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).

Homily for the Sunday of the Prodigal Son in the Orthodox Church

· Fr. Philip LeMasters
1 Corinthians 6: 12-20 St. Luke 15: 11-32                             Today is known in the church as the Sunday of the Prodigal Son.  Now just two weeks from the beginning of Great Lent, we are reminded today of who we are: beloved children of God who need to come to our senses and return to our loving, forgiving Father.  No…

Time to Get Ready for Lent:Homily for the Sunday of the Pharisee and the Publican in the Orthodox Church

· Fr. Philip LeMasters
St. Luke 18: 10-14                           When we hear the gospel passage about the Pharisee and the Publican, we know that Great Lent is not far away.  We are now in the first Sunday of the Lenten Triodion, the pre-Lent period when we begin to prepare for the spiritual journey of repentance and renewal that will soon begin.  This year Lent begins…

Homily for the Sunday of the Canaanite Woman in the Orthodox Church

· Fr. Philip LeMasters 2 Leave a Comment on %s
            Gospel According to St. Matthew 15: 21-18                We have all had the experience of being ignored, left out, and made to feel that we weren’t included or recognized by others.  Whether at school, among friends, at work or wherever, that can be painful, no matter what our age or life circumstances.  No one likes to be rejected or overlooked.   But…

Good Stewardship and Abundant Life: Orthodox Homily on Investing our Lives in the Kingdom of God

· Fr. Philip LeMasters
2 Timothy 2:1-10 Matthew 25:14-30                    Today’s gospel text describes what three servants did with the talents, the large sums of money, entrusted to them by their master when he went away on a long journey. The one given five talents invested wisely and produced five more.  The one given two talents did the same and earned two more.  They both doubled their money…

Orthodox Christian Homily on the Greatest Commandments: Love of God and Neighbor

· Fr. Philip LeMasters
The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew 22:35-46             If you’re like me, you sometimes lose perspective on what is most important in life.  We get so busy, so distracted, and so worried about what is going on around us at the moment at home, at work, or wherever that we sometimes lose sight of the big picture, and instead focus on small things that aren’t really crucial.  So we end up…