Orthodox Christian Sermons on the Gospels, Epistles and other topics

6th Sunday of Pascha, 2011

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 21 May 2012 10:15:42 -0600

AUDIO sermon:6th Sunday of Pascha. What is the most important part of the healing of the blind man story? It is undoubtedly the courage of the blind man and how because of his courage he was brought to full enlightenment and healing. Our healing in Christ will not proceed to completion without personal courage. It does not matter how talented, intelligent or knowledgeable you are, or whether you have more self control than most and your life is in good order or not - without personal courage and willingness to stand up and be a Christian in our post Christian age (a misnomer term, there has never been a "Christian" age, since the world has always been against Christ), you will not be healed of your passions and sins and achieve perfection. The dialogue of the blind man with the Pharisees of his age (every age has them), shows how we incrementally become wiser and sounder in soul as we react to whatever the world brings to is with courage, and with what we know at the time. This is an "every man" kind of story. The blind man had no special talent, nor did he have complete knowledge (his answers showed him growing in knowledge), but he was courageous, and because of this, he gained not only physical eyes, but also spiritual ones. Anyone who is tempted to cave in to the political correctness of this age, which demands certain ways of thinking, speaking and acting, needs to ponder the healing of the blind man in great detail.

4th Sunday of Pascha, Peter Heals Aeneas And Raises Tabitha, Faith And Miracles, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:41:53 -0600

AUDIO sermon:4th Sunday of Pascha. Exegesis of Acts 9:32-42, the reading for the 4th Sunday of Pascha. Two miracles of Peter. The variable relationship of faith to miracles.

4th Sunday of Pascha, I have no man!, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 07 May 2012 09:37:39 -0600

AUDIO sermon:4th Sunday of Pascha. The Healing of the Paralytic by the sheep's pool has many deep theological concepts in it, but none of this matters if we do not adopt the character and faith of the paralytic. We examine his patience and also his despondency. All true faith must battle with despondency. The paralytic and other examples during this Paschal period, such at the Apostle Thomas and Peter, and the Myrrh bearing women teach us this critical lesson.

3rd Sunday of Pascha, Myrrhbearing Women Joseph Nicodemus, Having Become Bold, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 08:19:17 -0600

AUDIO sermon:3rd Sunday of Pascha. Myrrhbearing Women Joseph Nicodemus, Having Become Bold, 2012

3rd Matins Gospel, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 03:10:02 -0600

AUDIO sermon:3rd Matins Gospel. Exegesis of the 3rd Matins Gospel, Mark 16:9-20, and chronology of the day of the resurrection. The most important points are the spiritual ones - the resurrection was not witnessed by anyone. What does that mean? A lot!

2nd Thursday of pascha, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:54:20 -0600

AUDIO sermon:2nd Thursday of pascha. A children's sermon on John 5:24-30, and important Christology that 7, 5 and 4 years olds know and liberal seminary students do not!

2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday, Why are the altar doors open on pascha?, When are they closed and what does it mean?, 2011

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:09:56 -0600

AUDIO sermon:2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday. Five minutes in between Vespers and Matins at the Vigil for Thomas Sunday about the closing of the altar doors, which have been open all of Bright week. There is profound and sobering symbolism concering the closing of the doors which we should understand.

2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday, Thomas Sunday, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 21:09:39 -0600

AUDIO sermon:2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday. The story of the "unbelieving disbelief" of Thomas, always read on the Sunday after Pascha, and also several other times during the year has one core message that applies to every human being. We look at this, and the only reason Thomas stayed with the Apostles through the eighth day, when He saw Christ - love. Without love, and the actions of Thomas replicated in *our* lives the resurrection will be of no good effect for us. the Christology and theology in this selection is deep and important, but the example which we must learn is of even higher importance.

