I’ve been reading through the writings of the “Apostolic Fathers” recently. These works, some pastoral letters in the same vein as St. Paul’s epistles, others sermons, others accounts of martyrdom or histories, have one things in common: their connection to the Early Church, the Christians in the time just after the time of the Apostles. […]
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Opinions
“A truly humble person never behaves like a teacher; he will listen, and, whenever his opinion is requested, he responds humbly. In other words, he replies like a student. He who believes that he is capable of correcting others is filled with egotism.” – St. Paisios the Athonite I read that quote at some point […]
Surprised By Soccer
or… ‘How I Got Hooked On the Beautiful Game This Summer’ It might be a sign of midlife crisis, or, if Ann Coulter’s right, a ‘clear sign of moral decay’, but whatever it is, I can’t explain it, but it’s real. This Midwestern ‘born-and-raised on John Madden’s color commentary – still gets chills at the […]
Ask, Don’t Take
“For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.Where do wars and […]
A Pastor of Pastors
(This reflection was originally published in the 2009-2010 edition of the Tikhonaire and reposted on the St. Tikhons Website – http://www.stots.edu) On an afternoon in mid-December, as my final fall semester at St. Tikhon’s concluded, and as questions and decisions about “what comes next” were weighing on my heart, I picked up the phone and […]
Hiding from the Cross (Mark 8:30-34)
Then He strictly warned them that they should tell no one about Him. And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He spoke this word openly. Then Peter took Him […]
The Personal Process of Healing (Mark 8:22-26)
“Then He came to Bethsaida; and they brought a blind man to Him, and begged Him to touch him. So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw […]
“How Do You Not Understand?” (Mark 8:11-21)
Today’s Gospel ends with these words from Jesus to His disciples. In many ways, we can read the words almost in an exasperated tone: “I’ve shown you so many miracles, I’ve multiplied fishes and loaves not once, but TWICE, in your presence, in the recent past, and yet you are still worried about the fact […]
Cornerstone 2012 Reflection #1 – Being There
Several weeks ago I was blessed to be a part of a group that traveled to Cornerstone Music Festival in Bushnell, Illinois to spend a week in the heat (and it was hot – very, very hot) with concertgoers, artists, friends, and self-described pilgrims and seekers of all sort. For the second year in a […]
Holy Saturday Reflection: Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent
Since my last post, there have been several services at St. Stephens, I just haven’t stopped long enough to get to my computer. To be more exact, the service really didn’t end from last night at 7pm until after Liturgy for Holy Saturday this morning. After the Burial Service, an all night vigil was held […]
Saved Together 