Power to Do Good

Candles lighting

There seems to be a typical human response to power. If there is power to be had, then people will fight to have it for themselves. It happens in the workplace. It happens in the home. It even happens in the Church, much as I would like to wish that it did not. What do…

Read More

Evangelism Then and Now

Candles lighting

When you read the Holy Scriptures, and sometimes even when you hear the leaders of our Church, it sounds as if there is a conflict in what is said. On the one hand we are called to love all people but hate our enemies. On the other hand, we are called to repent for the…

Read More

Who Knows Your Heart?

We’ve all heard the phrase, “Judge not, lest you be judged.” It isn’t just a catchy phrase; it is a warning from God. You can find this actual verse in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 1, but that is just the beginning of what I want to say today. I want to focus…

Read More

Eternal Life or Eternal Boredom?

In the Holy Scriptures we hear, over and over, that Christ has promised eternal life. You would think that people would jump at the chance to live forever with God, and yet, many do not. Many would rather continue to live in the sin of the world rather than giving up luxuries. Why give up…

Read More

Exotic Names

Candles lighting

A Name is a very personal thing. It not only represents who we are to other people, but it reflects who we want to become. In many ways, our name becomes synonymous with our identity. It’s why so many of us take it personally when someone else uses the wrong name. In the Church, how…

Read More

With Every End Comes a New Beginning

Candles lighting

Last night was the end of the 46th Biennial Clergy Laity Congress of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. It was a celebration of the centennial of the Archdiocese, during which time the Church as evolved from an immigrant enclave to a nationally recognized Church. We had celebrations that focused our attention on the great…

Read More

Are You Wise?

Candles lighting

In today’s world education is central to everyone’s identity. As a society we spend billions of dollars annually on education, whether it be for preschoolers or graduate students. Around every corner is the enticement to more and more education, as if we can somehow become wise ‘just’ by sitting in a classroom. To become wise,…

Read More

Look Back to Look Forward

I am attending the Archdiocese of America Clergy Laity Congress in New York City this week, so I will be on and off the blog circuit. Our theme this year is “Legacy, Renewal, Unity” and we have already begun to look to our past to build our future. This is an exercise that every Christian…

Read More

Episode 370 – Risk Everything to Reach Heaven

Rev. Fr. Athanasios Haros

There are many immigrant stories of people who leave everything behind to come to America for a better life. Our ancestors risked losing everything for something better. Christ says, “Seek first the kingdom of heaven.” We must be willing to risk everything to reach heaven. Heaven is only destination worthy of risking everything because it…

Read More

Relics Old and New

The idea of relics, remnants of holy objects or even physical remains of holy saints, has long been a blessing to the people of God. Whether it was the mantle of Prophet Elias or the handkerchief of Saint Paul as told in the Holy Scriptures, or the thousands of stories of holy relics through the…

Read More