- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (mp3 format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (mp3 format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (mp3 format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (HTML format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (mp3 format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (mp3 format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (mp3 format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (Word DOC format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (mp3 format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (mp3 format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (mp3 format)
- 4th Sunday before Great Lent (mp3 format)
- Inner meaning of the Last Judgment Gospel. (mp3 format)
- The sole criterion for Judgment. (mp3 format)
- The Last Judgment and the border between incorruption and mortality. (mp3 format)
Sunday of the Last Judgment (Meatfare)
Sunday Of The Last Judgment Meatfare
2007-02-11
2007-02-11
Sunday Of The Last Judgment
The Judgment Is All About Love
Matthew 25:31-46
2008-03-02
The Judgment Is All About Love
Matthew 25:31-46
2008-03-02
Sunday Of The Last Judgment Meatfare
2009-02-22
2009-02-22
Sunday Of The Last Judgment Meatfare
2010-02-07
Also in Format: Word DOC or mp3
SYNOPSIS:Why is this scripture read today, two Sundays before Great Lent begins? What is its meaning? What are the two critical characteristics of those who will be saved? How are we to understand the things the righteous did and the unrighteous did not do, and their identical answers to the Lord? What must we do?
2010-02-07
Also in Format: Word DOC or mp3
SYNOPSIS:Why is this scripture read today, two Sundays before Great Lent begins? What is its meaning? What are the two critical characteristics of those who will be saved? How are we to understand the things the righteous did and the unrighteous did not do, and their identical answers to the Lord? What must we do?
Sunday Of The Last Judgment Meatfare
The Services Teach Us How To Pray
2011-02-27
SYNOPSIS:A short homily given after Vespers and before matins on the Eve of the Sunday of the Last Judgment. The services contain much dogmatic content, but also teach us *how* to pray - what our attitude should be. The Sunday of the Last Judgment has many prayers (in the first person!) which mention the terrifying judgments and our terrible sinfulness, and they always end with hope in God's mercy. We must learn to pray in this way - to consider ourselves the worst of sinners and in the same breath, the same thought, having great confidence in God's mercy. Several examples for the services for tonight are discussed.
The Services Teach Us How To Pray
2011-02-27
SYNOPSIS:A short homily given after Vespers and before matins on the Eve of the Sunday of the Last Judgment. The services contain much dogmatic content, but also teach us *how* to pray - what our attitude should be. The Sunday of the Last Judgment has many prayers (in the first person!) which mention the terrifying judgments and our terrible sinfulness, and they always end with hope in God's mercy. We must learn to pray in this way - to consider ourselves the worst of sinners and in the same breath, the same thought, having great confidence in God's mercy. Several examples for the services for tonight are discussed.
Sunday Of The Last Judgment Meatfare
Things That Are Repeated Are Important
Matthew 25-31-46
2011-02-27
SYNOPSIS:The account of the last judgment in the Gospel of Matthew has a lot of repetition in it. In scripture, when things are repeated, they are important. Both the righteous and the unrighteous heard the same list of good works (fed the hungry, visited the sick and those in prison, etc), and their reactions were externally similar - they wondered when the events the Lord describes occurred. The righteous "forgot" about their good works because their works were because of their consuming love for God and neighbor. Let us look carefully at the list of works the Lord describes and understand their exact meaning, and the meaning of the responses of the righteous and unrighteous. The main criterion for the judgment will be whether we have fulfilled the two greatest commandments.
Things That Are Repeated Are Important
Matthew 25-31-46
2011-02-27
SYNOPSIS:The account of the last judgment in the Gospel of Matthew has a lot of repetition in it. In scripture, when things are repeated, they are important. Both the righteous and the unrighteous heard the same list of good works (fed the hungry, visited the sick and those in prison, etc), and their reactions were externally similar - they wondered when the events the Lord describes occurred. The righteous "forgot" about their good works because their works were because of their consuming love for God and neighbor. Let us look carefully at the list of works the Lord describes and understand their exact meaning, and the meaning of the responses of the righteous and unrighteous. The main criterion for the judgment will be whether we have fulfilled the two greatest commandments.
