We Have Seen the True Light

The prayers before Holy Communion (which are dated from the 13-14th Cen.) offer so much beauty and focus in preparation for a person to "approach with the fear of God, faith and with love."  Today there is a connection from the Epistle Reading (which we hear St. Paul to Timothy, which the Church uses at the beginning of the Communion Prayers) and the Gospel Passage of the man receiving his sight.  Listen to how we can have the faith and where we should place ourselves in rank to God.

We hear in the Gospel Passage about 10 lepers who had faith and called out to Christ for His mercy.  While they followed His command to "show themselves to the priests" one realized he was healed and came back to give thanks.    Some questions:

1. Why just one? 
2. Where did the other 9 go? 
3. Are you like the one who came back to give thanks? 
4. Are you like the other nine that we do not hear from again?

We hear today about our Lord healing a woman on the Sabbath Day, and a leader of the Synagogue wasnt too happy.  Our Lord today reminds us that as we are to follow the Commandments of God, we must always have love and compassion in our hearts.  What are our responsibilities?  Well listen... 

This sermon focuses on a Seminar that a few parish family members attended yesterday.  One of the presenters focused on how our Churches need to have a deep Sacramental life in Christ.  When we come and participate in The Divine Liturgy, we receive Christ.  He dwells in us.  Have you ever thought of yourself as a walking Chalice?  

Today in the Gospel Passage we hear from our Lord who are neighbor is.  There have been many sermons given about each person mentioned in this parable.  Are we like the two individuals who saw with their eyes and didn't help?  Are we like the Samaritan who stopped, helped and took care of the person?  Or are we like the person who has been beaten and left for dead, waiting for someone to notice and help us? This sermon presents for points we hope it can bring us closer to God through helping others.

The question is asked who do we pray for and while we pray for loved ones who are sick and suffering we must remember to pray for those who have fallen asleep.  The Church has beautiful services called Memorials in which they are remembered.  Listen for more

In the Gospel Passage today we hear about 2 women who were healed by our Lord and Savior.  From the very beginning of His earthly ministry our Lord sat with, ate with, dialogued with and healed those who were sick and He did this even when He was interrupted. 

What about us?  When sickness interrupts our life how do we handle it?  Do we have the same Faith of the woman (with the flow of blood )?

Today we hear about the rich man who had everything and the poor man named Lazarus who had nothing.  We hear that the soul of the Lazarus was taken into Abrahams bosom and the man who was rich on earth was sent to a place of torment.  How does this passage tell us about our lives today  and the eternal one?  Listen

There was a comic book series that asked the question "What if".  What if things were different for a superhero or if the outcome was different (this was then made into episodes on a network or the summer).  For us today though we hear about what happens when we complete this life.  Instead of us asking "What If" how about we ask "What are" we doing to be better.  "What are" we doing to be Christ-like in this world.  Listen for more

Today we hear the Parable of the Good Sower.  Many of us know about this parable and how our Lord explained about each of the grounds that the seed fell upon.  But did you know that the Clergy (and actually all of us who work to spread the Good News of the Faith) are sowers of the Word of God too?  What is your soil like?  Dry?  Wet? Listen this sermon on how this Parable relates to us here today.