When we are faced with the difficulties of life and tragic events, it can feel like we are drowning. In those moments when life feels unbearable, the Church reminds us that God is always right next to us holding our hand. He is always there to lift us up when we need Him. In those moments when we are weak, He is our strength. With God our heads will always be above water.
When we are faced with people with needs, we must understand that God has already given to us what we need to help them. Sometimes the needs are physical, but more often the needs are spiritual and emotional. So many of our friends need hope and peace, that can only come from God. We have enough hope and peace from God, so that we can give it to others.
Before healing two blind men Christ said, “Let it be done to according to your faith.” We ask God for many things in our lives, but we rarely ask in faith. Instead of rambling a list of demands for God, ask Him to open your eyes to see the blessings He has already given to you.
We all know people who need God, but for one reason or another, they are unable to bring themselves to God or the Church. We can still express our love for them by bringing them to God in our prayers. When God sees our faith, our love for them will be a blessing to them and to us. Even if they refuse to come to God, or to pray for themselves, never give up on them. Pray every day for them. Pray for God’s mercy and leave the rest to Him.
The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, the Chief-Apostles, we are reminded there is a place for everyone in the Kingdom of Heaven. Saint Peter denied even knowing Christ, and Saint Paul went around killing Christians. Both were called by God and repented to become great saints of the Church. It won’t matter what we have done or how we have sinned, God will accept us in our repentance. There is always a way back for us.
When Christ called His first disciples to join Him on His mission, they immediately changed their focus toward God. Immediately they made their entire life about serving God and sharing His Gospel with the world. With the constant reality of violence and war in the world, it is an opportunity for us to live as followers of Jesus Christ with the same dedication as the Disciples. Now is our chance to use our life to preach, teach and heal the world, through the peace and grace of God.
When God promised, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink,” He was inviting us to come inside the Church and He would quench our thirst for God. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God is everywhere, but He is inside the Church in a special way. The physical presence of God has been promised since He first told Moses He would be waiting for us inside the Church.
On Mothers’ Day we turn to the Church as our mother. Like our earthly mothers, the Church knows what is good for us when we are sick. We may not like cure, but just like our mothers’ cure-all, the Church offers us the sacraments and the life of the Church to heal us. We should learn to trust the Church like we trust our mothers, and we will be made well. A life of prayer, fasting, caring for the poor and the sacraments of the Church, are all for our healing.
When Christ first appeared alive with His Apostles after his resurrection, Thomas was absent. The Apostles said, “We have seen the Lord,” but Thomas needed to see for himself. Eight days later Thomas saw Christ with his own eyes and believe. Christ said, “You believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who believe but who have not seen.” The Church has spread through the centuries because the Church stands in the world as eyewitness to the Resurrection of Christ. With our faith and courage,...
There were thousands of people gathered in Jerusalem who witnessed the glory of Jesus Christ. They witnessed Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Despite seeing His glory with their own eyes, they didn’t understand God’s glory. We sit in Church. We see the glory of God. We proclaim our faith in Him. Still, like the ancient crowd we just don’t understand Jesus for Who really is. Now is our chance to witness God’s glory and change our life to be with the King of Glory.
Sometimes we doubt our faith. Sometimes we doubt that our faith is strong enough to ‘get us over the finish line’ so that we can grow closer to Christ. Sometimes we have ‘just enough’ faith to come to Christ and ask for help. In those moments, Christ gives us what we need to be stronger in our faith in Him. In those moments Christ helps us in our weakness, and always gives us what we need.
When we gather as the family of God, we have the blessing to bring people to Christ who need His help and healing. When Christ saw the faith of four friends of a paralyzed man, He healed the man and forgave his sins. Our responsibility to God is bring people to the Church so they can be healed and forgiven.
On Forgiveness Sunday, the Gospel teaches us that God will only forgive once we have forgiven others. This is difficult when we fight about who was right and who was wrong. Since all since is against God, then forgiveness comes much easier. If we can forgive for reconciliation rather than right or wrong, then we unite with each other and God. Then, and only then, we God forgive us.
The Parable of the Last Judgment in Matthew 25 can confuse us into believing that our actions will save us. Our judgment isn’t about the works that we do, our ability to love others as if we are loving Christ. Even our giving to the Church should be out of love for God and not out of duty.
