We, in this modern materialistic world, are like the blind man. We cannot see God. We rely on our own strength and our own reasoning. We must be like the blind man in a different sense, begging the Lord for mercy. We are like the mute man, bound by our passions. To meet Christ, we need the support of others. We need to be that support for others. Romans 15:1–7, Matthew 9:27–35 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfh1YwXvhns

The Connection between Baptism and the Resurrection. Holy Saturday, 2023 It is appropriate on the Holy Saturday, when we proclaim the resurrection to compare baptism and the resurrection. The readings for the baptism service and this day are basically the same. We compare our baptism to Christ’s baptism and His resurrection. Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/hw-06_2023+holy-sat+connection-baptism-and-the-resurrection.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/duK9VQMJ-po Audio and Video timestamps 0-1:00 The connection between the readings for Holy Saturday a traditional day for baptisms) and the Baptism service, 1:10 – 1:33 Everything we read, and pray, and know MUST be APPLIED to the way we live. 1:38 -2:08 “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.” (Matthew 28:1) Who was the “other Mary”? 2:25 – 4:58 ‘”And the angel answered and said unto the women...” (Matthew 28:5 ) God answers questions we do not ask, if we are open to the answers. 4:58 the connection between baptism and the resurrection. 6:15 – 11:24 Comparing our baptism to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:3-4,Christ’s death was voluntary, victorious , free, healing, one time. After His resurrection, His body was perfected, and in the light, and wholly with God, and eternal. 10:13 – 11:08 My favorite description of “heaven”, from 1 Thessalonians 4 11:08 – 14:26 “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.” (Romans 6:6-7) 12:23 – 12:57 The resurrection became even more important to me after my son +Daniel died (2017-06-11) 14:26 – 16:14 In our age of everyone making up an identity for themselves, always based on sin, we should IDENTIFY as being free from sin! 15:26 – 16:14 “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:9-11) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duK9VQMJ-po