We discuss four reasons why the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus was told and talk about the most important reason, which is contained at the end of the parable: “And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.” (Luke 16:31). Of course this was a warning to the Jews who did not believe in Jesus and it is also a warning to us who profess to believe in a risen Jesus. We talk about this warning and the only way to react to it: mindfulness, heedfulness, empathy, intensity, and inner life. Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/luke-05_2022+lazarus+they-will-not-be-persuaded-though-one-rose-from-the-dead.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/ySvmC_K1CcM Timestamps: 2:20 – 5:03 Another reason for the parable – “Eliazar – Lazarus” means “ God has helped. And a discursion regarding sadness in this life and if it is remembered in the next. 5:03 – 5:32 If a person understands about heaven and Hell, they will not cry out for vengeance. 5:32 Another reason for the parable: we have responsibilities. 6:20 The “new” religion that pretends to be Christianity – that there is salvation without labor. 6:57 The great sin of the rich man. 7:25 We are a society of narcissists 9:00 – 10:20 The greatest problem that must be overcome by prisoners. Something I have learned after 26 years of prison ministry. 9:54 – 10:20 The opposite of love is not hate, it is… 10:21 The most important spiritual/practical meaning of the parable. 13:40 We are only fully alive when we are living with mindfulness and respond to the needs of the many “Lazarus’s” that cross our path. And about the necessity to pray for others. 14:05 Praying for others because we are not the center of the universe, and we need to stop being narcissists. 15:00 – 16:26 Regarding watching news about the war in Ukraine and prayer and politics. 18:26 – 24:03 Heedfulness, and morality and “created morality”. And how to obtain heedfulness. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySvmC_K1CcM

We became as men that were comforted because we went before the throne of grace in our time of need. Homily on the Sunday of the cross (third Sunday of Great Lent, 2022) The Psalter tells us: “When the Lord turned again the captivity of Sion, we became as men that are comforted.” (Ps 125:1) We speak about comfort – true comfort, given by grace, and the false comfort that we also seek, and how to seek comfort: “Let us , therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16) This throne is none other than the cross and the way of the cross. This is the only way that will bring us comfort in our time of need. Partial (Audio) timestamps 1:57 – 5:23 what is our time of need? 5:23 What is “comfort” and where does it come from? 6:44 – 8:23 An experience during Presanctified Liturgy 9:11 – 13:01 What is the goal of the catechumenate? 13:01 0 14:39 A practical way to “go boldly before the throne of grace” – prostrations! 14:45 - 15:21 Why do we prostrate before the cross on the Sunday of the Cross? ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90Ptl_saxKY

Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/childrens-sermon_2022+conception-theotokos+fig-tree.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/TF7RNev1QIc Not Just for children! Teaching about the Conception by St Anna of the Theotokos and an exegesis of the 2 Gospels read today, Luke 8:16-21 (Conception of St Anna) and Luke 21:28-33. We speak so that children can understand and adults can be edified. We cover lighting a lamp and putting it on a stand, that we can actually become the mother and brother of Jesus, and the parable of the fig tree. 2:09 – 2:29 Why do I keep telling children complicated things from the scriptures, and although I simplify and explain it, I do not “dumb it down?” 2:29 – 4:01 What does the barrenness of Anna (mother of Mary, the Theotokos) symbolize? 4:11 -5:47 “No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light” (Luke 8:16) 5:47 - 6:32 “For nothing is secret that will not be revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light.” (Luke 8:17) 6:27 – 7:47 “Therefore take heed how you hear. For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.”(Luke 8:18) 8:02 – 10:32 We CAN BE the *mother* and *brother* of Jesus! “Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. And it was told Him by some, who said, "Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You." But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it."(Luke 8:19-21) 10:32 – 14:42 “…Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Luke 21:28-33) 13:52 – 14:42 “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. (Luke 21: 33) ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF7RNev1QIc

Most think of Great Lent in terms of fasting, but it is more a time to "to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/misc_2023+purpose-of-great-lent+not-just-fasting.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/WWJ3ZoO6urk People think of Great Lent as a “fast”, but it is much more than this. Fasting is, maybe 8, on a list of the top ten things that characterize Great Lent. Much more important is that we must think of Great Lent in this context: “knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (Romans 13:11) an excerpt, starting at 0:43, of a sermon given on the Sunday of Forgiveness, 02/26/2023 ns. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWJ3ZoO6urk