Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
The Age of Taking Church for Granted is Over
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Feast of Ss. Thekla and Silouan / First Sunday of Luke, September 24, 2017 II Timothy 3:10-15; Luke 5:1-11 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. The age of taking church for granted is over. We Christians just largely haven’t realized it yet. But the evidence is…
Nearly Orthodox
Inquiry Seeking Wisdom
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The first piece of creative non-fiction I ever had published appeared in Saint Katherine Review. The journal was new and the editor at the time was my friend, Scott Cairns. Back then, though, we didn’t know each other very well, so the fact of our acquaintance didn’t hold much sway. And, in truth, I didn’t send that piece to SKR because Scott was the editor, I sent it because Kathleen Norris was…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Of Course I'm Not Ashamed of Jesus!
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Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross, September 17, 2017 Galatians 2:16-20; Mark 8:34-9:1 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. One of the things I have noticed as a pastor is that a lot of our spiritual struggles these days revolve around the question of how…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Love vs. Truth: Who Wins?
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The Sunday Before the Elevation of the Cross, September 10, 2017 Galatians 6:11-18; John 3:13-17 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. I was recently in a conversation on the Internet in which someone said that in theological conversation truth is the most important thing, not the…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Whose Vineyard is This, Anyway?
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Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost / Thirteenth Sunday of Matthew, September 3, 2017 I Corinthians 16:13-24; Matthew 21:33-42 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. If you have something truly wonderful to share with people, how do you get it to them? How do you get this wonderful…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
A Tale of Two Rich Young Men
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Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost / Twelfth Sunday of Matthew, August 27, 2017 I Corinthians 15:1-11; Matthew 19:16-26 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Today let’s hear the stories of two rich young men—one whose name we do not know, who encounters Jesus directly during His earthly…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
How My Mother's Life Interprets Mine
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The following is an excerpt from a longer talk, titled “We’re All Absalom: Emerging Into Adulthood Alongside Our Parents,” which can be heard on Ancient Faith Radio. I delivered the talk at the 2017 Antiochian Archdiocese Convention for the Young Adult Ministry. The photo above is of my mother on her wedding day in 1972. Her name was Sandy, and my mother was always…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Church Work is Mostly Disappointing
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Clergy often share ministry stories and then say, “They didn’t teach me that in seminary!” One of the things that I wasn’t taught in seminary (and wish I were) is that ministry in church life is mostly a disappointment. We clergy don’t often like to talk about that. I mean, who would like to say that most of the time, the work they do,…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Holiness How-To: Imitate our Gospel Parents
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Tenth Sunday after Pentecost / Tenth Sunday of Matthew, August 13, 2017 I Corinthians 4:9-16; Matthew 17:14-23 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. For though you have a myriad of tutors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for I begat you in Christ…
Nearly Orthodox
Theologians
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I’ve been steadily working on this new book that’s due out late next year. It involves reading through the first volume of the Philokalia, one page at a time, and then reflecting on something I’ve read there. It’s slow-going because it’s a meaty work but also because of the nature of my crazy life. Let’s be honest, though. My life probably isn’t much crazier than yours. We all have stuff to do,…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
The Transfiguration as Model for Ministry
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Holy Transfiguration of Christ, August 6, 2017 II Peter 1:10-19; Matthew 17:1-9 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Today we see God. Today we see Jesus Christ standing on Mount Tabor before His three inner circle disciples—Peter, James and John—and He is transfigured before them, His…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Are All Orthodox Christians Supposed to Evangelize? (UPDATED)
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The following is culled from comments I made on a Facebook thread in a private group in which it was being alleged that most Orthodox Christians aren’t meant to function as missionaries. The argument was mentioned that the Lord’s command to go into all the earth and preach the Gospel was given only (or mainly) to the apostles. Allowance was made for certain rare…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Seven Ways to Argue on the Orthodox Internet
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Orthodox Christians argue on the Internet. It seems like everybody does it. Well, it’s not everybody, of course. But, boy! is it rampant! I figure that, so long as we’re going to do it, we might as well keep some things in mind so that we can do it better. 1. Actually, you probably shouldn’t. It’s so super-easy to get into arguments on social…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Where Does Zeal for God Come From?
