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."

Fr. Philip calls us to actively engage in the journey towards the Kingdom of God through the Dormition Fast.

Fr. Philip LeMasters preaches on the healing of paralytic.

“The line between good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.” The key difference between the Pharisee and the Publican rooted in their hearts and was not simply a matter of their outward behavior or how they appeared to others. Even the despised traitor and thief remained in the image of God and was able to embrace divine mercy when he humbly confessed the truth about his personal brokenness. The Pharisee also bore God’s image, but was so blinded by his slavery to the primordial sin of pride that his spiritual practices lacked integrity and did his soul more harm than good.

The paralyzed man embodies our common human condition. Even as those enslaved to the fear of death did not somehow take the initiative in bringing salvation to the world, this fellow did not call out to Christ to help him or even know the Savior’s name. Instead, the Lord graciously reached out to him.

Unlike the rich man, we must not walk away in sadness when our weakness before our passions becomes apparent, especially when we realize how far short we have fallen of the holiness to which Christ calls us.

Everyone who shares in the blessed life of the Savior does so through their participation in His grace, not merely as a reward for good behavior.

In this reflection on an emerging post-Christian Christendom, Fr. John Strickland discusses two ways in which eighteenth-century philosophes—from Voltaire to Thomas Jefferson—worked to subvert the paradisiacal culture of the old Christendom. He explores their use of photic imagery such as "enlightenment" and their introduction of the tripartite utopian model of history consisting of ancient, medieval, and modern periods. He concludes with a brief description of Edward Gibbon's famous and influential work The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire.

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!

The Crippled Lamb. Copyright 1994. Published by Thomas Nelson. Written by Max Lucado. All Rights reserved. Used with permission.

131. The Tumbled Stone written and illustrated by Claire Brandenburg (New Varatec Publishing, 2009).

Fr. Ted applauds his parishioners for making Orthodoxy a part of their lives.

Fr. Ted reminds us that our first call is to be truly Christian.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos reminds us of Jesus' call to take up our cross and follow Him.

How talking about anything — including violence and sexuality — can lead to consequences in others’ lives, intentionally and unintentionally. Read the transcript HERE.

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.

Reflections written by Brother Luke.

"We are called to be saints. We are called to fellowship with God. We are called to sanctification and true freedom in Christ. We are called to lay hold of eternal life. May we ever strive to walk in that manner, worthy of the high calling as we press on in our Lenten journey."

Sermon on the Sunday of the Blind Man (John 9:1-38)

Sermon on the Sunday of All Saints (Heb 11:33-12:2; Mt 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30)

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday of the Paralytic - Fourth Sunday of Pascha

The healing of the paralytic is a wonderful gospel scene rich with meaning for us. Fr Tom reminds us that God demonstrates His power when formerly "paralyzed" lives are healed and transformed to become living testimonies to the truth of Christ.

The New Testament is full of amazing stories about the healings performed by Jesus and the Apostles. Fr Thomas reminds us that in order to be made completely whole by the Lord, we must continue in our effort to glory in the cross by dying to the world. (22nd Sunday after Pentecost)

In a powerful message on the value of faith, Fr Thomas reminds us that forgiveness is the most important healing we'll ever receive.

What happens after we have worked hard, done our best and achieved nothing?

The Holy Spirit came upon the Apostles at Pentecost as a roaring wind and in tongues of fire from Heaven. The river of fire for them meant no danger at all but rather a personal powerful presence of God in their hearts and lives, the promised Holy Spirit.

On this eve of Nativity 2015, Fr. Emmanuel Kahn gives the sermon.

Fr. Emmanuel Kahn looks at the healing of the man who was paralyzed. What does it mean for this paralytic and for us to be healed? From what do we need to be healed?

Fr. Emmanuel talks to the adults and Fr. Gregory to the children about how we can each give more of ourselves—of our abilities, our insights, our time, our energy, our prayer life—to Christ and to this parish church.

There are people who want to be healed, sometimes desperately, but there are others who, while they claim that they want to be healed, deep down do not.

We are not called to set ourselves free, but we do need to want to be healed. We do need to praise God for coming into our lives—for joining us to Him and to each other in the Church.

Fr. Emmanuel Kahn sermon delivered by Fr. Gregory Hallam.