Who is this King of Glory? With the image of Jesus on the cross, recall Isaiah 53:3:He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteem

He Leads Them In Repentance

Apr 8th, 2023 20m 23s

King Josiah led his people in a magnificent building campaign to beautify their temple. But it all came to a screeching halt when the Book of the Law, neglected for generations by the Kings of Israel, was discovered and its words read aloud. Ki

Wayward Wisdom

Apr 1st, 2023 17m 23s

We had hoped the young King Solomon, in his request to the Lord for wisdom, would avoid the typical temptations that come with power and prestige. But the frailty of the human ego shows itself again in the wayward path Solomon takes in seeking

A Listening Heart

Mar 25th, 2023 19m 56s

If you had only one wish, what would it be?The young King Solomon asked not for long life, nor riches, nor victory over his enemies. We learn from the story in I Kings that the Lord was pleased that Solomon instead asked for a "listening heart,

The Man's Choice

Mar 18th, 2023 21m 39s

If we claim to live as a servant of God, a doulos tou theou, we must reckon with the daily choice: Do I serve and protect my own interests and my own life? Or serve the will of God, even at the cost of my own comfort and life?Fr. Chris Salamy c

A Complicated Character

Mar 4th, 2023 21m 5s

Who is the real David? On the one hand, a humble shepherd boy who courageously obeys the Lord and is anointed king of Israel. On the other hand, adulterer and murderer in his dealings with Bathsheba and Uriah. On the first hand, sorrowfully rep

A Shepherd Turns Predator

Feb 25th, 2023 16m 29s

Not long after the Lord establishes his shepherd, David, over his people Israel, does King David turn to devour his own flock. Bored and distracted at home while his armies fight the king's battles, David takes another man's wife. To cover up h

Who Builds? Whose House?

Feb 18th, 2023 20m 14s

Safe from his enemies and finally secure in his own palace, King David desires to build the Lord a house of cedar. The Lord reminds David through His prophet Nathan that the ark of the Lord moves and dwells in a tent. The Lord has no need for a

Searching For a Leader

Feb 11th, 2023 20m 31s

Constantly searching for impressive candidates - from elected officials, to job postings, to new recruits on parish councils - we hope to find leaders in whom we can trust. Yet every leader who comes from the seed of Adam falls short. Fr. Timot

Why Are We Astonished?

Feb 4th, 2023 18m 1s

Good leaders manage expectations. Good leaders provide clarity and a path forward to eliminate surprise and disappointment. Since the beginning, the Lord makes it clear that all will be well for those who do His will. As Jesus concludes the S

Beware Consolation Before Crucifixion

Jan 28th, 2023 21m 53s

What's the connection between functioning as a servant of God and hoping in the inheritance as a son of God? Fr. Paul Hodge remembers the aphorism of Fr. Thomas Hopko of blessed memory, "Beware of consolation before the crucifixion." Like a ch

Careful What You Wish

Jan 21st, 2023 19m 52s

What do you wish for in this new year? Imagine if your every wish stirred an impulse to serve your neighbor with the very thing you first desire from them? Fr. Timothy Lowe turns to Matthew 7 which challenges our presumptions and turns the worl

Put On the New

Jan 14th, 2023 18m 5s

In what ways do we

Thy Kingdom Come

Jan 7th, 2023 22m 47s

A new year offers a chance to reflect and reset priorities. What kinds of new year resolutions are set by the servants of the Lord? Fr. Timothy Lowe suggests we resolve to pray, out loud and often, the very words provided by Jesus in Matthew'

Your Father Knows What You Need

Dec 17th, 2022 16m 37s

In what ways is prayer used to gain the favor of men, to bargain for position, or even to gossip and control others? Fr. Timothy Lowe submits to the critique of Matthew's Gospel which warns about heaping up empty words and praying in order to

Roadmap to Parish Health

Dec 10th, 2022 22m 51s

Does your parish have a dedicated outreach or missions and evangelism team? Fr. Evan Armatas boldly suggests that the Great Commission cannot be sequestered to committee; it must be at the heart of parish life. Reflecting on Hebrews 13 where

In Order To Be Seen

Dec 3rd, 2022 18m 33s

Reactions to Black Friday and Giving Tuesday range from enthusiasm to disgust. Many just feel conflicted with the commercialization of the holidays which is intended as a time for thanksgiving, spending time with loved ones, and extending acts

Above Reproach

Nov 26th, 2022 20m 46s

How can the Apostle Paul call himself a "blasphemer" and the "chief of sinners" and then go on to lay out expectations for the bishops and the deacons to live above reproach? In this episode, Andrea Bakas provides an in-depth word study which u

Clarifying Questions

Nov 19th, 2022 19m 32s

What motivates our questions? Do we seek security, favor, and position when we ask that which we already know? Or do we seek clarity and common reference in the Scripture so that we can get on with the business of doing? The story of the Good

Paybacks

Nov 12th, 2022 16m 27s

What does judgment have to do with servant leadership? On the one hand, absolutely nothing. If judgment is the Lord's, the doulos, the servant or slave in the Lord's household, cannot stand in the place of judge. The Lord alone is Judge. On th

Beyond Basic

Nov 5th, 2022 18m 41s

Jesus calls his followers to be exceptional. It's easy to feel exceptional when the whole room of people who look like you and behave like you express their love for you. But Jesus isn't impressed by loving those who love you and saluting only

Entrusted With The Keys

Oct 29th, 2022 16m 45s

We hear early in Genesis that man is made in the image and likeness of God and given dominion over the earth. On the surface, this text might appeal to the baser side of the human ego that lusts for power and prestige. But a deeper look will ac

Contempt and Corruption

Oct 22nd, 2022 18m 19s

We all like a fresh start. New beginnings are filled with hope and promise. A new mission, a new ministry, a new ordination, a new role of service, a new life. How is it that we become derailed so quickly? The stories told in 1 Samuel hearke

Keeping Promises

Oct 15th, 2022 19m 11s

Servant leaders make good on their promises. The story of Hannah in the opening of 1 Samuel demonstrates the gravity of remembrance, grace, and vows. Hannah, barren and distressed, pours out her soul to the Lord and trusts in the blessing of p

The Source of Recognition

Oct 8th, 2022 18m 12s

In what ways do our presumptions and expectations cloud our vision? Fr. Seraphim Solof opens Luke 24 for the story of Jesus who appears to his disciples on the road to Emmaus. The disciples had just witnessed the crucifixion of Jesus; the ver