Rain in the Desert

Fr. Apostolos addresses how to walk in the grace of thanksgiving and gratitude in our day-to-day lives.

Fr. Apostolos delivers a homiletic overview of the many Scriptural passages describing the "money trap" and the strict charges given by God in Holy Writ regarding justice and equity.

Here is this morning's homily on the risks to ourselves, both personally and collectively, if we choose to remain in the darkness of life outside the Kingdom of God.

Fr. Apostolos discusses the importance of remembering the love of Christ in our lives, and that we are good enough.

Fr. Apostolos talks about the importance of embracing the Cross of Christ, despite the challenges that go along with it.

Fr. Apostolos delivers a timely reminder to bear good fruits and tend the garden that we have been given.

Fr. Apostolos connects the gospel on the Rich Young Ruler with the change in church attendance, exhorting us not to get waylaid with the cares of this world.

Fr. Apostolos speaks of the Light of Christ as the only light capable of dispelling the darkness we witness in the world around us today.

Fr. Apostolos speaks about the feast of the Transfiguration and the New Life in Jesus Christ which transforms us into the glorified Image of God He revealed on Mount Tabor.

Fr. Apostolos concludes the miniseries of sermons about the Divine Liturgy. He encourages the faithful to work through their understanding about the intricacies of the Liturgy in the laboratory of corporate prayer in the Church.

Fr. Apostolos examines John Chapter 6 and the Holy Eucharist in the Epiklesis and how that, unlike our Western counterparts, we Orthodox leave off trying to explain the mysteries to the satisfaction of our intellectual curiosity, content to accept the words of our Lord as plainly stated (and thrice repeated!) in the Gospels. A brief review of the Epiklesis in the liturgy ensues.

Fr. Apostolos continues the homily series on Divine Worship, addressing the Sacrament of Offering and the potential that exists to redeem our work-a-day lives through the offering up to God of a portion of our labors, in this case the bread and wine of Holy Communion.

Fr. Apostolos continues the series on Divine Worship, discussing the beginning of the Synaxis of the Faithful and of the prayers leading up to the Great Entrance.

This is lesson three in Fr. Apostolos' series on Divine Worship; this installment addressing the historical development of the Small Entrance and the significance of the Readings in view of the centrality of Holy Scripture in the lives of Christian believers.

Fr. Apostolos addresses the Sacrament of Kingdom invoked at the opening of the Divine Liturgy followed by a treatment of "Peace" as the precondition for prayer.

Fr. Apostolos introduces a miniseries of sermons about the spiritual depths of Divine Worship and starts by explaining the word leitourgia.

Fr. Apostolos reflects on the story of the Blind Man (John 9:1-38), and how it should remind us not to become spiritually blinded.

Fr. Apostolos reflects on the importance of Thomas' faith and the strength of our faith through the Paschal Season.

Fr. Apostolos reviews the services of Holy Week and the opportunity the faithful have to enter deeply into the mystery of God's demonstrated love for us.

Fr. Apostolos helps us understand the centrality of the Cross for salvation.

Fr. Apostolos introduces the Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian, "O Lord and Master of my life..."

Fr. Apostolos shares encouragement for the start of Great Lent.

Fr. Apostolos shares from the Parable of the Prodigal Son

Working from the Epistle reading in Colossians, Fr. Apostolos underscores the basic spiritual truth that our oneness in Christ precludes every possibility for bigotry of any kind and that we, as Light-bearers, must light the way out of the fear and ignorance that gives rise to such base and passe divisions.

It being the parish's Stewardship Sunday, Fr. Apostolos speak about the means whereby our resources can be sacralized and our financial lives brought under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, through tithing.