Monday, October 24, 2011

Living an Eternal Life One Day at a Time

Living an Eternal Life One Day at a Time

"What must I do to have eternal life?" asks a follower of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 18.

Another paradox of Christianity - one must be willing to live every day properly to be prepared for eternal life.  Another: you can't take it with you, so you have to let it go. Another: we need to renewed to be what God has created us to be.

With these in mind, Fr John Brian gives a sermon about the eternal life in each day.

Fr John Brian again weaves the gospel and the prophecy of Isaiah (chapter 41) and the reading from Corinthians into a sermon to prepare s for eternal life.

So, what do you need to let go of to have everything?

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malankara calendar and was give on Sunday, October 23, 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.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
LISTEN ON-LINE HERE:

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Living with the Humble Truth

Living with the Humble Truth

Humility and Truth come together in spiritual development. One of the paradoxes in Christianity - he who is humbled will be exalted - leads to another: he who would be leader should be servant of all.

Fr. John Brian weaves the gospel of Matthew (chapter 23) and the prophecy of Isaiah (chapter 40) into a sermon to bring us to the exalted place of living with te humble truth.

So, if Jesus Christ came to serve us, whom do His followers serve ?

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malankara calendar and was give on Sunday, October 16, 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.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
Listen on-line here (streaming):

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Spirituality of Materialism

Spirituality of Materialism

There is a spirituality of materialism which is destructive and selfish. But Orthodox Christians are called to a higher spirituality that is constructive and altruistic.

We say we live unto the spiritual and eternal life, but not to the exclusion of the troubles of this world.

"You cannot serve God and wealth (mammon)" Says Jesus Christ in Luke's Gospel. Fr John Brian gives a discerning sermon on living the spiritual life by serving God first.

So, how much of your life belongs to God? How much of your time belongs to God?

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malankara calendar and was give on Sunday, October 09, 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.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml

Monday, October 03, 2011

Spiritually Minded Cross Messages

Spiritually Minded Cross Messages

"To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Romans 8:6

Fr John Brian uses the timing of Meskel, the Ethiopian festival of the cross, to talk about the spirituality of the cross.

This sermon uses and refers to scripture readings appointed by the Syrian Malankara calendar and was give on Sunday, October 02, 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.

PODCAST OR DOWNLOAD: http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian or
http://frjohnbrian.hipcast.com/rss/spiritual_reflections_or_fr_john_brian.xml
Listen on-line here: