We should be “slaves” to righteousness and “free” regarding sin! What an odd expression! What does it mean? The Centurion knew. 4th Sunday after Pentecost, July 2, 2023 Video: https://youtu.be/09IlDjKoo-0 Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pen-sun-04_2023_2023+slaves-to-righteousness_romans618-23-matthew8-5-13.mp3 Timestamps: 0:00 – 6:13 “and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee” Matthew 8:12 2:57 – 6:13 Why did the Centurion believe? 3:47 – 4:41 What does a mother do when her baby cries at 3:30 am? WHY? 6:13 NO external rules! 6:57 – 9:09 Christianity is not shallow – why are some shallow? The cure is obedience. 9:37 – 14:32 Understanding: “Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants (slaves) of righteousness” and “For when ye were the servants (slaves) of sin, ye were free from righteousness.” Rom 6:18,20 10:05 – 11:11 A little bit about slavery and Christianity. 11:46 – 14:32 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. 14:32 – 21:56 “I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” Romans 6:19 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09IlDjKoo-0

Homily during liturgy at our “Marshall house”, a house used for housing for parolees from Texas prisons. We mostly comment on St Pauls’ epistle to the Romans, which gives use the *reason* and the *energy* to do good things, and avoid sin. It is not about rules, in is about grace, and gratitude: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.” And from the Gospel, “(He) … Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” 4th Sat after Pentecost Romans 6:11-17 YouTube:https://youtu.be/6og9xwEfA2g ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6og9xwEfA2g