On the Feast of Ss. Peter and Paul, Bp. Irineos notes that both the pre-eminent apostles shared a common trait with us: they were sinners. Put to repentance by our Lord, they led the Church through the early days of persecution and died as willing martyrs for the faith. Through their examples, me God have mercy on us!

On the 4th Sunday after Pentecost, Bp. Irineos reflects on the Gospel reading of the healing of the centurion's servant and how it foreshadows the opening of the Church to the Gentiles and the fall of the disobedient Jews who were not prepared to recognize their Messiah.

On the Sunday of All Saints of the Local Church, Bp. Irineos discusses the Gospel reading for the Sunday, the calling of the Apostles. Looking at the patristic commentary on the reading, he discusses how the same concerns impact our life in the modern world.

On the Sunday of All Saints, Bp. Irineos comments on the Oneness of all the saints and why we call them to remembrance together. In this same way that they are one together, we venerate them also knowing that they are one with us in our worship of the Holy Trinity!

On the Sunday after Ascension, Bp. Irineos ponders why so many who call themselves Christians abandon Christ's call to holiness and immerse themselves in the things of the world, obsessing over temporal power and glory, sowing division and mocking others created in the image of God.

A timely conversation with a young protestant apologist ended with this odd claim by him: "The scripture alone reveals the truth. Let it speak alone." The oddity of this claim coming from someone espousing sola scriptura is two fold. First, scripture never makes any such claim. Second, the New Testament points to three different sources of the revelation of truth to mankind. One of them ends today with the Ascension of Christ but opens the door to the coming of the second. And the final revelation of truth is here for us even to the present day.

The man born blind endured a life of struggle so that one day, he might encounter Christ and have the works of God made manifest in him. Drawing on this man's struggle and his demeanor, Bp. Irineos asks us to examine our own reactions to the recent struggles and burdens we have been asked to undertake. Are we prepared bodily and spiritually for the works of God to be manifested in us, or are we weighed down with earthly cares and concerns? May God grant that He be made manifest in each of us.

When Christ encounters St. Photini, the Samaritan woman at the well, she poses a question to Him about the worship of the Samaritans and the Jews. His answer shocks her, and should be a great caution to us. In declaring that the time is now come when the true worshipers of the Father will worship God in Spirit and in Truth, he declares an end to the false religions of both the Samaritans and the Jews. Declaring that the time is now, Christ presages the coming of His Church that He will entrust to his disciples. In this day when numerous sects proclaim themselves Christian and "finding one's own path" appeals to the egoistic milieu of modern culture, how many Christians find themselves in false worship in the name of personal preference and cultural relevance? And how can Orthodox Christians claim to love their neighbors, yet sit by silently as they pursue the cafeteria "christianity" of the modern age?

On the Sunday of the Paralytic, Bp. Irineos references one of the sticheron from the Vespers, where the paralytic compares his bed to a grave and suggests he has no need to live anymore. Examining both the patristic commentary on the despondency of the paralytic and the Church's understanding of baptism not only as a re-birth, but as a death to sin, Bp. Irineos reflects on what this vespers hymn should mean to us in light of the Gospel story.

As we commemorate the Righteous Joseph of Arimathea and the myrrh bearing women, Bp. Irineos discusses the great risks and bold love the Joseph showed for the Lord and ponders what we are willing to risk for Christ in our modern times.