Today’s Gospel challenges us with the parable of the five talents, a lesson with great application for how we live out our faith and life in Christ. There are three aspects of the parable of the talents that I’d like to focus on today: First, we’ve all received “talents,” resources, blessings that are purely a gift […]
31st Sunday after Pentecost – Orthodox Homily on Holy Theophany
At this Great Feast of Theophany we bring into the present Christ’s holy Baptism into the waters of the Jordan. At first glance, the Feast of the Holy Theophany may appear to be solely the remembrance of Christ’s baptism. Indeed, some non-Orthodox teach that we celebrate Christ’s baptism so that we may be obedient to […]
30th Sunday after Pentecost – Orthodox Homily on the Sunday after Nativity
The Nativity of Christ, Christmas, is never just a one day celebration for the Orthodox faithful. It’s important for us as Orthodox in this land, dominated by Protestantism and Catholicism, to keep the Feast, to remember what it means to ‘baptize’ the culture with the light of the truth of Christ and His holy Church. […]
29th Sunday after Pentecost – Orthodox Homily on the Sunday before Nativity
Today on the Sunday before Nativity, we remember the genealogy of Christ, those who prefigure Him. Matthew’s Gospel for today intentionally traces Jesus Christ’s lineage through Abraham and recounts Christ’s lineage not thru Mary but thru Joseph, Christ’s earthly father through adoption. In doing so, he gives us one of those ‘sign posts’ of our […]
27th Sunday after Pentecost – Orthodox Homily on Luke 17, the Healing of the Ten Lepers
As we just heard in today’s Gospel, ten lepers appeal to Christ God for healing that He alone can give. While all ten are healed, only one returns to Christ, prostrating himself before Him who gives life to all people, and thanking Him for the healing he’s received. You and I have been given healing […]
27th Sunday after Pentecost – Orthodox Homily on the Rich Young Ruler
Today’s Gospel relates the true story of a ruler who’s kept the major commandments of God but neglected the conversion of his soul. In the eyes of the world, the ruler is a ‘good,’ upstanding man. He’s outwardly followed the commandments and not committed any of the ‘big sins.’ But he comes to Jesus looking […]
26th Sunday after Pentecost – Orthodox Homily on the Meaning of Advent
One of the most beautiful and beloved pieces of classical music for Advent, this holy season of preparation for Christ’s holy Nativity, is Bach’s popular cantata “Sleepers awake!” The title refers to a common theme of the Holy Scriptures, and, therefore, of our Orthodox Faith, that of alertness and readiness to meet the Lord, a […]
25th Sunday after Pentecost – Orthodox Homily on the Storing up Treasure in Heaven
The rich man in today’s Gospel puts his trust in his financial well-being, on creating for himself the illusion of ‘security,’ thinking, that if he just can hide away enough surplus, well, then nothing of this world will be able to touch him. He says, I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many […]
Feast of The Holy Archangels – Orthodox Homily on the Angels
Blessings of the Feast of the Holy Archangels and all the Bodiless Powers of Heaven! This is the day we thank God for His work through this church, which God has founded to His glory and our deification and salvation. The Canons of the Church remind us that a church’s Patronal Feast, as it is […]
23rd Sunday after Pentecost – Orthodox Homily on the Miracle of Healing
Today is the Synaxis of the Holy Unmercenary Healers or, as they are called in some traditions of the Church—“Physicians without silver”, which still has a resonance in our day, given the exorbitant costs of medical care and health insurance for many. We remember this day these Holy Physicians without silver: Panteleimon, Cyril and John, […]