Daily Spirituality Archives — Page 3 of 10

Church Work is Mostly Disappointing

August 16, 2017August 16, 2017 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

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,…

Seven Ways to Argue on the Orthodox Internet

July 12, 2017July 12, 2017 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

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…

Where Does Zeal for God Come From?

July 11, 2017July 12, 2017 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

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…

Jesus Doesn’t Fit Into My Life

May 26, 2017 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

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…

What Do I Want for Christmas This Year?

December 19, 2016December 19, 2016 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

It’s a question we get asked a lot, and it’s a question that gets harder to answer as I get older. I have an Amazon wishlist, of course. But, really, I do know what would make me feel like it was a really good Christmas. I know exactly what I want. I’m afraid it’s a long list. Here’s what I want: I want for…

An Opportunity of Revelation

December 17, 2016December 17, 2016 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

One of the issues that occupies my thoughts frequently is how we know what we know, especially how we apprehend the revelation of God. I do not think it is something that can be laid out in mechanically reproducible ways, but I do believe that there are many ways of speaking of it that are all true in different ways. And I find that…

I Can’t Always Fix the Broken, But I Can Do This

December 16, 2016 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

From today’s epistle reading: For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (I Timothy 4:4-5) In our zealousness to be righteous or pure, we can be tempted to forget this basic truth, a truth that everything God created is fundamentally good. It…

The One Thing Every Christian Must Know

December 13, 2016December 13, 2016 · Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick

Being a believing Christian is not a moment to moment existential crisis of wondering whether everything we think we believe is really true. Just like most things in life, we spend most of our time functioning as though what we believe is true and proceeding from there. But we still have every right to ask whether it is indeed all true. And we also…