Truly This Was the Son of God!

Sunday of the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council / Feast of St. Longinus, October 16, 2016 Titus 3:8-15; Luke 8:5-15 Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Our main commemoration today is the Fathers of the Seventh Ecumenical Council, who theologized beautifully on what it means…

This Good News is Who I Am

Comments upon Elevation to the Rank of Archpriest, October 2, 2016 The Very Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick Your Grace, Bishop Thomas, Very Reverend Fathers, Family, Friends, beloved Christians, When I graduated from St. Tikhon’s Seminary now almost ten years ago, our commencement speaker was Metropolitan Philip, now of blessed memory. Some of you here now were present for that speech. In his address,…

Why Don’t You Care About Jesus?

Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost / First Sunday of Luke, September 25, 2016 II Corinthians 1:21-24, 2:1-4; Luke 5:1-11 Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. The One who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; who has also sealed us, and has given…

The Voice Crying in the Wilderness

Today’s saintly commemoration is the conception of John the Forerunner, known to most English speakers as John the Baptist, which is narrated for us, along with his birth, in the first chapter of Luke’s Gospel. A major thematic element for today is the Voice. Zachariah, not believing the archangel, is made bereft of his voice until such time as he participates in the naming…

Are Christians Allowed to Doubt?

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost / Ninth Sunday of Matthew, August 21, 2016 I Corinthians 3:9-17; Matthew 14:22-34 Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. What happens if I doubt my Christian faith? To some, the answer to this question seems to be just to dismiss the idea out…

Is Christianity About What You Can’t Do?

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost / Seventh Sunday of Matthew, August 7, 2016 Romans 15:1-7; Matthew 9:27-35 Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. There are many things which make Christian life unattractive, both to people who have never been church-goers and to lapsed or ex-Christians. There are the…