Glory to God For All Things

March 31, 2017

The Mystery: Upborne, Fulfilled

Orthodoxy has a number of “favorite” words – all of which fall outside the bounds of normal speech. Though we commonly use the word “mystery” (for example), popular speech never uses it in the manner of the Church. I cannot remember using the word “fullness,” or even “fulfilled,” in normal speech. More contemporary words have […]
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Liturgy, Mystical Theology, Union with God
March 29, 2017

Benedict in the Suburbs

I want to note at the outset that many of Rod Dreher’s suggestions (The Benedict Option) are quite laudable and worth thinking about. This article concentrates on one particular aspect: the acquisition of virtue in the context of American suburban life. Dreher himself mentions the need for proximity and stability. These matters are even more […]
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Modernity, Morality, Reflections, Secularism, The Church
March 27, 2017

The Icon of Unfallen Suffering

The so-called “problem of evil” garners enduring attention in our culture. I recall in my freshman philosophy class the conundrum was used as the “coup de grace” in the logical assault on God’s existence. “Not only does God not exist, He’s not even good.” Poor God. All of this is made even more poignant in […]
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Cross, Icons, Reflections, Union with God
March 20, 2017

Getting to the Point

With this Ring, I thee wed, with my Body I thee worship, and with all my worldly Goods I thee endow: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. – The Book of Common Prayer (1662) +++ English is a great language, except when it isn’t. We […]
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Knowledge of God, Mother of God, Mystical Theology, Reflections
March 16, 2017

To Serve God

In a therapeutic culture in which our goal is to be our very best, it is almost impossible to serve God. The reason is quite simple: when my goal is to be my very best, the goal is my God. “Serving God” thus becomes a euphemism for a Christianity that we take to be therapeutic […]
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Family, Knowledge of God, Prayer, Reflections
March 13, 2017

That Thing You Do – Right Worship

In my Anglican years I watched the introduction of a new prayer book. Among its most notable features was variety. In a certain manner, it brought under one roof that most obvious feature of modern Christianity: options. Our culture has an understanding that ideas, thoughts and sentiments are what matters; how they are embodied is […]
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Knowledge of God, Modernity, Reflections, The Church, Tradition
March 9, 2017

You Are Not Alone – And Neither Is God

I consider it both a strange mystery and a settled matter of the faith that God prefers not to do things alone. Repeatedly, He acts in a manner that involves the actions of others when it would seem, He could have acted alone. Why would God reveal His Word to the world through the agency […]
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Orthodox Christianity, Reflections, Salvation, The Church, Union with God
March 6, 2017

An Atonement of Shame – Orthodoxy and the Cross

Some decades ago in my early (Anglican) priesthood, a parishioner brought a crucifix back from South America. The question for me as a priest was whether I would accept the crucifix as a gift and place it in the Church. I like crucifixes, my taste was always towards the Catholic direction. But, you have to […]
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Atonement, Holy Week, Reflections, Union with God
March 5, 2017

Put Your Money to Work – It’s for Your Salvation

And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. (Luk 16:9) I recall a conversation long ago with a young, up-and-coming entrepreneur. He was a new member of the parish I was serving (Anglican). We had been speaking about […]
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Mercy, Reflections, Salvation
February 27, 2017

The Danger and Shame of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is so terribly hard. On a psychological level, it feels dangerous. The shame engendered by any insult or injury is our experience of vulnerability, and we instinctively react to protect ourselves. That, we must understand, is not a sin, it is an instinct that is a gift from God. The example of Christ, who […]
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Enemies, Forgiveness, Reflections, Repentance

Mallory, Living in a new place, I am now seeing new doctors. Today, was my first visit with my new…

Margaret Sarah, I tend to think that when a story “bothers me” that there’s something I’m not seeing or understanding.…

Dee, This might be an obvious observation, but I recently heard it pointed out the Jesus cursing the fig tree…

Matthew, I laughed when I saw how succinctly you asked “…why don’t we see more of these experiences and miracles…

Thank you so much, Father. Your words help.