God Works

God Works

"For we work together with God" 1 Corinthians 3:9

This seasonal sermon (the Exaltation of the Cross) ties the story of Saints Constantine and Helen to the leaven in the gospel reading (Matthew 16:5-12) and to the teaching in the Epistle of Paul to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 2:14-3:9)

The sermon uses the scripture readings from the Malankara lectionary.

This sermon given on Sunday, September 27, 2009 by Fr John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

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God Delivers

God Delivers

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." Psalm 34:19

"The worldly receive not spiritual things for they are foolishness to him.." 1 Corinthians 2:14

This homelitic sermon on Psalm 34 begins by briefly examining the Epistle lesson appointed: 1 Corinthians 2:10-16

Psalm 34 is a rich text for spiritual teaching, hope and thanksgiving - very useful for the inner work of Christianity.

The sermon uses the scripture readings from the Malankara lectionary.

This sermon given on Sunday, September 20, 2009 by Fr John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

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The Weakness of God is Stronger than Men

May Christ ever illumine our hearts with love for one another!

 

While digging through some archives, I came across this gem from a homily by St John Chrysostom:

 

+ + + [begin passage]

 

 . . Paul had this in mind then he said: "The weakness of God is stronger than men." That the preaching of these men was indeed divine is brought home to us in the same way. For how otherwise cold twelve uneducated men, who lived on lakes and rivers and wastelands, get the idea for such an immense enterprise? How could men who perhaps had never been in a city or a public square think of setting out to do battle with the whole world? hat they were fearful, timid men, the evangelist makes clear; he did not reject the fact nor try to hide their weaknesses. Indeed, he turned these into a proof of the truth. What did he say of them? That when Christ was arrested, the others fled, despite all the miracles they had seen, while he who was leader of the others denied him!

 

How then account for the fact that these men, who in Christ's lifetime did not stand up to the attacks by the Jews, set forth to do battle with the whole world once Christ was dead--if, as you claim, Christ did not rise and speak to them and rouse their courage? Did they perhaps say to themselves, "What is this? He could not help himself but he will protect us? He did not help himself when he was alive but now that he is dead he will extend a helping hand to us? In his lifetime he brought no nation under his banner, but by uttering his name we will win over the whole world?" Would it not be wholly irrational even to think such thoughts, much less to act upon them?

 

It is evident, then, that if they had not seen him risen and had proof of his power, they would not have risked so much.

 

+ + + [end of passage]

 

And, these even disagreed with one another while Christ walked among them.  The Book of Acts shows they continually debated. Still, the message of God's healing and redemption, the Good News, the Gospel, has reached the corners world. 

 

Yet, we still expect the Church founded from those bickering leaders to be homogenous?  Homogeny is not Orthodoxy, thank God!

 

Christ's love and light have been brought to the lives of sinners by sinners of enormous diversity through the ages.  Many who have borne the message of hope have fallen short.  Thank God.  For He said that He comes not to those who are healthy, but to the sick, the infirm, the destitute, the lonely, the wounded - yes, even to the self-inflated egotist.  

 

Maranatha. Lord, please come.

 

Lord, have mercy.

 

John-Brian, priest and sinner.

Lighted Eyes, Brightened Bodies

Lighted Eyes, Brightened Bodies

"The light of your body is your eye, when therefore your eye is bright, your whole body will also be lighted..." Luke 11:34

"O you shortsighted, did not He who made the outside also make the inside?" Luke 11:40

"..a real Jew is one who is inwardly so, and circumcision is of the heart, spiritually and not literally; whose praise is not from men but from God." Romans 3:29

Fr John-Brian talks about an encounter with a 92 year old agnostic and why we need the light of our eyes and be a light for others. Emphasizing the inner work of Christianity, the homeletic of this week's gospel examines Christ's own admonisions recorded in Luke.

This sermon focuses on the scripture for the Sunday: Luke 11: 33-41 and Romans 2:28-3:8

The sermon uses the scripture readings from the Malankara lectionary.

This sermon given on Sunday, September 13, 2009 by Fr John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

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Frustrating Dreams and Superheroes

Frustrating Dreams and Superheroes

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God." 1 Corinthians 3:19

"become perfect just as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:48

How much can we help others that do not wish to be helped? What of enemies that do not wish to reconcile? Do we need super powers to love our enemies?

This sermon focuses on the scripture for the Sunday: 1 Corinthians 3:16-23 and Matthew 5:38-48

The sermon uses the scripture readings from the Malankara lectionary.

This sermon given on Sunday, September 6, 2009 by Fr John Brian Paprock
at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

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When Worldly Things Become Masters

When Worldly Things Become Masters
"For though we do live an earthly life, yet we do not serve worldly things" 2 Corinthians 10:3

"I have no pleasure in the death of a sinner, says the Lord God; but rather that he should return from his evil ways and live." Ezekiel 18:23

How can we tell when we are serving worldly things? What do we do when we are? This sermon focuses on the scripture for the Sunday: 2 Corinthians 10:1-7 and Ezekiel 21-24
The sermon uses the scripture readings from the Malankara lectionary.

This sermon given on Sunday, August 30, 2009 by Fr John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

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