Meat Commendeth Us Not To God
1 Corinthians 8-8-9-2
2012-02-08
SYNOPSIS:Perhaps one of the best remembered scriptures among those who do not fast and do not read the scripture much is the well known phrase of Saint Paul: "But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse." We look at the context of this true statement, and its application to our day. The entire passage is about sensitivity to our brother's weakness, and how the phrase "when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ" is quite similar to the one in today' Gospel: " ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" We also discuss why we fast - it is a natural requirement of our human nature, and is an easy and readily available way to train ourselves in self-control. Without self-control, we cannot make any progress in the spiritual life.
1 Corinthians 8-8-9-2
2012-02-08
SYNOPSIS:Perhaps one of the best remembered scriptures among those who do not fast and do not read the scripture much is the well known phrase of Saint Paul: "But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse." We look at the context of this true statement, and its application to our day. The entire passage is about sensitivity to our brother's weakness, and how the phrase "when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ" is quite similar to the one in today' Gospel: " ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me" We also discuss why we fast - it is a natural requirement of our human nature, and is an easy and readily available way to train ourselves in self-control. Without self-control, we cannot make any progress in the spiritual life.
Sunday Of The Last Judgment
Matthew 25-31-46
2012-02-19
Also in Format: mp3
SYNOPSIS:The Sunday of the Last Judgment gives the 3rd piece of important information to us in our preparation for Great Lent. We have learned that to be saved one must not judge others, and feel the weight of personal sins and ask God for mercy. We have seen the process of repentance, from the onset of sin, its destructive affects, self-realization of sin, and the importance process to "arise and go" to our Father, and the critical detail, without which we would never complete our repentance and be saved - our Father will go to us, as we are trying to change, and comfort us and empower us to complete the good work we have started. Today's Gospel about the last judgment shows the end result of true repentance, and also the "flip side" - the outcome for those who do not repent. It is a frightening spectacle, and not a pleasant one to meditate upon, but absolute necessary for us to remember. Lets us talk about how Jesus Christ came the first time, how His second coming will be, and what we must do to hear the blessed words: " Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world".
Matthew 25-31-46
2012-02-19
Also in Format: mp3
SYNOPSIS:The Sunday of the Last Judgment gives the 3rd piece of important information to us in our preparation for Great Lent. We have learned that to be saved one must not judge others, and feel the weight of personal sins and ask God for mercy. We have seen the process of repentance, from the onset of sin, its destructive affects, self-realization of sin, and the importance process to "arise and go" to our Father, and the critical detail, without which we would never complete our repentance and be saved - our Father will go to us, as we are trying to change, and comfort us and empower us to complete the good work we have started. Today's Gospel about the last judgment shows the end result of true repentance, and also the "flip side" - the outcome for those who do not repent. It is a frightening spectacle, and not a pleasant one to meditate upon, but absolute necessary for us to remember. Lets us talk about how Jesus Christ came the first time, how His second coming will be, and what we must do to hear the blessed words: " Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world".
Sunday Of The Last Judgment
Inherit The Kingdom Prepared For You From The Foundation Of The World
Matthew 25-31-46
2013-03-10
SYNOPSIS:Are you a glass half full or half empty person? How do you look at the Last Judgment story in Matthew 25:31-46? Many people concentrate on the condemnation of those who go to Hell, but the story actually emphasizes that we are eternal beings ("Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world"), and therefore every thing we do and every work of mercy must be eternal. It teaches us how to accomplish this: "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me"
Inherit The Kingdom Prepared For You From The Foundation Of The World
Matthew 25-31-46
2013-03-10
SYNOPSIS:Are you a glass half full or half empty person? How do you look at the Last Judgment story in Matthew 25:31-46? Many people concentrate on the condemnation of those who go to Hell, but the story actually emphasizes that we are eternal beings ("Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world"), and therefore every thing we do and every work of mercy must be eternal. It teaches us how to accomplish this: "Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me"
Sunday Of The Last Judgement
Do Not Judge Repent Be Kind Forgive
Matthew 25-31-46
2014-02-23
Do Not Judge Repent Be Kind Forgive
Matthew 25-31-46
2014-02-23
Sunday Of The Last Judgment
Do Not Judge Repent Be Kind Forgive
Matthew 25-31-46
2014-02-23
SYNOPSIS:Why is the Sunday of the Last judgment celebrated today? The most common answer is that it puts us in the right mindset for the fast, but this is not the main reason. The Gospel of the Last judgment presents criteria for judgment, and they are actual things, and also indicating the nature of the God-man Jesus Christ. We are to learn to become like Christ. If we know this, Great Lent is not a somber time, but a time of joy, expectation and change.
