Through the many struggles of this season of Lent, we all have the opportunity to grow in the faith necessary to entrust ourselves more fully to Christ.

Like the men in today’s gospel reading, we all need the healing of the Lord for our eyes, our mouths, and every aspect of who we are.

Looking to the example of the great saints we commemorate today, as well as to the model of those holy fishermen, let us repudiate the superficial, self-centered tendencies celebrated by our culture and undertake the daily struggle of obedience to Christ. That means letting down our nets in obedience at every opportunity as we cry out for His merciful healing of our souls. That is the holy habit that we must all cultivate if we want to become worthy disciples of the Savior.

I am sure that many people today reject or have no interest in the Christian faith because they have not seen in others the healing of the human person brought by Jesus Christ. Perhaps they have heard Christians speaking primarily about morality, politics, emotion, or a view of salvation that has nothing to do with the realities of life in the world as we know it. Or they may have seen many examples of hypocrisy on the part of those who identify themselves with the Lord, but who live their lives in opposition to His teachings even as they look for opportunities to condemn their neighbors. Regardless, many today have concluded that there is nothing in the Christian life worthy of their devotion.

If you are like me, there are times when you become worried or upset over matters of very little importance. It often does not take much to punch our buttons because we base our sense of self and wellbeing, as well as our hopes for the future, on illusions that cannot fulfill them. Due to our darkened spiritual vision, we do not see ourselves, our relationships with other people, or where we stand before the Lord very clearly. When the inevitable challenges of life cause us to catch even a small glimpse of these uncomfortable truths, we usually do not like it and can easily start to sink into the churning sea of our passions.

Fr. John explores how the Church began to address, confront, and challenge the pagan culture of the Roman Empire, particularly during the third century.

Fr. John explains how the Church cultivated a higher level of sexual dignity and explores how Christendom served to elevate women in Roman society.

Fr. John explores traditional Christian temple or church architecture and locates the principle of heavenly orientation at work.

Fr. John continues his discussion of traditional Christian architecture.

After a transition to his new parish assignment, Father John returns to the podcast with a discussion of the atmosphere of catastrophe that hung over the old Christendom of the east as the Muslim Turks advanced on Byzantium, while a defender of traditional Christianity, Saint Mark of Ephesus, prepared to depart for the unionist Council of Florence in the west.

Fr. Josiah Trenham speaks about catechism at a clergy retreat for the Carolina Deanery of the Orthodox Church in America.

Fr. John Parker analyzes the impact of love in two Super Bowl commercials, and exhorts us to comprehend the impact they have on our lives as Orthodox Christians.

Fr. John Parker shares insight on some of his visits to Death Row.

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.”

What is sure and what is shallow? Our Great Vesper readings (Genesis 14:14-20, Deuteronomy 1:8-11, 15-17 and Deuteronomy 10:14-21) guide us in understanding what the fathers of the ecumenical councils have done, and in reading Titus 3:8-15 and Luke 8:5-15.

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.

The prophet Jeremiah helps us to consider, along with this Sunday’s gospels and epistle, the different ways in which God makes himself intimately known to each of us, and to all of us together, in the Church. (Luke 8:26-39; Gal 1:11-19; Luke 16:19-31; Jeremiah 31:31-34)

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

Today we read our epistle (1 Corinthians 16:13-24) and gospel (Matthew 21:33-42) in the light of Isaiah 5:1-7; 27:1-13 and 2 Peter 1: 3-12. We are led to see that there is a new song of hope that replaces the prophet’s lament over God’s people, because Jesus has become the cornerstone of God’s Temple.

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.

The resurrectional-dismissal Theotokion in tone four is replete with theological mystery, and itself calls attention to the Mystery of mysteries—the God-Man who died for our sake. We look to the entire sweep of the Old Testament, as well as the epistles, to clarify its words.

This week we consider the Paschal epistle reading, Acts 1:1-8, in the light of Genesis 1-2; Genesis 30-50, Romans 8:22-25. We see the importance of time to God, as well as the fruitfulness of waiting, even in unpleasant or difficult circumstances.

