As we continue to celebrate the Elevation of the Holy Cross, we must remain on guard against the temptation of viewing our Lord’s Cross as merely a religious symbol that requires nothing of us. Through His Self-Offering on the Cross, Christ has conquered death and brought salvation to the world. But in order for us to share personally in His eternal life, we must take up our own crosses, deny ourselves, and follow Him. If we refuse to do that, then we will show that we are ashamed of our Lord and want no part in Him or His Kingdom. We will show that we prefer to continue in the old way of death rather than to enter by His grace into the heavenly reign.

Professor Humphrey here tackles the difficult passage of Romans 10:1-10, showing that it echoes Deuteronomy 30. Here we see the mistake of interpreting the religion of Israel as a cold and legalistic religion of laws, and are called to generosity of spirit in praying for all who do not know Christ, including the Jewish people, whom St. Paul declares to be “beloved for the sake of their forefathers.”

Consider how the gospel readings from various jurisdictions for this Sunday clarify St. Paul’s difficult retort to St. Peter in Galatians concerning the Law, faith, and the faithfulness of Christ, and how the OT clarifies the meaning of the phrase “Son of God” used in all these passages!

What is a seemly response to our knowledge of the mysteries that archangels and angels lead celestial worship, and are sent to minister to us? This podcast considers this week’s readings (Hebrews 2:2-10; Luke 8:41-9:1) in the light of Daniel 8:16; 9:21-11:1; Joshua 5:13-15, Rev. 12:7-11.

Our readings for this week hold together in tension two key teachings: that everything is by God’s initiative, and that we are called to respond. God is sovereign, and yet looks for our cooperation. We see these teachings in Matthew 4:18-23 and Romans 2:10-16, illumined by numerous OT passages, including Isa 53:2-5, the Song of the Suffering Servant.

Our readings for this Sunday, 1 Cor. 4:9-16; Matthew 17:14-23 are clarified in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel (1 Kingdoms)16:1-13; Micah 5:2-4. Here we see the great paradox of humility that shows forth greatness: we become, as G. K. Chesterton put it. “Straighter when we bend and taller when we bow.” Authentic reliance upon God is born of such humility, and so is authentic love for others. We see the examples in the cross-bearing Jesus, and in the apostle Paul, ‘father’ to the Corinthians.

This week we look at Jesus’ first meeting with Peter in the light of Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah to come. We are helped to understand Peter’s great fear at Jesus’ ability to see into the depths of the sea, and the human heart. We are also given courage by St. Paul as we hear how our Christ God has reconciled enemies, and continues to work in his Church. (Luke 5:1-11; 2 Cor 1: 21-2:4; Col 1:13-23; Isaiah 11:1-9)

This week we concentrate upon the epistle reading, where St. Paul mentions (as he does elsewhere), God’s armor for our use in life. This imagery may be difficult for a contemporary audience, but it is found many places in Scripture, and cannot be dismissed. We consider the “active” and “passive” weapons wielded by our Lord Jesus, and commended to us, by means of other NT readings, Isaiah, and the book of Wisdom. (2 Corinthians 6:1-10; Isaiah 59:15-17; Wisdom 5:17-20; Isaiah 11:3-5)

The prophet Isaiah and St. John Chrysostom help us to understand why God hides and reveals, as we read Galatians 1 and Luke 8:41-56. We are led to pay special attention to the epistle, since we have heard it twice in the space of two weeks!

Looking at the heart of things clearly a principle of the Old Testament as well as the New. But in the NT, we learn also that God has concern for the material world and for the details of life, for in the Incarnation He took on all that it is to be human. We read our passages for Divine Liturgy in the light of other Old and New Testament readings that help us to see things in perspective. (Galatians 6:11-18; Luke 12:16-21; 1 Chronicles 28:9)

We understand Jesus’ circumcision and devoted youth, described in Luke 2:2-21 and 40-52, in terms of the epistle reading for January first, Colossians 2:8-12, and with the help of various verses in Exodus, Deuteronomy and Numbers. In his new life, we are made new!

We read the well-known story of Matthew 8:28-9:1, appointed for this week’s Divine Liturgy, with special attention to the phenomenon of demon possession. Though the Old Testament has little to say about demons, it prepares us for the great miracle of the Incarnation, in which God visits us intimately, making us his own. Possession may be seen as the pale imitation of this mighty visitation, in which Satan and his emissaries try to draw near to us in destruction—but are vanquished by the Author of all goodness.

