For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles – when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. (1 Peter 4:3)
Last weekend we celebrated the Sunday of Zacchaeus, that signal…
“…Seek peace and pursue it… and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you. (1 Peter 3:11, 15)
In today’s Gospel, the Sadducees come together to see if they can trip-up Jesus with a question about the resurrection…
“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.” (Psalm 118:22, 1 Peter 1:7, Mark 12:10)
Both the epistle and gospel for today quite this verse from Psalm 118:22. The early church often brought out these scriptural words when summarizing the victory of…
And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.
But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:25-26)
Saint Nikolai…
The Temple in Jerusalem that Jesus knew and loved was built after Israel’s return from the Babylonian Captivity, starting in 516 BC (the original temple was destroyed by the invaders and left as a pile of rubble in 587 BC). The whole Temple area was holy, but the deeper one…
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (James 2:13)
This is one of my favorite “go to verses” when I have to consider my reactions to others. I know I would be lost if judgment had the upper hand and don’t want to be in the position of that wicked…
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. (James…
Saint Theodosius of Chernigov was only in his sixties when he reposed in 1696, hence the reference to the righteous man who dies early in one of the readings at vespers, Wisdom of Solomon 4:7-15. Besides being an attempt to reflect on why someone…
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. (Heb 11:8)
The Divine Liturgy for Metropolitan Tikhon’s enthronement last Sunday…
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.(Heb. 11:1)
I use the Saint Tikhon’s lectionary wall calendar to check the readings and saints for the day. I use the OCA website too, but I like the feel of something material that I can hold in my hands.
I like the…
But when He had turned around and looked at His disciples, He rebuked Peter, saying, “Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”(Mark 8:33)
I sympathize with Peter. He thought he was just being an exemplary devoted disciple of…
“For the law made nothing perfect; on the other hand, there is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” (Hebrews 7:19)
I am in Washington DC now with His Beatitude, our bishops and many others for a number of events…
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.(Luke 21:33)
Isn’t it extraordinary that words spoken by Jesus more than 2000 years ago continue to shape the lives of people from almost every culture and walk of life on earth? After all the cataclysms of history,…
Then, as some spoke of the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and donations, He said, “These things which you see – the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” (Luke 21:5-6)
We Orthodox often emphasize…
“Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.” (Heb 4:7)
I stayed home yesterday to watch the inauguration of President Obama, hear Archbishop Demetrios give the benediction at the lunch, and thought about Dr Martin Luther King, the civil…
This will be a short entry today. The Board meeting at Saint Vladimir’s ended after 9:30 last night, starts up again at 8:30 this morning and won’t end until after Dr Peter Brown’s Alexander Schmemann lecture tonight. But I do need to take a few minutes to say something about the…
Saint Anthony the Great is considered the founder of monasticism, but truthfully most of his teaching can be applied by anyone who desires to follow the Christian way. His 38 Sayings are a profound guide to Christian living and are widely available on line (his life can be read…
“Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm.” (2 Tim 4:14)
One of features of St Paul that I most appreciate is his realism. Take today’s epistle for example. He doesn’t hesitate to say what is really going on, expresses genuine feeling, has real friends and real enemies and names them. Wow.…
“…that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:17)
Every manager knows that his or her main job is to be sure his employees have the tools and training they need to do their jobs. The manager is there in a supporting role, while the line workers are…
Father John has been out sick with the flu since Wednesday and will return to the “Chancellor’s Diary” when he gets back to work next week, God willing.
In Christ,
Jessica Linke
Web Content Manager