Sermons & Homilies
Today’s Gospel is about thirst. The thirst of God for man. The thirst of man for God. Let us always ask ourselves: Am I seeking the love of God with my whole heart? Do I thirst for salvation? Or do I thirst for worldly things, pleasures, status, human honor? This is a very simple question, but one of the most important questions in life.
What do we do when all seems lost? Where do we turn when there’s no one to turn to? All of the hopes and dreams, all the desires and aspirations of the disciples lay lifeless in a stone cold tomb. We trusted that it had been [Jesus] which should have redeemed Israel (Lk. 24:21). Though the Lord had foretold to them numerous times that He would be betrayed, scourged, mocked, and crucified, the calamity still over took them by surprise.
My Fathers and brethren, we’ve arrived at the last week of Lent. Many of us are exhausted, some discouraged, perhaps even given up, waiting for Pascha to bandage up our wounds and hope for a better Lent next year. Or perhaps we’re succeeding in whatever way we might imagine success looks like. Either way, it’s easy to begin our calculations, or rather, to revert to a calculating mind with regards to our souls.
While Orthodoxy has gotten attention lately for its new growth and spike in conversions, the true sign of Orthodoxy taking root here is the increase of her saints. We are blessed this year to add St. Olga of Alaska to our humble synaxis.