Today we read our epistle (1 Corinthians 16:13-24) and gospel (Matthew 21:33-42) in the light of Isaiah 5:1-7; 27:1-13 and 2 Peter 1: 3-12. We are led to see that there is a new song of hope that replaces the prophet’s lament over God’s people, because Jesus has become the cornerstone of God’s Temple.

Today we read Galatians 2:16-20 and Mark 8:34-9:1 in the light of King David’s humiliation in 1 Samuel (Kingdoms) 21 and Psalm 33/34. Coming to terms with our fear of shame, our possible embarrassment concerning the faith, and the shame that Jesus our Lord bore helps us to take up our own crosses, and so share in Christ’s glory.

Daring to be Different: Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost, Second of Luke, and feast day of the Apostle Ananias. Our readings for this week (2 Cor 6:16-18, 7:1; Luke 6:31-36) bring us face-to-face with an uncomfortable part of our faith: we are to be “holy” or different. We look to the challenge God gives to Israel in Exodus, and the promises to fulfill this holiness in the prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel to help us to understand our calling.

This week our two readings (Luke 8:29-56, Galatians 2:16-20) lead us to consider the deep relationship between faith and Christ’s power, a debated issue since the Reformation times. We look to these passages, and back to the example of Abraham (Genesis 15; Genesis 18) in order to understand what St. Paul and Holy Tradition tell us about faith, and how we should answer those who insist that salvation is “by faith alone.” Dr. Edith's new book is titled, "Further Up and Further In: Orthodox Conversations with C.S. Lewis on Scripture and Theology

This week we consider God’s actions, both as they fulfill our expectations of His righteous character, and as they astonish us. We remember the faithfulness of those who saw less of God’s revelation than we have, especially the three youths in the fire, and the holy ancestors of Jesus. Our readings for this Sunday, Luke 24:36-53, Luke 14:16-24 and Colossians 3:4-11, both respond to the desires of the ages, and shock us with the vibrancy and great extent of the new creation made possible through the Incarnation, Death and Resurrection of our LORD.

We are helped to reflect upon that mysterious tour of Christ (from the heavens, to the grave, and back to glory) described in the Tone 8’s Resurrectional Hymns by looking to Psalm 67/68:17-19, Ephesians 4:7-11, John 20:19-31, and 1 Corinthians 3:9-17.

This week we take a break from the dismissal hymns to the Theotokos, and consider the rich imagery of the hymn (in tone 5) to Mary after the Aposticha. Its symbols are illumined for us by the Psalter, Ezekiel 33-35, and Isaiah 6.

This week we tackle the paradox of service and freedom, and the fruit that comes from service to God, as seen in Romans 6:18-23 and Galatians 5:22-26; 6:1-2. We are helped in understanding this through the words of Saints Augustine and Chrysostom, and by reading Genesis 22 and Leviticus 26:12-18.

We consider the quality of deep unity commended to us in 1 Corinthians 1:10-18, illumining that teaching by reference to the unity fostered by King Hezekiah as God’s people repented and resumed celebrating the Passover during his faithful reform (2 Chronicles 30).

We examine St. Paul’s poignant picture of the apostles (1 Cor 4:9-16) as the “refuse of the world,” noticing that even the OT is ambivalent towards outward success, considering the problem of calling something “father,” and focusing upon the utter humility of Jesus, who St. Paul sought to follow.

This week we consider Paul’s spirited words in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11, seeking to understand the importance of Holy Tradition, the apostles who saw Jesus, the crucifixion, and the resurrection, in the light of Daniel 12, Genesis 49, Exodus 1, and Ezekiel 47-48.

This week we hear the apostle Paul’s vulnerable plea to his congregation, and are reminded to pray and encourage our pastors (bishops, priests, deacons) as they work together with Christ, taking on his suffering for our sake, that we might be effective ministers in the world. (2 Cor 6:1-11; Psalm 68/69; Isaiah 52:13-53:12)

St. Paul emphasizes the divine origin of the gospel without downplaying the importance of his fellow apostles. We understand this difficult passage in Galatians by looking at the entire letter, by remembering the apostolic witness to the Resurrection in 1 Cor 15, and by comparing the ministry of the apostle with that of the prophet Jeremiah. (Gal 1:11-19; 1 Cor 15; various passages from Jeremiah)

Fr. Ted concludes his series on Orthodox life.