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 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 move on from the seven messages of the exalted Jesus, to see, through John’s eyes, the wonder of heavenly worship. Revelation 4 is in harmony with Old Testament Visions such as Isaiah 6, Ezekiel 1, and Daniel 7, but suggests in its astonishing detail that God’s presence among us had been deeply enhanced through the actions of the Living One, Who was, and is, and is to come. The significance of thanksgiving as an essential characteristic of our service and worship is modeled for us by the hosts of heaven, both human and angelic.

This week we consider Revelation 16 as an intensification of Exodus 7-12, looking to Haggai 2:6-7, and various other NT passages, as well as some Church fathers, in our reading of this sobering passage.

We read the fourth of the six Orthros psalms of penitence, Psalm 87 (LXX)/88 (MT), looking to Jesus as the “perfect Die-er” who brings light to the whole world, showing wonders even to the dead! This heavy psalm is understood through the similarly difficult passages of Luke 2:29-35, 2 Cor 5:21, Gal 3:13, John 12:20b-36, and Psalm 21(LXX) /22 (MT).

We read the rest of Azariah’s prayer, followed by a short narrative, found in Daniel 3:37-50, with the help of Psalm 50/51 and Ezra (in the OSB, 2 Ezra) 8:71-87. Azariah’s utter honesty and trust in the philanthropic LORD leads to God’s answer—His presence with them in the furnace, as Azariah and his friends offer the fruit of their lips.

Greedy the Crow by Mother Melania, illustrated by Cayce Grace Kruse.   Available from Holy Assumption Monastery 1519 Washington St., Calistoga, CA 94515 Email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)/**/ Tel: 707-942-6244

"The Parable of the Sower, from The Parables of Christ by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

In the Candle’s Glow, by Elizabeth Crispina Johnson, illustrated by Amandine Wanert (Ancient Faith Publishing, 2017)

God Painted Us a Rainbow, written by Katrina Streza, illustrated by Lisa Graves (Xist Publishing, 2013)

The Saint Nicholas Day Snow, by Charlotte Riggle, illustrated by R.J. Hughes (Phoenix Flair Press, 2017).

9. How the Monastery Came to Be on the Top of the Mountain by Alvin Alexsi Currier (Conciliar Press, 1999). Book 2: Basil's Search for Miracles part 7 (chapters 14-16 ) by Heather Zydek (Conciliar Press, 2007).

31. Book 1: Christina's True Heroes by Maria C. Khoury (CDK Publications, 2005) Book 2: Halloween Town by Dennis Eugene Engleman (Regina Orthodox Press) part one

32. Book 1: The Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple from The Twelve Great Feasts for Children by Mother Melania (Conciliar Press, 2003) Book 2: Halloween Town by Dennis Eugene Engleman (Regina Orthodox Press) part two

33. Book 1: Prepare, O Bethlehem!: The Feast of the Nativity illustrated for Children by Niko Chocheli (St Vladimir's Seminary Press, 2000) Book 2: Halloween Town by Dennis Eugene Engleman (Regina Orthodox Press) part three and conclusion

66. Book 1: "A Bowl of Lentils" from The Bible for Young People by Zoe Kanavas translated by Rev. Spencer T. Kezios (Narthex Press, 2005) (7.48 mins) Book 2: Saint Innocent of Alaska, Apostle and Missionary by Sarah Elizabeth Cowie, Chapters 3 and 4 (Conciliar Press, 2005) (begins at 9:05, duration 18.20 mins)

Fr. Ted explains why Holy Week actually begins with Lazarus Saturday.

Fr. Ted explores Holy Monday's Gospel, explaining how it foreshadows Christ's passion.

Fr. Ted explains why we celebrate saints on the days of their deaths.

If the window of our soul is clean, then light comes in and illumines all things.

Fr. Ted explains why we bless the waters on Theophany.

Fr. Ted introduces St. Gregory of Nyssa and his theology.

Fr. Ted calls us to know the truth about ourselves through the parable of the Publican and the Pharisee.

Fr. Ted encourages us to live our faith during Holy Week and throughout the year to come!

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos preaches on the Parable of the Wedding Feast reminding us that we come to the Church for the healing of our souls.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos explains the Synodal System within the Orthodox Church.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos reflects on our materialistic culture and our call as Orthodox Christians to live within our means so that we can share with others and help those in need.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos addresses the importance of God Parents in a child's life in the Orthodox Church.