The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

The Gospel from Luke Chapter 11: "If Satan is divided against himself, how can he stand?"

Fr John Brian begins this Sunday sermon by talking about Hurricane Irene which struck the East Coast of USA and the passing of the OCA Archbishop Demetrios (Royster) - memory eternal! Then he talks about the devil and our safety and protection in Christ.

The reading from the end of St Paul's Second Epistle to the Thessalonians gives us insight in how to live in the light. "Let us not render evil for evil."

OK, so there's not much "deep blue sea" in this sermon, but there is a saying, "Be careful that you don't get caught between the devil and the deep blue sea."

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malankara calendar and was give on Sunday, August 28, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

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Knowing Spiritual Success

Knowing Spiritual Success

As the church is in the time of Mary, acknowledging and remembering her at her time of death. Fr John Brian begins the sermon by disclosing why we ask her to intercede for us with Christ.

Then the Gospel Reading from the end of Luke chapter 6, which is rich in parable, is discussed talking about "bearing good fruit" as a metaphor and parable of spiritual success.

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malanakara calendar and was give on Sunday, August 21, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

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Receive the Crown of Glory (1Peter5)

Receive the Crown of Glory (1Peter5)

In 1 Peter 5, Verse 4: And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Then in Verse 5:
5 ... All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,
“God opposes the proud
but shows favor to the humble."

Fresh from the celebration of the festival day of Holy Transfiguration and the blessing of fruit, Fr John Brian gives a homily on the first verses of St Peter's First Epistle. Although typically read as pertaining to church leaders, Fr John Brian makes the case for these verse to apply to all Orthodox Christians.

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malanakara calendar and was give on Sunday, August 14, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

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On the Fruit of Transfiguration

On the Fruit of Transfiguration

The day of the celebration of the festival day of the mission - Holy Transfiguration (Koodaara or Maruroopa - Debre Tabor or Buhe) - this local congregation has a picnic with a procession and the blessing of fruit.

Fr John Brian summarizes the lessons of the last few weeks and talks about the Holy Transfiguration and the meaning, symbols and spiritual benefit of the blessing of grapes and other fruit at this feast day of Christ's Transfiguration on Mount Tabor

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, August 7, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

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Not One of Them Was Destitute - An Essential Unity

Not One of Them Was Destitute (Acts 4:34)
An Essential Unity - Tewehado

This week, in the Gospel of Mark (3:20-30), the reading from Acts (4:32-37) and the Epistle reading from Ephesians (2:11-22) all speak to an essential unity of God's kingdom or culture. Not only between the followers of Christ, but also within the Christian. Not just between the Divine and the Human, but also so that nothing is "divided against itself. "

Fr John-Brian gives a homelitic sermon on these readings, pointing out how the teaching about the Triune God at the end of Ephesians Chapter 2 is helpful to our human condition which seems to be continually divided.

This is the teaching of the essential unity, also called Tewehado in Ge'ez and a primary teaching in Ethiopian Orthodoxy.

This sermon lesson uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, July 31, 2011 by Fr. John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

"We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7.

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