The five Sundays before the beginning of Great Lent are important for helping us get ready to observe and participate in the Great Fast. We got started with the Sunday of Zacchaeus a few days ago. As many may know, Fr. Alexander Schmemann identified the theme of Zacchaeus Sunday as “desire.” Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus. He faced several obstacles. … Read More

This Sunday evening, we will be doing our livestream on this question. I am looking forward to it. I wanted to share a few preliminary thoughts on this, as unworthy as I am to do so. In August of 1993, my father passed away. I had completed my second year at St. Vladimir’s Seminary. I was at the funeral home … Read More

There has been some controversy about the vaccine for Covid 19. People are of different mindsets as to whether it is a good idea to get the vaccine. I think the recent statement from the Episcopal Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in America is a good statement to follow to help you decide. That link can be accessed here: https://domoca.org/statement-regarding-developments-in-medicine-covid-19-vaccines-immunizations/ There … Read More

The spiritual-cognitive component of anger were long recognized by our Church Holy Fathers, Saint Basil the Great recognized the loss of reason in anger. “It makes a man completely bestial…in fact, it does not even allow him to be a man at all, because he no longer has the help of his reason.” An interesting spiritual issue arises in this … Read More

Two weeks ago I posted about why Jesus needed to be baptized. I then went on to celebrate Theophany Liturgy at Holy Trinity Cathedral. I had a glorious experience. The feast taught me about what community is, as the “worship of the Trinity made manifest.” I truly believe that we find true communion with one another in the waters the … Read More

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.”  The baptism of our Lord can be hard … Read More

On December 31st of 2020, the OCA web page published an encyclical from the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America entitled “Encyclical of Hope.” You can access it by clicking on this link: https://www.oca.org/cdn/PDFs/synod/2020-1231-encyclical-hope.pdf I would encourage families to read this encyclical together over a three or four day period. As you chew on this, it will make … Read More

Since March of this year, our faith has been tested by the pandemic. Some have left parishes that wear masks or use other methods of giving communion to attend other parishes that don’t follow these practices. Some are afraid to go to church for fear of getting the virus. In the case of people 65 and older, this is understandable … Read More

On the 2nd Sunday before the Nativity, the parable of the great banquet from Luke is read. It states that certain guests were invited to the banquet, but the following happened: They all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have … Read More