Posts Tagged ‘Gospel of Matthew’
These Saving Days
Our 2025 Daily Lenten Journey comes to an end today with a review of why it all matters. We have been fasting for weeks now. We have been diligently making our prostrations in front of our icons. You may not have been paying attention, but it was all for a our salvation. I saved my…
Read MoreLamplighting Prayer Four
How much is enough when it comes to blessings from God? Our 2025 Daily Lenten Journey on prayer has focused on how each prayer inspires our faith. The prayers teach us to pray. Today’s prayer helps us answer the question, “How much is enough?” O You Who are praised by the holy powers with never-silenced…
Read MoreEpisode 445 – Forgiveness is about Reconciliation
On Forgiveness Sunday, the Gospel teaches us that God will only forgive once we have forgiven others. This is difficult when we fight about who was right and who was wrong. Since all since is against God, then forgiveness comes much easier. If we can forgive for reconciliation rather than right or wrong, then we…
Read MoreEpisode 444 – Loving Others As Christ
The Parable of the Last Judgment in Matthew 25 can confuse us into believing that our actions will save us. Our judgment isn’t about the works that we do, but our ability to love others as if we are loving Christ. Even our giving to the Church should be out of love for God and…
Read MoreNo Such Thing as Self Authority
Throughout the ancient world, and still in some places today, some leaders declare themselves the authority. They go by all sorts of names. Kings and emperors are the ‘nice’ names. They are also knows as dictators. There is no such thing as ‘self-authority’ in the Church. At that time, as Jesus was teaching the people…
Read MoreThe Blessings from Obedience
We talk a great deal about obedience in the Orthodox Church. For many this is misinterpreted to be about control instead of blessings. In a secular world committed to self-made empires, the idea of being obedient is the furthest thing in our minds, but the most blessed option. BRETHREN, one does not take the honor…
Read MoreKilling God
We are still celebrating Christmas and already the world has begun to turn against God. Drive through town and you will see homes and businesses that just yesterday were glowing with Christmas lights, only today to be void of any celebration. People act like they hate God. When the wise men departed, behold, an angel…
Read MoreEpisode 440 – Not Sinless but Holy
When we hear the human lineage of Christ in Matthew 1.1-25, we hear about our human ancestors. The ‘list of names’ reminds us that God has never walked away from us, no matter how far we have strayed away from Him. The Feast of Christmas is a celebration of God’s saving act of becoming human…
Read MoreThe Yoke of Christ
We all know how difficult it can be to follow Christ. Throughout Christian history many have tried and failed, only to return to their sinful past. Many more have succeeded despite the struggle of choosing Christ over the worldly agenda. How can Christ even claim His ‘yoke’ is easy? The Lord said to his disciples,…
Read MoreWhy Do Christians Suffer?
Have you ever asked yourself why Christians must suffer? Why does God expect us to lose everything ‘just’ for Him? If God loved us as He claims, why not allow us to be honored and comforted now? What if I told you Christians don’t suffer? Would you want to be Christian? Brethren, rejoice in the…
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