Today we celebrate the triumph of Orthodoxyand with it the consistent proclamation of the truth of who Christ is: “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6) as He is revealed to be, first through the creation, second through the prophets, and third and especially, by virtue of His Incarnation.  With the victory of the […]

The Lord took a handful of dustfrom the earthHe breathed into it and created me, a living man.He made me lord and master of allthings on earth; truly I enjoyed the life of the Angels. But Satan the deceiver tempted me in the guise of a serpent; I ate the forbidden fruit and forfeited the glory of God. Now I have […]

The Sunday of the Prodigal Sonaffords us the opportunity to consider how much we value our ‘inheritance,’ our identity, in Christ.  The prodigal demands his inheritance from his father (even before his father dies) and squanders it on riotous living.  Having become a slave to his passions, there’s no sating them.  Having starved his soul to give the […]

The three weeks before the start of Great Lent (the Triodion) has begun with the Parable of the Publican and Pharisee.  Christ thrusts before us a stark contrast between the prideful, judgmental, self-righteous Pharisee and the humble, self-effacing, repentant Publican.  Like the Pharisee, we too can easily find ourselves following all the ‘rules’ of Lent—fasting, services, alms-giving, without […]

Zacchaeus Sundayis here and we’re given an important truth on our journey with Christ toward salvation.  Zacchaeus is a sinner, but he becomes for us an icon of repentance and confession.  Zacchaeus lays all his earthly cares aside to seek and to see Christ. Of all the people who came out to see Jesus that day, Zacchaeus may […]

Pride doesn’t just manifest itself in arrogance, but often—maybe even more often—in over-sensitivity and feelings of inferiority.  The common denominator?  Self-focus rather than Christ focus.  Where ego and reliance on self is concerned, whether that be in regard to our appearance, our identity, our abilities, or our purpose in life, pride won’t be far behind.  It will haunt us, […]

We live in an age when it can be intimidating to speak openly of our faith in Christ God or reveal ourselves to be Orthodox Christians.  Increasingly our faith is seen as out of step with the culture’s ever evolving ‘values.’  The meaning of sin, love, healing, and marriage (just to a few) have all been changed by […]

“Today the waters of the Jordan are transformed into healing by the coming of the Lord.  Today the transgressions of men are washed away by the waters of the Jordan…  Today we have been delivered from darkness and illuminated with the light of the knowledge of God. Today the blinding mist of the world is dispersed […]

Blessed Nativity in Continuation, Many Years!  “The angels offer Thee a hymn; the heavens, a star; the Magi, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder; the earth, its cave; the wilderness, a manger; and we offer Thee a Virgin Mother.”(Stichera, Vespers of Nativity).  The Lord grant all of you great joy as we continue to celebrate our […]

“The angels offer Thee a hymn; the heavens, a star; the Magi, gifts; the shepherds, their wonder; the earth, its cave; the wilderness, a manger; and we offer Thee a Virgin Mother.”(Stichera, Vespers of Nativity).  The Lord grant all of you great joy as we celebrate our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ’s holy Nativity.  […]