July 9, 2023 · 7:57 pm

Would You Invite Him to Stay, or Ask Him to Leave?

Matthew 8: 28-34, 9:1

And when Jesus came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demoniacs met Him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged Him, “If You cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.” And He said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw Him, they begged Him to leave their neighbourhood. And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to His own city. Continue reading →

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July 3, 2023 · 6:38 pm

On the living presence of Christ

~ Wisdom of the Holy Fathers ~

‘I am with you always, even unto the end of the world’ (Matt. 28:20).
Here is consolation above all consolations! Here is consolation for those broken by tempest. Let them only remember that Christ is there among them, and let them not be afraid. He is the Helmsman.
Here is consolation for those in pain. Let them know that Christ is there by their bed, and let them not despair. He is the Healer.
Here is consolation for the old. Let them not lose sight of the fact that Christ goes with them through the years right to eternity and eternal youth, and let them be at peace.
Here is consolation for those who are tormented by men. Let them not think that they are left alone, for Christ is with them in all their pain, and at their judgement, and in prison; and let them rejoice. He is the Judge.
Here is consolation for those tormented by evil spirits. Let them remember that Christ, the Conqueror of evil spirits, is on their side, and let them be strengthened. He is the Victor.
Here is consolation for those who seek the light of righteousness and truth. Let them believe that Christ is closer to their souls than to their eyes, and let them follow His leading. He is the Light.
Oh, my brethren, Christ is truly always with us, as a light that is ever present to the eyes of those who look. But, to our loss, if the eyes of our soul are closed, then the light seeks in vain to encounter the pupil of our eye! Oh, what sorrow and grief is ours when we are not with Christ!
He comes to meet us – do we go to meet Him? He desires to be with us – do we desire to be with Him? If we desire consolation, we must be with Him every day to the end of our lives.
O Lord, our only Consoler, do not leave us! To Thee be glory and praise for ever.

~ St Nikolai Velimirovic, The Prologue from Ochrid

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June 12, 2023 · 6:37 pm

SUNDAY OF ALL SAINTS

1st SUNDAY OF MATTHEW, Hebrews 11:33-12:2; Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30
”Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.” ( Matthew 10:32)

We gather on the 1st Sunday after Pentecost to honour all of those who have lived righteous lives in following the teachings and commandments of our Lord. On this Sunday of All Saints we commemorate those who having received the grace of the Holy Spirit lived their lives in complete obedience to the command of our Lord to “confess Me before men.” Continue reading →

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June 4, 2023 · 5:53 pm

Unity Through Wind, Flame, and Language: Homily for the Great Feast of Pentecost in the Orthodox Church

Pentecost Sunday, John 7: 37-52, 8:12

On today’s great feast of Pentecost, we celebrate the Holy Spirit coming upon the followers of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, which is the birthday of His Body, the Church. After the Saviour’s resurrection, He ascended into heaven and sent the Holy Spirit to His disciples so that they would not be cut off from Him and the new life that He brought to the world. The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Holy Trinity, fully divine and eternal as are the Father and the Son. By being filled with the Holy Spirit, the Lord’s followers participate personally and communally in the unity, power, and blessing of the very life of God by grace. Continue reading →

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May 30, 2023 · 12:51 pm

Fathers of the First Council, John 17: 1-13

In John 17:1-13, Jesus prays for us, His disciples that we may all be one – Christ prayed that we His followers would have a unity of love as exists between the Three Persons of the Holy Trinity.

When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You . . . And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You gave me, that they may be one, even as we are one. . . . But now I am coming to You; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves.”

St. Silouan the Athonite (d. 1938) poetically comments:

“The Lord said, ‘I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and ‘You are in me, and I in you.’ Our soul feels the Lord in us, and we cannot forget Him for a single moment. What mercy is this – that the Lord desires us to be in Him and in the Father!

But what have we done for You, Lord,
in what have we pleased You,
that You do wish to be in us, and for us to be in You? We crucified You on the Cross with our sins,
yet do You still wish us to be with You?

O, how great is Your mercy! I see Your mercy spread over me. I am deserving of hell and every torment,
yet do You give me the grace of the Holy Spirit.
And if you did vouchsafe to my sinful self
to know You by the Holy Spirit, then I beseech You, O Lord, let all people come to know You.”
~ St. Silouan the Athonite

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May 25, 2023 · 3:45 pm

Ascension of our Lord

“Lift up your gates, O ye princes, and be lifted up, ye ancient doors, and the King of glory shall enter in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts – he is the King of glory!”

These verses from Psalm 23 were seen by some of the Church fathers as a prophetic indication of the mystery which we celebrate today: that 40 days after his Resurrection from the dead, the Lord ascended into heaven with his risen and glorified body and sat on the right hand of his Father in heavens, placing our human nature, his own flesh which was born on earth, crucified and risen, in glory, majesty, and honour, because he who took that flesh was not a man but God’s only Son, his Wisdom and his Word. Continue reading →

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May 21, 2023 · 5:37 pm

Sunday of the Blind Man, John 9: 1-38

Christ is Risen! Today is the last Sunday before the Feast of the Ascension, ten days before the Feast of Pentecost. Throughout the Paschal season the Priest holds the lighted three Branch Candlestick symbolic of the light of the Resurrection. We know from attending services during this period that the liturgical texts and hymns resound with the words of light, glory, brightness, radiance, and splendour. Continue reading →

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May 21, 2023 · 12:54 pm

On Sunday, the Orthodox Church prayerfully remembered the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, which once met in the city of Nicaea in order to investigate and judge the heresy of Arius. We know that in the first centuries of Christianity, the Church endured severe persecution, first from the Jews and then from the pagan Roman imperial power. But despite the fact that the persecution was bloody, despite the fact that thousands of Christians died under torture for their confession of faith, nonetheless, it was not dangerous for the Church. Continue reading →

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May 14, 2023 · 4:21 pm

Sunday of the Samaritan Woman, John 4: 5-42

One of the greatest things that the Orthodox Church has is a living tradition of Saints who are great examples, who preached the Gospel, and bring the faith to those around them. If they had not lived out a Godly life then many of us would have not been here today worshiping the one true God. Because of this we know that Christ is glorified through his Saints. One of those great Saints that received the light of Christ and passed it on was the saint we hear about today in the Gospel reading, the Samaritan woman, also known as St. Photini in Greek or Svetlana in Russian. It’s no wonder that her name translated means light specifically, because she was the one who received the light of Christ, transformed her own life and then brought this transformation to those around her. Continue reading →

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May 8, 2023 · 6:47 pm

THE SUNDAY OF THE PARALYTIC: A CALL TO CHANGE FROM WITHIN

Deep joy and heartfelt jubilation fill us as we read about Christ’s miracles in the Gospel. These readings convey His infinite power, providential care, and ultimate love for all men. But they also teach us important life lessons. So let us take a closer look at the narration about the paralytic.

Continue reading →

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