Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-40 St. John 1: 44-52 At the end of Liturgy today, we will parade around the church carrying our icons in celebration of the Sunday of Orthodoxy, which commemorates the restoration of icons to the church after the period of iconoclasm many centuries ago. We do so because Icons are not mere works of decorative art to us; they are windows to heaven which remind us that the Son…
Romans 13:11-14:4; Matthew 6:14-21 If all of your money is in a certain bank or investment, you will be very concerned about that bank or investment. Your treasure is there, and your heart will follow. If you invest your time, energy, and effort in any relationship or any activity, you will value it highly. You give your life to it, and your heart follows. We…
1 Corinthians 8:9-9:2 St. Matthew 25:31-46 I would like for us all to think for a moment about what actions on our part could separate us from God. We probably think of something really dramatic, like denying our faith, worshipping a false god, or committing murder or another flamboyant sin–probably one that we’re not likely to commit. On this Sunday of…
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 matter what we have done, no matter…
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…