Fr. Michael shares from Homily 47 of St. Isaac the Syrian. "Knowledge is not something to be held in contrast to love; but rather, knowledge is the beginning of a process or journey that leads to love. Knowledge is the infancy of love. And just as a July apple is hard and green and bitter, so knowledge when its growth into love has been hindered, only makes us proud (pride being the spiritual equivalent of the upset tummy that comes from eating green apples). But when knowledge has matured, St. Isaac tells us, it ‘surmounts’ even what is natural to attain to love."

Many holy fathers and mothers of the Church have pointed out that spiritual words are like powerful medicine. If taken inappropriately, what was designed to heal ends up causing harm.

Fr. Michael Gillis reminds us that our salvation lies in living humbly within our measure, pushing a little during lent, perhaps, but always judging ourselves unworthy of a higher or stricter measure. This kind of fasting will be to our spiritual benefit.

Fr. Philip remembers St. Gregory Palamas by calling us to bring our whole personhood - body, soul and spirit - into our relationship with God.

Lent does not call us merely to think or have feelings about our Lord’s Cross and resurrection. This season invites us to grow in our personal knowledge and experience of the Savior Who offered Himself on the Cross and rose in glory on the third day for our salvation.

Fr. John Parker analyzes the impact of love in two Super Bowl commercials, and exhorts us to comprehend the impact they have on our lives as Orthodox Christians.

The prophet Jeremiah helps us to consider, along with this Sunday’s gospels and epistle, the different ways in which God makes himself intimately known to each of us, and to all of us together, in the Church. (Luke 8:26-39; Gal 1:11-19; Luke 16:19-31; Jeremiah 31:31-34)

The resurrectional-dismissal Theotokion in tone four is replete with theological mystery, and itself calls attention to the Mystery of mysteries—the God-Man who died for our sake. We look to the entire sweep of the Old Testament, as well as the epistles, to clarify its words.

This week we consider the Paschal epistle reading, Acts 1:1-8, in the light of Genesis 1-2; Genesis 30-50, Romans 8:22-25. We see the importance of time to God, as well as the fruitfulness of waiting, even in unpleasant or difficult circumstances.

We read the rest of Azariah’s prayer, followed by a short narrative, found in Daniel 3:37-50, with the help of Psalm 50/51 and Ezra (in the OSB, 2 Ezra) 8:71-87. Azariah’s utter honesty and trust in the philanthropic LORD leads to God’s answer—His presence with them in the furnace, as Azariah and his friends offer the fruit of their lips.

Fr. Ted introduces St. Gregory of Nyssa and his theology.

Fr. Ted calls us to know the truth about ourselves through the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee.

Fr. Ted encourages us to live our faith during Holy Week and throughout the year to come!

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos reflects on the life of St. Mary of Egypt.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos calls us to endure the struggles of life during Holy Week in order to see Christ's glorious resurrection.

Host Kevin Allen and Father Michael Reagan continue their conversation about this most important of topics: Knowing God. Next Illumined Heart: Friday, September 24, 2010

In this inaugural episode of the new season of The Illumined Heart, Kevin Allen welcomes Father Michael Reagan to discuss a long-standing conversation between the Eastern Church and the Western Church: can we know God directly and what does this mean? The perspective in this conversation is practical, not academic. In this new season of The Illumined Heart, Kevin will be providing interviews every other week. However next week (Sept 10) he will have part 2 of his interview with Fr. Michael Reagan.

Frederica Mathewes-Green

Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, author of academic, popular, and spiritual works, presented the keynote address at this year's Education Day at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Fr. John highlighted the symbiotic relationship between Christianity and books, and described how the development of the internet has changed the way people read.

Dn. Michael Hyatt interviews Fr. Chad Hatfield, the President of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York. Learn about his coming to Orthodoxy, his experience in Alaska, and the seminary he leads.

Fr. Roberto shares reflections on how we can only truly know what we have experienced.

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Fr. Apostolos speaks on knowing God and merely knowing about Him as we celebrate the memory of St. Gregory Palamas.

Fr. Apostolos Hill likens the experience of knowing God to that of meeting his bride. The effort we put into spending time together is a blueprint for entering more deeply into our union with Jesus.

Fr. Apostolos Hill shares a homily on the Gospel reading, an examination of the difference between following or pursuing Jesus and being casually associated with Him.

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

In an age when people are cynically feeling distant from (the concept of) God, it is important to be reminded that God is nearer than our very breath. Citing the gospel story of the great catch of fish, Fr Thomas teaches us concerning the assurance of the living God in our lives and the abundant life He promises.

Fr. John Parker, Dean of St Tikhon's Orthodox Seminary in South Canaan, PA, delivered the sermon on the Seventh Sunday of Pascha. Fr. John shares the story of his new leadership position at the seminary and how he grew to know the life of the seminary through daily experience. He reminds us that our knowledge of God must exceed simply knowing about Him to become instead the daily experience of God as members of the Church. (The recording begins in mid-story as he relates a call he received from Archbishop Michael to organize a talk at the All-American Council on church growth.)

Special guest Fr. John Mikita from Holy Ascension Church in Mount Pleasant, SC encourages us to recall the light of Christ when we face spiritual darkness. Fr. John also warns us that to encounter Christ is to have to choose between the darkness we're comfortable with and the change to which He calls us.

Fr. Gregory begins with the children and then Fr. Emmanuel concludes with the sermon for Pascha.