Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost and Feast of St. Chariton, Luke 6:17-23 (St. Anthony, 9/21/25)

I. Gospel for St. Chariton

A. St. Luke’s Beatitudes

B. Relative to St. Chariton, just verses 22 and 23

II. The text

A. “Blessed are you when men hate you, And when they exclude you, And revile you, and cast out your name as evil, For the Son of Man's sake. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy!”

1. “Blessed” – Fortunate

2. Exclude: Set up boundaries, walls, prisons, camps, zones, laws, penalties.

3. Cast out your name. Gag on your name.

a) Why because you are a Christian

4. Response: Rejoice

a) How, Like St. Gabriel says to Theotokos.

b) You are baring God

5. Leap

a) Do a happy dance

III. St. Chariton

A. From Ἰκόνιον (Now Konya in Turkey) Mid 200s

1. Persecutions

a) Intermittent, but bad.

b) Suffer at least under last three before St. Constantine’s 314 edict

2. Survived imprisonment– thus a confessor

3. Experienced original Christianity, lived the beatitudes

a) Fortunate

B. Persecution to All the Mode – All the cool Romans as Christians

C. Sought to recapture the preimperial beatitudes.

1. If Rome won’t, I will

2. Full time asceticism. The active of constant, monastic repentance.

D. The blessed life led to a kind of fatherhood, saintly example

IV. Our Situation

A. Mixed Hiers

1. Some: Freedom of Religion

2. Escapees of Communist – sudden persecution

3. Also Freedom from Religion – Religion as oppressor, as a no-no topic.

B. Are we “fortunate because humanity hates us”

1. Must be careful

2. Must test

a) Do we see it as conspiracy? See how they hates us. They are out get us. Must fight back

b) Or do we see it as our calling, our due

3. How do we know

a) Look to St. Chariton.

b) Seek it for the sake of others.

(1) He said to withdraw

(2) But he drew people them and he spurned them no.

(3) He did not stoke their anger

(4) He gave them inspiration, hope, encouragement, a good example

(5) He rejoiced in it

V. Let us follow suit

A. We “Shall” be hated.

1. Reject the instinct to fight. Rejoice.

2. Withdraw without cutting others off. Leave doors open.

3. Show others the goodness, the join of repentance

4. Call on the saints who made the shift from suffering to joy, especially:

a) St. Chariton

b) St. Thekla

c) St. Maximos

Sunday after Exultation of the Cross, Mark 8:34-9:1 (St. Anthony, 9/21/25)

I. Following Christ who plants the seed

A. My story of Following Christ

1. Every stage, a formal one, hinted at being clergy

2. 1976

3. 1987

4. Amusing, not even technically Christian

5. Not baptized until 1989

B. The desire to follow was clearly planted from outside, but it was always there even in spite of myself

C. Our maturity often stands in way of the following

II. The Gospel After

A. Exultation – we hear the about cross – About Christ

B. Sunday after we are presented with the cross – About our response to it

C. Focus on one vers

1. Καὶ προσκαλεσάμενος τὸν ὄχλον σὺν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ, εἴπεν αὐτοῖς, Ὅστις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἀκολουθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτόν, καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι.

2. And having called to the multitude with his disciples, (he) said to them, whoever wants to follow after me from behind, let that one utterly deny self and raise one’s own cross, and follow after me.

D. Key concepts

1. Jesus summoned them.

a) We do not seek Christ. He seeks us

b) Not alone – with His disciples. Not me and Jesus. With the community.

2. “Follow after” Literally uses to words to express follow. Two implications

a) Jesus is going to do this first

b) Not alongside, FOLLOW

3. Instructions

a) Not just deny, but utterly deny-self

b) Take up, raise up

(1) Positive implications

(2) Almost liturgical. αἴρω reminds me Ἀήρ

(3) Artos

(4) Elevate

4. And Fellow after.

III. Back to my following of Christ

A. A lack of maturity always gets in the way

1. O yes, joy to follow

2. But the self denial gets chucked

3. Cycle of denial, pick cross, follow, put the cross down, elevate self, trip and fall, get up, repeat.

4. 17 – Felt the call, denied, joyfully went to church

a) Stumbled along

5. Went to college

a) Started again. Got baptized.

b) Got lazy

c) Stumbled

6. Felt called again, joined monastics, started thinking about what I wanted, stumbled, left, got lost.

7. Started over.

8. Called at 17, ordained deacon at 34, 39 a priest.

IV. Must keep this basics for us

A. We follow - Christ leads

B. We deny self

C. We anticipate, even worship the cross. It requires constant upward motion.

1. Return again and again to denial.

2. The self is down, the Christ is up, that is where the cross is

a) It can’t be about me. My rank, my importance, my role.

b) All Christ

c) All following

12^th Sunday After Pentecost, Matthew 19:16-26 (St. Anthony, 8/31/25)

V. Avoiding preaching

A. “Go sell all you have.”

B. How to tell others?

C. Especially when you haven’t

VI. Summary

A. Young man comes to Jesus

B. Asks a hard question about eternal life

C. Gets a basic answers: keep the commands

D. Presses the question

E. Gets a harder answer: divest and follow

F. Goes away sad

G. Scares the disciples and then reassures them

VII. Key items

A. 3 different version Matthew/Luke/Mark

B. The young man

1. 20-45, meaning a man in his prime

2. Use Luke – Arkhon

C. Important: Comes to Jesus

1. He asks – what must I do for Eternal life

2. Jesus shifts the answer “have life”

3. Keep the commandments-

a) Guard – as something precious

b) This is basic stuff (not eternal life)

c) A society would break down without it

d) Not special. Basic expectations.

D. Answer

1. I have guarded – like a prison – has his phylactery – bear minimum. Played along

2. Need more

E. Be complete: Sell everything, give to down trodden, become a disciple.

F. This injures the young man. More than sad.

1. He wanted

a) Rubber stamp?

b) A slight upgrade, a new challenge.

VIII. Our situation

A. Do you have to sell everything?

1. Are you a rich, powerful young man?

2. Each of has to ask, not what must I do, but how can I be complete.

B. Ask the right question

1. “what must I do” – Impossible for you to earn eternal life

2. Ask how can be complete, command me so I can follow you.

C. What if I am not ready:

1. From St. Mark:

a) Before, Jesus answered, he looked and he loved.

2. His command is based in love

3. We will be sad

4. But there is no condemnation

5. Keep coming back.

IX. Summary

A. What each is called to is personal.

1. If you are rich, you be called to give

2. If you are smart, you be called to teach

3. If you are artistic, called to beautify.

4. If you are handy, called to build

B. Ask and be ready

1. Keep asking, keep trying

2. Do the same for others, look on them with love, do not judge. Keep loving.

10^th Sunday After Pentecost, Matthew 17:14-23 (St. Anthony, 8/17/25)

I. Winter of 2009-2010

A. Avian Flu - Resa

B. 2 weeks early AB Job

C. So much prayer

D. Yet still died

II. Healing story

A. Sum up

1. Man comes

2. Jesus chastises disciples

3. Rebuke demon

4. Doubles down on criticism

5. Prayer and Fast

6. Then drops a bomb

B. Like last week, walking on water

1. Starts with A profession of faith

a) “man came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son”

2. Not an epilyptic – a lunatic

a) Crazy choices

C. How do we deal with these

1. Faith – faith/believe same in Greek.

a) Implies trust

b) Implies follow through

c) Not in the head

2. Prayer

a) Offering up. Again following threw

3. Fasting

a) A physical reminder of sacrifice. I let my stomach groan in pain, a kind of bodily prayer.

III. But what about all the prayer, it doesn’t turn our

A. God does not always answer the way we want

B. But things do change

1. We all changed

2. We were comforted

3. We remembered

4. and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; To this day, “to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

IV. So in our prayers

A. Start with Christ

B. Follow through

C. Be ready for different outcomes

9^th Sunday After Pentecost Gospel Matthew 14:22-34 (St. Anthony, 8/10/25)

I. I like food with layers

A. Lasagnas, casseroles, burgers with too many things (eggs, cheese, bacon, mushrooms)

1. I want all the flavors.

B. I like my stories that way, too

II. Today’s story: Jesus Walks on Water

A. It has layers

B. It is not simple

C. It teaches SOOO much.

III. Let’s unpack it

A. Lesson 1

B. It teaches about how to read scripture

1. St. Matthew’s Gospel

a) Who is it for: Jewish Christians

b) It assumes you know the stories

(1) You know about creation

(2) The forefathers Abraham, Isaac, Jacob

(3) Moses and the Passover story

(4) Its first kings, Saul, David and Solomon

(5) It’s split into two Kingsdom

(6) The prophets who warned against idolatry, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, and so on.

(7) The Exiles

c) It requires that we know it, too.

d) If you don’t, you miss the layers.

e) It would just be a simple miracle story about Jesus doing a cool thing, walking on water.

IV. Layer 1

A. Jesus left, when into mtn to pray

B. Boat goes out

C. the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

D. Jewish ear makes a link: “In the beginning God made the heaven and the earth, moreover the earth was invisible and unformed, and darkness was above the abyss. And the breath of God was borne over (itself) the water.”

