Sermons from St. Herman's

On the 7th Sunday of Luke and the Synaxis of the Archangels , Fr. Timothy Kolb reflects on God’s words, “Comfort, comfort my people” (Isaiah 40:1). In a week of grief for our community, he finds that comfort in the day’s commemorations: the Resurrection, St. Olga, and Jairus’s daughter, whom Christ declares is not dead but sleeping. He then explains why we venerate the angels but worship only God,...

At Vespers for the Synaxis of the Archangels and the feast of St. Olga of Kwethluk , Fr. Matthew Howell offers a short reflection on the words long associated with St. Olga: God can create great beauty from complete desolation. He explains that these words come from an appearance of St. Olga to a woman who had suffered deep trauma, bringing her healing and peace. He then shares the heartbreaking s...

On the Feast of St. Raphael of Brooklyn , Fr. Matthew Howell opens with the story of a woman who regained sight in her failing eye after praying before the saint’s icon at St. Raphael Church in Palm Desert, California. He reminds us that the saints’ miracles are God’s miracles worked through them, and that while we assign patron saints to particular needs for our own sake, all the saints can do al...

On the 5th Sunday of Luke, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, noting that the rich man stays selfish even in torment, still ignoring Lazarus and arguing with Abraham. He asks whether we truly listen to the One who has risen from the dead, and shows how consistently the Scriptures, from Moses to Christ Himself, call us to care for the poor. Drawing on St. Paisio...

On the 6th Sunday of Luke, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches on Christ healing the Gadarene demoniac (Luke 8:26-39) and asks a simple question: who are we allowing to influence us? He opens with a reflection on pigs as dirty, undiscerning creatures that spend their lives with their eyes to the ground, then shares a conversation with Fr. John Downing about the prison ministry he and the late Deacon Fred...

On the feast of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Luke , Fr. Matthew Howell opens by sharing an insight from Fr. Timothy into the interweaving of Scripture and the services of the Church: Christ clothes Himself in our human nature so that we can be clothed in His incorruption, while Hades is stripped bare. He uses that collaboration with Fr. Timothy to note that Christ sends His disciples out two by...

While visiting St. Innocent of Alaska OCA Church in Eureka, California , Fr. Matthew Howell receives a two-minute introduction from the rector, Fr. Athanasius Kone. Using the gospel for the 3rd Sunday of Luke as a springboard, he discusses how Christ’s body is life-giving, how He offers it to us in the Eucharist (the “Thanksgiving”), and how our daily gratitude brings us closer to union with Chris...

On the 2nd Sunday of Luke, Fr. Matthew Snowden of St. Nicholas Antiochian Church in Jackson, Tennessee, and principal of St. Athanasius Academy, reflects on the spiritual law of abundance. He begins with the mountain streams of Hatcher Pass, explaining that the water rushes so forcefully because of the abundance of its source. He connects this to St. Paul’s teaching on sowing and reaping bountiful...

On the 1st Sunday of Luke, Fr. Matthew Howell opens with a story about his pilgrimage to the Monastery of St. John the Baptist in Essex. While there, Fr. Melchizedek taught him there is only one shortcut on the path to salvation: obedience. He calls it "the rocket ship of salvation" because it breeds humility in the soul. He then turns to today's gospel reading from Luke, in which a...

On the Sunday after the Holy Cross , Fr. Timothy Kolb reflects on Christ's call to "take up your cross and follow me" through a meditation on the two main trees in the Garden of Eden. Drawing on St. Maximus the Confessor, he explains the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil as representing the knowledge of pleasure and pain. To live a life that is governed by seeking pleasure and t...

On the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross , Fr. Timothy Kolb reflects on the paradox that the cross, though full of suffering, brings joy into the world. He opens with a story of an abbess who tells visitors that what feels like heaven to them is closer to hell for the monastics who live out its daily struggles, using it to illustrate how joy and hardship are bound together through the cross...

On the Forefeast of the Elevation of the Cross , Fr. Matthew Howell traces the history of this feast from St. Constantine entrusting his mother, St. Helen, to search for the true cross of Christ, through its discovery and eventual return to Jerusalem. He explains that there is power in the cross through the grace of Jesus Christ, and this is why we display it so prominently in our lives: it symbol...

