Each summer we spend time answering questions submitted by parishioners and friends. These are video sermons. Click on each link to view the video response. Please use the "comment section" below to submit your question...
What do the Fathers say about mental illness?
In the final episode of our special questions and answers summer sermon series, we have attempted to share with you a brief introduction to how the Church Fathers may be able to guide us in understanding, or at least coping with, mental illness. Taken from the perspective of science as informer to the Church in terms of how we understand the human brain, the Fathers offer us the vantage point of understanding our original state, namely that humans were created in the image and likeness o God. In the case of mental illness as “not the normal” we may better understand the affect of sin on the human soul and mind, and work toward healing which is only possible in Christ.
Did you know there was a reason why the Priest placed your wedding ring on your right hand? Are you one of the many who have changed your ring to your left hand to “fit in” to our American society? In this week’s episode of Be Transfigured! we will answer the question, “Why do Orthodox Christians wear their weddings on their right hand?” You may be inspired to change it back...if you have the courage.
A follow up question from our previous episode on "Preparing for Holy Communion" last week, this question focuses more attention on the actual Mystery (or Sacrament) of Holy Confession and what our attitude should while we are confessing to a Priest. The Mystery of Confession is expressed as a communion between the one who is confessing and God, once we have opened our heart to Him.
As a continuation to our "New Priest -- New Gospel" question and answer session, this episode of Be Transfigured! focuses on our preparation for Holy Communion. How should we fast? How often should we attend Holy Confession? This episode will outline, based upon the Canonical Tradition of the Holy Orthodox Church, a better understanding about the connection (or lack of connection) between Holy Confession and Fasting as they both relate to Holy Communion.
When a new or visiting Priest arrives, it sometimes seems as if he is changing the rules. Why do different Priests do and say different things? PLUS a bonus question at the end....
If I can get married in the Orthodox Church, why can't I receive Holy Communion in the Orthodox Church.
The Sanctity of Life; "What does our religion teach about the death penalty?"
What does the Orthodox Church teach about the death penalty? This is part of a special sermon series where we will answer questions submitted by parishioners and fans.
What does the Orthodox Church teach about the death penalty? This is part of a special sermon series where we will answer questions submitted by parishioners and fans.
Many people have questions about our Orthodox Christian
Faith. Many simply do not remember what they learned in Sunday School. Many are
not comfortable asking their questions in public. But ALL of us can benefit
from the questions of others. This week’s question is from someone who noticed
many people doing something different while the Priest moves throughout the
Church during services. A newcomer to Orthodox especially may be confused by
what seems like chaos among the faithful.
Many people have questions about our Orthodox Christian
Faith. Many simply do not remember what they learned in Sunday School. Many are
not comfortable asking their questions in public. But ALL of us can benefit
from the questions of others. This week’s question is a follow-up to last
week’s “Which Way Should I Look?”
where we discuss the truth, sometimes difficult truth, that when we are
distracted in Church, it might be because we don’t understand Liturgy like we
should. We answered a second question this week, also along the theme of what
are eyes see in Church, in which we discuss the different colors the Church
uses for the clergy vestments and to cover the Holy Altar.
Many people have questions about our Orthodox
Christian Faith. Many simply do not remember what they learned in Sunday
School. Many are not comfortable asking their questions in public. But ALL of
us can benefit from the questions of others. This week’s question addresses the
“how” and “why” of lighting candles in the Narthex. Some people think lighting
candles is just “another thing we do” as Orthodox Christians that has no
meaning. But when you place that candle in the sand, you are doing MUCH more
than just lighting a candle.
Many people have questions about our Orthodox Christian
Faith. Many simply do not remember what they learned in Sunday School. Many are
not comfortable asking their questions in public. But ALL of us can benefit
from the questions of others. This week’s question is inspired by Saint Paul’s
words, “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which
your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. Do you have faith? Have
it to yourself before God.” (Romans 14.21-22) In the context of recent
contemporary issues facing the Church in America, what does Saint Paul mean
when he says these words, and how do we live Orthodoxy in a sinful world?
Many people have questions about our Orthodox Christian
Faith. Many simply do not remember what they learned in Sunday School. Many are
not comfortable asking their questions in public. But ALL of us can benefit
from the questions of others. This week’s question is about our name. Why can’t
we just say American Orthodox Church instead of Greek Orthodox? Many are
confused when the sign on the curb describes us as Greeks or Russians or
Romanians, but there is more to the term Greek than just a place for Greeks!
This is the first of our “Ask Father” sermons
for Summer 2016. This week’s questions both deal with relationships with
others, inside and outside the Church. Can I receive Holy Communion in a
non-Orthodox Church? What is the proper way to bless others as a layperson?
These questions are simply but serve a very practical role in our relationship
with others.