Do Not Judge Repent Be Kind Forgive
Matthew 25-31-46
2014-02-23
SYNOPSIS:Why is the Sunday of the Last judgment celebrated today? The most common answer is that it puts us in the right mindset for the fast, but this is not the main reason. The Gospel of the Last judgment presents criteria for judgment, and they are actual things, and also indicating the nature of the God-man Jesus Christ. We are to learn to become like Christ. If we know this, Great Lent is not a somber time, but a time of joy, expectation and change.
Sunday Of The Last Judgment
Matthew 25-31-46-1corinthians 8-8-9-2
2015-02-15
SYNOPSIS:Life is not orderly. Things happen all at once. The Gospel is like this too; it is not like a PowerPoint presentation which proceeds in a logical manner from point a to b to c. Classical homiletics teaches that there should be laser like focus on one point, and this is good most of the time, but it is not like we read the scripture, or how our services are, or how we live our lives. All theology and practice is contained in all these things, all at once. We look into the readings for the Sunday of the Last Judgment, known also as "Meatfare" Sunday, as we experience life, and like a bee, take from each flower the nectar it provides. There are many lessons today. Here are some: we see through a glass darkly, and the things we see are not as they seem. We must learn to think spiritually, and then we will be as the sheep, which in appearance in this life, differ very little from the goats. Everything has a purpose, and we cannot be victorious unless we understand this. There is a rule of life which will save us. It is based on love. We must see everyone as (not just "like") Christ. This is not a mind game or a mental exercise; it is the only way to fulfill the law of love. The Apostle and our Lord define it clearly for us. We must be vigorous in our promises! St Paul teaches this to us today.
Matthew 25-31-46-1corinthians 8-8-9-2
2015-02-15
SYNOPSIS:Life is not orderly. Things happen all at once. The Gospel is like this too; it is not like a PowerPoint presentation which proceeds in a logical manner from point a to b to c. Classical homiletics teaches that there should be laser like focus on one point, and this is good most of the time, but it is not like we read the scripture, or how our services are, or how we live our lives. All theology and practice is contained in all these things, all at once. We look into the readings for the Sunday of the Last Judgment, known also as "Meatfare" Sunday, as we experience life, and like a bee, take from each flower the nectar it provides. There are many lessons today. Here are some: we see through a glass darkly, and the things we see are not as they seem. We must learn to think spiritually, and then we will be as the sheep, which in appearance in this life, differ very little from the goats. Everything has a purpose, and we cannot be victorious unless we understand this. There is a rule of life which will save us. It is based on love. We must see everyone as (not just "like") Christ. This is not a mind game or a mental exercise; it is the only way to fulfill the law of love. The Apostle and our Lord define it clearly for us. We must be vigorous in our promises! St Paul teaches this to us today.
