Epistle Reading December 25th (Galatians 4:4-7) In this brief passage, which is read on Christmas day, St Paul puts to the Galatians the entire purpose of our Lord’s Incarnation. He says that Christ took on human form and was born under the law so that He might redeem "those who were under the law" (v. 5). Redemption is critical to Christ's mission here on earth. However for St Paul, redemption is only significant because it leads to our receiving the "adoption as sons" (v. 5) by God. Redemption was for the purpose of renewing our relationship with our Creator. Christ [...]

Gospel Reading November 2nd (Luke 16: 19-31) The Rich Man and Lazarus A number of messages can be drawn from the severe contrast this parable presents between the earthly lives of the rich man and Lazarus and also their experiences in the next life. The first message is that there is a life after death and that what we do in our earthly lives will determine how we will experience eternity. It was not the rich man’s wealth as such that condemned him. The reference to Lazarus being carried by angels to “Abraham’s bosom” (Luke 16: 22) (Abraham was a [...]

Gospel Reading Matthew 17: 14-23 (10th Sunday of Matthew) In this passage, the Evangelist Matthew narrates the healing of the young epileptic. It is important to understand the context in which this healing took place. Christ had taken the three leading disciples – Peter, James and John – to Mount Tabor so that they could witness His Transfiguration. While Christ was away, the father of the young epileptic approached the remaining nine disciples to see if they could cure his son. They could not. This was despite the fact that all of the disciples had been given power by Christ [...]

Gospel Reading April 12th (John 11: 1-45) Lazarus Saturday This Gospel passage narrates the circumstances in which Christ raised Lazarus from the dead. Coming only two days before Holy Week, Lazarus Saturday is a powerful reminder to Orthodox faithful of one of the key purposes of Christ’s approaching Passion and suffering – that we might learn that He has complete power over death. It is the ‘tremor’ which precedes the coming ‘earthquake’ of the Resurrection. St John Chrysostom’s homily on this passage focuses our attention on why Christ, despite being informed of Lazarus’s illness, nevertheless lets him die. He could [...]

Gospel Reading March 23rd (Mark 8:34-38; 9:1) Sunday of the Holy Cross The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (8:34). What does it mean to take up your cross and follow Christ? Our cross is our conscience. In turn, our conscience is a receptacle of God's word. If we listen to the word of God that knocks at our door, then we open the door. But if we ignore it, then Christ has no way of entering into our heart. Our cross is a burden, [...]