Here’s a sermon from a couple of years ago at St. Nicholas Cathedral in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Is there a code in the Bible? Yes, actually. But it’s no secret… and it points to Good News for all humanity. __
Here’s the second half of a discussion on the Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy. I structured it around an early second century description of a Christian Eucharistic service, written by St. Justin the Martyr:
“On the day called Sunday, all gather together to one place…
“And the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read…”
“Then the president verbally exhorts to the imitation of these good things…”
“Then we all rise together and pray…”
“Bread and wine and water are brought forth…
“The president offers prayers and thanksgivings… and the people give their ascent, saying: Amen…”
“There is a distribution to each of that over which thanks has been given…”
“And they who are well to do give what each thinks fit to take care of all who are in need.”
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus offers us teaching on how we should look at our lives. Some things in the scriptures are really difficult to understand but this particular teaching is so direct that you just look at it once and it’s obvious. It’s not easy, but it’s very clear.
After Christ’s death the Myrrh-bearing Women, Jospeh of Arimathea, and Nicodemus press on to serve their Lord, no mater what. My sermon on the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women, April 30, 2023.
Here’s a quote from the late Russian Orthodox pastor and scholar, Father Alexander Men, on what real patience looks like. We don’t read much about Father Men today, but he was instrumental in the spiritual rebirth of the Russian Orthodox Church at the time of the fall of Communism. You can read more about him at this link.