Sermons

Every moment of the day, God sows his seeds of grace and spiritual vitality. Just as the winds carry hundreds of seeds throughout the day, so heaven showers its gifts to every soul that is open and attentive. Folk singer, Joni Mitchell sang the lyrics: If you can fill the journey of a minute With sixty seconds worth of wonder and delight Then the earth is yours and everything that's in it And what is more I know that you will be alright These words have profound wisdom. In fa

+ Spirituality from the Desert: St. Isaac the Syrian + “Treasure of all good things: Grant Thou me perfect repentance and a fervent heart that I may wholeheartedly come forth to seek Thee. Without Thee, I will become estranged from all good things. Therefore, grant Thou me Thy Grace, O Good One. May the Father Who didst beget Thee from His bosom recreate in me the image of Thine icon. I have abandoned Thee; do not forsake me. I have separated myself from Thee; come forth to

+ Spirituality from the Desert: St. Isaac the Syrian + “Treasure of all good things: Grant Thou me perfect repentance and a fervent heart that I may wholeheartedly come forth to seek Thee. Without Thee, I will become estranged from all good things. Therefore, grant Thou me Thy Grace, O Good One. May the Father Who didst beget Thee from His bosom recreate in me the image of Thine icon. I have abandoned Thee; do not forsake me. I have separated myself from Thee; come forth to

“The springtime of the Fast has dawned, the flower of repentance has begun to open.” There are few seasons so sweet and refreshing as Lent. It is a bright spot in our lives, a time of lightness and freedom. Yet, at this time of year, dread and foreboding somehow seem more appropriate for how we can feel. Is that reasonable? The idea of not eating meat and skipping breakfast for a month does not sound very exciting. Yet, what are we gaining in Lent? What happens in Lent? Durin

“While everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat” (Mat. 13:24). Few men have boasted strength and masculinity as Samson. He was God’s warrior, sent to the Israelites to battle vicious tribes. He tore a lion apart with his bare hands and slew an army with a donkey’s jawbone. Yet, despite his strength, Samson brought about his own destruction. He let down his guard. Entangled in lust, seduced by sweet, honeyed words, he slipped from God’s grace. All of

+ Spirituality from the Desert: St. Isaac the Syrian + “Treasure of all good things: Grant Thou me perfect repentance and a fervent heart that I may wholeheartedly come forth to seek Thee. Without Thee, I will become estranged from all good things. Therefore, grant Thou me Thy Grace, O Good One. May the Father Who didst beget Thee from His bosom recreate in me the image of Thine icon. I have abandoned Thee; do not forsake me. I have separated myself from Thee; come forth to f

“Rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35). God woke in the early morning to pray. I was camping, once, in the hills of Meteora, Greece. It is a region in central Greece with some of the most spectacular natural wonders. Huge boulders jut up into the sky hundreds of feet high, creating a sight like you would expect in a fairytale. What makes the scene most dazzling are the monaster