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…

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Homily 410 – 3rd Sunday of Pascha (Myrrhbearers Sunday) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa May 3, 2020 Epistle: (16) Acts 6:1-7 Gospel: (69) – Mark 15:43-16:8 Christ is Risen! Kristos Voskrese! Christos Anesthi! When we consider the noble Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, and the Holy Myrrhbearing women, one thing is striking. These were…

Homily 409 – 2nd Sunday of Pascha (Thomas Sunday) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa April 26, 2020 Epistle: (14) – Acts 5:12-20 Gospel: (41) – John 12:1-18 Christ is Risen! Kristos Voskrese! Christos Anesthi! Today, we remember the Belief of St. Thomas. That is the translation on the Slavonic icon of the Saint. In…

Homily 404 – The Entrance into Jerusalem Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa April 12, 2020 Epistle: (247) – Philippians 4:4-9 Gospel: (41) – John 12:1-18 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Brothers and sisters, the Great Fast is finally over, and we begin…