Homilies and Talks
Moses and Pentecost.
Homily 688 – 1st EC Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa May 24, 2026 Epistle: (44) – Acts 20:16-18, 28-36 Gospel: (56) – John 17:1-13 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. This passage of the Gospel is really quite challenging to keep track of…
Read MoreThe spirits that distract us from God.
Homily 687 – Blind Man Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa May 17, 2026 Epistle: (38) – Acts 16:16-34 Gospel: (34) – John 9:1-38 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Christ is risen! Let’s spend a moment considering the Epistle reading from the Acts…
Read MoreWe are all paralyzed.
Homily 685 – Paralytic Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa May 3, 2026 Epistle: (23) – Acts 9:32-43 Gospel: (14) – John 5:1-15 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Christ is risen! I’m always struck by the hymns for this feast. If you were…
Read MoreWomen showing the way.
Homily 684 – Myrrhbearers Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa April 26, 2026 Epistle: (16) – Acts 6:1-7 Gospel: (69) – Mark 15:43-16:8 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Christ is risen! Today in the Church we remember specifically the Myrrhbearing Women, who, with…
Read MoreNew life, new perspective, new ways.
Homily 683 – Thomas Sunday Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa April 19, 2026 Epistle: (14) – Acts 5:12-20 Gospel: (65) – John 20:19-31 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Christ is risen! One of the most critical aspects of understanding scripture is to…
Read MoreDying to live.
Homily 681 – 5GL Holy Transfiguration, Ames, Iowa March 29, 2026 Epistle: (321-ctr) Hebrews 9:11-14 and (208) Galatians 3:23-29 Gospel: (47) Mark 10:32-45 and (33) Luke 7:36-50 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Today’s Gospel is so fascinating to me, mostly because I identify…
Read MoreExile – the next step.
Homily 680 – 4GL Holy Transfiguration, Ames, Iowa March 22, 2026 Epistle: (314) Hebrews 6:13-20 and (229) Ephesians 5:9-19 Gospel: (40) Mark 9:17-31 and (10) Matthew 4:25-5:12 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Last weekend, we didn’t have a service because of the impending…
Read MoreThe Essence of the Christian Life.
Homily 679 – 3GL Holy Transfiguration, Ames, Iowa March 15, 2026 Epistle: (311) Hebrews 4:14-5:6 Gospel: (37) Mark 8:34-9:1 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. In today’s Gospel passage, it is my opinion that we find absolutely everything we need to live a Christian…
Read MoreMisusing the Bible
Homily 677 – 1GL Holy Transfiguration, Ames, Iowa March 1, 2026 Epistle: (329-ctr) – Hebrews 11:24-26, 32-12:2 Gospel: (5) John 1:43-51 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. This morning, we celebrate the triumph of Orthodoxy, which serves to reinforce the guardians of the faith…
Read MoreWhat do you mean, “lent isn’t about food”?
Homily 676 – 37 APE Holy Transfiguration, Ames, Iowa February 22, 2026 Epistle: (112) Romans 13:11-14:4 and (176) 2 Corinthians 4:6-15 Gospel: (17) Matthew 6:14-21 and (40) Matthew 11:2-15 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Here we are, on the precipice of the Great…
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