Eph. 3:16-19 is the prayer of every pastor for those he serves, and the verses speak to the state of our souls. They should cause us to consider: are we prepared? Continue reading “Reflections on the Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity”
Reflections on Pilgrimage to Holy Britain (and Iceland) – Part 2
Rising above the river Wear is Durham Cathedral (a World Heritage site and according to Bill Bryson, “the best cathedral on planet earth”). On our last trip to England in 2005, we trained up to Durham, but in order to make our other commitments and schedules, it left only an hour and a half to see the Cathedral. We weren’t going to make the same miscalculation this time! As soon as we plunked down our bags, we headed for the cathedral and venerated the relics of St. Bede in the Galilee Chapel (and were allowed to offer very quiet prayers) and then venerated the relics of St. Cuthbert (and likely the head of St. Oswald and possibly relics of St. Aidan) in the shrine behind the High Altar – silence paramount – no vocal prayers allowed. Continue reading “Reflections on Pilgrimage to Holy Britain (and Iceland) – Part 2”
Reflections on Pilgrimage to Holy Britain (and Iceland) – Part 1
My little pilgrim, Peregrine, (did you know there were pilgrim action figures?) which my wife bought me in France last year, accompanied us on our journey to the holy places of Great Britain. Here I must stop, even before I begin, to give a little of the backstory of this pilgrimage. Continue reading “Reflections on Pilgrimage to Holy Britain (and Iceland) – Part 1”
Reflections on the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
Humility is the subject of today’s Gospel and Epistle. It is not always an easy virtue to define. But it is the preeminent one according to all the spiritual writers of our tradition. Continue reading “Reflections on the Eleventh Sunday after Trinity”
Pilgrimage!
On August 19, my wife, Kh. Helen (Nancy) and I will be departing, Lord willing, for a pilgrimage to the holy islands of Iona and Lindisfarne, and points in between, with our friends Fr. Nicholas Alford and Kh. Becky. I won’t be posting during that time, as I hope to be as far away from a computer as possible. I do hope to record some reflections on the journey, which I will share after our return (September 3). May God grant us a safe journey.
Reflections on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
As Orthodox we are often asked about our devotion to the Mother of God. Most protestants think we are extreme in our observance of her feasts and her life, and in our desires for her prayers. Continue reading “Reflections on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary”
Reflections on the Western Rite Conference and Trinity 10
From my homily at Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, in Lynchburg, VA on Sunday, August 12, 2018:
The Western Rite Conference at St. Peter’s in Fort Worth from which I just returned was the best I have ever attended. St. Peter’s is one of our older Western Rite parishes, with beautiful facilities, a classical school and a remarkable ministry of hospitality.
Our Metropolitan in his addresses and homilies made it abundantly clear that his vision for the Western Rite is an enthusiastic one and he is desirous of the total incorporation of our parishes into the full life and unity of the Archdiocese. It was a great blessing to personally meet him and to catch a glimpse of his heart through his talks and homilies. Continue reading “Reflections on the Western Rite Conference and Trinity 10”
Reflections on the Tenth Sunday after Trinity
We’ve all heard of the pace-setting mega-churches, with coffee bars, food courts, gift shops, athletic programs, day care, auto repair and convenience banking, in buildings that look like shopping malls; with “worship” that consists of soft rock praise choruses, ‘special music’, videos, and upbeat, entertaining ‘messages’ that pander to the felt needs of those who have come. Continue reading “Reflections on the Tenth Sunday after Trinity”
Reflections on the Transfiguration
If you read the accounts of the Transfiguration in the three Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—you will see that it is prefaced by the scene at Caesarea Philippi in which Jesus asks His disciples the question, “Who do men say that I am?” After the familiar words of St. Peter’s confession of faith, the Transfiguration is immediately prefaced by the words in St. Matthew: “Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste of death before they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.” Mark has it, “before they see the kingdom of God come with power,” and Luke, simply, “before they see the kingdom of God.” Continue reading “Reflections on the Transfiguration”
Reflections on the Eighth Sunday after Trinity
“We are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.”
We, who have been baptized into the death and resurrection of our Lord and God and Saviour Jesus Christ, owe nothing any longer to the flesh.
The flesh, from the Greek, sarx, is synonymous in the Biblical and Patristic literature with the “world”, not the created cosmos, but the life of the passions – the world opposed to God. Continue reading “Reflections on the Eighth Sunday after Trinity”