Redeeming The Time

What is the Transfiguration? What are the implications? When did it occur and why?

Why do we ask the Theotokos and Saints to help us? The answer is very simple, very human. We go to those we trust in this life, and because of the resurrection, those in the next life are able to help us too. God has always required his people to help each other. The temporary death of the flesh does not change this. Any supposedly Christian faith which ignores its dead is a sterile and lifeless faith.

Fr. Seraphim delivers an exegesis of the epistle from 1 Corinthians 3:9-17 with particular emphasis on the application of the Apostle's words: "... We are labourers together with God" and the practical meaning of "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." and the true meaning (which differs from the commonly accepted understanding) of " If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire." We cannot be Christians, or be saved, unless we labor together.

We must give what we have. We all have at least five loaves and two fish. We must have open and soft hearts and see the people who need something, and give them what we have. The Lord will make things multiply. A practical, moral look at the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000, and the actions of the woman who was a "sinner." Matthew 14:14-22 and Luke 7:36-50

Christianity is to live in a moral way. It is not dogmas or principles in the abstract. It is very practical. We talk about do's and don’ts, legalism, grace and mercy, and making ourselves vessels of grace, and a line by line exegesis of Paul's "do's". Since this is during the 40 days for my son +Daniel (http://www.orthodox.net/daniel), there are also very personal examples of how God visits with grace, but we must react to this grace. Romans 12:6-14

On the birth of Saint Baptist, we celebrate, perhaps, the most dedicated and ascetical mortal human being to ever live. He did not waste time; we waste so much time. The Epistle says: "that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." We must have purpose and resolve or we are nothing. Since this feast occurs within the 40 days for my son +Daniel, I see all things in relation to him, and a great blessing of his passing is that we have reports that many have awoken out of sleep. Let us talk about purpose, and asceticism and personal change. A son's death is an expensive price, but the gifts given are very dear. Romans 13:11-14:4

About the earthy man and the spiritual man, and the amazing thing: "flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." -- BUT WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE, so: "Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." This exalted topic is mixed with some reminiscing about the "Campus Crusade" (typical Evangelical Protestant ) view of salvation, which does not understand such things. Remarks at one of the "40 days" liturgies, for +Daniel, my son. Epistle for the commemoration of the dead on Friday. 1 Corinthians 15:47-57

The perspective of God is not the same as our perspective, so we must change. There is only one thing that is important in life, and that is, that we will be raised up on the last day. This eternal perspective should influence everything we do that is temporal. Remarks at one of the "40 days" liturgies, for +Daniel, my son. Gospel for the commemoration of the dead on Thursday John 6:40-44

The Gospel for the dead, which is read on Tuesday and Saturday, teaches emphatically that the resurrection is not only a future event. Remarks at one of the "40 days" liturgies for +Daniel, my son. John 5:24-30

Remarks at the funeral of Daniel Holland (+Sunday of All Saints, 2017), from his father. His deep heart, and how and why we pray for the dead, and how we should remember him. It is with actions, not words.

O Heavenly King is explained in detail, with an aim to teach us how to pray with our hearts. Also, the Jewish and Christian feasts of Pentecost discussed, and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, which is necessary for us to fulfill the Christian law. A short rule of prayer and prayer for others will help us, if we try, to develop prayer with our heart.

A homily by Papa Demetrios Carellas. A very practical exegesis of John 17:3: "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." First, a discussion of where the truth it - only in the church, and then, practical advice about how to live according to this truth, in our daily lives - think ONLY about our own sins, JUSTIFY the other person ALWAYS, and DO NOT jump to conclusions, and do not make a runway for your thoughts! 7th Sunday of Pascha: Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council John 17:3 2017-05-28

There are three very important things a Christian must know about the Ascension, but knowing stuff does not help a person unless he acts on his knowledge. The end of the account of the Ascension shows Christianity is active! We must work, and learn, and change, based on the grace God gives us.

The Blind Man shows how we must react to grace. God will heal us, enhance our courage, give us knowledge and peace, but not if we do not react to the grace He gives with honesty. The story of the healing of the Blind man is a case study of the necessity of honesty when we encounter God. John 9:1-38

Great things happen when we are kind, and we are humble. The Samaritan woman, Photini, became equal to the Apostles, because He was kind, and she was humble. How many times have we been kind? How many times have we been unkind - a more exact phrase would be "have not followed the Great Commandment and have not loved our neighbor" - by our indifference, arrogance, inattention? All these things are just at hateful as active hate. Let us follow the example of our Lord, and be kind to everyone who crosses our path, and if we have even a shred of humility, God will bless us and those we encounter.

The Myrrh-bearing women attempted an impossible and dangerous task - to anoint the body of the Lord after the Sabbath ended. They did not know that He was risen, but they did know that a hostile Roman guard and a huge stone were in their way. Why did they go to the tomb? IT was because of who they are. Their hearts told them they MUST do this thing. This must be so, also, with us. Christians must feel compelled to do good because of who they are, and not any compulsion from anyone or things, not even God. Mark 15:43-16:8

Thomas Sunday is the most important Sunday in the year for Orthodox Christians. Why? How can we be like Thomas? To do this, we must understand and fight despondency. We must also understand the confession of Thomas: "My Lord and my God" - not just a dogmatic confession, but also a prophesy of things to come after we live out our "8 days". John 20:19-31 2017

After the Vespers for the taking down of Christ from the Cross, a homily is preached in front of the tomb, before the plastinitsa (a cloth icon of Christ, lying in repose after being taken off the cross). Tombs are places for dead things, and his disciples were absolutely sure He was dead, but Christ was very much alive. So it is with things in our life. Some appear to be dead - but God is working to make them appear fully alive. This only occurs for those who encounter Christ and change.

It is because of a common characteristic of true Christians - we are always looking ahead to the next life, and this determines how we live in the present. Also About the liturgical use of fictional discussions, one of which, from the myrrh-bearers, also illustrates this characteristic of looking ahead, and our vision of the future effecting our present. Also a very important question: What is the most important day of the year? It is NOT Pascha! Pascha Agape Vespers. John 10:19-25 2017-04-16

Bad news and the very good news today. The bad news: What caused the transformation of Judas from a disciple to a traitor? It was not just his avarice. Something pushed him over the edge. This must resonate with us, because we are capable of being Judas. The admonition and promises of St. Paul to the Philippians teaches us everything we need to know to never be like Judas, and this is indeed very good news. John 12:1-18, Philippians 4:4-9