Homily 299 – 37th Sunday after Pentecost (Cheesefare – Expulsion from Paradise) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa February 18, 2018 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Where is our treasure? Are we putting our hopes and dreams on this existence, or the one…

Homily 298 – 36th Sunday after Pentecost (Meatfare – the Last Judgement) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa February 11, 2018 Epistle:  (140) – 1 Corinthians 8:8-9:2 Brothers and sisters, food does not commend us to God, for if we eat, we are not better; and if we do not eat, we are not worse!…

Note:  the Scriptural texts can be found at the end. Homily 297 – 35th Sunday after Pentecost (Prodigal Son) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa February 4, 2018 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. It was a perfect plan. What could go wrong? To…

Epistle: (296) – 2 Timothy 3:10-15 (Triodion) and (99) – Romans 8:28-39 (Martyrs) My son Timothy, you have paid close attention to my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, persecutions, and sufferings. You know what happened to me at Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. I endured those persecutions and the Lord delivered me out of…

Epistle: (285-ctr) – 1 Timothy 4:9-15 My son Timothy: This saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance. For this purpose, we both work hard and experience rejection, because we have placed our trust in the living God who is the Savior of all, especially of those who believe. Command and teach these things. Let…

Homily 294 – 32nd Sunday after Pentecost Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa January 14, 2018 (Ed. note:  In order to provide context for the homilies, we shall begin including the readings for the Sunday.) Epistle: (280-ctr) – 1 Timothy 1:15-17 My son Timothy, this saying is faithful and worthy of all acceptance: that Christ…

Homily 293 – 31st Sunday after Pentecost Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa January 7, 2018 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. We have been inundated with input over the past three or four days. The Baptism of Christ is a really big deal.…

Homily 292 – 29th Sunday after Pentecost (Eve of Nativity) Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa December 24 2017 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. The Sunday before Nativity we always read St. Matthew’s genealogy of our Lord. It is more than just a…

Homily 291 – 28th Sunday after Pentecost Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa December 17 2017 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Sometimes people ask me why a loving God sends people to hell. They are bewildered occasionally when I tell them God doesn’t…

Homily 290 – 27th Sunday after Pentecost Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, Iowa December 10 2017 In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. We are all lepers. Let me repeat that. We are all lepers. Our soul, our nature, our humanity is stained with the…