This week’s “Ask Father” question is a follow-up to last week’s topic about Holy Communion. Now that we understand why a non-Orthodox Christian cannot receive Holy Communion in our Church, and why we cannot receive Holy Communion in a non-Orthodox Church, this week’s question asks, “So what can a non-Orthodox Christian do in our Church?” This is a very timely and practical question since most of us have at least one family member who is not Orthodox, and ALL of us have non-Orthodox friends who visit our Church either for sacraments or Divine Liturgy. Our Orthodox way of life is an expression of our belief in Jesus Christ, so many of the daily activities we do can also be done by non-Orthodox Christians. Although our non-Orthodox friends and family members can do some of the physical things we do, we still must be careful not to allow what we do to become nothing more than empty customs.
This week’s “Ask Father” question is a follow-up to last week’s topic about Holy Communion. Now that we understand why a non-Orthodox Christian cannot receive Holy Communion in our Church, and why we cannot receive Holy Communion in a non-Orthodox Church, this week’s question asks, “So what can a non-Orthodox Christian do in our Church?” This is a very timely and practical question since most of us have at least one family member who is not Orthodox, and ALL of us have non-Orthodox friends who visit our Church either for sacraments or Divine Liturgy. Our Orthodox way of life is an expression of our belief in Jesus Christ, so many of the daily activities we do can also be done by non-Orthodox Christians. Although our non-Orthodox friends and family members can do some of the physical things we do, we still must be careful not to allow what we do to become nothing more than empty customs.
The question of whether to step back and allow something to happen or to step in and get involved to stop an evil is a challenge with which Christians have been struggling since the first days of the Church. The witness of the Holy Scriptures, Holy Canon s and the Holy Fathers is consistent in the call for each Christian to take advantage of the free will given to us by God. Only when we remember that God has given us a free will to use for good can we grow closer to God in our choices.
When it comes to Holy Communion, there are many different opinions about how often, when, how and is what spiritual condition we should receive. This week’s “Ask Father” sermon returns again to topic of Holy Communion, this time more with a more functional perspective. But if Holy Communion is left to a Sunday only experience, then instead of life-giving and life-saving, it can become condemning and a source of death. If we want life then we will live the entire Orthodox Life of prayer, fasting, reading the Holy Scriptures and being in a state of constant preparedness for Holy Communion, as Saint Basil said, every Sunday, and every Wednesday and every other day it is offered. It will be the center of life.
This week there are two questions in our “Ask Father” series. Our first question, “Why are some Patron Saints more popular and more recognized than others?” explains why some names are more popular than others in the Church. The tradition of being named after a Saint or event in the life of Christ is an ancient but sometimes confusing tradition. Our second question, “How should we prepare our homes and our life for the Holy Spirit?” continues to follow-up with the issue of welcoming the Holy Spirit into our life. The simplest answer is “we should live the life of the Church.”
There are many things that can help us to trust God. Just like learning how to swim requires us to build trust in our teacher little by little, tithing helps us to learn how to trust God. Saint Paul knew this truth when he reminded the Romans, “If you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10.9) Since we have been saved from death, we have nothing to fear. When we tithe to the Church, we learn that God is always looking out for us. Nothing can hurt us without God’s permission. Even the demons were not allowed to enter a herd of pigs (Matthew 8.31-32).
This week’s “Ask Father” sermon asks the question, “Can we pray for people who are not of the Christian faith, for example for the healing from a sickness?” Although the simple answer is, “yes,” there is a great deal more on the subject of prayer that can and should be said. Prayer in central of our Orthodox Christian life, so this week’s episode of Be Transfigured will discuss the “Who, What, Where, When & Why of Prayer.”
With over one hundred translations of the Bible into
English, it can be a daunting task for even the most serious Christian to
choose. A wealth of vocabulary of the original can create a variety of
translation options which is understandable. However the American trend to
alter translations to suite a personal or Church agenda is dangerous and we do
well to avoid such editions. Since the Holy Scriptures are central to
understanding our relationship with God, it serves our soul well to use caution
and faith in choosing just the right translation.
In a world that focuses more and more upon building wealth
and living a comfortable lifestyle, it has become increasingly popular to
invoke God’s name as a defender of our wealth addiction. Popular Christian
pastors on TV and the internet teach their flock, “Just believe enough in God
and you will be rich. God has a plan for you to have a better job, a better
house, a better life.” There is only one problem....that isn’t God’s plan.
God’s plan is for you to live with Him in heaven for all eternity in real
communion with Him. Life on earth has only one purpose, to prepare your heart
to be with God. Stop wasting your time chasing material blessings, and begin to
prepare your heart for God. This week’s “Ask Father” sermon addresses the
question, “What is God’s Plan?”
Separation of Church and State - State Law VS Religious Law
Separation of Church and State - State Law VS Religious Law
Our final “Ask Father” sermon for the season answers the
question, “What is our Church view on the state law and our religious law?”
During election season the balance between Church and State is often brought
into the highlight. It can be a bit confusing navigating between the issues to
determine if we as Orthodox Christians are obligated to follow the State or
follow the Church. A brief study of the words of Saint Paul (Romans 13.1-7)
helps us see the governing authorities have an obligation as well, to defend
goodness. There might reason to ignore certain laws, but that does not
eliminate the consequences. The end has a bonus question, so watch until the
end!
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