Author: Fr. Philip LeMasters

Pastor of St. Luke Orthodox Church in Abilene, Texas, Fr. Philip is also Professor of Religion at McMurry University and a member of the Board of Trustees of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York, where he holds an appointment as Professor of Christian Ethics. His most recent book is The Forgotten Faith: Ancient Insights for Contemporary Believers from Eastern Christianity (Cascade Books, 2013).

We Will Either Take Up Our Crosses or Commit Idolatry: Homily for the Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross in the Orthodox Church

· Fr. Philip LeMasters
Hebrews 4:14-5:6; Mark 8:34-9:1              We do not have to look very closely at dominant trends in our culture today for signs that growing numbers of people are offering their lives for the service of false gods, regardless of how they identify themselves religiously.  The evidence of their idolatry is not primarily in where they congregate to worship, but in how they seek first the things of this world, such as possessions,…

Lent is About Nothing Less Than Knowing God from the Depths of our Hearts: Homily for the Second Sunday of Great Lent with Commemoration of St. Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessalonica, in the Orthodox Church

· Fr. Philip LeMasters
Hebrews 1:10-2:3; Mark 2:1-12           We will misunderstand these blessed weeks of Lent if we assume that they are about helping us to think more clearly about our Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection.  We will be even more confused if we think that our intensified prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and repentance somehow satisfy the demands of divine justice for how we have disobeyed God’s laws.   Quite to the contrary, this…

Seeing Heaven Opened as Living Icons of Christ: First Sunday of Great Lent (Sunday of Orthodoxy) in the Orthodox Church

· Fr. Philip LeMasters
Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40; John 1:43-51           On this first Sunday of Great Lent, we commemorate the restoration of icons centuries ago in the Byzantine Empire.  They were banned due to a misguided fear of idolatry, but restored as a proclamation of how Christ calls us to participate in His salvation in every dimension of our existence.  The icons convey the incarnation of the God-Man, Who had to have…

Lent is the Journey Back to Paradise Through the New Adam: Homily for the Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheese Fare) in the Orthodox Church

· Fr. Philip LeMasters
Romans 13:11-14:4; Matthew 6:14-21              On the last several Sundays, our gospel readings have challenged us to return home from our self-imposed exile.  Zacchaeus gave more than justice required to the poor and those whom he had exploited from his ill-gotten gains, and was restored as a son of Abraham.  By her persistence and humility, the Canaanite woman received the deliverance of her daughter as a sign that Christ calls all people…

Every Encounter with a Neighbor Reveals the Truth About Our Souls: Homily for the Sunday of the Last Judgement (Meatfare Sunday) in the Orthodox Church

· Fr. Philip LeMasters 4 Leave a Comment on %s
1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2; Matthew 25:31-46               I am sure that we have all had many interactions with other people that have helped us to see ourselves a bit more clearly than we had previously.  Sometimes we have learned about our strengths and abilities that way, but other times we have gained insight into our weaknesses and failings.  Such encounters with our neighbors have this revelatory power…