Posts Tagged ‘Gospel of Luke’
Healing is about Mercy
We live in a society torn apart by anger and division. We listen to the words of politicians as if they are enemies. We doubt the ability of anyone, except ourselves naturally, to repent. We call vengeance by another name, pretending it to be justice. We admit the world is sick, but they are the…
Read MoreShare the Secret
There is a saying that really disturbs me. People say, “The Orthodox Church is the best kept secret.” If this is true, it is quite unfortunate. A secret is something that should be kept private. The Church is the Body of Christ and has come for all. It is time to share the secret. The…
Read MoreNot About Us
The past few days I have been writing about the importance of the Church. The Church teaches us morality. The Church teaches us to love. The Church teaches us about God. The Church also teaches us to embrace the importance of humility and patience. The Lord said to his disciples, “He who hears you hears…
Read MoreFlesh and Spirit
Many people struggle to understand the spiritual benefits of fasting. Food is blessed by God, so why does the Church ‘punish’ us by not letting us eat? There is so much suffering in the world. It would be nice if food wasn’t the source of our suffering. Fasting is not about suffering. Fasting is about…
Read MoreDarkness Breeds Evil
When I was growing up, I used to hear the expression, “Nothing good ever happens after midnight.” As a teenager I didn’t agree. I would imagine the freedom of hanging out late at night without anyone watching. I imagined we could do anything we wanted without fear of being caught. What I didn’t understand was…
Read MoreEpisode 386 – The Pain of Change
In the Gospel of the Prodigal Son, we learn about the pain of change. Until it hurts more to remain where we are, we won’t change. Once change hurts less than remaining the same, we won’t return home. The good news is once we turn to return to the Father, He finishes the journey for…
Read MoreThe Pain of Coming to Your Senses
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15.11-32), Jesus tells us of the journey of the youngest son of a father, who wants to go out on his own. He demands to collect his inheritance early and strikes out on his own. His father, loving and supportive, allows his son to leave the safety…
Read MoreEverything You Ever Wished for
Imagine spending your entire life wishing for just one thing. Day after day, year after year, you grow old wishing for that one thing that you are sure will bring you ultimate joy. You may be thinking of that one thing right now. You still have never been granted the blessing to receive it. Now…
Read MoreThe Unforgiveable Sin
We’ve all heard about the unforgiveable sin against the Holy Spirit, but do you know what that sin is? Meriam-Webster defines ‘blasphemy’ as “the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God.” I wonder sometimes if it is even possible for a believer to show contempt for God. We get angry…
Read MoreDo this or Else
It reads like a modern-day version of the ancient martyr stories. I won’t champion one news agency over another, so do yourself a favor and google Ivan Provorov and his refusal to wear a pride jersey at a recent hockey game. You will find stories which read like the ancient synaxarion. “Wear this jersey or…
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