The Orthodox Vine

A sermon on the commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. 

In this session from our Orthodox Faith and Life catechism class we discuss the Orthodox Icon of the Nativity and reflect on the meaning and universal significance of the Incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.  

We all fear something. But fear is not a natural condition of human beings but something that entered into us when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Ultimately, all fear is rooted in the fear of death. In the gospel reading from Matthew 14:23-33, we see how fear leads to doubt and this makes it difficult to keep and increase our faith. But there's a way to overcome both fear and doubt and trust and live in the power of God. 

At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."

And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

Sermon on Matthew 14:23-33. 

Sermon on the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos

A recording from our Orthodox Faith & Life Catechism Seminar

Love for Christ makes a person truly human. Without knowing Christ and loving him, we remain incomplete beings. This love for Christ is something that must be developed so that faith might also grow. The key to growing in both love and faith is humility. If we do not humble ourselves before God who humbled himself before us, then God will humble us by allowing us to suffer in order that this development of our love and faith might occur. We see this demonstrated in the two blind men in the gospel reading today. It was their suffering which had humbled them and thus increased their love and their faith; a faith so great that they believed with all their heart that Christ could heal their blindness instantaneously. And that is what he did, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."

The Gospel reading is from Matthew 9:27

At that time, as Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.

As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."

And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.

A recording of the first lecture from our Orthodox Faith & Life catechism class discussing the unknowable essence of God, how God reveals himself as Holy Trinity, and how we can know God through the participation and experience of his energies. We also discuss the reason why God created the world and his plan for human beings which he never revoked even after the fall of Adam and Eve.  

The first class of our Orthodox Faith & Life catechism seminar where Fr. Ninos explains the Orthodox approach to catechism as beyond learning with our minds but, more importantly, cultivating an Orthodox phronema (mindset) so that love for God and the journey of union and life with Christ can occur in accordance to one's struggle in the spiritual life within the arms of the Church. 

We can spend our short lifetime on this Earth worrying about our bodily health only and neglect the health of our souls. The sickness and wounds of the soul that are caused by sin will be eternal, if left untreated. But if we desire it, they can be healed through our repentance and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as we heard in the gospel reading today. 

At that time, getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. - Matthew 9:1-8