Audio Homily on the day of the Veneration of the Cross, 2010
Pictures of primed church, main doors, parking lot
Pictures from yesterday. Priming is done. They are painting today. If the weather holds, the parking lot will be poured next week, and the outside stone will be on in 1 1/2 weeks. We are getting very close. The church sounds really good!
What shall a man give in exchange for his soul? The Christian life is all about priorities. What are we denying?
The Third Sunday Of Great Lent – Sunday of the Precious Cross.
In life, if you do anything, if you’re to be successful, then there are two main ingredients for this success. One is the knowledge of what you want, how you should do it — you must have understanding. Then you must also have the correct priority based on this understanding — or should I say, based on reality. …
“A deceitful balance” – Proverbs 10:31-11:12
A deceitful balance is an abomination before the Lord: and a just weight is his will. (Great Lent, the Third Week, Friday, Vespers – Proverbs 11:1, from the selection: Proverbs 10:31-11:12)
The Proverbs are excellent texts for checking ourselves. We must read the scriptures with the intent of finding personal correction and guidance.
When we observe good or bad behavior, do we resemble it? When there is a rebuke, would we deserve the same? When a prayer is uttered or a promise made, would we be truth tellers or liars if we said the same thing? …
The Ensign of the people.
In that day the root of Jesse, who standeth for an ensign of the people, him the Gentiles shall beseech, and his sepulchre shall be glorious. Great Lent, the Third Week, Thursday, The Sixth Hour, Isaiah 11:10, from the selection: Isaiah 11:10-12:2
An exegesis of this verse.
Joyful celebration of the fast. 3rd Week of Great Lent – Wednesday Matins
WHY follow the commandments? Because we will change.
Orthodox Math
The services are enthusiastic! I love to hear their enthusiasm about the living of the spiritual life, and their frequent enraptured meditation on the truths and dogmas of our faith. I hope you do too.
This hymn is one of many during the Great Fast that count this “tithe” [1] of the year as great blessing, and joy.
This attitude is a different perspective for some of us. For some, Great Lent is a time to “give up” things, and deal with inconvenience and difficulty in planning meals. …
Wisdom has built a house for herself, and set up seven pillars
St Hippolytus of Rome, On Proverbs
3rd Week of Great Lent – TUESDAY. Vespers.
Proverbs 9:1-6
Christ, he means, the wisdom and power of God the Father, hath builded His house, i.e., His nature in the flesh derived from the Virgin, even as he (John) hath said beforetime, …
The Purpose of Creation
This Saturday, we had a 2-hour Lenten Retreat for our parish youth. The first discussion we had was: "Why were you created?" The following six excerpts, culled from various websites, describe the answers to this question given by a number of religions and philosophies. Can you identify each one? To what extent is each consistent… Continue reading The Purpose of Creation
With the fire of abstinence…
3rd Week of Great Lent – Monday Matins. With the fire of abstinence let us all burn up the thorns of the passions that assault us, and with streams of tears let us put out the flame that shall never be quenched; and let us cry aloud to Him Who shall come to judge… Continue reading With the fire of abstinence…
Saint Gregory Palamas and the Healing of the paralytic borne of four. The answer to the question – Can anything good come out of Nazareth. Audio Homily
The Second Sunday of Great Lent is like a second “Triumph of Orthodoxy”, because the teachings of St Gregory Palamas are remembered. He answers the question posed last week:”Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” with resounding eloquence. The healing of the paralytic also contributes to answering this all important question, and indeed Great Lent especially, and our entire life nust be an answer to this question.