2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday, 2010

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 11:39:16 -0600

AUDIO sermon:2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday. Of all the resurrection stories, perhaps the one concerning St Thomas is the one we can most relate to. He is the "common man", who was later able to do uncommon things. We are just like him, so our path of life must also be like his, which is the Christian life in microcosm. He, like us, was a complex indivicdual, believing, then faint of heart, couargeous, then full of fear. The one thing that he did that we must do to be saved is to endure, and "believe in the midst of our unbelief". If we do this, we are not far away from the supernatural exploits of St Thomas, the Apostle.

2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday, Thomas Sunday, "Believing disbelief" is the most important part of the story., 2011

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:48:12 -0600

AUDIO sermon:2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday. There are several important parts to the story of the encounter of the Apostle Thomas with the risen Lord, such as why the first words Jesus spoke to the assembled apostles were "Peace be unto you", the promise of the sending of the Holy Spirit and the power that Jesus gave to His Apostles to remit sins. The most important gleaning from the reading is none of these, but is understood in the blunder of St Thomas, and his subsequent behavior, which led to his full enlightenment, and gave him the privilege to be the first to proclaim in the scripture that Jesus is fully God and man. We are all much like Thomas in his mistakes; let us also investigate his great virtue, which the church calls "believing disbelief", without which, scarcely one would be saved.

Holy Tuesday, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:04:14 -0600

AUDIO sermon:Holy Tuesday. Six and a half important minutes using Judas as an example to teach us how not to "accept the darkness" Commentary on the Sessional Hymn from Great Tuesday Matins: "Impious Judas with avaricious thoughts plots against the Master, / and ponders how he will betray Him. /He falls away from the light and accepts the darkness; / he agrees upon the payment and sells Him that is above all price; / and as the reward for his actions, in his misery / he receives a hangman's noose and death in agony. / O Christ our God, deliver us from such a fate as his, // and grant remission of sins to those who celebrate with love Thy most pure Passion."

5th Sunday of Great Lent, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:13:36 -0600

AUDIO sermon:5th Sunday of Great Lent. The Gospel for the 5th Sunday of Lent not only sets the stage for our Lord's passion, which we will shortly go through on our way to Pascha, but also teaches two important truths. Firstly, learning takes time. This may seem like a simple and obvious truth, but it is often an ignored truth. Second: without humility, there will be no learning at all.

5th Sunday of Great Lent, For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. , Ow much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:02:52 -0600

AUDIO sermon:5th Sunday of Great Lent. The 2 epistles for the 5th Sunday of Great Lent describe well the life of St Mary of Egypt, and also how we must live. Truly, after her repentance, she "Put on Christ", and had her conscience purged from dead works. We look in some detail at her life and how these scriptures will fulfilled in her life, and must also be fulfilled in ours.

3rd Sunday of Great Lent, Epistle for Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:40:22 -0600

AUDIO sermon:3rd Sunday of Great Lent. The Epistle for the Exaltation of the Cross never mentions the cross. There are many epistles that mention the cross; why was this one chosen?

3rd Sunday of Great Lent, Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 09:29:21 -0600

AUDIO sermon:3rd Sunday of Great Lent. The entire Gospel is important, but some passages are absolutely critical to understand and follow. This is one of them. It explains what the way of the cross is, and teaches a principle that we must use literally every moment of our lives - to learn to always make a good "exchange". We explain what the Lord means when He commands us to "deny" ourselves, and what the answers to His questions: "What shall it profit a man..." and "What shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" must be. These are not rhetorical questions - you must answer them.

2nd Sunday of Great Lent, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 08:27:31 -0600

AUDIO sermon:2nd Sunday of Great Lent. Why do we speak of the Paralytic borne of four during Great Lent? It is because we must learn that we are paralytics because of sin, and the relationship of sin to sickeness, physical and mental. We must also learn what saving faith is and that we must help out brother.

