Homily on the Healing of the Ten Lepers

My homily for the 28th Sunday after Pentecost if provided after the “Read More” line.  Unfortunately, the recorder ran out of memory as I was giving the homily, so this is a rough draft of my notes.  The following readings were given on Sunday.

Colossians 1:12-18

12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: 15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Luke 17:12-19

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Now the homily:

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Why Do So Many Want to Steer the Ship

A question from an inquirer: A person pointed out to me that some of the church canons aren’t followed today such as: women not talking in church and polyphonic singing. Do all of the church canons need to be followed? If so doesn’t this mean that the church is self-condemned? Also, I’m wondering if the Read more about Why Do So Many Want to Steer the Ship[…]

Did St. Tikhon Write a Western Rite Liturgy?

The “Liturgy of St. Tikhon” is not a liturgy of St. Tikhon at all, nor was it ever approved by the Russian Synod of Bishops at the behest of St. Tikhon. As explained by the Antiochian Archdiocese: “In 1904, Archbishop Tikhon received a response from the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church to his Read more about Did St. Tikhon Write a Western Rite Liturgy?[…]

Loaves and Fish – Understanding the Reading through the Eyes of the Church

Matthew 14:14-22

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. 15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 He said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. 20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. 21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. 22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

The Gospel reading of the Five Loaves and Two Fish, also known as the Feeding of the 5000, is one of the most popular Gospel stories and frequently preached on.  The problem is, when you engage in self-interpretation, you can imagine so many lessons that might be intended here.  But was that the intent of the author of the Gospel?  In this homily, we will look at the historic understanding of this miracle, and why self-interpretation can lead us away from truth and the important questions raised by this account.

To see the rough draft of this homily, click “Read More” […]

On the Faith of the Fathers and Infant Baptism

This is a message I wrote prior to my ordination.  It was shared on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost in 2015. Glory to Jesus Christ!  Glory forever! In today’s first epistle reading, the reading designated for the 8th Sunday after Pentecost, Paul discusses the ancient sacramental practice of baptism, as it existed in the early Read more about On the Faith of the Fathers and Infant Baptism[…]

On the Genuine Orthodox Church and the World Orthodox

Although I am a priest of the Genuine Orthodox Church (also sometimes called “True Orthodox” or “Old Calendarist”) I try not to devote much in this blog to the disagreements we have with the “world orthodox”, those jurisdictions which utilize the new calendar or hold communion with new calendarists.  The reason I don’t do this Read more about On the Genuine Orthodox Church and the World Orthodox[…]

Chosen, Glorified and Crowned

On the Sunday of All Saints of North America, Fr. Irineos examines the question of “What is a Saint?” by looking at the readings from Vespers and the Epistle for this Sunday.


A rough transcript is provided below:

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The Light and the Spirit: Homily for Holy Pentecost

On Pentecost Sunday, Fr. Irineos reflects on the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, and the founding of the Church. He also discusses how, though the Spirit may lead us into all Truth, this is only possible through the guidance of the Light of Christ.

Click Read More for Rough Draft

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Orthopraxy – Blessings

From the weekly bulletin of St. Andrew Orthodox Church     It’s said that the Orthodox will bless anything!  Houses, icons, horses, cars, soldiers, guns, and of course, people!  The blessings are usually accompanied with formal prayers and the sprinkling of Holy Water that was, itself, blessed on the Feast of Theophany.  And of course, Read more about Orthopraxy – Blessings[…]

HOMILY: Actualizing Grace – Lessons from the Sunday of the Blind Man

On the Sunday of the Blind Man, where we also commemorate the Holy Evangelist John (May 8 OS), Fr. Irineos discusses how we can put the lessons from today’s readings (and John’s Gospel) to work in our daily lives.

Listen to “Actualizing Grace – Lessons from the Sunday of the Bilnd Man” on Spreaker.

Gospel Reading – John 9:1-38

Draft Transcript below:

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