Monthly Archives: July 2017

Matthew 14:1 4-22

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Today’s Gospel from St Matthew relates to us the feeding of the five thousand and the miraculous multiplication of loaves and fishes. The account of this event is to be found in all Four Gospels. From the details that are added in the other Gospels we know that this event took place in the third year of the Saviour’s public preaching, after the beheading of St John the Baptist. From it we can learn several things. Continue reading →

Romans 15:1-7 and Matthew 9:27-35

“But the Pharisee kept on saying, ‘It is by the help of the prince of the demons that He drives them out’” (Matthew 9:27-35)

St John Chrysostom says that nothing is worse than ingratitude. And indeed, dear brethren, nothing annoys man so much as the behaviour of an ungrateful person. When someone gives you even so small a thing as a glass of water when you are thirsty, the rules of etiquette prescribe that you thank him. Even a simple person, who knows nothing of etiquette, says thank you out of common courtesy. I shall never forget when I was a student in Constantinople and wished, after a day of shopping in the city, to get a ride back to my lodging on a bus. Much to my embarrassment, I found that I had not one cent left in my pocket with which to pay the driver. Just as he was about to slam the door in my face, a stranger, a Turk, paid my fare for me. I shall never forget the favour of this modern-day “good Samaritan”. Continue reading →

SUNDAY 16 JULY 2017

We do a lot with lights in our church. There are candles on the altar and in front of icons. We turn up the lights at the beginning of the Divine Liturgy, and “Come Receive the Light” is the high point of the Pascha service when the light of our Lord’s resurrection shines in the darkness and spreads from the priest’s candle to everyone in the church. Continue reading →

Matthew 8: 28-34, 9:1

We often read in the Gospel about how different people turned to the Lord Jesus with a request, question, demand, or even a rebuke or reproach. Here is the unfortunate father of the sick child, saying with tears in his voice, with both hope and doubt: “I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief!” Here is the Roman centurion who is asking the Lord to heal his servant; this officer has no doubts. He says: “Just as I give orders to my soldiers, so do You have the authority to give the order and the sickness will leave my beloved servant.” Another approaches Him and asks: “What do I need to do to attain eternal life?” A third comes to thank the Lord for a healing He had performed. When reading the Holy Gospel, each one of us can easily recognize himself in one of these people, since we continue to turn to the Lord in just the same way. Continue reading →