Today, brothers and sisters, we have a parable with, as usual, two meanings, or a story meant for two audiences. The Lord gave many parables directed towards the Jews that explained to them what they were about to do, that is, crucify Him, reject Him and not even believe in Him after He had risen from the dead. But every single time He spoke a parable, He also spoke it to you and to me, to the soul of the Christian …
Short summary of the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. Audio 2010
A short summary of the main points of the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus. This was part of a short after liturgy talk, because the parable was not the subject of the homily after the Gospel at liturgy.
He Is Our Peace. Ephesians 2:14-22. 24th Sunday. Audio Homily 2010
LISTEN NOW Synopsis: The Gospel is exactly proclained in this passage from Ephesians. The entire passage is discussed, especially "For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity…". What is peace accordig to the Gospel?… Continue reading He Is Our Peace. Ephesians 2:14-22. 24th Sunday. Audio Homily 2010
Fall Stewardship Campaign, Part 3. Giving our fruits must happen to increase our faith.
What I want as your pastor is that everyone gives to the church. The amount is not a critical thing to me. What is critical to me, as your pastor, is that you give of your fruits to God and it will increase your faith. I know this to be true in my own lie and the lives of many I have counseled…
2Corinthians 8:12 “For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.”
Deuteronomy 14:22-23 “Thou shalt truly tithe all the increase of thy seed, that the field bringeth forth year by year. (23) And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy God, in the place which he shall choose to place his name there, the tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy herds and of thy flocks; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God always.”
St Seraphim bows to the Kursk Root Icon
A note from a parishioner, whose home was visited and blessed with the Holy Kursk Root icon Friday, Oct 29 (ns). Posted with permission, with very slight editing.
… Something curious happened during the icon’s visit to our apartment… I have a photo of St. Seraphim of Sarov on my bookshelf. I’ve wanted to have it framed properly for a while, but for now it’s just a bare photo standing on a shelf. After the icon’s visit to our apartment I noticed that the photograph of St. Seraphim was bent over almost in half…
With pictures.
Prayer of Evagrios the Solitary – O Good One, grant unto me purification of the passions …
O Good One, grant unto me purification of the passions, deliverance from ignorance and forgetfulness, deliverance from all temptation, trial and dereliction, only Thy righteousness, virtue, the spiritual knowledge of Thy kingdom, and whatsoever else Thou deemest best for me. Evagrios the Solitary, “On Prayer,” # 38, 39, The Philokalia, Vol. 1, G. E. H.… Continue reading Prayer of Evagrios the Solitary – O Good One, grant unto me purification of the passions …
Photoreport of Visit of Kursk-Root Icon to Holy Protection parish in Austin, Texas
A photoreport of the Visit of the Kursk-Root Icon to Holy Protection parish in Austin, Texas, with lots of nice pictures, and a description of the events, is available here.
http://tinyurl.com/29aaefp
Kursk Root Icon Visits Dallas
On Friday, October 16/29th, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church was visited by the wonderworking Kursk-Root Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos. This was truly a blessing not only for our small parish, but also for the Dallas-Fort Worth Orthodox community. On Friday morning, Divine Liturgy was served in the presence of the icon by the parish… Continue reading Kursk Root Icon Visits Dallas
O Lord, I am weak… a prayer of Elder Sophrony of Essex
O Lord, I am weak. Thou knowest this.
In fear I seek the way to Thee. Despise me not. Forsake me not in my fall. …
Parable Of The Sower Grace,faith,works. Audio Homily 2010.
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”.