It is Bright Tuesday, the 3rd day of Pascha, and I greet you with all my heart: Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen! And all of nature is glorified! Get out of yourself. Look outward. All is fresh, green, and peaceful. Daffodils are in full bloom. Tulip trees blossom. Nature sings a new song, and the […]
John 14 is included in the first of twelve passion accounts read on Holy Thursday evening, at the Orthros of Great and Holy Friday. This is some indication of its central importance to Orthodox Christians. Passages from this chapter are read at other times throughout the year as well. John 14 shows Jesus asserting His divinity in […]
This Holy Wednesday morning I’ll reflect on Jesus’s Great Eucharistic Prayer to the Father as recorded in John 17. It is said in the presence of the Apostles just days before His Passion. Here is a portion of that prayer: At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, ‘As you, Father, […]
It is indicative of its importance that the Parable of the 10 Maidens is read today as well as on the Leave-taking (Apodosis) of the Theotokos into the Temple and at other times of the liturgical year. Here it is: The kingdom of heaven shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and […]
I look out and see daffodils and violets blooming, trees leafing, and birds singing of new life. Another spring is here, anticipating that eternal Spring and the resurrection of all who love Christ and keep His commandments. This confluence of spring and Holy Week reminds us of a paradox at the heart of things. For […]
The question of how to fast generates quite a bit of discussion and confusion, especially since there are so many different opinions from different priests on the rules of fasting. Life in today’s world can make keeping the fast difficult for many of us. To help clarify this, I offered 3 levels of fasting that hopefully will provide each of us with a way to use the Lenten period to prepare for the joyous Resurrection of our Lord and Savior.
