St Nicholas Orthodox Church, McKinney TX

Ephesians 5:8–19, Luke 12:16–21 We must learn to center our thoughts in Christ, and avoid thinking like the rich man in today’s parable “within ourselves.”

Ephesians 2:14–22, Luke 8:41–56 The story of the woman with the issue of blood. A discussion about suffering. Suffering comes to everyone. What will you do when your time comes? What can you do now to prepare?

Ephesians 2:4–10, Luke 8:26–39 Explanation of the healing of the Gadarene demoniacs. It would benefit us to answer the question posed by the devils in the story — what have you to do with me, son of the Most High? What have I to do with you? The answer to that question is bound up in our Christian identity. A discussion about salvation and Grace.

We should read the word of God not only to learn dogmas and instructions but also to be energized! St. Paul is preeminent in explicating doctrines, sometimes in a very complicated way, but he also can energize us in a very simple way. Today is such an example. We Christians have the great privilege of experiencing “the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints.” Even us poor ones! Not only is this dogma an intelligent reason to know that the saints intercede for us, and also, it is, if lived, the energy that helps us to do everything well. VIDEO: https://youtu.be/tuzFCTtPa-g AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pen-thu-21_2023+the-mystery-which-hath-been-hid-from-ages_colossians1-24-29.mp3

Most of the time, the prophets point to Jesus, but sometimes, He points back! We discuss with the children Jesus calming the storm, and especially, how His actions with frightened apostles must be applied to our life. Video: https://youtu.be/K3Lk1eD4k_0 Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/childrens_2023-10-25+jesus-calms-a-storm_luke8-22-25.mp3

Galatians 1:11–19, Luke 7:11–16 The Gospels are wonderful and beautiful, and filled with the life of God. Reading the Gospels gives us the spiritual strength and nourishment we need to endure hard times and tragedy. The story of the widow of Nain. Christ reaches out to touch us, directly, as a sign of His love.

2 Corinthians 11:31–12:9, Luke 6:31–36 We shouldn’t say that we’re “trying” to be good. We are becoming good. Jesus says in today’s Gospel we are “children of the Highest.” This is the proper way to see ourselves. We will act accordingly, if we believe it — if not all at once, then more and more all the time.

A little bit of news about Chuck Norris, who now, as a priest, is doing everything as he always has: great! From the beginning of a catechesis session. I try to keep everyone well-informed! From a catechesis class, about Ephesians 3, and other matters: https://youtu.be/8u5XMSAktaY 2023-10-01 Video: https://youtu.be/dLljYpKGk_M

AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/catechesis/catechism_2023-10-01+ephesians-3.mp3 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/8u5XMSAktaY Partial Timestamps: 0:00 – 1:24 Chuck Norris was just ordained a priest…. 1:24 – 2:44 Letter from Abbas Arsenia 2:44 – 5:18 Letter from Abbess Arsenia – Is anything by God’s allowance, or is everything by His will? 5:18 Discussion about God’s allowance vs God’s will 6:22 - 8:00 God is never passive, and you should never be passive about ANYTHING! 10:24 – 11:12 If you have any addictions, never be passive about any of them! Fight actively! 11:12 The difference between the two kinds of men – the one who saves his life, and loses it, and the one who loses his life, and is saved. 14:57 The story about 1:00:06 GREAT advice for those who are distracted with their small children, and cannot pray with attention in church! 26:23 Beginning of Exegesis of Ephesians 3 1:02 The best Baptist Joke!

Fr Nicholas first shares something from one of the hymns of tone 8, which segues into a full exegesis of Psalm 98,which is a Messianic Psalm (about the cross), and contains the oft-used verse: “Exalt ye the Lord our God, and worship the footstool of His feet, for He is holy.” AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/misc_2023+psalm-98+priest-nicholas.mp3 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/phTQH78fHSs

In today’s gospel reading, after the Lord sorts us to take up our cross and follow him and lose our life in order to save it, immediately he makes this peculiar premise:” there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” This associates the kingdom of heaven with the cross. We learn about how to obtain the Kingdom of Heaven through the cross by following the instructions of the epistle to the Galatians, read today, and also our Lord’s admonition to take up the cross. The gospel gives the command, and the epistle shows us how to carry it out. Galatians 2:16-20 Mark 8:34-9:1 AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/exaltation-of-the-cross-03_2023+cross-is-only-way-to-the-kingdom_gal2-16-20.mp3 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/wo2ExY4Ymkw

2 Corinthians 6:1–10, Matthew 25:14–30 What is grace? How we get it, how we keep it, and how we increase it. How we avoid receiving it in vain. How the sacrament of Baptism relates to the Cross. Living in the moment as a Christian.