On the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos , Fr. Matthew Howell reminds us that this day honors not only the Theotokos, but her parents, Joachim and Anna. They endured years of public shame and ridicule due to their lack of children, remaining faithful through prayer. Along the way, he references an old commercial from Burger King , advocates for mothers to receive presents on their children&#3...

On the 14th Sunday of Matthew, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches on the parable of the Great Supper. He walks us through the spiritual implications of the King's invitation, the excuses of those who refuse, and the wedding garment worn by those who are gathered in. And he urges us to view ourselves as the villains in these parables so that their words can penetrate our hearts. Along the way, he chec...

On the 13th Sunday of Matthew, Fr. Timothy Kolb walks through the parable of the wicked vinedressers verse by verse, drawing on the Fathers' interpretation of each detail. He explains the vineyard as Israel, the hedge as the Law, the winepress and tower as the altar and temple, and the vinedressers as the scribes and Pharisees entrusted with tending God's people. He traces how the prophets...

On the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist , Fr. Matthew Howell uses the story of Herod's downfall as a case study on the importance of fasting. He explains how Herod let his body override his soul, first through adultery, then a drunken vow he refused to break even to save an innocent man's life, and argues that fasting's purpose is to keep the body from drowning out the so...

On the 12th Sunday after Pentecost and the 12th Sunday for the readings from the gospel of Matthew, Fr. Matthew Howell talks about the ridiculous debt of the wicked servant and how it relates to our sinfulness toward God. He also discusses forgiveness and tithing and their importance to one's spiritual life. Previous homilies for this gospel reading: August 24, 2025 -- Repentance is the Seed;...

On the 11th Sunday of Matthew, Fr. Matthew Howell shares a smattering of thoughts about forgiveness after giving a bit of context for the parable of the wicked servant. Less cohesive and linear in thinking than typical homilies, he hopes that the listener can hold onto one or two thoughts that might be helpful. He does harp on the fact that forgiveness is difficult but necessary for Christians. Pr...

On the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos , Fr. Matthew Howell couples a children's nursery rhyme to a quote from St. Anthony of Optina to describe the disposition of Mary, the Theotokos. He points out that she had not only had a lamb, but had  the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world who was slain before the foundation of the world. He then uses the description of lambs by S...

While serving at All Saints of North America Mission in Homer, Alaska on the 10th Sunday of Matthew and the feast of the glorification of St. Herman and the translation of his relics , Fr. Matthew Howell discusses the importance of asceticism (prayer and fasting) as acts of faith in the Christian life. He uses St. Herman as an example about how to be ascetic and the fruits of asceticism. Fr. Matth...

On the feast of the Transfiguration , Fr. Matthew Howell discusses the grace of God and how it shines through the bodies and even the clothes of the saints. He ties in a Kathisma Hymn from the previous Sunday to use as a springboard and reminds listeners that we are all called to make ourselves pure vessels so that we can shine with the grace of God and to glow with His uncreated energy. Eighth To...

On the 9th Sunday of Matthew and the feast of the translation of the relics of St. Stephen the Protomartyr , Fr. Timothy Kolb talks about how Jesus approaches his disciples on the water and encourages them. He mentions how Jesus proclaims that He is the "I AM" on the water, just as he did to Moses in the burning bush. Fr. Timothy offers the lessons of prayer, courage, and humility from t...

Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about prayerfulness in all our labors on the feast of St. Panteilemon the Unmercenary Healer and Martyr. Previous Homilies for St. Panteleimon: July 27, 2025 - “Freely ye have received; freely give” Epistle: 2 Timothy 2:1-10 Timothy, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me before many witnesses entrust to faithful men who...

On the 8th Sunday of Matthew and 8th Sunday after Pentecost, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about faithfulness to God's calling to be generous. He explains how five loaves and two fish were not enough to feed the thousands of people who followed Jesus that day. Nevertheless, once everything was gathered by the disciples and offered to the God-man, then the miracle occurred. Fr. Matthew touches on...

On a rainy Sunday in July on which the Orthodox Church commemorates the 630 holy fathers of the Fourth Ecumenical Council , Fr. Timothy Kolb talks about the importance of letting Christ's light shine through us to bring joy to those around us. He points out that Christ calls Himself the Light of the World (see John 8:12) but in this Gospel passage He calls His disciples the light of the world....