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Jesus was a troublemaker for the religious leaders of his day. If he weren’t, he never would have attracted any attention. But repeatedly, as in today’s gospel, we find him butting heads with the designated authorities, the “chief priests [archiereis] and the elders…
“So, my brethren, earnestly desire to prophesy…” (1 Corinthians 14:39)
We commonly think of prophets as those especially gifted people who have insight into future events. This was certainly a feature of the Old Testament prophets. More commonly in both the Old and New Testaments,…
“Whoever would be first among you must be your slave…” (Matthew 20:27)
Honesty is one of the features of the Gospels that I appreciate most in this age of spin. In today’s gospel, for example, we are given an embarrassing picture of ambitious apostles (and their cheering mother)…
“Again I say to you, if two or three agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them” (Matt 18:19-20). Given just how much contentiousness…
I am on vacation this week and will resume “The Chancellor’s Diary” on Tuesday, July 31st.
“The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effect. Elijah was a man of like nature with ourselves and he prayed fervently…” (James 5:17)
If you go back and read the accounts about Elijah in 1 Kings 17-19 it is striking how intense, fervent, bold and fearless he is in his fight (well,…
“Judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy; yet mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13)
Today we remember Saint Seraphim of Sarov. This was always a special day for me growing up, because it was the feastday of the little wooden…
I’m pressed for time this morning so please forgive me if this sounds rushed. It is. His Eminence, Archbishop Nikon is celebrating a hierarchical liturgy at 9:00 am and then there is a day of meetings that will spill into the evening. But I do want to give you some…
Just one reflection for today.
I was invited a few months ago by Archbishop Nikon to join the clergy and laity of the Diocese of the South for their Assembly in Miami starting today (I arrived yesterday). A lot has changed since then. Earlier this month…
“This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God” (1 Cor 4:1)
The story goes that when Fr Alexander Schmemann was close to death, two of his close friends and colleagues from St Vladimir’s Seminary asked him to bless the…
We all harbor the desire that the Church—meaning the church we actually live with day to day, with real people, challenges and temptations—would be perfectly good, peaceful, loving, joyful, simple and uncomplicated. Something like the early Jerusalem community. “And day by day, attending…
“All this Jesus said to the crowds in parables…This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: ‘I will open my mouth in parables…’” (Matt 13:34).
The gospels do not hide the fact that the disciples were repeatedly frustrated by their inability to understand what Jesus was…
“God has so composed the body…that the members may have the same care for one another.” (1 Cor 12:25)
Up to this point in the “Chancellor’s Diary” I’ve always separated scriptural reflections from reporting on events, but today I’ll combine them. Metropolitan…
Paul is eminently personal and practical in dealing with community problems. Reading the list of names in Romans 16 it is clear how connected he was with men, women, married couples, leaders serving and caring for the church and who had moved to Rome (years before he would get there himself). Many of…
Yesterday was Independence Day and thanks to the New York Times I re-read the Declaration of Independence and an op-ed piece on how individualistic we’ve become as Americans. “Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” may be unalienable rights, but they also…
“The Lord is my light and my Savior, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom, shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)
Baptism is also called “Holy Illumination.” When the priest prays over the water before baptism he asks “that no evil spirit which instills…
Blessed feast of Saints Peter and Paul! The most common icon of the two saints shows them embracing. I find this especially comforting because in life they had some dramatic differences over whether, or how openly, to bring Gentiles into the fold of what had…
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
This inscription, or part of it,…
“I have reserved for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” (Romans 11:4; 1 Kings 19:18)
One of the paradoxes of the spiritual life is that the intimate, personal connection we feel with God from time to time also belongs to others, who have also have an utterly…
“He brought me forth into a broad place” (Psalm 18:19).
In today’s gospel we sense Jesus’ frustration (yes, he was often frustrated). No matter how God demonstrates his presence, or through whom, people will find fault and start name-calling. John the Baptist was too ascetic, so “he has…