Orthodox Christian catechism must include direct teaching on the scripture, alongside all of the other important topics, which are supported and taught by the Scripture. Our catechism includes exegesis of many important scripture passages, incluing the entire book of the Ephesians. Here is part of it (Chapter 1, through 2:7). The teaching ends on a “cliffhanger”, right at the most famous and misunderstood verse of Ephesians, because our battery ran out! In the following presentation, we covered Ephesians 2 in greater detail. A common thread flows through all of our teaching. Can you see it? Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/catechism_2023-09-17+ephesians-1-1-2-7.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/uK-fnIn3Fmw

2 Corinthians 4:6–15, Matthew 22:35–46 A short discourse on the epistle readings. “…to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ… but we have this treasure in earthen vessels,” and “troubled on every side, we are not distressed…“ What St. Paul means by having this treasure in earthen vessels. The human experience of troubles. A story from the lives of Sts. Peter and Febronia. Getting read for the moment when we will see the face of Christ.

Fr Nicholas explains Psalm 142, a ubiquitous psalm, used in Compline and the Six Psalms and Prayer services. Anything used that often is important to understand. AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/psalms_2023+psalm-142.mp3 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/6nylOGcxJ8Y

Our children's sermons teach the bible to children in a way they can understand – but not dumbed down or childish! This sermon is part of our Homeschool COOP liturgy on Wednesdays. Today, we explain the feeding of the 5000, as described in Mark 6:30-45 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/Fv4A9zy1pvI AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/sermonss/childrens_2023-09-13+feeding-the-5000_mark6-30-45.mp3

VIDEO: https://youtu.be/ZRa5k5A_h0Q AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/september-01-indiction_2023+the-spirit-of-the-lord_luke4-16-22.mp3 In light of the “Church New Year,” and the American propensity to make “resolutions”, we conduct exegesis of the Gospel reading for the Indiction (Luke 4:16-22 = “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;” ) ), combined with the reading for St Symeon the Stylite (Matthew 11:27-30 – “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”) We have need for daily resolutions! Partial Timestamps: 0:57 – 4:14 What do we call Jesus “Christ”? And why do we say of Him, that He “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin?” Heb 4:15 4:24 Beginning of exegesis of Luke 4:16-22 17:23 Beginning of exegesis of Luke 11:25-27

Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pen-tue-15_2023+purposeful-touch.mp3 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/8TDW7JcfKXg On a day full of great joys, because of the baptism of two infants (and aunt and nephew!), we talk about the purposeful touch of the woman with an issue of blood. Many people touch Christ, but few touch with purposeful touch. These infants have touched Christ, and we touch Christ daily. What must we do to ensure that our touch is purposeful and that these infants are taught to purposefully touch Christ? They are our responsibility now, since we have witnessed their baptisms. Homily given during liturgy after the baptism of Basil and Coralia, in Quanah, TX. 09-12-2023

Parable of the Wedding Garment. What is the meaning of this parable? Discourse on how to read the scriptures. What was the real reason that the servant was thrown out of the feast? The story of St. Moses of Ethiopia. How the saint’s life juxtaposes with today’s parable. What we have to do keep our wedding garment.

Questions and Answers: Partial list: Confession, genealogies, Mary & Joseph, sexuality, marriage, sacraments, prayer. Q&A after Vespers at the St Nectarios Fellowship, University of Texas at Dallas. AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/catechism_2023-09-04+q-and-a+genealogies-theotokos-theosis-sexuality-sacraments.mp3 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/3FmBh_Zpdeo Timestamps: 0:25 – 1:44 Father, would it be acceptable to write my sins on a paper… 1:44 – 5:34 Please explain the genealogies in Matthew and Luke. 5:34 I was taught that Mary and Joseph had regular sexual relations and more children after Jesus was born. When did this view belief come to be? We also give several reasons why this belief is false. 8:45 Tell the story about why James is called the “Brother of the Lord”. We tell the story, and also much about how Joseph became betrothed to Mary. 15:30 – 20:54 Comments about contemporary sexuality as compared to Orthodox Christian sexuality and the institution of marriage. 17:50 – 19:46 Marriage is a battleground. And why same-sex relationships lack a crucial component for personal growth, sacrifice, and humility. 20:58 – 24:58 Why do different Christian groups accept different books in their canon of (OT) scripture? 25:07 – 27:48 Can someone be named a “class” of angels? 27:48 - 31:15 How do the sacraments not end up being considered "works of the law"? 29:16 – 31:15 *Nothing* in the church is legalistic. 31:27 – 39:38 Why do you believe Joseph was 85? And lots of comments about the virtues of Joseph, his doubts when Mary was found to be pregnant, and why he is in the lower corner of the Nativity icon, talking to an old man. 39:38 – 42:19 Theosis? 42:19 – 47:20 What is it about Mary that the Catholics get wrong? A small answer to a big question, which included the Latin doctrine of original sin, the “immaculate conception”, and the Dormition of the Theotokos. 45:20 – 47:20 Concerning Dormition and the Last Judgment 47:43 – 53:24 Is there any significance that Jesus was buried in a tomb, not in the ground? And a discourse on the visits to the tomb on the day of the resurrection. 53:44 – 59:15 If God knows everything, and is for us, why do we need other people to pray for us? 59:17 – 1:03:32 How do I know what my cross is? Is the sin I struggle with the most, or is just the general concept of denying the flesh as a whole? 1:03:34 – 1:05:43 (end) How to distinguish the Holy Spirit’s “ideas” from your own?

What is stewardship? A simple definition. It includes showing up! 2016-10-27

Today’s selection from Mark 3:28-35 contains the amazing juxtaposition of Jesus’ teahcnig about the Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and only a moment later our Lord’s promise that “whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.” There is a reason why these two things are together. We explain blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, but understood misunderstood sin, and then an even more misunderstood virtue, to be as brother and sister and mother to Jesus Christ. This describes the incredible intimacy of Christianity, and the purpose of our life. If this teaching energizes itself in our hearts, we will never be in danger of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pen-thu-13_2023+blasphemy-against-the-holy-spirit+mother-sister-brother.mp3 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/XYP6q5G_KBI

The Apostle Paul teaches about the inner, spiritual life, with advice that applies to literally *everything* we encounter in life. He teaches first that “though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh”, and those who realize this *at every moment* will certainly answer his subsequent question in a spiritual way: ““Do ye look on things after the outward appearance?” Although Pual is often very complicated to read, sometimes he speaks simply and directly from the heart, and we must listen. 2 Corinthians 9:12-10:7 2023-08-30 AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pen-wed-13_2023+do-ye-look-on-things-after-the-outward-appearance.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/JVCRudsS_Tk

Teaching about the Transfiguration (celebrated Aug 6/19). An excerpt, of a longer teaching on Dormition, the Transfiguration and the 6th Lecture of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/catechesis_2023-08-27+transfiguration.mp3 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/mqCHB_zHI8o Timestamps 38:42 Teaching regarding Transfiguration 0:12 - 41:29 Why do we celebrate the Great and Festive feast of Transfiguration during the Dormition Fast? 2:47 – 12:17 Description of the event of the Transfiguration and its significance for us.

2023-08-27 An excerpt, starting from the beginning, of a longer teaching on Dormition, the Transfiguration and the 6th Lecture of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. Audio: http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/catechesis_2023-08-27+dormition.mp3 Video: https://youtu.be/OaUGkj1JjBo Timestamps: 0:00 – 35:28 Dormition 0:10 – 17:58 Meaning of the word Dormition and its significance (and how the Orthodox belief about Dormition, and Mary in General differs markedly from the Latins) 0:25 - 1:05 What was *different* in the nature of Mary and us? 1:05 – 1:38 did Mary Die? 1:38 – 13:08 Jesus Christ took all His humanity from the Theotokos. And a description of the main points of Mary’s life and ministry – here conception, dedication in the temple, life in the temple, betrothal, annunciation, , her visitation of Elizabeth, Joseph’s reaction to her pregnancy, the nativity of Christ, her life after the resurrection. 13:08 – 17:58 The days preceding her death, story of her Dormition. 15:43 – 16:16 All icons of the Theotokos with the infant Christ *always* show him as a small adult or older child. Why? 16:16 Mary is the *first* resurrected mortal human being. How is her resurrection and ascension into Heaven, in a perfected body, different from Elijah’s and Enoch’s translations? 17:41 – 17:58 Differences in Orthodox belief and Latin belief regarding the Dormition. 18:11 What is the significance *to us* that the Theotokos is in heaven, in a perfected body? 21:03 Jesus Christ was not “super-human”, but He was fully anointed with the Holy Spirit. Explaining how Christ was “tempted in all ways as we are”, but without sin. 22:58 – 29:50 But what about Christ flipping over the tables in the temple and whipping people? Was He angry? Did He sin? 24:24 – 29:01 A story about the *only* fight I ever started – and I am glad I did! 28:58 – 32:23 Do the Orthodox believe that the Theotokos never sinned in her life? 32:23 – 35:03 More about the Annunciation 35:03 – 35:28 The Dormition is the last feast of the liturgical year. 35:28 – 36:49 Why do we say “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!”