Fr Gabriel focuses on the dual nature of the stories of miraculous healing in the gospels, that healing occurs on both the physical and the spiritual levels. John's Gospel begins with the announcement of the Word made flesh who will bring Light and Life into our midst. The chapters from 9 to 11 in particular pick up this theme, speaking as they do of healings of vision and death, thus bringing light and life out of darkness.

Fr Gabriel looks at the communitarian spirit and life of the early church as depicted in Acts. This sub-text in the book makes us ponder the meaning of community in this day and age, particularly as we confront the trials of negotiating a Christian path through an increasingly secularized world. The book referred to in the homily is Rodney Stark's The Rise of Christianity.

So often we pass by the little notes in scripture that are of great importance. In this sermon Fr. Gabriel opens up the small things in the text to reveal the depth of the references to the Holy Myrrhbearers.

In this week's homily, Fr Gabriel outlines various ways in which Thomas—not really the "doubter" we think of according to the longstanding epithet—and we are alike in trying to discover the meaning of the Resurrection for our lives. The passage is quite clear about this, if we but clear our minds of preconceived notions and allow it to speak to us.

This week Fr. Gabriel, having spoken the message of the Triumphal Entry at Great Vespers, dwells on the Epistle for Palm Sunday from Philippians 4, showing its connection to our lives and the mysterious self-emptying of our Lord about which Paul spoke in the previous Christ-hymn at chapter 2.

Fr. Gabriel offers sermons weekly on both lessons, normally the Epistle at Great Vespers on Saturdays and the Gospel at Divine Liturgy on Sunday. This week's sermons explore St. Mary of Egypt weekend from the perspective of the Galatians 3 passage (Saturday), where Paul consider the place of the Law, and the Luke 7 passage on the woman who anoints Jesus and washes his feet with his tears.

Fr. Gabriel offers sermons weekly on both lessons, normally the Epistle at Great Vespers on Saturdays and the Gospel at Divine Liturgy on Sunday. This week's sermons explore St. Mary of Egypt weekend from the perspective of the Galatians 3 passage (Saturday), where Paul consider the place of the Law, and the Luke 7 passage on the woman who anoints Jesus and washes his feet with his tears.

Fr. Gabriel reflects this week on the "hinge" of the gospel of Mark (indeed, the hinge of all the Gospels) which is the movement from the question "who is this man who is so appealing and yet so elusive?" to Jesus' affirmation of what it means for him to be "Son of Man." The hinge that connects these two parts of the Gospel is the confession of Peter. Our text for this week comes shortly thereafter as a challenge to original and contemporary disciples to take up the cross.

This week Fr. Gabriel discusses the personal meaning of St. Gregory's work. Far from being academically theological in a way we cannot understand, St. Gregory's ministry safeguarded our integrity as Christians by focusing on demonstrating our relationship to God.

Fr. Gabriel opens up the big picture on the Iconoclastic Controversy, whose conclusion we commemorate this Sunday. There is much more here than dealing with idolatry, icons, and religious depictions of all kinds. This is about fundamental issues at the very heart of Christianity.