Trampling Down Death By Death – Holy Friday

· Fr. Barnabas Powell 1 Leave a Comment on %s
On this Holy Friday: Let us pray to the Lord, O God and Father: How can the light of the sun pierce the terrible darkness of this day and its events? Your only Son, the true light, in the darkness of his ordeal, was pleased to embrace in his humanity the sufferings he could not endure in his divinity. And to what purpose, if not to prove that he considered us worthy…

Betrayed! – Holy Thursday

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
On this Holy Thursday: Let us pray to the Lord, O you whose love for us is eternal and unchanging: Today, as your Son reclined at table with his chosen friends, he gave them the mysteries of his life-giving love for us, to be present forever on the altars of his holy churches throughout the world. Now, as we celebrate the institution of these mysteries, we entreat you to dispel all doubt…

The Peace of Palm Sunday – Sunday’s Homily

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
On this Palm Sunday, as we prepare to walk with Christ during His final days before His voluntary passion on the cross, the Normal Orthodox life is one of peace that passes understanding. It is this heavenly peace that Christ gives us that keeps all the external chaos and troubles of life away from our hearts as we rest in God’s love for us.

This Isn’t Magic – Holy Wednesday

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
On this Holy Wednesday: Let us pray to the Lord, O Lord who, in Your mercies and bounties, heals the disorders of our souls and bodies, do the same Master, sanctify this Oil, that it may be effectual for those who shall be anointed therewith, unto healing, and unto relief from every passion, every malady of the flesh and of the spirit, and every ill; and that therein may be glorified Your…

The Negligence of Ignorance – Holy Tuesday

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
On this Holy Tuesday: Let us pray to the Lord. O you who observe all things with your eye that never sleeps, who afford us such saving lessons in your desire to grant mercy to all who seek it: We give thanks to you for raising us from bed and sleep to enjoy the light of another day. Receive this morning worship we offer you as we continue to follow the passion…

Overcome Mediocrity – Holy Monday

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
On this Holy Monday: I want to share with you some prayers that have helped me reorient my mind during this Holy Week to contemplate, for my salvation, the mysteries of this week as we walk with the Lord towards His holy death, burial, and resurrection. So, the devotionals will be a bit shorter and with one focus. Good strength this week. Let us pray to the Lord, O you who observe…

A Good Wife Is More Precious Than Jewels

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
My grandmother once told me “Son, a good woman is hard to find.” The longer I live, the more I think that it’s the fault of bad men that this saying may be accurate. But what does that even mean after all? Good according to what measure? Is it looks? We all know that physical beauty is fleeting. Is it intelligence? Using what standard? All of this feels so arbitrary. No wonder…

Living A Sober Life is Normal Orthodoxy

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
In my old law enforcement days, I served on the DUI Task Force in our local community. This was when Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) was just getting started and there was a real push to get impaired drivers off the road. We had to do extensive training on just how alcoholic beverages or any intoxicant affected a person’s ability to safely operate their car. One tool we had was a car…

A Good Name is Better Than Riches

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
“Smiling faces, smiling faces, sometimes, they don’t tell the truth, smiling faces, smiling faces, tell lies, and I’ve got proof…” The Temptations did this song in 1971 and it’s a favorite. But its message is all too familiar. Sometimes, a friend turns out to be no friend at all. Sometimes, the smiling mask someone wears hides an evil and jealous intent. And too often we learn about this the hard way. It…

Are You Foolish or Wise?

· Fr. Barnabas Powell
Drama! I confess I am not a fan of drama in my house. And here I am living with three women! I guess the joke’s on me! And one of them is a teenager and the other is a pre-teen! I’m doomed! OK, before I get in real trouble here, let me say that I have noticed the older I get, the more I like quiet and smooth sailing. And yet, I’m…