor spilling my blood,
But my slothfulness prevents me from going to Thee….

After a prayer inspired by a gleaning from St Ephrem the Syrian, the quote which inspired it, and a short commentary on the importance of monasticism and the illness of the modern church.

The purpose of the commandments. St Maximus the Confessor

The whole purpose of the Savior’s commandments is to free the mind from incontinence and hate and to bring it to the love of Himself…

After this quote from St Maximus the confessor, a short pastoral comment:

This has been one of the themes of my priestly ministry…

A pastor must strive to give his flock a reason to follow the commandments. This quote by St Maximus is the reason, or, better, one of the many ways of expressing the reason. A person who really listend to my homilies…

Make your vows and pay them to the Lord our God. A short timely commentary. Audio.

Synopsis: Psalm 75:10, “Make your vows and pay them to the Lord our God”, was the prokeimenon for today. Reader David Hawthorne shares how this verse is very timely for our community, and reads a portion of a commentary from Blessed Augustine and briefly expounds upon it. The point is: we must make some vow to the Lord, even if it is a “widow’s mite”, to gain spiritual discipline in our lives.

One Body, One Spirit, One Hope, One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism. Descending,then Ascending Fulfills The Gospel. Audio Homily 2010

n this longer than usual sermon, the first part of Ephesians chapter 4 is expounded on. This selection not only presents important dogmas that are the bedrock of our faith, it also presents the proper perspective to have regarding our neighbor – a perspective that will help us to fulfill all the commandments. The doctrine of Christ’s descent into Hell is discussed, and its moral application to all of our prayer, and indeed, all of our life. This selection contains some of the most important spiritual lessons a pastor can preach.