1st Sunday of Great Lent, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?, Come and see!, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 08:56:43 -0600

AUDIO sermon:1st Sunday of Great Lent. Orthodoxy and life is very deep and complex, but the essence of Christian life is simple. The Gospel today teaches us a simple way, and if we obey the simple apostolic command, we will not be confounded. If we think too much, we will always be confused. We look at the calling of Nathaniel and the simple way he was told to approach his doubts; this applies to EVERY doubt and difficulty in our life. "Come and see!" is the only door to the triumph of Orthodoxy, that is, the fullness of the indwelling of God, in our hearts.

1st Sunday of Great Lent, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 07:24:47 -0600

AUDIO sermon:1st Sunday of Great Lent. The hymns for the Sunday of Orthodoxy, which proclaim the restoration of the icons, are a primer in Christology. Their most important teaching is explained, using examples from the services. Also the purpose of fasting, from a matins hymn, is clearly explained, and the importance of the hymnology of the church and how it teaches us true theology is discussed.

5th Sunday before Great Lent, Sunday Of Forgiveness, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 09:17:01 -0600

AUDIO sermon:5th Sunday before Great Lent. On Forgiveness Sunday, on the precipice of Great Lent, we hear in the Gospel the last important piece of essential information for preparation for Great Lent and salvation in general. Forgiveness is the most important topic here, after we have been taught about in the preceding Sundays about the Judgment, the process of sin and repentance, and the deadly sin of judging others. The first and last Sundays of preparation are like bookends, because the man who judges will not forgive, and the man who forgives will not judge. We talk about, mainly, how we can learn to forgive others. This is mostly from us knowing ourselves. This skill is not optional, because our Lord said "if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses".

5th Sunday before Great Lent, Sunday Of Forgiveness, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:29:27 -0600

5th Sunday before Great Lent, Sunday Of Forgiveness, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:12:12 -0600

AUDIO sermon:5th Sunday before Great Lent. The Epistle for the Sunday of Forgivenss is a perfect introduction into the purpose and aim of Great Lent.

Week of Forgiveness (Cheesfare);Thursday, Week of the Last Judgment: Thursday, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:45:30 -0600

AUDIO sermon:Week of Forgiveness (Cheesfare);Thursday. Week of the Last Judgment: Thursday, 2012

4th Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 09:12:27 -0600

AUDIO sermon:4th Sunday before Great Lent. The Sunday of the Last Judgment gives the 3rd piece of important information to us in our preparation for Great Lent. We have learned that to be saved one must not judge others, and feel the weight of personal sins and ask God for mercy. We have seen the process of repentance, from the onset of sin, its destructive affects, self-realization of sin, and the importance process to "arise and go" to our Father, and the critical detail, without which we would never complete our repentance and be saved - our Father will go to us, as we are trying to change, and comfort us and empower us to complete the good work we have started. Today's Gospel about the last judgment shows the end result of true repentance, and also the "flip side" - the outcome for those who do not repent. It is a frightening spectacle, and not a pleasant one to meditate upon, but absolute necessary for us to remember. Lets us talk about how Jesus Christ came the first time, how His second coming will be, and what we must do to hear the blessed words: " Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world".

4th Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 07:37:26 -0600

AUDIO sermon:4th Sunday before Great Lent., 2012

Week of the Last Judgment (Meatfare);Thursday, Thursday before Meatfare, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:36:19 -0600

AUDIO sermon:Week of the Last Judgment (Meatfare);Thursday. This selection from the end of the First Letter of St John the Theologian, the "Apostle of Love" contains many important passages, and we discuss some of them in detail: "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?", "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.", "We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not;" St John teaches that the becoming "born of God" is a process, and is only completed when we reach perfection, that is when we no longer sin. He also teaches us the way to learn to love God - love our neighbor. He also teaches the Christian understanding of the commandments of God, which is not well known, or understood: we follow the commandments out of love for God, and not because of fear of punishment.

