o Three Aspects of Covenant By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:23:49+00:00 Among Biblical concepts, one of the central is the covenant. Indeed, covenant is at the absolute center and root of the identity of the people of God. In today’s homily, Fr. Pat considers three aspects of covenant. Full Article
o The Lady at the Foot of the Cross By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:24:36+00:00 Fr. Pat captures some dimensions of the place of the mother of Jesus in the passion of Christ. Full Article
o The Four Directions of the Cross By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:27:33+00:00 In four brief meditations given on each of the four Royal Hours on Great and Holy Friday, Fr. Pat reflects upon Ephesians 3:18. Full Article
o Hope, Faith, Love, and the Pentecostarion By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:29:46+00:00 In this homily given on St. Thomas Sunday, 2011, Fr. Pat considers how the revelation of the Holy Trinity takes place through the entire Pentecostarion, and how Pascha is not really complete until Pentecost. Full Article
o The Stewardship of the Soul By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:32:29+00:00 Discussion of the care of the human soul is of special necessity in the age and atmosphere in which we live. Fr. Pat turns once again to this very important topic. Full Article
o Out of Order By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:33:45+00:00 The Samaritan Woman whom Jesus meets at the well has, like many people today, a disordered life. Fr. Pat offers reflections on how this disorder afflicts the soul. Full Article
o The Growing Circle of Light By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:35:16+00:00 The account of the man born blind serves as a narrative completion of the themes introduced on the night of Pascha. Fr. Pat preaches on the darkness of blindness and the True Light, which gives light to every man coming into the world. Full Article
o Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:37:28+00:00 Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will be our teacher and instructor; He will lead us into all truth. When we pray Psalm 118:66 we ask the Holy Spirit to teach us goodness, discipline, and knowledge. Fr. Pat looks a these three things. Full Article
o The Testimony of God Written in Our Hearts By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:39:54+00:00 On the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Fr. Pat looks at two questions posed to St. Peter; each question has to do with the identity of the same Person, but the two questions are posed very differently. Full Article
o The Catholic, Apostolic Church By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:41:49+00:00 What sorts of things do we mean when we profess that the Church is catholic and apostolic? Why are these words so important that they are explicitly mentioned in the creed? Fr. Pat explores these questions. Full Article
o Wisdom and Folly By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:42:45+00:00 Fr. Pat preaches on the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders and the miracle of the cleansing of the leper (Matthew 7:24-8:4). Full Article
o The Torah and the Acropolis By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:44:17+00:00 Fr. Pat preaches on Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 5 that we are to be salt and light to the world. Full Article
o Time and the Knowledge of God By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:45:26+00:00 The English word “time” has various meanings. Fr. Pat looks at three of these in regard to our experience and knowledge of God. Full Article
o The Fragrance Filled the House By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:46:59+00:00 Fr. Pat looks at the story of the paralytic in Matthew 9 from three literary perspectives. Full Article
o The Cross and the Moral Life By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:48:09+00:00 The Apostle Paul instructs us in Romans 15 that we are not to please ourselves, but to please our neighbor for his good, to edify him. Fr. Pat encourages us in this matter. Full Article
o Two Views of History By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:51:52+00:00 It seems that our society is trying to walk on water without the power of God, and is consequently in the process of drowning in its many confusions. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects on our adhering to God’s revealed will vs. trying to make history. Full Article
o The Apostolic Model By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:53:18+00:00 In 1 Corinthians 4:16, Paul urges the Corinthian Christians to be imitators of him. In what ways should they, and we, do this? Full Article
o The Crown of the Year By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:54:50+00:00 Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon discusses the meaning of the Ecclesiastical New Year for Christians, its connection with the Feast of Joshua, and the significance of the Biblical texts chosen for this date. Full Article
o The King and His Mother By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T21:57:03+00:00 On the Sunday which is both the birthday of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the Sunday before the Feast of the Holy Cross, Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon looks at how these two are connected. Full Article
o Justification: Ongoing, Internal, and Shared By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T22:00:10+00:00 Preaching from Galatians 2:16-20, Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects upon justification through faith. Full Article
o The Anointing of the Believer By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T22:03:20+00:00 In 2 Corinthians 1:23 Paul says, "He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.” Father Patrick Henry Reardon provides three ways to describe this anointing. Full Article
o The Texture of the Heart By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T22:06:39+00:00 In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus teaches us about hearing the Word of God and and holding it fast in our hearts. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon offers reflections on this topic. Full Article
o The Meaning of the City By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T22:07:50+00:00 Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects on the story of the Gadarene demoniac, who, according to Luke, originally was from the city, and having been healed, returned to the city to proclaim how much Jesus had done for him. Full Article
o The Institutions of Witness By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T22:08:55+00:00 Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon discusses three types of witness, with special focus on the witness we call “the faith once delivered to the saints.” Full Article
o Galatians and the Gospel By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T22:09:39+00:00 Paul’s letter to the Galatians is directly concerned with the meaning and the integrity of the Gospel. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon offers three points on Paul's words spoken against the loss or distortion of the very essence of the Gospel. Full Article