Fr. Thomas Hopko, Dean Emeritus of St. Vladimir's Orthodox seminary, addresses the controversial subject of "toll houses" in this highly animated half-hour discussion with our co-hosts.

Orthodox pro-life advocate, author, and Martha and Mary House Director/Housemother Sarah Elisabet Oftedal talks with Kevin about the impact abortion has had on our culture, the lingering trauma on women (and families) who have had them, and what Martha and Mary House—the U.S.'s only Orthodox maternity home—is doing about it.

Fr. Nicolaie writes about discussions and prayers from those gathered on a typical Friday afternoon at St. John the Compassionate Mission in Toronto.

Chris Person compiled a list of active forums, grouped by subject area, hosted outside of the major platforms #

We are to point to Christ and not ourselves as we prepare the way for others to receive Him; we decrease that Christ might be glorified in and through us.

Fr. Gregory gives the sermon on the Feast of the Prophet Elijah.

LG Display’s new free-form screen technology can expand from 12 to 18 inches, with a resolution of 100ppi. The display also uses a micro-LED light source smaller than 40 micrometers, so it can apparently be stretched over 10,000 times. While this probably isn’t your next smartphone, we could see the tech in clothing, car panels and more.

LG Display has pushed the boundaries of screen tech for a while, revealing folding screens before foldable phones appeared, roll-up TVS before roll-up TVs went on sale and transparent displays before they appeared in fancy stores, theme parks and elsewhere. So expect to see this Bop-it of displays somewhere, eventually.

— Mat Smith

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Netflix’s ad tier has attracted more than 70 million subscribers

However, many have probably downgraded from a premium tier.

Netflix is crowing that its ad-supported tier now boasts 70 million global users. Amy Reinhard, president of advertising at Netflix, says the company continues “to see steady progress across all countries’ member bases.” But there isn’t any information about existing customers. It’s very possible a lot of people downgraded from a premium tier to an ad-supported tier.

Continue reading.

Fujifilm is developing a 102MP medium format cinema camera

With a new sensor 1.7 times larger than full frame.

Fujifilm is developing a medium-format, 102-megapixel cinema camera, the company said in a surprise announcement. Due next year, the GFX Eterna will carry a boxy, modular design reminiscent of Sony’s FX6. The new camera will have a medium format GFX 102-megapixel (MP) CMOS II HS sensor, the same one used on the GFX100 II. That sensor is 43.8mm x 32.9 mm in size — that’s 1.7 times larger than the full-frame sensor on the FX.

The benefits will be extra dynamic range, potentially high resolution and a very shallow depth of field, which should enable cinematic shots with the right lens. Having said that, Fujifilm currently has no GFX glass designed specifically for film production. It’s working on it, though.

Continue reading.

Fr. Philip LeMasters, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Religion at McMurry University, argues that the primary political action of Orthodox Christians is not found in voting, carrying signs, spouting slogans, or putting bumper stickers on cars. Rather, our most fundamental political witness is to participate in the Divine Liturgy.

Most Christians are not aware that in the latter part of the 16th century, early Lutheran Reformers - close colleagues and followers of Martin Luther - set in motion an eight year contact and correspondence with the (then) Ecumenical Patriarch, Jeremias II of Constantinople. The outcome might have changed the course of Christian history. Kevin Allen speaks with scholar Dr Paraskeve (Eve) Tibbs about this fascinating and largely unknown chapter in post-Reformation history.

The Apostle Paul tells us about justification by faith of Christ who is always loving and giving himself for us.

So What had the other nine apostles been getting up to?

Great Britain's Jack Draper smashes his racquet after losing the opening set against Canada's Felix Auger-Aliassime during their Davis Cup match in Manchester.

Iga Swiatek is knocked out of the WTA Finals after group rival Barbora Krejcikova beat Coco Gauff to secure her place in the semi-finals.

Britain's Cameron Norrie will contest his first ATP final since February 2023 after a straight-set victory over Corentin Moutet at the Moselle Open.

Coco Gauff shows supreme determination to come from behind against Zheng Qinwen to win the season-ending WTA Finals.

World number one Jannik Sinner brushes past Alex de Minaur after Taylor Fritz defeats an irate Daniil Medvedev as the ATP Finals begin.

A severe weather alert in southern Spain leads to the opening tie of the Billie Jean King Cup between Spain and Poland being postponed.

Japan's Rio Takeda wins her first LPGA title after a six-hole play-off.