Jesus was misjudged as he healed the mute man and just went on healing. He told his disciples that if the world misjudged and treated him as terribly as it was about to, that they (and, by extension, we) should expect even worse.

Jesus’ injunctions not to judge imply that what he said to his disciples about not lording it over one another should probably apply to how we deal with one another, and this is exactly what we see spelled out in the writings of the Apostle Paul in Romans 14-15. I find it interesting, being myself someone who, like St. Paul, has been proved dramatically wrong, that it is Paul who spells out so clearly how we are to go about not judging one another:

* by respecting the dictates of both our own and others’ consciences,

* by being open about the freedoms we have in Christ without leading others to disobey the dictates of their consciences,

* by valuing our brothers above the exercise of our own freedoms,

* and, above all, by realizing: “Who are you to judge another man’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls, and he will stand, for God is able to make him stand.”

We are mostly not qualified to judge which is why, when the Church has to judge, it does so corporately, through the hierarchy. Our primary job is to do our best to ensure that, if we are misjudged, we are, like our Lord, misjudged for doing what is right—and then to keep right on doing what is right, and to keep focussing on loving one another and building one another up, just as we see Jesus doing.

Scripture readings referenced:

* John 15:17-16:2

* Romans 14:1-15:7

* Matthew 9:27-35

* Psalm 69:9

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We tend to forget that, if we are the people of God, the prophets are speaking to—and generally correcting—us. This is why Jesus reminds his hometown hearers, at the beginning of his public ministry, that the ones who received the word of the prophet and were fed and healed were not the people of God, but the Sidonite widow, who responded to Elijah’s word with faith, and Naaman the Syrian general, who ultimately responded to Elisha’s word with humility.

Scripture readings referenced:

* Luke 4:14-30

* Isaiah 61:1-2a

* I Kings 17:8-16

* II Kings 5:1-14

Inspired, in part, by my grandfather’s poem, “He Closed the Book”.

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The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, very different people, set an example for us, in their disagreement, on the importance of and how we ought to respond to speaking the truth in love: Saint Paul illustrates for us the importance of speaking the truth, while Saint Peter illustrates for us the importance of humbly receiving a life-giving rebuke (Proverbs 15:31)—both are necessary for us to grow up into the unity to which we are called, as members of the body of Christ.

Scripture readings referenced:

Official lectionary:

* Matthew 16:13-19

* II Corinthians 11:21-12:9

Fr. Justin’s lectionary:

* Galatians 2:11-14

* II Peter 3:14-16

* Ephesians 4:11-16

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Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. (Philippians 3:17)

The glorification of Righteous Mother Olga of Kwethluk, Alaska, reveals to us (as do the lives of all the saints) that holiness is attainable through the simple acts of love which God gives us the opportunity to do in whatever walk of life to which He has called us—and through the repentance and the joyful response to suffering which Christ sets before us. And that those who are being made saints are already among us, to honour and to follow, as they follow Christ.

Scripture readings referenced:

* Matthew 4:18-23

* Matthew 4:25-5:12

Children’s book on St. Olga referenced: https://stjohnofshanghai.org/resources/StOlgaOfAlaskaBook.pdf

Life of the Righteous Mother Olga of Kwethluk—Tanqilria Arrsamquq—Wonderworker, Matushka of All Alaska: https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/10/27/100561-righteous-mother-olga-of-kwethluktanqilria-arrsamquqwonderworker

Erratum: Holy Matushka Olga died in 1979, not 1978.

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Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)

If we start with the understanding that God is good (Hebrews 11:6) and follow the example of Christ, focusing on our heavenly reward, the joy of being with our Creator, we will be able to take up our cross daily, as Christ calls us to (Luke 9:23). This is how we acquire the Holy Spirit, as St. Seraphim of Sarov put it, that we—together with thousands around us—may be saved.

Scripture readings referenced:

* Hebrews 11:33-12:2

* Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38, 19:27-30

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We were a few more at that first liturgy than just the fourteen from St. Herman’s who were sent out to start St. John’s because of the love and support of others who joined us for that first Pentecostal celebration.

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A look at how the Mosaic tradition of appointing elders to judge the people found its fulfillment in the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea

Note: I mention the Donatists, but, while I may have implied that the Church ultimately ruled that they were in the wrong, I’m not sure I made it explicit enough that their schism was condemned by the council that Constantine convened as a lack of love and in contravention of Christ’s teachings about repentance and forgiveness.

Scripture readings referenced:

* Genesis 14:14-20

* Deuteronomy 1:8-11, 15-17

* Acts 20:16-18, 28-36

* John 17:1-13

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In which we review the story of the man born blind from the blind man’s perspective as a way into the experience of God on which true philosophy is founded

References:

• John 9:1-38





• Acts 16:16-34





• Matthew 11:2-15





• II Corinthians 4:6-15, 12:7-10

… Read on

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We have betrayed the Image of God. Our only choice is whether we will be Judas or the sinful woman.… Read on

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We need stories, and the story we need right now is that of St. Mary of Egypt.… Read on

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