Archbishop Paul's Reflections

You know the saying “the truth hurts”? Well, I’m sure in some cases it does but in this case it never felt so good. Did you ever have one of those moments when you read something you’re sure was written especially for you? This was one of those moments. It’s funny how you could read something over and over again … Read More

I used to have this image of what I thought my children would look like during prayer. They’d be knelt down with their hands neatly folded, eyes closed with a tranquil look upon their faces as they conversed with our Heavenly Father. Something resembling a Precious Moment figurine or like the pictures I’d seen in children’s prayer books. Reality, however, … Read More

I started these notes on voting and polarization about 5 weeks ago. I want to leave you with a few final thoughts as I wrap up this series. Whatever issues we talk about, whether they be moral issues like LBGTQ, abortion rights, gun control, school violence or issues like immigration, health care and refugees, we need to understand that these … Read More

Jesus teaches us that we are in the world but not of the world (John 17:6-11). He told Pilate during his passion that His Kingdom was not of this world (John 18:36). This is important for us to understand as Orthodox Christians. On the other hand, at the wedding banquet gospel from Matthew, mention is made that both good and … Read More

In my Family note dated September 16th I asked the following question: How do we keep the embittered political discord of our society from entering the life of the Church? As we learn from the Feast of the Exaltation, the bitter waters of the Israelites’ lives were made sweet when the Wood was tossed into the bitter waters of Marah. … Read More

Everyone is free to vote for either candidate for President and for other items on this year’s ballot. A person’s vote seems to revolve around the policies each candidate puts forward during the campaign and the party platforms passed at each convention before the election. Everyone should vote according to each candidate’s policies and values that are consistent with their … Read More

It is important to undertake one’s responsibility to vote at elections. We pray in our services for good laws to be established in our country. This is part of our Christian witness. But we also need to understand that our witness to Christ is a transcendent one, made in this world but pointing beyond this world. So, when we go … Read More

“… That he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby bringing the hostility to an end.  So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of … Read More

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who has made us both one, and has broken down the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place … Read More

I have decided I am going to take a brief break from issuing my weekly notes. I am not particularly pleased with how our Family Ministry website has developed to this point. I was hoping my weekly notes would spur responses and questions from people in the Diocese, and to date there have been very few. It is hard for … Read More