Searching Hearts - April 2007

Searching Hearts

Homiletic sermon delivered Sunday April 29, 2007 by Fr John Brian at
Maruroopa Palli (Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission) in Madison,
Wisconsin.

Scriptures: Gospel of John end of Chapter 21 and Chapter 3 of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Resurrection Continues Being Prepared - April 2007

Resurrection Continues Being Prepared

Homiletic sermon delivered Sunday April 22, 2007 by Fr John Brian at Maruroopa Palli (Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission) in Madison, Wisconsin.

Scriptures: Gospel of John beginning of Chapter 21 and the end of Epistle to the Ephesians.

No More Chains - Easter 2007

No More Chains - Easter 2007 sermon delivered after midnight, Sunday April 8, 2007 by Fr John Brian at Maruroopa Palli (Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission) in Madison, Wisconsin.

April Fools Hosanna - April 2007

April Fools Hosanna - homiletic sermon by Fr John Brian recorded Sunday, April 1, 2007 at Maruroopa Palli (Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel) in Madison, Wisconsin USA. Focusing of the readings for Palm Sunday from John Chapter 12 with verses from Romans Chapter 8 and 1 John Chapter 5.

Praise to the Holy Trinity - a short reflection

Praise to the Holy Trinity

a short reflection

by Fr John-Brian Paprock

End of Lent 2007

 

Praise to the Holy Trinity

Praise to God in the fullness of His appearance to us

 

Thrice Holy - Triune God

 

Three in one - One in three

One God in three persons - three facets of the most precious gem

 

 

1 John 5:7-8 (Lamsa translation of the Peshitta)

For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one.

And there are three that bear witness, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood, and these three are one.

 

 

Without the Trinity, there can be no Son - no Jesus Christ - no manner for God to become man and show us the way.

Nothing defines more completely than the Holy Trinity - for in this is the Creator, the Incarnation and the Continuing Presence.

We praise the Trinity threefold to clarify our witness - the testimony of three is the biblical standard for Truth.

 

And yet, as much as the Trinity is God experienced and witnessed, it is only the closest construct for us to know the Infinite, the Omniscient, the Omnipotent, the Omnipresent. God is indeed a Trinity and so much more beyond our comprehension.  So, three-fold prayers of any words (whether "Lord, have mercy" or "Praise to the Holy Trinity" or "Hallelujah") call to mind the Trinity.

 

We confirm our prayers with a seal of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.  The bishops and priest bless with the Cross that vehicle for our salvation - three times three - in the Holy Trinity.

 

God has given us to know Him as the Father, the Creator of everything

God has given us to know Him as the Son, Jesus, the Bringer of salvation

God has given us to know Him as the Holy Spirit, the Giver of life 

 

By the Holy Trinity, all of our Holy Tradition is confirmed, our places of worship are consecrated, and each of is baptized and sealed.

 

Every time the Holy Trinity, or even a three fold prayer, we are to throw our beingness into the presence of God who has relationship with us in body, mind/soul and spirit.  We need to be images of that divinity as we invoke His very presence at every trinity uttered and every praise sung aloud or and every mercy whispered in meditation. 

 

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Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Parish
6205 (2) University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53705
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