3rd Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 07:49:13 -0600

AUDIO sermon:3rd Sunday before Great Lent. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is part of a 4 week preparation period for Great Lent. We discuss the purpose and main teaching of the 4 Sundays, and then do a somewhat quick survey of the parable, mentioning all the lush symbolism and metaphor, and concentrating on the most important part - the core of the parable - that we must learn. It consists of two things. We must "come our ourselves" - this is not a one time epiphany as described in the parable, but a daily process, that changes over time, and as we are in the process of "arising and going", we must be ever aware of how our Father is always with us and will help us, even when we feel abandoned, fruitless, or our resolve to change falters. We also look briefly at the older son, who teaches us a very important lesson regarding self-knowledge. This is important stuff!

2nd Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:55:04 -0600

AUDIO sermon:2nd Sunday before Great Lent. This is really two homilies. The first is about the simple meaning of the parable of the Publican and Pharisee. It is that we will not be saved if we are proud and judge others. We discuss some of its nuances. We also discuss the prayer of the publican "God be mercy to be a sinner", and the Jesus prayer. There is a lot of practical detail. This is really important stuff.

2nd Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:51:45 -0600

AUDIO sermon:2nd Sunday before Great Lent. The first 3 hymns of Vespers from the Triodion teach us the meaning of the Publican & Pharisee parable. We also examine the epistle for this day, and tremble regarding our example to others. We look at the expectation of persecution that a Christian must have and example from the current news of how "evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived" is being fulfilled in our day. Also the power of scripture and the necessity of reading it.

1st Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:02:00 -0600

AUDIO sermon:1st Sunday before Great Lent. The Story of the repentance of Zacchaeus, the "chief among the publicans" marks the beginning of the preparation period for Great Lent, which in turn prepares us for Pascha. We look at this story in the larger context of what we should be doing in Great Lent. It is *not* just about fasting and repentance! It is more about opening ourselves to the grace of God to be changed and healed. This is what happened to Zacchaeus, and we look into our Lord's dealings with him and his response in detail, with the aim that both would teach us how to live in a way that makes us more able to receive the grace of God and change, and be truly happy.

31st Sunday after Pentecost, What does by "all acceptation" really mean?, 2012

seraphim@orthodox.net (Priest Seraphim Holland) — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 07:56:05 -0600

AUDIO sermon:31st Sunday after Pentecost. What does by "all acceptation" *really* mean?, 2012

Orthodox Christian Sermons on the Gospels, Epistles and other topics

6th Sunday of Pascha, 2011

4th Sunday of Pascha, Peter Heals Aeneas And Raises Tabitha, Faith And Miracles, 2012

4th Sunday of Pascha, I have no man!, 2012

3rd Sunday of Pascha, Myrrhbearing Women Joseph Nicodemus, Having Become Bold, 2012

3rd Matins Gospel, 2012

2nd Thursday of pascha, 2012

2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday, Why are the altar doors open on pascha?, When are they closed and what does it mean?, 2011

2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday, Thomas Sunday, 2012

2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday, 2010

2nd Sunday of Pascha; Thomas Sunday, Thomas Sunday, "Believing disbelief" is the most important part of the story., 2011

Holy Tuesday, 2012

5th Sunday of Great Lent, 2012

5th Sunday of Great Lent, For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. , Ow much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?, 2012

3rd Sunday of Great Lent, Epistle for Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 2012

3rd Sunday of Great Lent, Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 2012

2nd Sunday of Great Lent, 2012

1st Sunday of Great Lent, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?, Come and see!, 2012

1st Sunday of Great Lent, 2012

5th Sunday before Great Lent, Sunday Of Forgiveness, 2012

5th Sunday before Great Lent, Sunday Of Forgiveness, 2012

5th Sunday before Great Lent, Sunday Of Forgiveness, 2012

Week of Forgiveness (Cheesfare);Thursday, Week of the Last Judgment: Thursday, 2012

4th Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

4th Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

Week of the Last Judgment (Meatfare);Thursday, Thursday before Meatfare, 2012

3rd Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

2nd Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

2nd Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

1st Sunday before Great Lent, 2012

31st Sunday after Pentecost, What does by "all acceptation" *really* mean?, 2012

31st Sunday after Pentecost, What does by "all acceptation" really mean?, 2012