Say “thank you” to God for your demons.

Homily 420 – 5th Sunday APE Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa July 12, 2020 Epistle: (103) – Romans 10:1-10 Gospel: (28) – Matthew 8:28-9:1 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. In chewing on the Gospel passage from today, there is one aspect that…

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To Live is to Die.

Homily 419 – 4th Sunday APEHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaJuly 5, 2020Epistle: (93) Romans 6:18-23 and (213) Galatians 5:22-6:2 (Ven. Sergius)Gospel: (25) Matthew 8:5-13 and (24) Luke 6:17-23 (Ven. Sergius) In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. We hear the words, the admonition, of…

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Thankfulness conquers anxiety.

Homily 418 – 3rd Sunday APE Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa June 28, 2020 Epistle: (88) Romans 5: 1-10 Gospel: (18) Matthew 6:22-33 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. It seems that anxiety is at an all-time high. We are a people who…

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The Mirror

Homily 417 – 2nd Sunday after Pentecost Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa June 21, 2020 Epistle: (81-ctr) – Romans 2:10-16 and (330) – Hebrews 11:33-12:2 Gospel: (9) – Matthew 4:18-23 and (10) – Matthew 4:25-5:12 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. It has…

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It is all about love.

Homily 416 – 1st Sunday after Pentecost Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa June 14, 2020 Epistle: (330) Hebrews 11:33-12:2 Gospel: (38, mid-79) Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Today we remember all the saints, the ones known to us,…

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Listening means being quiet.

Homily 415 – 8th Sunday of Pascha (Holy Pentecost) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa June 7, 2020 Epistle: (3) Acts 2:1-11 Gospel: (27) John 7:37-52; 8:12 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Since the beginning, part of the understanding of the Church regarding…

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Implications of trust

Homily 414 – 7th Sunday of Pascha (First Ecumenical Council) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa May 31, 2020 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. I am frequently asked about the trust we…

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The Rod and Staff.

Homily 412 – 5th Sunday of Pascha (Samaritan Woman) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa May 10, 2020 Epistle: (38) – Acts 16:16-34 Gospel: (34) – John 9:1-38 Christ is Risen! Kristos Voskrese! Christos Anesthi! I’m so excited about our current situation. Not for the reason you may suppose. It isn’t about the desire for…

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Un-condemning acceptance.

Homily 412 – 5th Sunday of Pascha (Samaritan Woman) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa May 10, 2020 Epistle: (28) – Acts 11:19-26, 29-30 Gospel: (12) – John 4:5-42 Christ is Risen! Kristos Voskrese! Christos Anesthi! In both the Epistle and Gospel readings we see the expansion of the Kingdom of God, the people of…

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Time to go.

Homily 410 – 4th Sunday of Pascha (Paralytic Sunday) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa May 10, 2020 Epistle: (23) – Acts 9:32-43 Gospel: (14) – John 5:1-15 Christ is Risen! Kristos Voskrese! Christos Anesthi! In thinking of Bethesda, the pool with five porches, I think about trying to find a modern-day example. The closest…

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