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For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. (James 3:16-17)
I hope you…
The start of the new year is a natural time to make resolutions—and the fact that so many people do so shows how deeply hope is embedded in the human heart. Whatever specific changes we’d like to make in our life this year, the readings today give us two areas of focus, the…
A priest’s main job is to intercede for his people—with God of course, but with anyone else who might help. Saint John Maximovitch of Shanghai and San Francisco, who for years had lived and served as a priest and bishop in China, chained himself to the White House in the 1950’s to intercede…
Tamara Turkevich Skvir came to the Chancery yesterday with her husband Father Daniel to present information and discuss research and translation possibilities concerning the diaries, papers and archives of her grandfather, Metropolitan Leonty (Father Leonid…
The epistle and gospel today each present us with an example of how the Church took a softer pastoral stance than some scriptural texts advocated.
Mark 10:11-12 makes it clear that marriage after divorce is adultery. “He said to them, ‘Whoever divorces his wife and marries…
“Blessed is the way in which you shall walk today, O soul, for a place of rest has been prepared for you.” (Orthodox Funeral)
The epistle for today speaks of the rest God promises to his faithful ones. The gospel speaks of hardened hearts. We may have debates about who will enter that rest and who…
But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest. (Mark 9:34)
One of the features I most appreciate about the gospels is their realism. There’s no sugar-coating of reputations. The apostles and disciples themselves, and then the early church, allowed the…
Our society at large is hugely supportive of loving our neighbor, and that’s a good thing. We would do well to have Orthodox Christians nominated as “CNN Heroes.” Selfless service to others may in fact not only be good in itself, but it may be the single…
But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me…And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen! (2 Tim 4:17, 18)
These words are all the more striking because they come from Saint Paul in prison, feeling lonely…
So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. (Luke 8:23)
This is a curious little detail. Jesus encounters a blind man, but instead of making a big spectacle of the cure in the middle of town, he leads the man away from the crowds. Perhaps this is direct contrast to the…
“I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed…” (2 Tim 1:12)
On December 7, 374 AD Ambrose was consecrated bishop of Milan (then known as Mediolanum), famously going from layman to bishop in a single day. Ambrose was nominated while still a…
You revealed yourself, O saint, in Myra as a priest,
For you fulfilled the Gospel of Christ
By giving up your soul for your people,
And saving the innocent from death.
Therefore you are blessed as one become wise in the grace of God.
“Give me the homeland of my heart’s desire, making me again a citizen of paradise.” (from the Funeral Service)
It’s time for me to return to normal life and work, but how hard that is after these past few days of blessings surrounding my mother’s death, funeral…
“…holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.” (1 Tim 3:9)
When a day starts you never know how it’s going to end. That’s why I love that morning prayer, “Teach me to treat all that comes to me throughout the day with peace of soul and the firm conviction that Thy…
“Tell us, by what authority are You doing these things? Or who is he who gave You this authority?” (Luke 20:2)
I met a priest a number of years ago who had started a very successful project of outreach in the community. The bishop was visiting and was impressed with what the priest and parish…
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and sincere faith” (1 Tim 1:5)
Life periodically gives us the opportunity to review what we’re doing and why. For members of the Orthodox Church in America the election of a metropolitan is one of those…
As Orthodox Christians we place great emphasis on the temple as the place of worship. We put liturgical life at the top of our priorities, lavish attention on our church buildings and devote much care to…
Whoever seeks to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life will preserve it. (Luke 17:33)
The Nativity Fast that started on November 15 prepares us for celebrating Christmas. But part of that preparation is not just to look backward to Bethlehem, but forward to the Second…
As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as…
This will be another very short entry. It’s after 6:00am and the shuttle bus arrives at 6:30 am to take Father Eric, Melanie Ringa, my wife Denise and me to the airport.
Yesterday the Holy Synod met after breakfast for a closed session presided over…