I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know […]
For he says, “At the acceptable time I have listened to you, and helped you on the day of salvation.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2 Christ is Born! Glorify Him! For the past several years in the parish where I serve, we’ve encouraged parishioners […]
A Reflection on the Advent Period As we enter the season of Advent, we prepare our hearts for the joyous celebration of the Nativity of Christ. This time of anticipation is more than just a countdown to Christmas; it is a profound journey of spiritual reflection that invites us to […]
Then Peter came up and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” Matthew 18: 21-22 One of the biggest challenges […]
Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 Change is part of life. We are constantly changing. Relationships, interests and habits vary over the course of our lives. For instance, in college, I […]
Introduction The political atmosphere in America today is characterized by deep divisions, cultural conflicts, and a myriad of challenges that require careful examination from an Orthodox Christian perspective. It is important to start out with realistic expectations within the truth of the Gospels in order for our spiritual existence to […]
Then they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. And as He stepped out on land, there met Him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the […]
Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one. Tychicus will tell you all about my affairs; he is a beloved brother and faithful minister and fellow […]
Till I come, attend to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching, to teaching. I Timothy 4:13 For many Christians, both Orthodox and non-Orthodox, reading the Scriptures poses a challenge to faith. There are many challenges to reading the Scriptures, including understanding why we read them, how to read them, and […]
I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 I’m writing all of this week’s messages a few days early and in anticipation of losing power and not being able to write, so I won’t be writing in real time after Monday. My mind, and the minds […]
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13:2 At St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church in Tampa, where I have served for the past twenty years, we have identified five core values—love, worship, community, learning and service. We make our decisions […]
O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you. Avoid the godless chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge, for by professing it some have missed the mark as regards to faith. I Timothy 6:20-21 One challenge to faith is reconciling it with science. One of the first challenges […]