Sermons

Becoming a Holy Church

Acts 6:1-7

April 22, 2007

Today's epistle reading ? describing, as It does, the origin of the diaconate ? reveals something that was very good about the 1st century Jerusalem church. We see a holy church in action, and this ancient church is a model for us two thousand years later. What lessons can we learn?

Why Did St. Thomas Doubt?

April 15, 2007

John 20:19-31

Why, do you suppose, did Jesus perform miracles? We so take these miracles for granted that we forget that they did have a purpose. According to St. John, the miracles Christ performed were signs telling us who Jesus is and why He came among us, and even what our purpose in life is.

Palm Sunday

April 1, 2007

Philippians 4:4-9

"The Lord is at hand." On Palm Sunday, the Lord came to Jerusalem. How did people respond to Him? How do we respond, since the Lord, even today, is still at hand? Are we supposed to do something? If so, what is it?

Annunciation

March 25, 2007

Today we heard the announcement of wonderful news: news about us and about our hopes; news to us, openly proclaimed; and news for us, to change our lives forever. The Archangel Gabriel gave this astounding news to the Virgin Mary. His news, interestingly, falls into three parts, and so we will think about each of these "news items."

St. John Climacus

March 18, 2007

What can this monastic saint, who lived 1400 years ago, teach 21st Century Orthodox Christians? His "Ladder of Divine Ascent" is a program for Christian growth. This justly famous work reminds us that Christian salvation requires our active cooperation with God, which is why St. Paul admonished his readers to "? work out your own salvation in fear and trembling." (see Philippians 2:12-13). If we are not growing in our Christian life, we aren't working out our salvation.