Sunday Before Theophany A call from the desert comes saying, “Make way for the Lord.” Our inclination is to hear this as the historical beginning of John’s story, how he baptized Jesus. But, when we do this, we miss so
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A Desert World
Embracing the Shameful Cross
Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross In today’s Gospel lesson, Jesus says that if someone wants to follow him, that person must forget themselves, take up their cross, and follow him. The cross, at the time of Jesus, was
Read moreWhose Side Is God On?
Beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year Today is the beginning of the Church New Year and so we are reminded of the “Year of the Lord’s favor,” which is to bring good news to the poor, proclaim the release of
Read moreIt Looks Like Losing
Yesterday, we celebrated one of the major feast days of the Church, the Transfiguration of Christ. Behold Christ’s Transfiguration In this feast, we see Jesus ascend Mt. Tabor and shine as brilliantly as the sun. Surrounding him are the Prophets
Read moreFrom Light Comes Flowing Water
Sunday of Pentecost The context of this reading is the Feast of Sukkot (also known as Booths or Tabernacles). (Click here to read about the Sunday of the Blind Man, which also draws on the Feast of Sukkot.) This celebration
Read moreHumble Glory
Palm Sunday In Sunday’s reading, Mary anoints Jesus with expensive perfume. In the Old Testament, anointing turns men into kings. In addition, anointing is also a part of the funeral rites. So, Mary, by anointing Jesus, shows that she understands
Read moreHope in the Darkness
There are times when you feel like there’s no hope for society–we’ve gone down a path of no return.
Read moreSo Many Services
“Fr. Dustin, aren’t all those extra services (feast days, Vespers, Matins) just for monks and retired people?” Here’s my brief response.
Read morePulling Back the Curtain on Pentecost
At the Orthodox celebration of Pentecost, the Gospel reading comes from John 7, which is a story about Jesus celebrating the Feast of Sukkot? But, if it’s Pentecost, why would the Church have us read about Sukkot? How does that
Read moreSeats at a Royal Coronation
It’s easy to see the baptism of Christ as simply the immersion of Jesus in the River Jordan. It’s also easy to get caught up in the theological meaning of the event (the sanctification of the waters, the manifestation of
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