E. Then in the midst of the fear: a rough sea, an apparition in the water. Jesus walks toward them. Brings peace.

F. Equation is being made Water, creation, God are work.

G. This is a Theophany. Jesus being God on earth.

V. Layer 2

A. Peter test Jesus. Always risky

1. If you, ask me to join you.

B. And Jesus does, and Peter does.

C. But then he looked at Winds, not Jesus. And Peter sinks.

D. Still: He does the right thing.

1. He cries out. Lord, save me.

2. And Jesus does.

VI. Layer 3

A. They were in a boat.

B. Again, think like a Jewish hearer. Boat invokes Ark

1. Ark is a place of safety

2. You don’t get of an ark in the middle of the sea of Galliee.

C. Also, in time church buildings will use boat motifs in their architecture. Even today, we enter first the nave-navis the Latin for ship.

1. The boat is the community, the place where we and God meet face to face.

VII. Lessons for us

A. Know that Jesus is Lord, meaning, even this early scripture is telling use: THIS IS GOD. THE SAME ONE WHO INTRODUCED in GENESIS 1:1 This is how we read and interpret scripture.

B. Stay in the boat.

1. When you venture out trusting “you can find God on your own”, maybe you can...but

a) It is arrogant

b) Foolish

c) And trusting in self and trap

d) When you leave the safety, you trust in yourself. You are fallible.

e) You will must likely sink into

(1) Heresy.

(2) Idolatry.

(3) Or Unrighteousness

f) God is no longer your captain.

VIII. Finally. Sometimes its hard

A. There can be bad in the Church

B. Sometimes you have to move to a different Boat

1. Do so if there is danger.

2. But don’t do it frivolously

C. But do you best to seek God where he wants you, not where you want him.

D. Remember, it is all about God first and then you.

7^th Sunday After Pentecost – Matt 9:27-35 (St. Anthony July 27, 2025)

IX. Well, You Can’t Tell

A. Co-Workers – Especially supervisors

1. Experience – a good/important thing

2. But can lead to misunderstanding

3. But sometimes the word gets out in partial form

X. In Today’s healing – two contrast

A. First two blind men

1. Who were following him

2. Healed privately

B. And then one demoniac

1. Who brought in by others

2. Publicly

a) Crowds amazed

b) The Pharisees grumbling

XI. Here is the difficult part:

A. And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly warned them, saying, "Watch! Let no one know."

B. And they go ahead spread it all around

C. Up to 14 times in Gospel, he’s not to tell.

1. But not always is it told. Only 4 times (in reality maybe 3 – Blind, deaf and lepers)

XII. Why?

A. A closer look

1. Remember 2 stories

2. First

a) Their faith is already there

b) They get their eyes opened.

c) They know something more/something dear

d) See (Understand)

e) No one is to know (there is a secret)

3. They spread the news.

a) But how much did they tell.

b) Maybe only that he healed them.

c) But maybe not everything

B. Contrast Second story

1. A random demoniac

2. No faith

3. But look what happens

a) Some are amazed

b) But even with just this bit of knowledge, Pharisees start talking stupid. Nonsense

4. It demonstrates, Christ saying earlier: “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.”

C. St. John Chrysostom: Answers this way

1. Christ is constantly pointing glory to God. Keeping himself abased. Highlights what Christ “was in the form of God” but “empties himself taking the form of slave”

2. Yet, the healed cannot help but evangelize.

XIII. What does it mean for us

A. Consider it liturgically and scripturally

1. “I will reveal your mysteries to your enemies”

a) There is a time and place for sharing the deepest part of the faith.

b) Be mindful

(1) Taking care in hostile forums, especially the internet. Don’t argue with fools

(2) Not ideally. As St. Gregory the Theologian says in Oration 27: “not they who make it a matter of pleasant gossip, like any other thing, after the races, or the theatre, or a concert, or a dinner, or still lower employments.”

(3) There is a time and place for theology.

2. “Go proclaim the God News” – Matthew 28

a) This we must do.

b) But this just about giving an introduction

c) Only later do tell the full story and share (literally dine) about the mystery

XIV. Ultimately

A. We proclaim the Gospel not as aggitators

1. Yes share it

2. But don’t share the depths without discernment and care. It is precious

6^th Sunday After Pentecost – Matt 9:1-8 (St. Anthony July 20, 2025)

I. Quick summary

A. A paralytic is brought to Jesus

B. He forgives his sins

C. The scribes grumble about “Blaspheme”

D. Jesus commands paralytic to get up

E. He does.

F. Jesus proves he has the authority

G. People marvel

II. Two words we use in liturgy

A. Prosphero and anaphero

1. Fero to bear or carry

2. Pros / ana – both mean to offer

B. Prosphora – The offering of bread – what we start with. A gift to the community in order to celebrate

C. Anaphora – To take what is given and give to God

III. Think of offerings, offerings to God specifically

A. Think of biblical examples

1. Abraham – his first born Isaac

2. OT – Temple offerings,

a) First fruits

b) Young bulls and lambs – the spotless ones

c) Turtle doves

d) Incense

3. In NT

a) Gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Expense, rare, precious

IV. There is an offering in this story

A. “they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.”

B. They προσέφερον αὐτῷ

C. Response?

1. This is what you bring me?

2. “Jesus saw their faith”

3. And forgives the paralytic

4. Didn’t see the paralytics faith?

V. This is the offering, the prosphora he wants

A. People paralyzed by sin

1. The broken

B. And if you are not sure, Consider last verse

1. “When the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.”

2. Two powers here

a) Forgiveness of sin

b) The power to offer each other to God.

VI. This then is our job

A. Bring them here

B. Help others find forgiveness

KEY QUOTES:

“they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed.”

They προσέφερον αὐτῷ

“When the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.”

^5th Sunday After Pentecost – Matt 8:28-9:1 (St. Anthony July 13, 2025)

VII. Pigs Again

A. Up to 3 times in a year

B. Pigs in Leonard

1. Mr. Spezia

2. House for Sale

C. Why

1. Pigs are a mixed bag

a) Good farming

b) but the stench is undeniable

c) Not desirable

VIII. Context

A. Gergasa – Golan Heights – Contested Lands

1. Greek Conquered

2. Jews Repopulation after Hasmonean Revolt

3. Mixed Gentile Lands

4. Pig Farmers

5. An unconverted people

B. Jesus is accosted

1. 2 demonized men, 2 real terrors

a) Living demons, violent, crazy, tomb dwellers

2. Fearful demons

3. Put in there place – Pigs (how much lower can you get)

C. Gains and Losses

1. The road is clear

2. Two men reenter normal life

3. A loss of profit

4. In the balance, was it worth it?

a) Gergasenes say no.

b) The trade was a bad one.

c) They wanted status quo.

d) Didn’t want to pay for anything to be better

e) Others did not matter

IX. For us modern Christians

A. Jesus in your Neighborhood

1. Expect the status quo to change

2. If He stays, expect there will be a loss in comfort, there will be sacrifice

3. More importantly sacrifice of self for others.

4. Failure to do so is essentially a rejection of Christ: “And behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they begged Him to depart from their region.”

B. See this in our lives and overcoming the fear

1. Reject immediate gratification, accept sacrifice

a) Remember last week: Hard now, but the Gift of Christ – Everlasting life, that’s the best Retirement Plan ever

2. Reorientate, first small, prayer, fasting, almsgiving.

3. Face your fear.

a) Be patient

b) Preaching self-denial.

(1) 20 years priest and deacon – I preached it

(2) I finally sold the home

(3) Gave up security

(4) Look where I am now.

X. What’s more important

A. Pigs (Profit/Wealth/Security) or People

1. This is the real choice

2. If we choose Christ, we chose others, and we can let the pigs go.

2^nd Sunday After Pentecost – All Saints of Rus’ and America (St. Anthony June 22, 2025)

I. 1983, June, SE Rural Michigan

A. Saturday morning

1. It’s gonna be a hot one

2. But its early

3. 2 poles, 1 really old tackle box, an 5 gallon plastic bucket

4. Dad and I, ½ mile walk to Slating Lake

5. WE’RE GOING FISHING

B. Guaranteed – A Bucket of fish

C. Dinner – Fried Blue Gill

II. 30 AD, NOT a Saturday, another hot day at the Sea of Galilee, probably early summer.

A. The Brothers Simon and Andrew are casting nets

1. This was hot, tiresome work.

2. No guarantees.

3. Life and death.

B. And there’s Jesus

1. And commands them to come.

2. And they do, STRAIGHTWAY.

3. Say job, different catch:

a) I will make you fishers of Peoples.

III. Consider the difference

A. Fishing for dinner

1. Bonding

2. Quiet time

3. Dad and Son

4. No pressure

5. The guarantees of good fishing hole

B. Simon Peter and Andrew

1. Not “fisherman” like “Hey, I am on my Saturday or Annual or Monthly fishing trip”

2. They were professionals

3. And they were called to a new profession

4. They must of really wanted to chang

IV. Why Fishing as An Image of Evangelization

A. That “fishing hole” on Slating Lake

1. Guarenteed

B. But consider this

1. The year now is 1987, Confederate Gulch, Montana

2. Two hour hike

3. Could see the fish.

4. NO fish.

5. I got 40 years of stories of NO FISH FISHING.

C. The best analogy

1. It’s fishing, not catching

2. It is done for the love it

3. A sacred pleasure that overcomes the failures

V. How then can fishing help us

A. First things to consider

1. The purpose of the church: to bring humanity into the Church and thus into God. Go, Teach, Baptize

2. Some do the fishing

a) The professionals (clergy, teachers, catechists)

3. Others support.

4. BUT All are in involved. By virtue of your Chrismation

B. Now – The Three Needs of Fishing and Evangelizing: Right Practice, Right Tools, Right Behavior

1. Right Practice

a) Fishing

(1) Be calm

(2) Be quiet, like hunting.

(3) Stand in the right place

(4) Be attentive

b) Evangelizing

(1) Discernment and Patience.

(a) E.g. Fr. Mark.

2. Right Tools – Your Tackle Box

a) Fishing (Use box)

(1) You can fish with nearly anything that has a hook, a string, and stick.

(2) But the right hook, string, bait, and pole can make a big difference

b) Evangelizing (Use bag)

(1) #1 Tool – the Gospel

(2) Everything else follows

3. Right Behavior

a) Fishing

(1) You got a fish on the line. You have a half inch hook, and the slenderest of string

(2) Setting the hook, reeling, slowly, balancing speed and strength.

b) Evangelization

(1) If I behave poorly, I will lose people

(2) If I am crude, immoral, unjust, stingy, sloppy, foul-mouthed, self-righteous, boastful, arrogant, I will lose and scandalize people.

(3) Moreover: being Exclusive

(a) Matthew 18: Whoever receives one little child like this in My name receives Me.

(b) Talking about converts, new disciples

(c) But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

VI. Wrap up

A. What we all can do

B. First: All of us has part to play

C. Remember the principles of Fishing

1. Practice the faith correctly

2. Use the right bait, the Word of God, first

3. And behave like a Christian

D. We might not get everyone, but we will get some.

1^st Sunday After Pentecost – All Saints (St. Anthony June 15, 2025)

I. 2 verses in which Context matters.

A. "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:37

B. "...everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life." Matthew 19:29

C. If one is not careful, it sounds like this:

1. Love Jesus and forget your siblings, parents, and children.

a) As in your in a cult.

D. Context St. Matthew's Gospel

1. A Gospel written for Jewish converts to Christianity

a) Now 34-36: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’

b) Jewish families were divided.

c) Expect to be cut off.

d) God was among them. To deny Jesus just because your mother or your father or siblings did not believe??? Unthinkable

2. Part two is after the Apostles have already been with Jesus. They left things behind because he called them.

E. The next three centuries are about this. The Cross and death for being Christian.

II. Now – the Troubling verses

A. "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."

1. First, I am going against 2000 years of translation:

a) Everyone says "more than"

(1) Latin plus quam

(2) German mehr

b) Greek is ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ ABOVE ME

(1) It is not about quantity

(2) It is about Hierarchry

2. So, you can love all these people more. More love, GREAT

3. BUT NOT ABOVE

4. I know this is good

a) When I love God, everyone benefits

b) When I forget God, everyone suffers

5. There is no either/or

B. "...everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life."

1. This is not an instructions to leave these things right now.

2. This was already done

a) ALSO not necessarily specific:

b) It could be.

(1) Peter left a home, a job, a business, a mother-in-law. But it does not mean he left his wife: St. Paul protests this idea in Cor: "Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?"

c) Or maybe the idea of it

(1) St. John the Theologian and St. Paul both remained unmarried.

3. Just know that those who embrace the gospel have to lose something dear.

III. Not our situation

A. For must, Born in the faith

1. Christianity is fairly safe

2. We inherited it.

B. But this does to preclude making a choice

C. But there is crossless Christianity being sold to us

1. This is where we risk becoming not worthy

2. In this form, we expect God to serve us

a) We pay a church, it has functionaries we hire.

b) They pray, they preach, they bless, and if they underperform we gripe

c) That is not a church. That's a government

d) The church is each of us. Each takes up a cross.

IV. What will we do?

A. First, this message is for those who are whole enough to pick up a cross

1. Those who already have an imposed cross

a) Age

b) Suffering

c) Infirmity

d) Mental illness

e) They have their cross. God will accept their suffer as a suitable offering

2. But if you are relatively whole

a) Find your cross. Many small and great

B. Begin small

1. Pray, pray, pray. Small and then more

2. Give where you can

3. Give 100% to your calling, work, or station in life

4. Train in the faith like an athlete

a) Practicing purity of hearty

b) Meekness

c) Gentleness

d) Witnessing to Goodness

e) Guard your tongue

f) Exchange scripture, psalmody for all media

C. Every exercise prepares for a greater task, a larger cross

1. Not sure: Ask God, ask holy people, ask your priest

a) One these will gladly provide the next

D. Lastly

1. If drop it.

2. Ask forgiveness

3. And get back up.

St. Anthony, 6/8/25, Pentecost

I. Talking about now by telling the past

A. We do this all time.

1. How else can you show something

2. Years to come...stories of the past, will tell you about who I am now

II. This is what the Church is doing with Jesus

A. The Gospel does not have the story of Pentecost

B. The Gospel only has Jesus.

1. It only prefigures the coming of the Spirit

III. So how can the Gospel enlighten the subject.

A. It uses the past to lead you to the present moment

B. The setting

1. The end of Passover, 50 days later.

2. Jesus is preaching literally on PENTECOST

C. But what was Pentecost to the Jews

1. It commemorated the giving of the law on Mount Sinai and first Wheat Harvest.

IV. Jesus

A. Jesus Answers by changing the order

1. He starts with life, but not food, but drink

a) And says, Come to me, for water. A change in direction

b) In turn, he says those who believe will have a

(1) LITERAL: “river gushing out his abdominal cavity, flowing with living water.”

2. But was really given, the Spirit of God.

a) Result Old Pentecost, Came to the People and gave them the law

b) The New the people come to God, and in turn gives them the Law Giver, that is, Himself, and turn we will be come vessel that bring others.

V. But Then it devolved.

A. Those listening divided, literally formed a schism, in this order

1. Those who heard the LOGOS: He is THE prophet and is the Christ

2. THEN some wanted Christ as in a King

3. THEN some said, he is not Jewish enough, not Davidic enough, His is foreign Jew

4. THEN the religious leaders got legalistic, promoted religious violence, called the people accursed (Godless perhaps)

5. THEN all reason left the leaders. No questions, even the law goes away.

6. What is left? Only the law the suited those in power.

a) God, love, mercy, truth, life are not concerns

VI. This is the fundamental issue in organized religion

A. A truth exists

1. It creates centers of power

2. It rationalizes, in the name of God no one really believes, violence, hatred

3. It creates the dynamic of us and them.

B. We must resist the law-only model

1. We must come Come – this means making sacrifices: of time, of praise, of wealth, and also of sinful inclinations

2. We must receive with intention one intention

a) Sharing

b) We receive the spirit in order to share the spirit

c) We do not receive it to be

(1) holier than others

(2) better than others

(3) more right than others

(4) More Orthodox than others

VII. And that is where the Gospel ends

A. We watch the humans devolve, become legalistic, and then just foul.

B. The Church, which is Christ starts again:

1. I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

VIII. That light of life is the Spirit

A. And that is what sends out the door to be rivers of life giving water.

B. Do not waste it on yourself, spread it around.

St. Anthony, 5/18/25, Fifth Sunday of Pascha

I. Dr. John Barnett

A. “Don’t let your exegesis show”

1. Exegesis is the process of critical interpretation

2. Not showing is like closing the electrical panel or closing the hood or your car.

3. Nobody wants to know how you got a homily, they want a homily

B. Oh, but sometimes the exegesis is just where all the good stuff is

1. So, I am chucking the rule book.

2. Let’s study the text.

II. Our Gospel – but only first 12 verses

A. Quick summary

1. Jesus comes to Sichar in Samaria

2. He sits at the well

3. A Samaritan women comes

4. He asks for water

5. She gets all ethnically up in his face

6. He offer her living water.

7. She thinks he is being loco and uppity.

B. Before it begins

1. Ἔδει – it was necessary. - But it was necessary for him to go through Samaria.

a) Not like for travel reason.

(1) E.g. State Road 28 instead of I-10 for

b) E.g. Jesus use

(1) Matt 16: “Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

(2) Matt 26: Tells Peter in Garden put sword away: “"How then could the Scriptures be fulfilled? It is necessary for this to happen?”

(3) Luke 2: at Temple to his mother: “Did you not know that it is necessary that I be about My Father's business?”

2. He has important business here.

C. The scene is set for divine revelation.

1. The location is Sychar, which in the OT is Shechem

a) This is Jacob’s well.

b) This Israel before there were Jews and Samaritans

c) This is “Common Ground”

2. It is the sixth hour. Noon.

a) Think of it this way, walk from Doña Ana to St. Anthony’s starting about 6 am. About 15 miles, plan on 6 hours.

b) “He was wearied from his Way Faring”

c) At a well.

(1) Two words in Greek for well. This one is for an underground spring. Moving water.

D. The Samaritan woman arrives

1. Call her Photini

2. Jesus demands a drink: GIVE ME TO DRINK

3. The walls go up

a) Ethnic bias: I am Samaritan – you’re a Jew (We can’t communicate)

b) Female/Male tension: I am woman, you’re man (I don’t trust you because you’re a man-her baggage)

E. Jesus turns the tables

F. Jesus answered and said to her, if you had known the gift of God, and who is the (one) saying to you, “Give me to drink,” you (would) ask him, and (he would) give to you living water.

1. He has revealed himself master of the water.

2. Who controls the waters? God.

G. She doesn’t see it. “The woman said to Him, ‘Lord, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water?’”

1. She says “cistern”.

2. Jacob’s well is not a cistern.

3. But this reflects her life. Her life, probably filled with abuse (from men), rejection, and shunning. Her life sits on the edge of a pit, not a spring.

H. We know how this ends up. Jesus persists, and His wisdom and divinity break through.

III. But I stop here.

A. Why

1. This is our life now-HAVING BEEN CHRISMATED

2. We are Way-Faring

a) Spreading the good news, often to the broken and the unwilling

b) What will we do?

B. Three lessons

1. “It is necessary”

a) Sharing the faith is necessary

b) It is hot, uncomfortable work.

c) Going through Samaria was not the only road. Historically uncomfortable for Jews.

d) It is like going from NY to MI via Canada because nobody wants to through Cleveland and Toledo.

e) Jesus’ message was necessary. Her rudeness, her questionable living situation, her bigotry do not stop him.

f) He is on a mission.

g) We have to suck it up sometimes and hang in when it is really uncomfortable.

h) As the Lord says, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

i) We are going to need to be thick skinned

2. We need to find common ground

a) Lose the “those people” mentality

b) We all have common ground

(1) We are human

(2) Broken

(3) We need redemption

c) Share what you are and what you are becoming

3. We are not the Christ, the Son of the Living God

a) Jesus could see into Photini’s heart.

b) We have to ask to see their hearts, usually by sharing ours

c) We can be honest with people

(1) No I don’t know everything

(2) No I am not without sin

(3) No I don’t understand, help me understand

d) We have been given the Spirit of God to do this

(1) We don’t need to be condescending, self-righteous, distainful.

(2) We don’t need to threaten people with damnation.

(3) We don’t need to call them heretics.

(a) Remember, a Heretic is someone who creates heresy. You will probably not meet an Arius, Nestorius, or any other heresy creator.

(4) Rather: Be small, simple, kind, merciful and caring.

IV. So remember, the message must be shared

A. It is necessary.

B. Go, therefore, and make disciples.

Dover, Holy Protection, Fifth Sunday of Lent – Luke 7:36-50 4/6/25

I. Stories of Repentance and Communion

A. Two stories

1. Luke – Pharisee Simon and the Sinful Woman

2. 5^th Sunday – Priest Zosima and the Prostitute Mary of Egypt

II. Pharisee and the Sinful Woman

A. Luke – All about food

1. Starts:Laid in feeding trough

2. Ends: Emmaus Breaking of the Bread

3. What’s for dinner? Jesus

B. Simon, the Pharisee

1. Ἠρώτα δέ τις αὐτὸν τῶν Φαρισαίων ἵνα φάγῃ μετ’ αὐτοῦ·

2. Begged Him to eat with him

3. Reclined – dig in

C. Woman

1. Καὶ ἰδού, γυνὴ ἐν τῇ πόλει, ἥτις ἦν ἁμαρτωλός, ἐπιγνοῦσα ὅτι ἀνάκειται ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ Φαρισαίου, κομίσασα ἀλάβαστρον μύρου,

2. Learn Jesus was inclined (ἀνάκειται)

3. Brought a gift (myrrh)

4. καὶ στᾶσα ὀπίσω παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ κλαίουσα, τοῖς δάκρυσιν ἤρξατο βρέχειν τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ ταῖς θριξὶν τῆς κεφαλῆς αὐτῆς ἐξέμασσεν, καὶ κατεφίλει τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ καὶ ἤλειφεν τῷ μύρῳ.

5. Stood behind (στᾶσα ὀπίσω)

6. At his feet (παρὰ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ)

7. Weeping (κλαίουσα)

8. Uses her tears and hair to wash his feet

9. Service and abasement – Repenting

D. Simon

1. Doubting (secretly)

2. Not serving

E. Jesus

1. "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head. You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.

III. Mary of Egypt

A. Seventh Century

B. Abba Zosima – a monk priest of Palestine

1. Seeks a deeper experience – hermit

C. Mary

1. Ran away at 12

2. Spun flax

3. Nymphomania/Prostitution 17 years (29)

4. Goes to Holy Land

5. 49 years in desert

D. Zosima finds her at 48^th year and “Serves her communion”

E. Zosima serves / Mary Repents

IV. Service mindset

A. Dogma is step one

B. The rest is repentance and service

Dover, Holy Protection, Second Sunday of Lent – Mark 2 3/16/25

V. Stories of Salvation and Healing

A. I like a good story

1. 3yr old in IN

B. Gospel – Faith, Salvation, Healing

1. Salvation story

2. Words “Salvation” and “Healing” not there

3. But on one is “Faith”

VI. Gospel Expectations

A. A desire for healing

1. A request, a seeking

a) The woman who bled -If I touch, I’ll be healed

b) Blind healing – I want to see

2. Response: “Go, your faith has”

a) Saved (Sozo)

b) Heal (Therapevo)

B. Different In these stories

1. My story

a) Did I express any desire to be saved?

b) Did I cry out

c) Moreover, did I have any part?

2. Did the paralytic express

a) Any desire: not in text

b) Did his faith matter: not in the text

3. Whose faith moved: Jesus

a) Four Boys Demolition and Ambulance Serivce

b) He saw their faith.

VII. Nay Sayers

A. Imagine an outsider

1. Criticism

a) Let him suffer a little long

B. Some who saw it, criticed the means.

1. Scribes: not all, “the right believing”

2. Jesus counters: Why do you reason about these things in your hearts?

VIII. Why this one in Lent

A. For us

B. In Lent we fast, we pray, we give alms –

1. Kontakion “The season of good action has now been revealed * and judgment is at the doors.

2. In Lent, we relearn our faith is not always about us.

C. We must do.

1. We need to be the hands ofChrist

2. We need to scoop food at the soup kitchen

3. We need to write the checks to fund the healing missions

D. We need to rebuild the homes.

E. Besides

1. We might end up wasting our time criticisng others, that great Orthodx past time, and fail to heal or save anyone.kki

Paralytics

Mark 2:1 / Luke 5:17– 4 men remove roof

Mark: When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”

καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν λέγει τῷ παραλυτικῷ· Τέκνον, ἀφίενταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι.

Luke: When He saw their faith, He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.”

Matt 9:1 – 4 men bring

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

Καὶ ἰδού, προσέφερον αὐτῷ παραλυτικὸν ἐπὶ κλίνης βεβλημένον· καὶ ἰδὼν ὁ Ἰησοῦς τὴν πίστιν αὐτῶν εἴπεν τῷ παραλυτικῷ, Θάρσει, τέκνον· ἀφέωνταί σοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου.

Mark 8:22

Blind man at Bethsaida - blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him.

Blind Bar Timeaus

Mark 10:46–52

Then Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς εἴπεν αὐτῷ, Ὕπαγε· ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε. Καὶ εὐθέως ἀνέβλεψεν, καὶ ἠκολούθει τῷ Ἰησοῦ ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ.

Luke 18:42

19^th Sunday After Pentecost – Nov 2024 (St. Anthony of the Desert) 2 Corinthians 11:31-12:9

I. I’ve been a musician all of my life

A. Trumpet and Guitar

1. It did not come natural.

2. I had to work hard.

3. I knew kids who were great and they never practiced.

4. That was a luxury I did not have.

B. Church Music

1. When I discovered church music

2. Especially chant, It from hobby to my a focus of ministry, perhaps my specialty.

3. It opened doors to wonderful worship.

4. It has been my constant goal to know more, share and be more skilled.

C. But knowledge and skill come with a temptation

1. St. Paul’s says it best: “Knowledge puffs up.”

D. My knowledge of church music puffed up me.

1. So at 40, with all this experience and knowledge, I got my first parish

2. And these lovely, long-suffering, and faithful people couldn’t sing anymore.

3. And I was so irritated. This anger got in the way

4. Three years...Take Eat

5. And I so wanted God to fix my irrigation.

6. I wanted this thorn removed from my side

7. Wasted angst. It diminished me. It blinded from appreciating God presence already there.

II. And this is what we hear from St. Paul

A. St. Paul states “a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.”

B. St. Paul chaffed at revelation and thorn.

C. What was this thorn?

1. I think it might have been many things.

2. But I think it was again what I mentioned before. “Knowledge puffs up.”

D. And he wanted all that to go away.

1. Asks three times, take it away

2. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

E. He wanted an easy Christianity. No cross. I share my knowledge, People listen, say “Good job, Apostle Paul.” Everyone feels good, no problems.

III. And I wanted that, too

A. I wanted God to give me the worship I wanted, on my terms.

B. And then I came clear.

1. Their singing did not stop God from being present on the altar.

2. My anger and puffed up knowledge did not stop him from being present

3. The only problem was me. I did not notice that his Grace, his Gift was sufficient.

IV. And here then is the result

A. So I experience the solution to puffed up knowledge: charity. Again as SP says: “Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”

B. Everything changed. I went from dwelling on my knowledge (which only made blind to God’s Presence). And I love my people.

1. And guess what: they loved me back.

V. So we all have this problem

A. We want an easy deal. We acknowledge you, and you make us happy.

B. We want God to make easy. AND NOW

C. We ignore the grace given.

VI. I don’t what your thorn is.

A. But I know God’s grace is already present.

B. I suggest incorporating what Psalm 40 teaches

1. I waited patiently for the Lord;

2. And He inclined to me,

3. And heard my cry.

4. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

5. Out of the miry clay,

6. And set my feet upon a rock,

7. And established my steps.

8. He has put a new song in my mouth—

9. Praise to our God;

10. Many will see it and fear,

11. And will trust in the Lord.

C. When we encounter those thorns

1. Be patient

2. Trust and wait

3. Let his already given Grace become clear

4. And then share it. In this others will come to see it.

2^nd Sunday After Pentecost – All Saints of Rus Ukraine July 2024 (St. Michael, Pinellas Park, FL) Matthew 4:18

I. Last year

a. It was about Fishing, spoke of how each of us is to "Fish" in light of Matt 24

b. Much has changed in 1 year

c. What's the same

i. Still Matt 4:18

ii. Still Matt 24

iii. Still about fishing

d. What's changed

i. Not at HTUOC

ii. Everyone is talking clergy shortage

iii. Who the fisherman are

II. Fishing tackle

a. Equipment is important.

b. Been fishing this week.

c. Working class box

d. Reflects 50 years of my fishing

i. Tradition

1. Story 5 other men

2. How do I know

3. Mercury Minnow

e. I was formed, supported, made a fisher by these men

III. Who are the fishermen

a. Those who are called specifically by Jesus

i. Apostles

ii. Later

1. Bishops, presbyters, deacons

b. He forms them first

i. What they should be: fishers of men

ii. Later all they needed

IV. Supporting the mission through supporting the infrastructure

a. We need to think beyond, wages.

b. It starts with calling:

i. Who do see?

ii. Educating

c. Later, it means having the resources to support ministry

d. It is no different than mortgages, buidings, bread.

e. Without the means to spread the gospel, we have nothing.

f. Change of mindset.

1^st Sunday After Pentecost – All Saints (St. Michael, Pinellas Park, FL) - Acts 20

VII. 2 verses in which Context matters.

A. "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:37

B. "...everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life." Matthew 19:29

C. If one is not careful, it sounds like this:

1. Love Jesus and forget your siblings, parents, and children.

a) If you don't, you are headed for Satan

2. So yes leave homes, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, wives, children and lands.

a) I will give you 100 more

3. Sounds like a cult leader

D. We come back to Context

1. This reading is a cut and paste job.

a) 10:32-33. If you profess, Jesus stands for you, if you deny, he denies you at final Judgement

b) But we skip 34-36

c) 37 Not worthy of me

d) 38 Take up your cross

e) BUT now we skip forward nine chapters

f) 19:27 Apostle Peter asks: what do we get for all this giving up

g) 28-30 Jesus says 100 fold and the last will be first (move to the head of the line)

2. St. Matthew's Gospel

a) A Gospel written for Jewish converts to Christianity

(1) Now 34-36: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’

(2) Jewish families were divided.

(3) Expect to be cut off.

(4) God was among them. To deny Jesus just because your mother or your father or siblings did not believe??? Unthinkable

b) Part two is after the Apostles have already been with Jesus. They left things behind because he called them.

3. The next three centuries are about this. The Cross and death for being Christian.

VIII. Now – the Troubling verses

A. "He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me."

1. First, I am going against 2000 years of translation:

a) Everyone says "more than"

(1) Latin plus quam

(2) German mehr

b) Greek is ὑπὲρ ἐμὲ ABOVE ME

(1) It is not about quantity

(2) It is about Hierarchry

2. So, you can love all these people more. More love, GREAT

3. BUT NOT ABOVE

4. I know this is good

a) When I love God, everyone benefits

b) When I forget God, everyone suffers

5. There is no either/or

B. "...everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life."

1. This is not an instructions to leave these things right now.

2. This was already done

a) ALSO not necessarily specific:

b) It could be.

c) Or maybe the idea of it

(1) St. John the Theologian and St. Paul both remained unmarried.

3. Just know that those who embrace the gospel have to lose something dear.

IX. Not our situation

A. For must, Born in the faith

1. Christianity is fairly safe

2. We inherited it.

B. But this does to preclude making a choice

C. But there is crossless Christianity being sold to us

1. This is where we risk becoming not worthy

2. In this form, we expect God to serve us

a) We pay a church, it has functionaries we hire.

b) They pray, they preach, they bless, and if they underperform we gripe

c) That is not a church. That's a government

d) The church is each of us. Each takes up a cross.

X. What will we do?

A. First, this message are for those who are whole enough to pick up a cross

1. Those who already have an imposed cross

a) Age

b) Suffering

c) Infirmity

d) Mental illness

e) They have their cross. God will accept their suffer as a suitable offering

2. But if you are relatively whole

a) Find your cross. Many small and great

B. Begin small

1. Pray, pray, pray. Small and then more

2. Give where you can

3. Give 100% to your calling, work, or station in life

4. Train in the faith like an athlete

a) Practicing purity of hearty

b) Meekness

c) Gentleness

d) Witnessing to Godness

e) Guard your tongue

f) Exchange scripture, psalmody for all media

C. Every exercise prepares for a greater task, a larger cross

1. Not sure: Ask God, ask holy people, ask your priest

a) One these will gladly provide the next

D. Lastly

1. If drop it.

2. Ask forgiveness

3. And get back up.

Seventh Sunday 2024 (St. Michael, Pinellas Park, FL) - Acts 20

XI. Parents and Departing Safety

A. Raised in Protestant Home

1. Raised Carefully

2. Had become Catholic

3. Was unusually pious young man

4. When I left to join Franciscans 1992

a) Mother's words

(1) At least you will be safe

(2) A good hand off

(3) No extra lessons needed to be imparted

B. During this week-Parental Final words as they send us out

1. Ascension

a) Jesus had been with these apostles for three years

b) Right before he ascends, he instructs them one more time

c) Confused immediately: " Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven?" (Acts 1:11)

2. Today, St. Paul gives one last visit and instructions " From Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called for the elders of the church." (Acts 20:17)

a) Context, this is the last time he will see them

b) One last warning: (Acts 20:29-30

(1) For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves.

(2) Διαστρέφω To utterly turn in the opposite direction

c) He is a parent, a Father, handing on the reigns.

d) He knows there will be danger.

XII. There is the dilemma. We cannot always protect our Children.

A. We have to move on

1. Now for anyone born before the 1980s,

a) Parents task was hard. They teach, we went out, we stubbled, we remember, hopefully we got back up

2. Now

a) Not so easy

b) The moment is no longer at 18 or 20 or 22

c) It begins around 8

(1) We with our one voice speaking words of wisdom

(2) We hand them a phone, a screen, send them to school

(3) A million voices against our two voices

(4) Wolves come among them

(5) Savage them

B. What do we do

1. What did Jesus do? What did St. Paul do

a) Remind them:

(1) First in Actions and then Words "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35

2. But we have a double task

a) We often have fallen short

b) We must constantly correct ourselves

c) We must make new examples for our children

d) We must go back, read the scriptures, do the good works, model the repentenace

e) We must also know they will fall, fail, be harmed.

3. Ultimately, we must simultaneously

a) Continue to be parented

b) And parent

C. Last

1. We may yet fail. Yet I believe must never lose hope

2. For them or ourselves.

3. Which leaves us with the last thing: St. Paul did

a) "He prayed with them"

Fifth Sunday 2024 (Holy Protection FL) - John 4:5-42

XIII. Water – Taking it For Granted

A. Son of Michigan

1. The Great Lake State

2. Water is never a problem

3. Walk out the back door.

4. Well's are everywhere, drop a pipe, you have water

B. In Sichar, first century, there was one well

1. Gen 33:18-20

a) Jacob came [e]safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Ishrael.

2. Points of Interest

a) Biblical

(1) We must assume a well was there (unstated)

(2) Beginnings of Israel

(3) It has ancient place of Sacrifice – worship of the one God

(4) It's in the future capitol of Samaria

(5)

b) History Biblical and Beyond

(1) History of violence and division

(a) Jacob's daughter's rape

(b) Split of Israel – Jew/Samaritans politics and religion

(2) Zionist anger in 1979

(3) 2000/2005 Second Intifada Palestinias vs. Israel

(4) Murder of Archimandrite Philoumenos

3. All that, and a well, it sometimes runs dry

4. An this is what people fight over. Pretty crappy.

C. So Jesus Comes there

1. Just because it is a place of conflict then and now

2. It is the only well

3. When does one go to the well?

a) In the morning.

b) "It was about the sixth hour." Noon – temperature?

(1) On Monday forecast 12 to 1 PM

(a) 91 °, real feel of 98, 95/101 by 5 pm, Max UV index.

4. Everything is bad – climatically, historically, and culturally.

a) Jesus is in a "bad neighborhood."

b) A Jewish man and a Samaritan Women

(1) Putin in a room with Ukrainian baba with a big stick. Oil and Water

c) Sounds intentional to me

D. We know the outcome

1. Inspite of all this

a) He reconciles two cultures to form a new one

(1) What will be Christian one

(a) Not Jewish, not Samaritan.

(b) Not regional (Samaria vs. Jerusalem) -

(i) But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

(2) He even invites those externally unrighteous to spread the Gospel

2. By all definitions, he has brought water to a place there really isn't much

XIV. Where are we bringing this Living Water

A. 1 Simple question "Where and for whom are we building the Church"

1. For the righteous folks

2. For conservatives

3. Orthodox Cultures: Greeks, Slavic peoples, Arabs, Albanians, Rumainians, Georgians?

4. Disgruntled Catholics and Protestants?

5. We have already done that

B. It is for all who desire repentance

1. Sinners of all kinds

C. And how?

1. Go where you are uncomfortable.

2. Relate

a) Questions/Answers

(1) Asks for Water

(2) Offers better

(3) Gets questioned

(4) Goes deeper

(5) Reveals the Father

(6) Never gives up

3. We can do this; but we must be more careful (cuz we ain't Christ)

a) Unlike Jesus, we can't say like " You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews."

b) But we can say about how we didn't know, and Christ lead us to know

c) This is precisely what Samaritan Women does

(1) Consider the name St. Photini– one of the light

(2) Light must shine on

XV. Our Goal

A. We have one task

1. To share the Gospel

B. Let us do this a new

1. We can't really on the old tricks

2. Procreation

3. Cultural assumptions

4. Arguments

5. Force and Fear

C. The Christian way: Proclaim the love Christ has Shared with others

1. Look how He has done for me. We must live Psalm 40 (39 LXX)

a) I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3He has put a new song in my mouth—
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.

2. We must bring Living Water to the Desert

Antipascha 2024 (Pinellas Park)

I. Names have Power

A. Somes names invokes a story, history, or image.

1. Just think of US Politics

a) Washington-Honesty and Leadership

b) Lincoln-Unity, Justice, the power of words

(1) And also negative, too: Nixon – Dishonest

c) I just imagine if I said current names.

(1) Depending on views, there are multiple reactions

B. Today 3 names in the liturgy: Pontius Pilate, Judas, Thomas

1. “And He was crucified under Pontius Pilate”

a) As long as there’s the creed, he will be remember most pejoratively

b) Fearful tyranny:

c) The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to [b]our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.” Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, (John 19:7-8)

d) So chooses political expediency over, one man’s life not seeing God.

2. “neither like Judas will I give You a kiss”

a) To be call this: I betray my friend, my teacher, my God for a little gain.

b) Then I betray my own life

c) The ultimate loser

3. Thomas

a) In modern speak, especially in the Western world: Doubting Thomas

(1) To be called this is to mock one who doubts what others are sure about

(2) It is just short of calling someone a bit foolish

b) But this is not entirely correct in our Christian tradition

(1) Think back to Lazarus Saturday

(a) Jesus says, we are going to Bethany, Apostles say, dangerous.

(b) But “Thomas, who is called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, ‘Let us also go, that we may die with Him.’” (John 11:16)

(d) But it was a rough week, all down hilm

(i) Jesus Raises Lazarus (WOW)

(ii) Jesus Enters Jerusalem like a King

(iii) Jesus clears the temple of money changers (Uh oh)

(iv) He challenges the religious powers of the Temple

(v) He is looking for Trouble

(vi) It comes. Betrayal, trials, torture, mocking, crucifixion

(vii) Death

(2) Thomas was shaken. Who wouldn’t be

c) Then he missed the first appearance.

d) The apostle’s tell him.

(1) We say “he doubted.”

(2) Not really”

(3) He said “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20:24b)

(4) UNLESS. There is condition

(5) If condition not met? Listen to it in Greek: οὐ μὴ πιστεύσω I WILL NOT NOT BELIEVE.

(6) That is not doubt.

(7) He expresses a need. I need to touch my savior. I need contact

II. Eight Days Later

A. Jesus obliges

1. “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (John 20:27)

2. μὴ γίνου ἄπιστος, ἀλλὰ πιστός.

3. Thomas asked, Jesus gives, Thomas believes.

4. Single most important first century believe in Christianity. The difference between Jew or Muslim and being Christian

5. Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου.

6. Господь мій і Бог мій.

III. But what of our Faith

A. On Holy Saturday and every baptism

1. We hear our mission: To teach and baptize all the nations.

B. Not as easy as it was 75 or 50 years ago

1. Бабуся i дідусь taught us

2. We did what they did

C. Then things changed

1. Their children married Catholics or Protestants

2. Their spouses didn’t come

3. And each generation was weakened

D. Now our children are often not here at all

1. We are one voice among million

2. We are fighting the cell phone and the internet

3. And we are losing

E. BUT I believe: they want to believe in something

1. But Christ ascended with his body

2. He will not present his wounds and his side

3. EXCEPT through US

4. As the Church is and the Eucharist is, the wounded body of Christ.

5. We must offer ourselves

F. Simultaneous as we struggle

1. As Jesus did not chastise Thomas

2. We must not – of self or others

IV. Goal

A. Each morning, each day

1. Say to God: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

2. Then share that belief with joy and honest

3. Open yourself up to all those broken souls who want to believe

4. Your reward is the Kingdom of God

Sunday 4^th after Pentecost 2023

Paul Moser: Epistemology, the study of how we know.

Only one thing to study in knowing. How do we know God?

Gospel presents this Question:

Jesus – Those who love me keep my commandments. And the Favor is returned.

Jude asks - Jesus being revealed, shown, made manifest. How us, and not the whole cosmos.

Jesus seems to say the same thing back: But slightly different:

"If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.”

The dilemma:

God shows himself to those who love him?

How is this fair? How do we keep his commandments or his words, if he is not manifest?

How can you know?

Dr. Moser: Behavior: All human societies, whether, innately develop morals. Literally, his commands is within us. Be good to one another.

Drawing from OT, God hides himself to the evil:

Then they will cry out to the Lord,

But He will not answer them.

Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time

Because they have practiced evil deeds. Micah 3:4

Simply put, if you knowingly practice evil, you make God invisible.

--The scary thing is that, Micah, appears to say practice evil you will never see.

Again knowledge.

Psalm 51:9

Hide Your face from my sins

And blot out all my iniquities.

The key comes in repenting and asking to be let back in.

The result is actions hid God.

Ok, not our problem? But doing nothing is not doing good. That only opens the door. Love needs keep his Word. It means being the Word, being God like

And what does that look like:

Just not doing evil

Or is it acting: Consider the Word and his Words: Deny yourself, mourn with those who mourn, be pure of heart, take up a cross, go 2 miles when asked 1.

Loving God means doing.

All Saints of Rus Ukraine 2023

V. 2 Things of my youth

a. Fishing – Saturday was for fishing.

b. The fishing hole.

c. Guarenteed

VI. The call of fisherman

a. Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.

b. Did he say anything else? How did he get them to Immediately drop and go?

c. He does twice. He literally goes fishing for Apostles

i. He catches 4.

d. Jesus might be the best fisherman ever.

VII. Now days

a. I do not catch much fish.

b. Why? I do not fish. Oh I think about it.

c. But if you do not cast, you do not catch.

d. And when I do, I still do not catch much.

e. Maybe I need to do something different

VIII. Likewise, as Fisher of Men

a. Have not caught a lot over the years

b. May be a change is need.

i. Where I am fishing?

ii. Same old hole?

IX. Like fishing, Evangelizing takes more time then it seems worth

a. If I fish for an hour, not guaranteed 1 hour of food.

b. Rather I have to put in more than I will get

i. Sit, wait, move to find

ii. Prepare, clean up, and deliver

c. Same with the Gospel

i. I have to look at Jesus

ii. I need the words – keep my mind in the Gospel

iii. I need to drop the lines

X. So spreading the Gospel

a. Requires devotion to these principles-All of us to some extent

i. Prayer, fasting, and study.- All

ii. Creativity - When and where.

iii. Dedication of resources Some with go out and do, others will support it.

iv. Perseverance - All

Sept 18/5 Feast of Prophet Zacharia and Righteous Elizabeth

Partakers of the Blood of Prophets – communion

Snakes / Vipers ἔχιδνα poisonous ie, blasphemy

The Symbol of Faith

Jun 26

I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

The starting point of our ancient faith comes to us from our oldest Forefather, Abraham.

He leaves behind family, local, and tribal deities, spirits of nature, often fearful personifications of the chaos of this world

He rejects the multitude of false local deities and follows a single, personal, parental God.

The first book of the script starts with this same fundamental idea: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."

Key ideas

There is one God.

God is Father, not like a father, but rather is named Father.

God is personal. Involved, able to be interacted with, have a relationship with.

Moreover almighty, or more literally, in the Greek – Pantokrator – all ruling. Be extension then, the government that our lives follow is not autocracy or democracy, but rather divine pantocracy.

He is creator of Heavens and earth. The space and earth. The whole cosmic realm, but not just the literal "the sky" but the invisible and hidden dwelling place of God.

So we can explicit say, all things are His, we exist in the God-Domain, therefore,

July 3

And in One Lord, Jesus Christ, the Only-Begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages.

Light of Light, True God of True God, begotten not created, being of one Essence with the Father, by Whom all things were made;

Who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became Man;

Who was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate and suffered and was buried;

And on the third day He rose from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures.

Recap – Purpose/Father

-Father as starting point

One Lord

-Not new/always/Not created

-The same what, different, Who? The Son, What? God

-By whom all things where made. What the Father says He creates the Son creates.

-Visualization – The making animals, forming man and woman in his image

-The Son in the Garden talking to A&E

-The son guiding Abrahmam

-Struggling with Jacob

-The son talking to Moses, getting the Law

-The face of God

Now the theology ends.

Salvation – what God does, what the Son does

Born (by what means – True God (of the Holy Spirit) true man (of the Virgin)

-Why? For us. No other thing needed him to come. It is both a gift and a chastisement.

-And our response – suffering and death.

-Why Pontius Pilate? Time and Place. Not an allegory, or cunning myth. History.

-His response – rising from the dead. But that's ok, he knew it was going to happen. Because he told us. Where? the scriptures.

-Jesus is the word of God, the Son of God, the Only Lord, and this is God

-Scripture is a means of know of God. Not to be overlooked.

-We are the cause of his coming. We are responsible.

-He overlooks it.

-Next week: Deacon and What the Son does after rising

July 10

And ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father;

And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; and His Kingdom will be without end.

July 17

And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life, Who proceeds from the Father, Who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, Who spoke through the prophets.

In One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins.

I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen.

Completion – Trinity

Church – an object of believe. Church called the body of Christ. Recall, Fully human/fully divine.

What makes church, the Church. One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.

What makes one a member – 1 time event – Baptism. But a continuous situation – remission of sins

Result – We believe in Christ’s resurrection, then by extension, ours.

March 13, 2022

The Triumph of Orthodoxy Sunday

I. The start

a. 726, Emp Leo III, A Tsunami, and Muslim Invaders

i. God's made at us

ii. Result-Better take the icons done

b. Use Gov't resource to enforce a certain "Churchly" Policy

c. Did not fix natural disasters nor Muslim threats

d. It pit Christian against Christian – all for a bad idea

II. So lots of History, reasons, rhetoric, and lessons: BUT here is my question

a. If I could keep only two icons as fled a government, what would it be.

b. That's 2 icons.

c. Choices that reflect the core of you.

III. First – The cross

a. It is the center of my faith

b. It defines me.

c. It is my prime instruction: " "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me."

d. It is the only real promise.

e. Without it there is nothing

i. No salvation

ii. No resurrection

iii. No Ascension

iv. No Descent

v. No 2^nd and Glorious Coming

f. Furthermore, if they take, I can more cross.

i. Any two sticks

ii. Or even myself

IV. I need one more

a. The Prophet and King David

b. Why

c. He is the best example of what not to do and what to do after you did what you ought not have done

d. God loves him no matter what" "I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will."

e. With David I know things:

i. No King can be good, except God.

ii. Very few Sins are beyond forgiveness

1. I commit adultery: God Forgives

2. I plot my friends death: God forgives

3. I fail to do my job

4. I mope about will my family and my work life goes to hell. God forgives

iii. I have words to pray when I can do it myself. I have the Psalms

iv. I SINNED: 50: " Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy; according to the multitude of Your compassions blot out my transgressions.

v. What should right now? 33 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

vi. What should I say: 150 Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

vii. I can't find God in the morning: 21 My God, my God, attend to me! Why have You forsaken me?

viii. I am impatient: 39 I waited patiently for the Lord and he inclined to me and heard my cry!

V. So today

a. Pick your icons as it has meaning

i. Cross is non-negotiable

ii. And then one that helps you

b. And then become those icons

c. BE THE ICON

d. We will proclaim

i. This is the faith of the Apostles!

ii. This is the faith of the Fathers!

iii. This is the faith of the Orthodox!

iv. This is the faith that has established the Universe!

e. Remember it is starting place. Any can say it.

f. Don't stop there. Become the icon of the cross, become the icon of the state

g. Then there will be a triumph of right believe in your own body

Jan 30, 2022

St. Anthony:

Born in Egypt in the village of Coma, near the desert of the Thebaid, in the year 251

271 (at 20) withdraws

286 to 305 goes farther

305 “The Fort”

311 – Persecution in Alexandria, servers

312 returns

Builds Communities

Dies Jan 17 356 at 105

November 28, 2021

2:6
?a? s????e??e?, ?a? s??e????se? ?? t??? ?p???a????? ?? ???st? ??s??ï¿½
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

2:7
??a ??de???ta? ?? t??? a??s?? t??? ?pe???ï¿½????? t?? ?pe?ï¿½?????ta p???t?? t?? ????t?? a?t?? ?? ???st?t?t? ?fï¿½ ?ï¿½?? ?? ???st? ??s??ï¿½
that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

2:8
t? ??? ????t? ?ste ses?sï¿½???? d?? t?? p?ste??, ?a? t??t? ??? ?? ?ï¿½??ï¿½ ?e?? t? d????ï¿½
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

2:9
??? ?? ?????, ??a ï¿½? t?? ?a???s?ta?.
not of works, lest anyone should boast.

2:10
??t?? ??? ?sï¿½e? p???ï¿½a, ?t?s???te? ?? ???st? ??s?? ?p? ?????? ??a????, ??? p???t??ï¿½ase? ? ?e??, ??a ?? a?t??? pe??pat?s?ï¿½e?.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

October 17, 2021

NKJ Luke 6:31 "And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

Καὶ καθὼς θέλετε ἵνα ποιῶσιν ὑμῖν οἱ ἄνθρωποι, καὶ ὑμεῖς ποιεῖτε αὐτοῖς ὁμοίως.

NKJ Luke 6:32 "But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.

Καὶ εἰ ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας ὑμᾶς, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστίν; Καὶ γὰρ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ τοὺς ἀγαπῶντας αὐτοὺς ἀγαπῶσιν.

NKJ Luke 6:33 "And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.

Καὶ ἐὰν ἀγαθοποιῆτε τοὺς ἀγαθοποιοῦντας ὑμᾶς, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστίν; Καὶ γὰρ οἱ ἁμαρτωλοὶ τὸ αὐτὸ ποιοῦσιν.

NKJ Luke 6:34 "And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back.

Καὶ ἐὰν δανείζητε παρï¿½ ὧν ἐλπίζετε ἀπολαβεῖν, ποία ὑμῖν χάρις ἐστίν; Καὶ γὰρ ἁμαρτωλοὶ ἁμαρτωλοῖς δανείζουσιν, ἵνα ἀπολάβωσιν τὰ ἴσα.

NKJ Luke 6:35 "But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.

Πλὴν ἀγαπᾶτε τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑμῶν, καὶ ἀγαθοποιεῖτε, καὶ δανείζετε, μηδὲν ἀπελπίζοντεςï¿½ καὶ ἔσται ὁ μισθὸς ὑμῶν πολύς, καὶ ἔσεσθε υἱοὶ ὑψίστουï¿½ ὅτι αὐτὸς χρηστός ἐστιν ἐπὶ τοὺς ἀχαρίστους καὶ πονηρούς.

NKJ Luke 6:36 "Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Γίνεσθε οὖν οἰκτίρμονες, καθὼς καὶ ὁ πατὴρ ὑμῶν οἰκτίρμων ἐστίν.

October 10, 2021

Problem: Someone comes along with a bright idea.ï¿½ Ops installs a program.

Answer: Fine.ï¿½ You do that.ï¿½ Good luck, but it's gonna bomb.

Sometimes, you might even hope the will fail and you can say "I told you so."ï¿½ It is the problem of the professional and the outsider.

Luke 5:4 When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch."

Ὡς δὲ ἐπαύσατο λαλῶν, εἴπεν πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα, Ἐπανάγαγε εἰς τὸ βάθος, καὶ χαλάσατε τὰ δίκτυα ὑμῶν εἰς ἄγραν.

Βάθος

Can mean deep things, the abyss (hell/hades/sheol) ï¿½ In OT ï¿½ a place of fear

Psalm 68:3 and 15 LXX I sink in deep mire, Where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, Where the floods overflow me.

Deliver me out of the mire, And let me not sink; Let me be delivered from those who hate me, And out of the deep waters.

* * *

Luke 5:5 But Simon answered and said to Him, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net."

Καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ὁ Σίμων εἴπεν αὐτῷ, Ἐπιστάτα, διï¿½ ὅλης τῆς νυκτὸς κοπιάσαντες οὐδὲν ἐλάβομενï¿½ ἐπὶ δὲ τῷ ῥήματί σου χαλάσω τὸ δίκτυον.

ἐπιστάτης / praeceptor

And Simon critical responded to him, Ok Mr. School Master, through the whole of the night we worked hard (Blood, sweat and tears, went the extra mile, went into overdrive, pulled out all the stops, keep our heads to the grindstone, worked our tails off) and we fisherman caught nada,ï¿½ BUT just spit the words out, and I will drop nets.

* * *

But the Fisherman was wrong!ï¿½

Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

Ἰδὼν δὲ Σίμων Πέτρος προσέπεσεν τοῖς γόνασιν Ἰησοῦ, λέγων, Ἔξελθε ἀπï¿½ ἐμοῦ, ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι, κύριε.

Everything changes, attitude, inclination and words: Simon Peter:

1. He SEES (he understands)

2. He is humiliated in his core.ï¿½ All his Jewish upbringing

a. He "falls down" ï¿½ he worships

b. Not just Mr. School Master but LORD, KYRIE, HOSPOD'

c. He knows he has encountered God in some way.ï¿½

d. He is mortified.

3. But there is a problem.ï¿½ He doesnï¿½t want to really submit (to the knees) ï¿½ still needs to go farther (proskyneo?) He wants him to go away.

* * *

Jesus ignores him...

Luke 5:10b And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men." Καὶ εἴπεν πρὸς τὸν Σίμωνα ὁ Ἰησοῦς, Μὴ φοβοῦï¿½ ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ἀνθρώπους ἔσῃ ζωγρῶν.

What of us. 2 Positions

1. Do we think we know what we should better than Jesus.ï¿½ Garden Syndrome.

2. Do we know we don't know, but we are afraid to face what Jesus is telling us.

Are we going to go out into the deep?ï¿½ Bring those fish? Others are.

On the clergy level:

- Can I go into the deep. No, I've done all I can do.ï¿½ I can't move, I can't spend more time, I am not Ukrainian, I have other responbilities, people don't really care.

On the parish level:

- Is it money?

- Is it time?

- Is it tradition?

On the personal level:

- I'm not worth, holy, educated.

The answer to each of these is "Do not be afraid."ï¿½ Jesus makes the fisherman, not us.ï¿½ So whatever holds us back from right action as Christians, as spreaders of goodness, defenders of the down-trodden, as risk takers, God has asked, he makes up the lack.ï¿½ We just need to turn, trust, and get over ourselves.ï¿½

October 3, 2021

ChurchWords

· One used only here

o Technical ï¿½ noetic, consubstantial, apostasy.

o Archiac ï¿½ Vouchsafe.ï¿½

· Common words we think we know

o Mean 1 thing here but maybe something else

· Deny

o Refuse

o Claim something is not true

o Used 11 times ï¿½ all in the Gospels Sts Luke, Matthew, and Mark

o Used 2 ways

§ Peter's denial of Christ

§ Denial of self

o What does it mean

Sept 19, 2021

Michael, who had appeared in a dream vision to this man ï¿½ the father of a mute girl, and who then had not yet been illumined by holy Baptism, and revealed to him, that his daughter would receive the gift of speech in drinking from the water of the spring. During her drinking the girl actually did receive healing and began to speak. After this miracle, the father with his daughter and all their family were baptised, and in fervent gratitude the father built the church in honour of the holy Archistrategos Michael. And for healing began to come to the water-spring not only Christians, but also pagans. In so doing, many of the pagans turned from their idols and were converted to the faith in Christ

The Monk David before his entry into a monastery was the leader of a band of bandits in Egypt, in the Hermopolis wilderness. He had committed many a murder and other wicked deeds. Getting old, he thought over his life and took fright at his past misdeeds. Leaving his band of bandits, he went to the monastery and besought the hegumen to accept him amongst the brethren for repentance. The hegumen refused, explaining to David, that their monastic life was very severe and would be beyond his ability. David persisted and, finally, he revealed to the hegumen, that he was the notorious robber David. He said, that if they did not open the doors of the monastery to him for repentance, he would then return to his former manner of life, come back and plunder the monastery and kill the monks. The hegumen thereupon allowed him into the monastery, and to the surprise of all, David became an excellent monk. By his severe efforts David surpassed all the monks. After a certain length of time the Lord sent the Archangel Gabriel to David with the announcement, that the Lord had forgiven him. But the Monk David in his great humility could not believe, that for so great a sinner as he, the Lord would so quickly grant forgiveness. The Archangel then said to him, that for his little-faith David would become speechless. David implored, that he should be left the ability to say his prayers, monastic rule and share in church services. This was granted him, and the rest of the time he remained speechless. Towards the end of his life the Monk David received from God the gift of wonderworking: he healed many of the sick and cast out evil spirits. Having lived in such manner for many years, he reposed to the Lord (VI).

Sept 12, 2021

I. 15Then the Lord God took [d]the man and put him in the garden of Eden to [e]tend and keep it. 16And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; 17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you[f] shall surely die."

Sept 5, 2021

II. Recap Last weekï¿½ Tendency to violence when right.

III. Anger when we are right

A. My story of Archbishop Job

1. Falling out over music

2. I was hurt.ï¿½ The kind when someone you love hurts you.

3. I quit

a) Said the right things

b) But I quit

c) Then I griped

d) Then I refused to bend

IV. Retribution for what is due

A. ï¿½So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.' And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

1. Not just getting "just due"

2. He punishes him

3. More than just repayment

V. Expectation

A. When the master finds out: He unforgives the debt.

1. Not for his own sake, but the little guy

B. The parable: So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.

VI. The rest of the story

A. Good part: I didn't burn the bridge

1. Served at BD's enthronement

2. ABJ called.

B. Still not all the way.

C. Nearing retirement.

1. Begin to think, how could make it up to him.

D. Then He died.

VII.Perspective

A. When we don't want to forgiveï¿½Maybe we need perspective

B. "Have Patience with me"

1. A lone voice against corruption

2. Stood against other Bishops

3. Lost friends, his monastic companions.

4. Died alone, from pneumonia

C. I didn't know. I didn't have patience. I didn't forgive

VIII.Conclusions-how

A. Try to see the other side

B. Have patience-maybe you're right, but so what.ï¿½

C. Remember the love.

August 8

"Ah! here you are!" he exclaimed, looking at Jean Valjean. "I am glad to see you. Well, but how is this? I gave you the candlesticks too, which are of silver like the rest, and for which you can certainly get two hundred francs. Why did you not carry them away with your forks and spoons?"

son Charles objected to presenting Myriel as "a prototype of perfection and intelligence", suggesting instead someone from "a liberal, modern profession, like a doctor". The novelist replied I cannot put the future into the past. My novel takes place in 1815. For the rest, this Catholic priest, this pure and lofty figure of true priesthood, offers the most savage satire on the priesthood today.

Sydney Carton goes to the Guilluitine for Charles Darbay

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other wayï¿½ï¿½ï¿½in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.

"We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves."

?fe???ï¿½e? d? ?ï¿½e?? ?? d??at?? t? ?s?e??ï¿½ata t?? ?d???t?? ï¿½ast??e??, ?a? ï¿½? ?a?t??? ???s?e??

Concerning Life and the Body

ï¿½-

What you should wear (literally what you sink into)

	Worry not about	Focused on	Father Provides	Reiterates what not to worry about
Life	Life τῇ ψυχῇ	Is more than			Three words for breath - forced pneo, voluntary psycho, involuntary αημι
Eating	What you should eat τί φάγητε	X	Birds	X
Drinking	What you should drink τί πίητε	X		X
Body	The body τῷ σώματι	Is more than
Clothing	What you should wear τί ἐνδύσησθεï¿½	X	Flowers The earth with grass	X	(literally what you sink into) also uses the word enrobe (to put around)

Worrying cannot put 18 inches on lifespan δύναται προσθεῖναι ἐπὶ τὴν ἡλικίαν αὐτοῦ πῆχυν ἕνα;

The Father know you have need of them

SEEK to seek (i. e. in order to find out) by thinking, meditating, reasoning; to inquire into, to demand, to desire

What? Kingdom of God and His Righteousness

Ζητεῖτε δὲ πρῶτον τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τὴν δικαιοσύνην αὐτοῦ, καὶ ταῦτα πάντα προστεθήσεται ὑμῖν

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