“Thoughts in Christ”

Christ is telling us to go into our rooms to pray, which is what we do before bedtime. Does it mean that we should not pray in Church? Of course not! He had just warned us in a sentence before this that we are not to pray like hypocrites, who enjoy being seen at prayer by others. Jesus never liked spiritual showoffs, and He doesn’t want anyone…

What can it mean, while He may be found? And, while He is near? Surely God is everywhere present and fills all things, as we remind ourselves several times each day in our daily prayers. How then does the prophet tell us that we must look for God in the time given us to discover Him? You will answer: Find God during your lifetime, because when you…

In light of the recent pedophile priest scandals one might wonder why the matter of validity has not been raised. In simple terms, can a sinful priest sanctify the Holy Eucharist? Are baptisms and other sacraments he performs authentic expressions of the works of the Holy Spirit? That was a problem centuries ago, especially in northern Africa. For…

I’ve been a priest for forty-two years. It hasn’t seemed long at all—unless, that is, I compare the development, if it can be called that, through the decades. Contrast would be a better term. One thinks of priests as Roman Catholic; however, I am an Orthodox priest; Russian, if an ethnic label helps to define me. My first few years were served in…

Who of the Orthodox children of God hasn’t heard that slow droning plaint at a funeral or requiem? It contains the glorious contradiction: Even in death there is not the loss of the Lord. The paradox of spirituality must today be explained.

A funeral dirge is intended to convey the sad message of death’s reality. Those who come to pay their…

Why, we are asked frequently, do you use incense in your worship? Those whose faith comes exclusively from the Holy Bible demand to know: Where in sacred scriptures are Christians encouraged to use incense? In answer we might point to the above reference. The Orthodox are wafting aloft the fragrance of salvation and life among the dead and dying.…

God our heavenly Father had a plan for the universe: He would gather up all things in Jesus Christ. It’s an amazing, mysterious idea. Jesus is the summary of history. Every phase of human history is summed up and recapitulated in Christ. By living an exemplary life, Jesus impresses on all humanity the example of what the Father had in mind when He…

Those in touch with God in their souls, both on earth and in heaven, feel the harmony of peace that often is expressed in song. For many millennia thoughtful people sensed and shared in a bond uniting religion, philosophy, mathematics and science with music. They believed that by singing or plucking certain chords or tones together, one could…

My prayer for each newly baptized and chrismated child of God is that the above desire may be fulfilled, and that it will influence that child throughout a lifetime. And where is the beauty of the Lord to be found in His house? In the architecture, the cupolas and domes, the icons and altar? Yes. In the sacred services, especially the Divine…

Recently the media reported what they felt was a strange alliance between religious leaders and environmentalists. They thought it odd that churches would team up with “tree huggers” to form a coalition dedicated to protecting the environment. I wonder that it should be considered unusual. The Bible speaks clearly

“The earth is the Lord’s and the…

Israel calls the United States its greatest friend—maybe its only friend in the current climate of warfare against Palestinians. Why is it? And even a stranger question: Why would a democracy such as ours offer almost unqualified support of an ethnocracy? Yes it’s true; Israel calls itself a democracy, and in some sense it may be—but only for…

Like good Jews everywhere, the disciples of the Lord had been resting. It was the Sabbath, and that didn’t change. But their hearts were not at rest. Churning inside with frustration, confusion, hope that had been dashed to the ground, they agonized over the death of the Master. But Mary Magdalene’s soul could not be contained. She yearned to go to…

How like Jesus to rise above the excruciating pain and the agony of His last moments on earth to care for the needs of His mother. As He told Peter to care for His disciples after he himself would recover from the shame of betrayal (Luke 22:37), so here He worries over the life ahead which His own mother would endure after Jesus was gone from the…

We can learn from every apostle, even from Judas Iscariot. The gospels encourage us to emulate those who have set their shoulders to the plow (Luke 9:62). We learn also the fate of those who abandon Christ. Loyalty, commitment, devotion to the living Lord challenges us all in these times. Jimmy Hoffa expressed the cynicism that permeates our society…

On the fourth Sunday of the Great Lent the Holy Church honors the memory of St. John called Climacus, which means “The Ladder.” He’s called that because of the astounding book he wrote dedicated to helping those serious about salvation to progress on the way to God’s Kingdom. He lived not far from Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the Ten…

Jesus understood that Peter would not bring himself to confess that he was the Lord’s disciple. He knew also that after a period of inner struggle, Simon would again regain his faith. Thus He doesn’t say “if,” but “when you have returned.” When faith takes hold once again, Peter will be all the stronger for the experience. He will have compassion on…

The media is a secular organ of society, but it can produce enormous spiritual benefits. In exposing the heinous crimes against little children by grown men it is achieving a blessed good deed for humanity. Who can read the above passage and not feel the emotion of our Lord Jesus? To crush the innocence of God’s little ones is more horrible than…

The Sunday of Orthodoxy celebration has a double feature: A procession of icons and the condemnation of all heresies of the past. They are integrally connected. However, non-Orthodox and even some of our own faithful look upon icons as mere adornments, an insignia of our faith. They beautify our temples and our homes. Western Christians explain them…

This is perhaps the most powerful statement in the Bible: you may be partakers of the divine nature. What it doesn’t mean is that we can become part of the very essence of God, for that would be the ultimate blasphemy. No difference would exist between the divine and the human natures. It does mean that we are invited and encouraged to take part in…

St. Paul says that he remembers his friends at Philippi every time he prays. How fortunate it would be to one of them. He prayed for each, by name or by remembering the faces. He gave thanks to the Lord Almighty and let them know it. They brought him great joy.

Some of us pray always for others, but we don’t let them know it. However, it’s such a…