Archive for March 2019

On the first Sunday of Great Lent, known as the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Church commemorates the truth of Christ’s incarnation. We hear the story in the Gospel of John of Philip’s great joy as he ran to Nathaniel crying “We have seen the Lord!” This invitation for us to come and see for ourselves…

With the second week of Great Lent now fully underway, the Church reminds us of our inclination toward sin. Just “moments” after they had made their offering to God for their blessings, Can and Abel found themselves in conflict, and Cain killed his brother. It was only two days ago that we each gathered in…

When Jesus sees the faith of four friends, who bring to Him their paralyzed friend, the Scriptures tell us “Seeing their faith,” that Jesus forgave sins and healed the man. Friends matter, and as The Church, we have the power to help each other, and to bring others to Christ for healing. We are all…

The Church has never been afraid of history. History is filled with happy events as well as sorrowful events, but it cannot be unwritten or changed. As human beings, we study history to learn of our past and to improve our future, as the old saying goes, “He who does not know history is doomed…

Today is sometimes referred to as the “Third Saturday of Souls” because the Church offers a memorial service at the end of Divine Liturgy. Technically speaking, it is not a Saturday of Souls, as only two days each year have that designation, on the Saturday before Meatfare Sunday and the Saturday before Pentecost. As we…

Today is only the fifth day of Great Lent, and I for one have already fallen short. I didn’t say all the prayers I wanted to say. I didn’t fast quite like I planned to fast. I failed to pick up the Holy Scriptures like I wanted to this week. Well….that didn’t take long, but…

Today is day four of the Great Fast, and I am already feeling better physically. I am less tired. I have more energy. I am sleeping better. Just after a few days of fasting, I have already noticed my body is reacting positively, and I am thankful. Even the prayers of the Church recognize there…

Now that Great Lent is upon us and the Church offers the Presanctified Liturgy on Wednesday evening, the question of fasting and Holy Communion again raises to the surface. On Sunday we know (provided we are healthy and no other prohibitions from our doctor regarding fasting) that we should refrain from all food and drink…

Today is the Feast of the Annunciation of the Theotokos, the moment in which the Archangel Gabriel gave the All-Holy and Ever-Virgin Mary the glorious news that she would give birth to the Son of God. This Good News ushered in a new era in human history. God, by His love and grace, became a…