Sunday of the Last Judgment
Matthew 25:31-46
2016
SYNOPSIS:First, and overview of all 5 Sunday Gospels in the preparation period for Great Lent, to see how they fit together. Then a discussion of the outer vs. inner teaching of this Gospel form Matthew about the Last judgment. Of course the immediately apparent teaching of this Gospel is that there will be a judgment and we will be judged if we are not compassionate. The inner meaning can be gleaned from understanding why the Lord referred to the "young kids" as being put on the left (the actual word means immature goats - "young kids", and His answer to the righteous when they question Him: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Putting these things together we see with excitement the possibilities before us in this upcoming fast: we are to grow towards maturity, so that, as the image of God within us becomes more apparent, we see Christ in everyone else. Christianity is not rules, or exercises. It is growth toward perfection. We are not to be "young kids", who are immature, foolish and selfish, but mature sheep and even mature goats!
Matthew 25:31-46
2016
SYNOPSIS:First, and overview of all 5 Sunday Gospels in the preparation period for Great Lent, to see how they fit together. Then a discussion of the outer vs. inner teaching of this Gospel form Matthew about the Last judgment. Of course the immediately apparent teaching of this Gospel is that there will be a judgment and we will be judged if we are not compassionate. The inner meaning can be gleaned from understanding why the Lord referred to the "young kids" as being put on the left (the actual word means immature goats - "young kids", and His answer to the righteous when they question Him: "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Putting these things together we see with excitement the possibilities before us in this upcoming fast: we are to grow towards maturity, so that, as the image of God within us becomes more apparent, we see Christ in everyone else. Christianity is not rules, or exercises. It is growth toward perfection. We are not to be "young kids", who are immature, foolish and selfish, but mature sheep and even mature goats!
Last Judgment
How Are We Judged
Matthew 25:31-46
2018-02-11
SYNOPSIS:The message of the Gospel for the Sunday of the Last Judgment is: (the verb, the command, the only consequence which gives meaning to our life, and the criterion by which we are judged) - LOVE! . An exegesis of this Gospel, taking into account the other recent Sunday readings, and the two parables which precede it in the 25th chapter of Matthew - the Ten virgins, and the Talents. Considering all these things, we see an instruction book for how to approach great Lent.
How Are We Judged
Matthew 25:31-46
2018-02-11
SYNOPSIS:The message of the Gospel for the Sunday of the Last Judgment is: (the verb, the command, the only consequence which gives meaning to our life, and the criterion by which we are judged) - LOVE! . An exegesis of this Gospel, taking into account the other recent Sunday readings, and the two parables which precede it in the 25th chapter of Matthew - the Ten virgins, and the Talents. Considering all these things, we see an instruction book for how to approach great Lent.
Last Judgement
Border Between Incorruption And Mortality
2019-03-03
SYNOPSIS:The story of the Last Judgment from Matthew 25 makes it very clear that if we do not love we will not be saved. We will be helped to love if we know who we are and where we came from and where we are going. We look at two hymns from the Saturday commemoration of reposed which tell us these things, in particular, one which tells us that we are "on the border / between incorruption and mortality"Here are the hymns:
Border Between Incorruption And Mortality
2019-03-03
SYNOPSIS:The story of the Last Judgment from Matthew 25 makes it very clear that if we do not love we will not be saved. We will be helped to love if we know who we are and where we came from and where we are going. We look at two hymns from the Saturday commemoration of reposed which tell us these things, in particular, one which tells us that we are "on the border / between incorruption and mortality"Here are the hymns:
Thou hast formed Adam with Thine hand, O Savior, / and set him on the border / between incorruption and mortality; / Thou hast made him share in life through grace, / freeing him from corruption / and translating him to the life that he enjoyed at first. / Give rest, O Master, to Thy servants Thou hast taken from us; / may they dwell with the righteous in the choir of the elect; / write their names in the book of life; / raise them with the sound of the Archangel’s trump, // and count them worthy of Thy heavenly kingdom.
Christ is risen, / releasing from bondage Adam the first-formed man / and destroying the power of hell. / Be of good courage, all ye dead, / for death is slain and hell despoiled; / the crucified and risen Christ is King. / He has given incorruption to our flesh; / He raises us and grants us resurrection, / and He counts worthy of His joy and glory / all who, with a faith that wavers not, // have trusted fervently in Him.
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