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Fifth Sunday after Pentecost and the Fifth Sunday of Matthew, July 9, 2017 Romans 10:1-10; Matthew 8:28-9:1 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. (Romans 10:2) St. Paul says this…
Nearly Orthodox
Reflections on Being Patriotic
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(This post originally titled “Giving Thanks as a Nation” appeared on Nearly Orthodox November 28th, 2013) Our trip to New York this past summer was a whirlwind. We saw an opportunity to go with very little notice. Dave had a client meeting in the area and the flights were cheap and available. We packed up everyone, made a hasty plan, booked a room and embraced the adventure of it all. With three…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Is Faith Like in the Bible Even Possible?
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The Placing of the Robe of the Theotokos / Fourth Sunday of Matthew, July 2, 2017 Hebrews 9:1-7; Matthew 8:5-13 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Only say the word, and my servant will be healed. (Matt. 8:8) It is hard for us, living in the…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
A House of Prayer for All Nations
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Vespers for the Fourth Sunday After Pentecost, July 1, 2017 Mark 11:17, Isaiah 56:1-8 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick Eastern Dioceses Parish Life Conference, Morristown, New Jersey In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. After the Lord Jesus upends the tables of the money changers in the Temple in Mark 11, He…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Jesus Didn't Come to Earth to Help Us
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Third Sunday after Pentecost / Third Sunday of Matthew, June 25, 2017 Romans 5:1-10; Matthew 6:22-33 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. (Matt. 6:33) Jesus says these words right…
Nearly Orthodox
A Word about Suffering
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Ok, fine– many words about suffering… A quick search on the topic of suffering brings out the heavy hitters– Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, ambition inspired, and success achieved. Helen Keller Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars. Khalil Gibran And that’s not even tapping into our massive supply…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
What I Saw at #AFCon
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This past week I attended the Ancient Faith Writing and Podcasting Conference (AFCon), an event which I also attended last year (its inaugural year), where I spoke on ministry in social media. This year, though, I wasn’t one of the scheduled speakers but was just attending along with everyone else. Last year, I have to admit that I was a bit ambivalent about attending.…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Becoming Fishers of Men: A How-To
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Second Sunday after Pentecost, June 18, 2017 Romans 2:10-16; Matthew 4:18-23 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. With these words in Matthew’s Gospel chapter 4, Jesus summons His first two disciples—Simon Peter and Andrew. They are…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Can We Do What the Saints Did?
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Sunday of All Saints, June 11, 2017 Hebrews 11:33-12:2; Matthew 10:32-33, 37-8; 19:27-30 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Today we hear this from Hebrews chapter 11: All the saints through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power…
Nearly Orthodox
Journal Entry: Thought Traffic
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There’s an awful lot happening in the world, and that makes my thought traffic terrible. I had to lay down last night and just watch an episode or two of “Chopped” to clear things out. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. I think I mentioned not long ago that I’ve been working my way through this first volume of The Philokalia– slow but sure. And while reading, I’ve been putting…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
The Descent of God as Fire: Pentecost and the Exodus
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Sunday of Pentecost, June 4, 2017 Acts 2:1-11; John 7:32-57, 8:12 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. In his commentary on the events of that first Pentecost, the Venerable Bede, who was an English saint and Biblical scholar and commentator in the early eighth century, makes…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Did Jesus Abandon Us at the Ascension?
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Sunday after Ascension, May 28, 2017 Acts 20:16-18, 28-36; John 17:1-13 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. We have now left behind the time of continuous celebration of Christ’s resurrection and are now celebrating His ascension into heaven, a feast that falls on the fortieth day…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Jesus Doesn't Fit Into My Life
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Sunday of the Blind Man and the Feast of Ss. Constantine and Helen, May 21, 2017 Acts 26:1, 12-20; John 9:1-38 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Christ is risen! It is challenging to be a Christian in our times. It is challenging for many reasons—our…
Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick
Those Who Quit Church: Why Do We Talk About Converts More?
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Recently, someone wrote to ask why the Orthodox blogosphere and media seem to talk far more about converts to Orthodoxy than people who have been Orthodox and have left off coming to church. This is a hard subject, and it’s one I don’t recall seeing talked about much online. This (with some edits and additions) was my response: I will relate why I think…
