Homily for the Sunday of Adoration of the Holy Cross — March 31, 2019 / March 18, 2019
The epistle today exhorts us: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace". Where does this boldness come from? The Gospel today explains: we must choose to take up our cross and follow Christ. We look at the readings today, and the hymn of the cross that we sing when we make prostrations: "Before Thy Cross, we bow down and worship O master, and Thy holy Resurrection we glorify!", in light of two spiritual principles: "first the cross then the resurrection", and "first obedience and then following, understanding". Exaltation of the Precious Cross. Hebrews 4:15-16 Mark 8:34-35,9-1 2019-03-31 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa5CXQkD94o
Homily on the feast day of St. Nicholas, focusing on his holiness and how his life shows us the very image of good things to come without shadow. We discuss why the beatitudes from St. Luke are read on his feast day rather than the usual selection for hierarch. Also, we look at a selection from Hebrews, which was supplanted by usual epistle reading for St. Nicholas on his feast day, but actually describes his greatest virtues and what should be our destiny also extremely well. Luke 6:17-23, Hebrews 10:1-18 2019-12-19
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iH3cv6ILvu8
Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/catechesis_2021-11-14.mp3 YouTube: https://youtu.be/xudDEga2nm0
Timestamps
0:00 - 2:05 Why kiss the right hand of a priest? How to ask for a blessing.
2:05 – 2:17 How does a priest give a blessing. How is his blessing different than when you bless yourself with the cross?
2:17 – 4:28 what is the meaning of “Jesus” and “Christ”?
5:16 Why do we hold our hands a certain way when we cross ourselves? How should we sign ourselves with the cross, and why?
6:56 – 8:56 Should you smoke while praying?
8:56 Confession
8:56 Authority for confession
9:48 Why are the Lord’s first words to his disciples “Peace be to you”?
11:28 - 13:12 Another one of those “When I was a Protestant for a short period of time” stories.
13:12 - 14:34 Why did Jesus Breathe on the disciples, and when did they receive the Holy Spirit?
13:12 Symbols of the Holy Spirit
15:40 - 18:20 The “Nativity Star” was an angel.
18:20 More about confession
23:53 – 26:08 What do the Greek words we translate as “sin” and “repentance” mean? And what is the criterion by which a priest decides to give absolution in confession?
26:08 - 36:06 What is a confession “look like” a walkthrough.
31:52 About epitemias.
36:06 – 40:09 What is the “Full-life” confession? How is it compared to a regular confession? And also, how to use our life experiences to guide our intercessory prayer.
39:24 – 40:09 the worst “part” of a sin.
40:09 How do you prepare yourself for confession?
I dunno, sometime after 40:09 Fasting for communion and in general, including when you have special medical needs
45:30 - 46:45 Fasting increases your enjoyment of food.
46:45 -53:43 Why do we fast?
53:43- 55:38 Is it a sin to not fast? The church’s view about sin is not like most people’s.
55:38 - 56:57 What about fasting foods made to taste like non-fasting foods?
56:57 - 57:44 The relationship of fasting (or anything else) with prayer
57:45 How do you overcome the temptation to not fast?
1:09:46 - 1:09:41 Origins of sin
1:09:46 1:16:05 Which is worse: breaking the fast with a Whataburger or breaking the fast with creme in your coffee? Which are the *worst* sins (in general)?
1:16:05 – 1:18:55 What is the most important part of teaching in catechesis? And why are we studying Matthew in catechesis?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xudDEga2nm0
Father Nicholas Park of Saint Nicholas Orthodox Church in McKinney, Texas (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) delivers a very important sermon concerning the new martyrs of Russia who were killed by the Bolsheviks and also a word of caution concerning what is taking place in the United States and around the world, the story Zacchaeus and how we must make a choice between worldly goods and pleasures and Christ.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6rhbaRNzFA
In this excerpt from 2 Corinthians 7:1-10, the Apostle Paul speaks from the heart, about the heart, and teaches the core of all ministry. If we have God in our heart, although He is bigger than our heart, there is still room for everyone we meet, and teach, and suffer with and for. He also teaches us that we should not fear suffering or repentance, as modern man does. We can fulfill this teaching if we pursue God in the heart. This is the key.
12th Thursday after Pentecost 2 Corinthians 7:1-10
AUDIO http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pen-thu-12_2023+-ye-are-in-our-hearts-to-die-and-live-with-you_2cor7-1-10.mp3
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/0c1Wetvdhnw
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c1Wetvdhnw
The DOGMA of the Holy Eucharist is clearly explained in the Sixth Chapter of John.
SYNOPSIS: Does the Bible teach about Holy Communion? We examine the clear teaching in John Chapter 6. We talk about signs, and symbols, and controversy about the Holy Eucharist, which is directly addressed by Jesus, the progression that must be present in the spiritual life, and what to do about the mundane, and how to work the works of God. Everything is important. This homily could serve as one of the essential topics that must be understood in any catechesis for inquirers into the Orthodox Christian Church. 2019-11-17
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6o9oVsg0CU
Romans 10: 1-10, Matthew 8:28-9:1 Three rhetorical questions are asked in today’s readings that we must strive to answer.
“Who will ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above)”
“Who will descend into the abyss? (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)”
“What have we to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God?”
Paul points out the insufficiency of the Law for salvation. Only Jesus saves, not any rule of life. To come to salvation requires struggle, and a daily effort to rid ourselves of the distraction and spiritual blindness of sin, which keeps us from realizing the intimate presence of God in our hearts.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFyS7WhJDt0
On the Sunday after Nativity, have you changed how you live in response to the Incarnation?
Gal 1:11-19, Mat 2:13-23
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhUtwfCsyy0