You no doubt know of St. Mary of Egypt but have you read her story? Today on Lord Send Me, Fr. John reads the miraculous story of this saint's life. You can also read it here: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/maryegypt.asp

Fr. John interviews Fr. Christopher Foley of Holy Cross Orthodox Church, High Point, North Carolina.

Fr. John speaks with Metropolitan Kallistos Ware about the importance of preaching, worship, and books in our call to evangelism. One of the books His Eminence recommends for those wanting to learn more about the Orthodox faith is For the Life of the World by Fr. Alexander Schmemann.

Fr. John shares an update and prayerful reflections on the recent flooding in South Carolina.

Fr. John reflects on the final Plenary Speeches of Pastor Rick Warren and Cardinal O'Malley of Boston from the World Meeting on Families in Philadelphia at the end of September.

Fr. John shares an update from the Department of Evangelization with the 18th All-American Council of the Orthodox Church in America, July 2015.

Fr. John Parker begins a short series showcasing the lives and impact of OCMC missionaries, especially the role of mission work in Africa.

Fr. John Parker speaks on the rule of St. Benedict, and how it caries over into the role of the parish priest in his community.

Fr. John Parker reflects on the Myrrhbearing woman and the healing of the paralytic. There are two types of messages in sharing our faith: the preaching of Jesus as the Son of God and personal testimony of what God has done in our lives. He asks for listener feedback regarding this sentence describing the Myrrhbearers, "They went and told no one because they were afraid." What keeps us from boldly proclaiming Christ? (Email Fr. John at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)/**/.)

Fr. John speaks with Metropolitan Jonah of the Orthodox Church in Uganda. They speak about the Church in Uganda, and how the faith has spread in Africa.

As we approach the Feast of Feasts, Dr. Humphrey takes us again to the Old Testament to illumine the Paschal New Testament readings including the story of the Prophet Jonah as well as the Three Youths in the fire.

How do we understand God’s wrath, when there is also His love and peace?

Here the Old Testament readings for Great Vespers and the New Testament readings for Divine Liturgy are used to illuminate the importance of councils and primacy in the holy Church—a Church that is visible and concrete, with a recognizable and divinely-ordained shape, just as our Lord actually took on humanity, and did not simply visit us in an “appearance.”

This week’s readings for divine liturgy correct any notion we might have that the physical, material world does not matter. While the physical is ordered under the spiritual realm by God, it is also meant to be taken up into it, transformed. We see this careful balance and valuing of the spiritual and material worlds in the lives of the Theotokos and St. Edith of Wilton, as well as in the Old Testament narratives of the “fiery serpent” and the promised “new heavens and new earth.”

St. Paul told the Corinthians to “make holiness perfect in the fear of the Lord.” For some this sounds like “works-righteousness” and for others like the picture of an angry God. Instead, St. Paul echoes many OT texts that give tantalizing intimations of holiness to which we are called, participating in what has been done for us already.

When Thou O Lord was baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest. Dr. Humphrey explores the significance of Theophany on this first day of the New Year.

The story of the “little man” Zacchaeus (Luke 19:10) is illuminated as we consider a psalm concerning the “sons of Abraham” (1 Chronicles 16:7-14) and the vision of the victorious “Son of Man” (Dan. 7:12-14; 17-18) who came to rescue those who were lost. 1 Timothy 4:8-15 then encourages the entire Christian community (not simply those who are leaders) to grow in godliness, representing the Lord to those who are around us.

Why is Rahab such an important figure in the NT, found in Hebrews, Matthew and James? Two of our passages for this divine Liturgy mention her! Consider what the NT authors say about her, her place in salvation history, and the remarkable story in the book of Joshua concerning this disreputable woman who came to live “outside the camp” with the Hebrews.

This Sunday we listen in on Jesus’ appearance to the eleven, and then his special visit with St. Thomas, learning, with the help of the epistle of John, how Jesus is LORD and God over the whole created order. He answers our sensory questions, and not simply the abstract “spiritual” problems of life, bringing us to know Him intimately. John 20:19-31; 1 John 1:1-7 Genesis 2; Exodus 3

Our readings for this Sunday before Ascension are dramatic stories of Jesus’s healing of the blind man, and the conversion of the jailer after Paul and Silas had been wrongfully imprisoned (John 9:1-38; Acts 16:16-35). Psalm 2 and Daniel 7 help us to understand the authority (and compassion) of the Son of Man, and lead us to reflect upon our place in an increasingly hostile world, where both religious and political powers may not appreciate the glory of the Lord, or our solidarity with Him.

John 7:37-52; 8:12 and Acts 2:1-11 are paired in this Holy day’s readings, showing us Jesus’ promise and the fulfillment of his words. Let us consider also how Pentecost, a multi-sensory event, was the undoing of the confusion of Babel, and the fulfillment of the words of Amos and Ezekiel, not only for Israel, but for the whole human race. With this confidence, let us pray for our patriarchs in Crete and across the world as they consider and work towards our common life together.

Here the Old Testament readings for Great Vespers and the New Testament readings for Divine Liturgy are used to illuminate the importance of councils and primacy in the holy Church—a Church that is visible and concrete, with a recognizable and divinely-ordained shape, just as our Lord actually took on humanity, and did not simply visit us in an “appearance.” This program is a re-air from July 17, 2015.

Our readings for this Sunday, 1 Cor. 4:9-16; Matthew 17:14-23 are clarified in the Old Testament, in 1 Samuel (1 Kingdoms)16:1-13; Micah 5:2-4. Here we see the great paradox of humility that shows forth greatness: we become, as G. K. Chesterton put it. “Straighter when we bend and taller when we bow.” Authentic reliance upon God is born of such humility, and so is authentic love for others. We see the examples in the cross-bearing Jesus, and in the apostle Paul, ‘father’ to the Corinthians.

Phil. 2:5-11, Luke 10: 38-42, Luke 11: 27-28 appear to be odd readings for the celebration of Holy Mary. Let’s consider, with the help of Isaiah 45 and St. John Chrysostom why they are so very “meet and right” in remembering the humble one who has been made “more honorable than the cherubim and more glorious than the seraphim.”

We consider the humility of Jesus and the Theotokos in the Presentation, as well as the reason why humility is so important, as seen in our readings for Divine Liturgy this Sunday (2 Timothy 3:10-15; Luke 18:10-14), in the light of Hezekiah’s plea before God in 4 Kingdoms 19:9-20 and our Lord’s own pattern in Philippians 2: 5-11.

We read the stories of the Holy Martyr George (celebrated this Sunday April 23, along with St. Thomas Sunday) in the light of Job, Isaiah and Revelation 12, seeing him as a mirror to our victorious Lord, who cleansed the chaotic waters of all that lurked there, and trampled down death by death.

We look to the gospel and epistle readings for this feastday, in order to give us wisdom and courage in meeting the challenges of our own. Luke 1: 1-80, 3:16-20, Malachi 4, Romans 13:11-14:4

We consider the physicality of Matthew 17:1-13, 2 Corinthians 4:6 and 2 Peter 1:19-21 in the light of the experiences of Moses (Exodus 24 and 34), Elijah (1 Kings 19) Daniel (Dan 10:5-10) and the prophecy of Malachi 4. The transformation which comes in seeing and hearing God affects the whole of who we are!

This week, in the middle of the season of Luke’s gospel, and looking forward to Luke’s feast-day, we consider the many uses that Luke makes of the Old Testament Scriptures, and his careful attention to what “is written” there so that we may better know the LORD. His intimate knowledge of the Old Testament is an indication of its importance, and how we should aspire to know and understand it better.

This Sunday, the fourteenth of Luke, we also commemorate the prophet Zephaniah, whose tiny book in the OT speaks eloquently both of the dark state of God’s people, and his aim to bring them into the light (Zephaniah 1:14-17; 3:9-20). Those themes help us to think more concretely, and as a community, concerning the gospel and epistle for today (Ephesians 5:8-19; Luke 18:35-43), where spiritual blindness and sight is also addressed.

This weekend, as we take our leave of this dramatic time of year, we consider readings from several Orthodox jurisdictions, amplified by passages in the Psalter and the Torah. Ephesians 4:7-13, Psalm 67/68:18, Matthew 4:12-17 and John 21:1-14 show us both the global and the intimate, or personal nature, of the Light that has made its mark upon the entire cosmos, and on each one of us.

This week, as we approach Great Lent, Dr. Edith Humphrey helps us prepare our minds by focusing upon godly humility, as seen in Job, in the model laid out for Timothy by St. Paul, and in the well-known parable of the Publican and the Pharisee.

This week we read the epistle through the lenses of St. John Chrysostom, St. John Climacus, the book of Genesis and Isaiah’s portrait of the Suffering Servant. Here we are given the hope to continue following our great forerunner Jesus. The gospel reading adds to this the importance of faith, prayer and fasting, as we set our faces towards the cross.

This week we look to the Old Testament readings of Exodus 3 and Jeremiah 32-33 to understand the feast of the Annunciation, the words of Gabriel to holy Mary, and the meeting of the Theotokos with Elizabeth in the hill country of Judah. God’s glory is seen in humble places.

Remembering the apostles, we consider Jesus’ words from Matt 9:13 concerning God’s mercy, and the Resurrection hymns in the fourth tone, in the light of 1 Cor 1:26-31, Hosea 6:6-7, Genesis 3:1-5, and Wisdom 2:23-24.

We consider the astonishing resurrectional hymns in the second tone, and understand their dramatic language in the light of the book of Job, the prophecy of Isaiah, and the Transfiguration narratives.

This week we understand the depths of Christ’s demolition of death, and the great reversal, in the light of Ezekiel 7, Jeremiah 7, and Psalm 125 (MT 126).

This week we read Acts 6:1-7, the story of the selection of the first deacons, in light of Ephesians 4:10-13, Exodus 18:19-21, Numbers 17 and Deuteronomy 34:9. We rejoice in the wonder of how authority works in the Church, with every member given the Holy Spirit, while we offer our leaders special honor as they help us on the road to full maturity in Christ.

After completing our analysis on the troparia, kontakia, and theotokia, we turn to reading the epistles for Divine Liturgy, beginning with this week’s section from 2 Timothy. The Apostle Paul’s words to this young leader are applicable to everyone, not simply to those who lead the Church, since the Scriptures, Old and New Testament, are for all. We seek to understand the Apostle’s instructions by reference to Psalm 118 (MT 119), and by remembering those who have suffered for their faithfulness—most especially our Lord Jesus himself.

We start a new series, in which the light of the OT and the fathers will be shone upon that mysterious book which is intended to be an unveiling, not to lie in obscurity. This week, we consider Rev 1:1-3 in the light of Daniel 2-4, and Exodus 23-4.

This week we read John’s opening address in Rev 1:4-8, and see it come to life with the help of some Church fathers, as we recognize its echoes to Isaiah 11, Daniel 7:13-27, and especially Zechariah 12-13.

This week we tackle Rev 1:9-17, and seek to understand John’s initial vision of the LORD Jesus in the light of the OT passages that he echoes: Rev. 1:9-17; Exodus 20; Daniel 7:9-14; 10:16-19, and Ezekiel 43:2.

This week we take to heart Jesus’ strengthening words to the seer John, learning what it is to truly fear the Lord, how He is the beginning and the end of all things, and how our times are in His hands. (Rev. 1:17b-20, Genesis 1-3, Dan 10:7-12a; Isaiah 22:22; Psalm 31:14-17a/LXX 30:15-18a)

We consider the Lord’s words to “the angel of the church of Ephesus” in Rev 2:1-7, thinking about our corporate identity by means of passages in Exodus, and remembering the necessity of adding love and humility to chastity and patience.

This week we consider the message of the risen Jesus to the church as Smyrna, and are encouraged by a generous God who makes us His confidants, so that we will be prepared for all that comes our way. We are helped in this by looking at Genesis 15 and Daniel 1.

As we approach the depth of Holy Week, we hear Jesus’ call to repentance, and promise for those who follow Him into victory, in Revelation 2:12-17. We are helped in understanding this word to Pergamum and to us by reading Numbers chapters 24-25 and 31, and Hebrews 4:12.

We read Jesus’ words to the church at Thyatira (Rev. 2:18-28), probing the description of the fiery-eyed Jesus, the temptations of their celebrated prophetess “Jezebel,” and Jesus’ promise to reward their “works” by His luminous coming as the Morning Star. We are helped by remembering the nemesis of Elijah in 2 Kings (4 Kingdoms) 9:30-37, the visions of Daniel 7 and 10, and the commentary of select Church fathers.

We hear Jesus’ words to Sardis (Rev. 3:1-6) in the light of the prophets Amos (2:4-12, 5:16-20, 6:1) and Isaiah (42:3), considering that divine warnings are meant to lead to repentance, and that we are invited to participate in the strengthening help that Christ gives His Church.

This week we consider Jesus’ strengthening words to Philadelphia in Rev 3:7-13, seeking to understand the meaning of the crown, the pillars, and the name of New Jerusalem by reference to various passages in the New Testament and the fathers, and by looking back to Ex 19:6, 1 Kings 7:21, Zec 4, Hos. 2:24 and Is 44:5.

We hear Jesus’ words to Laodicea (Rev 3:14-22), rejoicing that even for a lukewarm Church there is the remedy of forgiveness and revival, as also seen in Isaiah 65:16-19, Ezekiel 36-7 and Jeremiah 31, as well as in Jesus’ own words concerning the enlivening work of the Holy Spirit. Repentance is for all of us, not simply for unbelievers, and yields the riches, healing, and purity that God intends for His people.