August 17, 2025

Today is a day of joy. This morning, we welcome five new members into the Holy Orthodox Church through Holy Chrismation. Next Sunday, we will baptize and welcome seven other adults into our Church family. All of these new members enter into Christ’s death and resurrection and become living members of His Body. Read more »

August 15, 2025

My souls magnifies the Lord and My Spirit rejoices in God my Savior. On this Feast of the Falling Asleep of the Virgin Mary, we not only remember her peaceful transition into eternal life but we reflect on her as the perfect example of what it means to live for God. The words she spoke when she first conceived Christ—“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” summarize her entire life. Read more »

August 10, 2025

The wind howls. The boat groans. The disciples strain at the oars, drenched and exhausted, their hands blistered, their hearts pounding with fear. It is the middle of the night, the waves are high, and hope is running low. Then—through the mist and spray—they see Him. A figure walking on the water. A voice that cuts through the roar of the storm: Read more »

August 06, 2025

Imagine. We are in the final days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. After three years of watching and living with Jesus, seeing His miracles, listening to His teachings, and seeing His bold confrontations with the hypocritical religious leaders, Jesus asks His followers, “Who do you say I am?” Peter declares “You are the Messiah,” the Anointed One long awaited by Israel! Read more »

August 03, 2025

Compassion. A powerful word but a more powerful action. And this is what we hear about in today’s Gospel story. Jesus sees a crowd—not just a mass of people but individuals who have needs and struggles, pain and suffering, sickness and confusion. Jesus sees this in the individuals and His heart is moved. Read more »

July 27, 2025

“The criminal in your community may be less guilty for his crime than you, his Christian neighbor,” the Elder Zosima says to Alyosha in Dostoevsky’s book “The Brothers Karamazov. “For you could have been a light to the evil doer, yet you were not, for the man remained beside you in darkness. Had you been the kind of example you ought to have been and allowed your light to shine on that lost man’s path, perhaps he might not have stumbled into his crime. If you had loved your neighbor as yourself and lavished upon him some of the care you generously lavish upon yourself, shared some of the warmth God has privileged you to possess, that criminal might have changed in time.” Read more »

July 20, 2025

“Have you ever felt stuck—spiritually paralyzed, emotionally exhausted, unsure how to take the next step forward? Today’s Gospel story, the Prophet Elijah, and a scandalous modern saint all bring us the same divine encouragement: ‘Take heart and rise.’” Read more »

July 13, 2025

“There is no longer Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28) The Apostle Paul offers this radical and transformative statement about diversity and unity in his powerful letter to the Galatians. Read more »

July 06, 2025

“Know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32) This is one of the most profound and revolutionary statements ever spoken. Freedom is something that all people desire. Yet, what does freedom truly mean? Read more »

June 29, 2025

Why do good people suffer? Why, when we try to follow Christ, do we still face illness, tragedy, and hardship? The Apostle Paul asked the same question, and the answer he got from our Lord Jesus is “My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Read more »

June 22, 2025

We live in an age of deep confusion. Reality is denied. Language is distorted. People cling to ideologies over absolute truth. And thus, many are overwhelmed by fear, anger, and division—looking for direction and clarity in all the wrong places. It can feel as if a grey fog has settled over the land. Read more »

June 15, 2025

Called to Become a Saint! On the Sunday after we celebrated the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, the Church lifts our eyes to behold the fruits of the Spirit — the Saints — those men, women, and even children who dedicated their lives entirely to God, those who allowed Christ to live in them. Read more »

May 25, 2025

Imagine being blind. Living in utter physical darkness. Not seeing the beauty of nature, of colors, of another human face. On this 6th Sunday of Pascha, we hear one of the most remarkable miracles when Jesus gives sight to a man born blind. He, who is the Light of the world, brings light to one in darkness. Yet, this story is not simply one of physical healing. Read more »

May 18, 2025

Our level of happiness and our level of contentment does not depend solely on what is happening around us but more so on what is happening within us. Read more »

May 04, 2025

Courage and Love! Courageous women boldly go to the tomb of Christ. They lovingly stood by our Lord when He was crucified. They witnessed the horror and violence against their innocent Master, the One whom they deeply loved. They saw his disciples abandon him and stay away from his crucifixion out of fear. Read more »

April 27, 2025

Do we live by fear or love? This question goes to the heart of the Gospel. It challenges us to think whether we truly believe that Christ is risen from the dead and that His victory over sin and death changes everything about how we live and interact with the world." Read more »

April 20, 2025

Today we proclaim the most joyful, radiant, and victorious news the world has ever heard: Christ is Risen! Truly He is Risen! But to truly feel the joy of this night, we must understand what kind of news the Church proclaims. Read more »

April 18, 2025

Today we stand before the Cross on this most solemn of all days of the year, Holy and Good Friday, and we hear the final words of Jesus in the midst of His extreme suffering. Read more »

April 13, 2025

"Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel!" "Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt." Read more »

April 06, 2025

Some years ago I read an extremely difficult book to read, a NY Times bestseller entitled Spilled Milk which gives the reader a glimpse into the world of child and physical abuse. Read more »