We’ve mentioned a number of times on the Lord of Spirits podcast that usually where you see faith or believe in the Bible it is better translated “faithfulness” or “be faithful to.” Many verses of the Scriptures become much clearer when read this way, e.g., “For by grace you have been saved through faithfulness” (Eph. 2:8a). The many references to “increasing” faith also make…
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…
Included in the lectionary I read today is this short verse: For we walk by faith, not by sight. (II Corinthians 5:7) The context here is St. Paul’s larger discussion in II Corinthians 5 of our hope of the resurrection, but this verse often gets taken out of this context to be given as a general rule for spiritual life. Taking things out of…
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost / Seventh Sunday of Luke, November 6, 2016 Galatians 1:11-19; Luke 8:41-56 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 from the Gospel about two healings performed by our Lord Jesus Christ—the healing of the woman with a flow of blood…
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…
Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost / Fifth Sunday of Luke, November 2, 2014 Rev. Fr. Andrew Stephen Damick In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen. Many people who are introduced to the Orthodox Church for the first time, especially if they come from a Protestant background, often have a few matters that strike them…
