Christ is Risen! Each year during the Paschal Vigil, the lamps, candles and lights of the Church are extinguished prior to the beginning of the Resurrection service. This symbolic act assists us spiritually by reminding us of the darkness that accompanies the death of Jesus Christ. It also helps us to comprehend physically, emotionally...
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The annual celebration of our Lord’s Resurrection comes and goes each year along with so many other important events and activities. Inherent in our busy lives is the risk that this day, Pascha, may become a little too much like every other holiday or celebration. In time, life itself can become a rather flat...
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A few years ago the feature article in National Geographic was, “The Heavy Cost of Fat.” In this short but interesting article, the eating patterns of Americans were placed under the microscope. The bottom line was that we are eating more of everything: vegetables, sugars, grains, fruits, fats and oils, and protein. In fact,...
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By the end of this month we will enter into the period of the year known as Great Lent. The season culminates with the celebration of the Lord’s Resurrection at the Vigil on Saturday night. The journey itself is an arduous one full of many opportunities to increase our practice of a Christian way...
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Recently my wife and I welcomed our fourth child into our home. Our son was a welcomed surprise after nearly five years since our last child was born. Just prior to his arrival we made the usual preparations to our home, we set up a crib, a bassinet in our bedroom, purchased diapers, wet...
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The words transformation and change encompass so much of our walk as Christians. Certainly the event of our Lord’s Transfiguration is a critical occurrence that informs His Disciples of His true identity. This event forced them to consider a new reality. Changing one’s perspective about someone is not easy and changing one’s perspective about...
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Each year during the first fifteen days of August our Church honors the Mother of God in a special way. The time period is known as the Dormition Fast. It begins on August 1 and concludes on August 15 with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy. During these two weeks the Church observes a...
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Every once in a while you come across an idea that can enhance your life if you let it, once such idea is watchfulness. We find this idea in Matthew’s Gospel when Jesus charges His Disciples to, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is...
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A few years ago I went to Seattle to visit my in-laws during the Christmas holiday. We arrived on the 26th of December and my wife, children and I celebrated the feast of our Lord’s nativity with our family in Washington as if it was Christmas Day. For my children it was a fun...
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The first chapter of Matthew’s Gospel contains a genealogy for the birth of Christ. In all we read about the forty two generations that precede the birth of Christ. For me personally it is a reading that can be hard to pay attention to or find an application for in my life. Instead I...
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