In American Society Christianity has become like a buffet, where you pick and chose what you want based on personal preference. Not so with Orthodoxy. Today we commemorate the Fathers of the 4th Ecumenical Council in Chalcedon. Ecumenical councils seem foreign to most, but it is through them them that our Holy Father's declared the Truth about Christianity. That Jesus is the Theanthropos the God-Man and He is fully God and fully man.

Today is the 6th Sunday of Matthew and the Epistle Reading is taken from Romans 12: 6-14. In the Epistle Paul speaks about different gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit. Father Ernesto draws from personal experience in the military and time in Vietnam to share with us what " Band of Brothers" means. He encourages us to understand that no matter the role we have in the Church and therefore the Body of Christ, it is important. If we are to find joy in being Orthodox we must find our place in the Church and volunteer our services.

In today's Epistle Paul tell us that there is a "more excellent way" in doing the will of God. Father Paul shares with us that to do the will of God we must love. Love necessitates a certain attitude of humility, doing to others that which we want done to us. Jesus clearly identifies love as an action of serving others before ourselves.

Today we commemorate the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. He is known as the Forerunner and Jesus said that no one born of a woman is greater than John. Father Ernesto shares with us today that no one is born a Saint. We as Orthodox Christians should commit our lives to Christ and begin a journey to becoming a Saint.

Today is the 3rd Sunday of Matthew and Jesus' teaching comes from the Sermon on the Mount. Our Lord tells us that if we seek His Kingdom and His righteousness we will not have to worry about the basic necessities of life. Fr. Micah shares with us to seek His Kingdom we must reduce the ego, gain humility and receive Him in the Eucharist.

Today is the 2nd Sunday of Matthew. The Gospel reading is taken from Matthew 4:18-23 and it narrates for us Jesus calling four of His disciples. The called disciples immediately left everything to follow Jesus. If we as Orthodox Christians want eternal life, help to carry life's burdens and if we want to walk in The Light we must do as the called disciples did and put Christ first.

Today Liturgically is the Sunday of All Saints. Father Micah shares with us an inspirational message, where he makes an analogies between diamonds and Saints. He concludes the message by reminding us that Saints like diamonds are forever.

Today is the Major Feast Day of Pentecost. We commemorate the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles in the upper room and in our lives. Father Micah shares with us that Saint Seraphim of Sarov said that the purpose of the Christian life is to acquire the Holy Spirit. Father Micah gives practical advise on how we are to acquire the Holy Spirit and His fruit.

Why do many of us struggle at times believing what the Bible says about Jesus? It is because we erroneously believe we can comprehend God intellectually. Today we commemorate the Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council who through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit tell us who Jesus is,
"True God of True God". By living an Orthodox Christian way of life and exercising our souls, we too can answer the question Jesus posed to the Apostles, " Who do you say that I Am"?

Today is the Sunday of the Blind Man. The blind man represents all of humanity in our spiritual blindness. Father Ernesto unpacks parallels between the Epistle and Gospel readings for today. There was no place for legalistic attitudes in Jesus' time here on earth nor should there be any today.