Sermons from St. Herman's

On the third Sunday of Great Lent , Fr. Matthew Howell pulls from the epistle reading from Hebrews chapter 4 in which St. Paul says "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." Fr. Matthew explains how the Cross of Christ is the throne of glory and grace. He talks about how the Cross is a weapon for ever...

On the second Sunday of Great Lent , Fr. Matthew explains the triumph of St. Gregory Palamas over Barlaam in defending the Orthodox teaching of experience the uncreated energy of God. In doing this, Fr. Matthew explains the difference between knowing God in His nature as opposed to knowing God through His energy. He then points out how we won't experience God's grace without carving out sp...

On the second Wednesday of Great Lent, at the end of the Presanctified Liturgy, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about the 40 Holy Martyrs of Sebaste . He discusses the need for perseverance in the spiritual life and during Lent, and admonishes everyone to put their first-world struggles into perspective.

On the first Sunday of Great Lent , Fr. Matthew Howell talks about how, because of Christ's incarnation (John 1:14), our own faith needs to be incarnational. He uses modern telemedicine as an example of the downside of arm's-length and distant, abstract, impersonal relationships but points out that we often do the same with God. He points out that true faith involves communion with God, not merely...

On Forgiveness Sunday (Cheese Fare), Fr. Matthew Howell discusses the themes of the day: the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise, forgiveness, fasting, and repentance. He uses Matthew 6:16, "When you fast..." as a springboard to discuss Great Lent. He frames everything in the context of Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." He cla...

On the Sunday of the Last Judgment , Fr. Matthew Howell talks about how God loves us so much that He gives us freedom to choose to love Him or not, and how God will judge us based on who and what we love. Our good or bad deeds, then, are a reflection of the faith and love that are in our hearts. So Fr. Matthew points out that God's judgment involves simply giving us what we desire: either God Hims...

On the Memorial Saturday before Great Lent begins, Fr. Matthew Howell gives a couple of reasons why we pray for the souls of those who have died. He cites examples from 2 Maccabees 12:38-45 and from Empress Theodora in 843 AD. 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-17 But we would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we be...

On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), Fr. Matthew Howell discusses a reference to the Prodigal Son and to the Publican and Pharisee in the middle of each and every divine liturgy. He then talks about how we should emulate the father in the parable in forgiveness as well as emulate the prodigal son in repentance. He finishes with a warning against the self-righteous blindness and jealo...

On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee , Fr. Matthew Howell uses examples from  Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade  to discuss the efficacy of humility and the approaching season of Great Lent. He shows how humility reappears as a theme all throughout the pre-Lenten and Lenten cycle, from Zacchaeus to the Publican to the Prodigal Son, St. Mary of Egypt and especially Christ Himse...

While visiting St. Juvenaly and His Companion OCA Church in Honalo, Hawaii, Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about Zacchaeus and Great Lent. He explains the context of Zacchaeus' sordid life as well as his deep repentance. Great Lent is also discussed as a gift from the Church, framed by famous quotes from Phoenix Suns head coach Monty Williams: "Everything you want is on the other side of hard," and "...

Using his front-row seat of his mother's serious illness, and using the gospel reading of the healing of the 10 lepers (Luke 17:12-19), Fr. Matthew Howell discusses the purpose of health and good health. He claims that good health is a gift from God but is not an end in and of itself, but rather good health is a means to draw near to God through repentance, thankfulness, and good works. COLOSSIANS...

On the Sunday after Theophany, Fr. Matthew Howell discusses the first public message preached by both Jesus and John the Baptist: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Mt. 4:17 &  Mt. 3:2) He points out that repentance requires action to change and turn away from one's sin, and must go beyond mere remorse. Epistle: Ephesians 4:7-13 Gospel: Matthew 4:12-17

On the feast of Theophany (Epiphany) , and after having finished a baptismal service, Fr. Matthew Howell explains the meaning of different aspects of the feast, of the significance of baptism, and the work of the holy sacraments in the Church. He asks the question: if this feast is about the revelation of the Trinity to the world, does the world see the Trinity revealed in our lives? Epistle: Titu...

At the Christmas Liturgy, Fr. Matthew Howell reads the famous homily by St. John Chrysostom for the  Feast of the Nativity of Christ . The Nativity Sermon of St John Chrysostom “I behold a new and wondrous mystery!” My ears resound to the shepherd’s song, piping no soft melody, but loudly chanting a heavenly hymn! The angels sing! The archangels blend their voices in harmony! The cherubim res...

During the Liturgy for the forefeast of the Nativity on December 24, Fr. Matthew Howell reads excerpts from the Nativity Sermon of St. Gregory the Theologian, #38 in his collection called The Orations . The full Oration by St. Gregory can be found here .

On the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ , Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about Odes 7 and 8 of the Nativity Canon which are based on the two Biblical Canticles about the Three Youths in the Fire from Daniel Chapter 3. He points out that even in the midst of the flames the three youths are  praising God , giving thanks and blessing Him for his mercy. He asks how we respond when we feel like o...

During the baptism of a beautiful baby girl, Isadora, Fr. Matthew Howell talks about the salvific impact of holy baptism and how God sends a holy entourage--both visible and invisible--to support the newly-illumined person for the remainder of their life.

Two Sundays before Christmas , Fr. Matthew Howell preaches about the parable of the heavenly banquet. Relying heavily on St. Nikolai of Zica, he preaches about the "soul's espousal to Christ," referring to other loves that take preeminence over God idolatry. He quotes St. Nikolai who says that "purity of soul is our wedding garment." He explains how the soul was created to be wedded to God, and th...

During the Divine Liturgy for the feast of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker , Fr. Matthew Howell quotes St. Nikolai Velimirovic in the  Prologue of Ochrid who calls St. Nicholas a " knight of the powerful faith ." Fr. Matthew talks about how St. Nicholas acts as a knight both in defending the faith and serving his King's people, and how we need to have both true theology and loving praxis in our...

Following Great Vespers for the feast of St. Nicholas the Great , Fr. Matthew Howell contrasts the 2022 Oxford Dictionary phrase of the year --"goblin mode"--with the selfless and generous lifestyle of St. Nicholas. He references his high school's motto to remind us that we need to live a life of service to our neighbors so that we can always be focused on Christ rather than ourselves and thus sla...

Three weeks before the feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, Fr. Matthew Howell continues his reflections on the Nativity Katavasia. This time he focuses on the 6th ode which is based on the prayer of Jonah from inside the belly of the sea monster (Jonah 2:3-10). Fr. Matthew explains how the "sign of Jonah" (cf. Mt. 12:38-40) refers to both Christ's resurrection and the preservation of M...

On the second Sunday of the Nativity Fast, Fr. Matthew Howell talks about the Odes 1 and 3 of the Nativity Katavasia. He points out that Ode 1 tells us what happens and how to respond, and that Ode 3 reminds us of who Christ is. Fr. Matthew wraps up the homily by tying the themes into the gospel reading of the day (Luke 18:18-27).

On Thanksgiving Day following the dismissal of the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Matthew Howell introduces and reads the homily that was delivered by Fr. Alexander Schmemann on Thanksgiving Day in 1983 at St. Vladimir Seminary in New York. It was the final liturgy served by Fr. Schmemann in 1983, and the final homily that he delivered. He reposed on December 13, 1983. “Thank You, O Lord!” A Sermon for Thank...

On a Sunday in which the parish transfers the celebration of the feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos in the temple, Fr. Matthew Howell discusses how this feast is easy to relate to: a pious couple brings their child to church, a couple pays their vow to God, and a maiden dedicates her life to God. He points out that these are ordinary things that we can all do in our lives in extraordinary ways...

On the day in which the Church reads the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and also celebrates the memory of St. John Chrysostom, Fr. Matthew Howell both explains some parts of the parable and reviews the highlights of the life of St. John. With both subjects, he emphasizes the importance of living the Faith, doing the spiritual work of loving God and neighbor, following again the them...