When someone who has wasted everything and lost everything, or has strayed away from God, chooses to return in repentance, it is a blessing to witness. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is much more than just a story about repentance. It is also a story of the ‘one left behind’ and being too cold to be joyful over another’s repentance. You never know when you will meet a prodigal son returning to God. It is just as important to welcome others home as it is to repent and return home.
There are special days in our life when we feel so happy and content that we can’t imagine life getting any better. Saint Symeon had such a day when he saw Jesus Christ. “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace.” The Church invites us to consider what it might take for our hearts to be filled with so much peace and joy at seeing Him that we are ‘ready’ to die.
We say ‘thank you’ all the time, but we rarely live a life of gratitude. Being truly thankful requires a life-change, more than just a few words. When we want to thank God, we come to His Church, bow and worship Him, and live a new life of gratitude.
When we hear the human lineage of Christ in Matthew 1.1-25, we hear about our human ancestors. The ‘list of names’ reminds us that God has never walked away from us, no matter how far we have strayed away from Him. The Feast of Christmas is a celebration of God’s saving act of becoming human and saving us. The story of our ancestors is a story of faith. It is a story of those who kept returning to God no matter how often or how far they may have strayed. It inspires us to return to Him and celeb...
When we think of the Holy Canons of the Church, we most often think of them as ‘laws’ to be followed. They should be followed but not because they are laws. In the story of the women bent over for eighteen years, Christ reveals the true purpose of the Law. Following the laws and Canons of the Church frees us from the burden of sin. When we allow the Holy Canons to change our hearts, we change the way we think of Christ and the Church. Fast, but not because it is the law. Fast to change your hear...
When faced with the choice to give up our wealth or follow Christ, most of us choose our wealth and walk away from God. Until we are willing to separate ourselves from money and wealth we cannot have eternal life. This is impossible without God’s help.
When we are blessed to have more than we need, it is a challenge for our soul. In the Parable of the Barns, the rich man died without ever using the ‘good things’ that God had given to him. What are we doing with all the good things that God has given to us? We always focus on ourselves, but God wants us to think about others more than ourselves. The best way to learn to care about others is to Tithe to the Church. It was the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Church.
We have all been given many good things from God. What have we done with them? Have we used the good things that God has given to us for others or kept them for ourselves. In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazaros found the in Luke 16.19-31, the rich man who kept everything to himself was in hell when he died. When we consider our stewardship to God’s Church, will we find ourselves in the torment of hell because we did nothing with God’s good things? We must act now!
When God’s blessings come, we don’t always understand them for what they are. In the Parable of the Sower found in Luke 8.5-15 we learn that God’s sends out His Son for all people, but not everyone is able to understand God’s grace fully. In every situation, good and bad, God’s grace is for everyone.
When we are faced with struggles we wonder sometimes where is God? This is especially difficult in times of disaster or tragedy. The Gospel tells the story of the burial of the only son of a widow from Nain. She was not alone. God had compassion on her. We are never alone. God is always with us.
Christ went to the Synagogue and read from Isaiah and said, “Today this is fulfilled in your hearing.” Christ speaks to us today, not just in the past. Every year on the Ecclesiastical New Year, we are reminded that Christ came to heal us, to cure us, and to save us. Let’s make this the “acceptable year of the Lord.”
When thousands were gathered around Christ in the desert, the Disciples expected the Lord to send them away so they could feed themselves. Instead, Christ said, “They do not need to go away. You give them something,” and thousands were fed with just a few loaves of bread and two fish. Christ fed the crowds through the Disciples. He can bless others through us when we allow Him to use us as He used the Disciples. We become agents of God’s grace to help others.
When Christ saw the faith of the friends of the paralytic, He said to the man, “Your sins are forgiven.” Christ didn’t heal the man until He wanted to show His power to forgive sins. When we are united in the faith of Christ, our sins can be forgiven by God. When we pray each day, rather than praying for our physical health, we should pray for the forgiveness of our sins and the sins of others.
When we battle against God we cannot benefit from His power. When God healed the Gergesene Demoniacs, the crowed was angry with God. Instead of thanking God, they fought against Him. God has the power to protect us even from demons, but only if we stop fighting against Him.
Last week the Church commemorated the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Christ promised the Holy Spirit would guide the Holy Apostles into all the truth. Christ appointed the Apostles to shepherd the Church to heaven. The Apostles ordained Bishops and throughout history, the Bishops of the Church have served as shepherd leading us to heaven. The only thing that gets in the way is that we need to follow. Only goats do whatever the want. Sheep follow the shepherd.
A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.
