We Have Seen the True Light

On February 2nd, 40 days after the Birth of our Lord in the flesh, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple.  But what does that mean for us today?  Is it an event that we remember and celebrate liturgically or is there something that allows us to see where we are in our current relationship with our God?

Listen...

Today is the final of three sermons, the first two focused on time and talent, while todays focus is on treasure.

As Orthodox Christians we see the worlds as God's gift, as a sacrament of God's presence and means of communion with Him.  We witness to Christ by the way we set our priorities in life.   Same thing can happen with regards to our finances.

Do we commit more to the streaming services a month more than you do to our Church?  Do we pay more for apps on our mobile devices that we support the spreading of the Good News?

God does not ask us for a contribution, because His Church is not a club in which we pay dues.  He is asking for a total commitment of --- OUR LIFE!

Listen...

Today in the Gospel Passage we hear about Zacchaios and what he did to see Christ.  When this happened Christ called him down from the tree (he did this in order to see Jesus) and told him he was going to his home.

What is our home like (meaning our soul)?  Is it ready to receive Christ?

No???  LISTEN...

Today Fr. Demetri continues the second of three sermons focused on the theme of Stewardship, todays focus is on Talent.  In this sermon we hear a short story about an owner checking up on his work which leads to us making sure we are doing the right thing in this life.

How does the topic of talents connect with Vasilopita Cutting?

Does God have the first rights of your life?  Does He get the first slice of you... or does He get the crumbs that are left over?

LISTEN...

Today we hear the Gospel Passage about 10 lepers who asked Christ to heal them.  We hear Christ say "go and show yourselves to the priests" and while they were walking one noticed that he was healed and returned to thank Him?

What about the other nine?  They didn't.

Are we like the one who came back to say thank you or like the other nine who didn't???

LISTEN...

In the youth sermon today Fr offers a reflecting question seeing if we have improved ourselves into the New Year.

What were the answers that were given and how does it tie into our Faith?

Listen...

This is the first of three sermons that will focus on our Stewardship in the life of the Church. 

Our brief time on earth is God's gift to us.  We are accountable for our stewardship of this precious gift.  Yet what are we doing with it?  Of the 168 hours in every week in which we have been blessed, how much do we REALLY offer back to God?

We are all busy, but not all of that busy time is well-spent.  How can we improve the gift of time that God gives us?

Listen...

On Election Tuesday, many will go and vote at the polls.  Yet we must remember that before we do anything we must do the following:
1. Pray - it's ok to make the sign of the Cross over your ballot before filling it out, asking God to guide you through the process.
2. Make sure you are aware of what is on the ballot
3. Pray after - not that your candidate or for the outcome you want, rather that God's will be done here "on earth as it is in Heaven."
4. Pray regardless of the final tally.  We hear in the petitions in our Divine Services "For our country, the president, all those in public service, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord."  This comes from St. Paul himself as he writes to Timothy - and during those times, the civil leaders
WERE PERSECUTING THE CHRISTIANS WHO WERE IN FACT PRAYING FOR THEM -WOW!!!

Let that sink in for a moment.

On Election Tuesday many will go to the polls to vote for either candidates or on ballot questions that will affect ones area and possibly change laws.

But did you know that as an Orthodox Christian, we vote everyday?

No?  Listen How...

Yes it's the fall season and many are already watching or listening to Christmas music.  One character that comes to mind during this time of year is Scrooge.  How he was stingy and only thought of himself, yet we know that after his visit from 4 spirits, he repented and changed his life.

This makes us ask ourselves the following question:

Are we generous or being stingy in our daily lives?