o The Place, the Process, and the Prayer By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-06T22:14:33+00:00 Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon preaches from Luke 18:35-43, the story of the blind beggar who receives his sight. Full Article
o The Gnostic Impulse By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-01-11T06:39:01+00:00 The metaphysics of Gnosticism represents a major threat to the Gospel, and is an enemy of the doctrine of the Incarnation. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon offers reflections on this. Full Article
o The Children of God By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-02-14T18:47:45+00:00 In this homily given on the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects upon what makes us children of God. Full Article
o Jesus' Baptism and Ours By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-02-14T18:50:00+00:00 On the feast of Theophany, Fr. Pat looks at the juxtaposition of two texts from Matthew: the baptism of Jesus in Chapter 3, and Jesus’ sending the apostles out to baptize others in Chapter 28. Full Article
o Man's Capacity For Light By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-02-14T18:52:13+00:00 On the Sunday after the Theophany, Fr. Pat preaches from Matthew 4:12-17. Full Article
o Christ and the Forms of Worship By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-02-14T18:53:22+00:00 Fr. Pat's reflections on Luke 17:12-19, the cleansing of the ten lepers. Full Article
o The Moral Structure of Reality By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-02-17T23:46:24+00:00 Fr. Pat discusses the meaning of moral realism, the radical mercy of God, and Christ and His Cross. Full Article
o Reflections on Sacrifice By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-02-21T19:43:09+00:00 Fr. Pat's homily on the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord and Savior in the Temple. Full Article
o The Seams of History By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-02-28T14:32:06+00:00 Fr. Pat preaches from 2 Timothy 3:10-15. Full Article
o Incidental Features in the Story of the Prodigal Son By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-03-10T21:14:00+00:00 Rather than discussing the main themes from the story of the Prodigal Son, Fr. Pat examines features of the story not related to its central core, but nonetheless significant. Full Article
o Stargazers: The Cultivation of a Devout Mind By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-04-11T02:26:42+00:00 In this reflection, Fr. Pat considers what we have to learn from those in the Nativity story who look into the sky and ponder the moon and the stars. Full Article
o Three Verbs at the Pool By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-05-23T20:31:16+00:00 In a sermon given on the Sunday of the Paralytic, Fr. Pat preaches on this healing told in John 5:1-15. Full Article
o Three Wolves By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-05-31T04:13:57+00:00 St. Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 that fierce wolves would come to draw men away from the flock. Fr. Pat considers three of these wolves, that challenge us today just as they challenged the early Church. Full Article
o Three Aspects of Philosophy By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-05-31T04:52:21+00:00 The story of Jesus healing the man born blind in John 9 provides the context for Fr. Pat's reflections on epistemology, anthropology, and history. Full Article
o Three Scenes in Church History By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-06-07T13:12:26+00:00 On the Sunday of the Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, Fr. Pat preaches from John 17 and Acts 20. Full Article
o The Holy Spirit and the Gift of Speech By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-06-12T14:47:54+00:00 On the Feast of Pentecost, Fr. Pat compares events in the book of Genesis with the events in Acts 2. Full Article
o Three Qualities of Holiness By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-06-15T12:03:23+00:00 In the Bible, the designation “saint” is not restricted to those who are already in Glory. Rather, it designates all those who are in Christ, no matter how much their lives may need improvement. On the Feast of All Saints, Fr. Pat delves into this topic for our edification. Full Article
o Conscience and the Word of God By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-06-30T21:22:18+00:00 The very fact that God designed the Bible for the purpose of penetrating the human conscience indicates an intentional affinity between the two. Preaching from Romans 2:10-16 and Matthew 4:18-23, Fr. Pat instructs us on man's conscience. Full Article
o The Danger is Not an Armed Guard By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-10-10T23:39:41+00:00 Mark’s account of the Lord’s questions about baptism and the cup (Mark 10:32-45) are especially poignant for the Christians at Rome, who are thereby instructed about an important dimension of their own participation in the sacraments. Full Article
o Three Features of the Life in Christ By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-10-23T01:44:46+00:00 Throughout the book of Ephesians (and elsewhere) the Apostle Paul uses the phrase “in Christ.” Based on Ephesians 5:8-19, Fr. Pat looks at some practical ways to live a life in Christ. Full Article
o Judgment and a Fallen People By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-11-18T05:46:52+00:00 Matthew 25:31-46, the Gospel passage for the Sunday of the Last Judgment, is about the judgment of history, meaning the judgment to which history itself will be subjected. Fr. Pat delivered this homily on February 23, 2020. Full Article
o A Meditation About Scheduling By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-11-26T18:08:26+00:00 We all have schedules and agendas, and we’re mindful of our own and of those with whom we interact. Using stories from the Gospels and Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Fr. Pat considers with us God's schedules and hidden agenda. Full Article
o At the Gate of the City By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-11-26T18:11:27+00:00 A look at the journey of the human race as such, the meaning of the incarnation, and the fulfillment of the great promise of Israel’s prophets. Full Article
o The Visible Revelation of the Father By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-12-08T13:37:30+00:00 The bishops at the Seventh Ecumenical Council reasoned that the legitimacy, indeed, the necessity of icons in the church was an organic inference from the thesis that God became visible in the Man Jesus of Nazareth. Fr. Pat gave this homily on The Sunday of Orthodoxy, 2020. Full Article
o For Unto Us a Child is Born By www.ancientfaith.com Published On :: 2020-12-22T13:07:10+00:00 Isaiah's prophetic vision of a Child, a son of David who was to come and Who would be God with us, Immanuel. Full Article