All Saints Homilies: Recent Episodes
Fr. Patrick Reardon and Ancient Faith Radio
On the occasion of the third night of Hanukkah, Fr. Pat talks about the divisions God built into creation, about the consecration and desecration of sacred space, and about dedication of God's temple and of ourselves.
Fr. Pat reflects upon the encounter between Jesus and the woman with the chronic bleeding who touched the hem of His robe.
On the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Fr. Pat reminds us that the Cross ought to be the lens through which we examine every question and regard every problem; it is what gives godly shape to the Christian life.
There’s a sense in which The Vocation of Mary was the most special and the most common. In this homily given on the Feast of the Dormition in 2010, Fr. Pat considers these two vocations of our Lord's Mother.
Fr. Pat compares an event from the life of Xerxes as told by Herodotus in Book 7 of The Histories to a similar event in the lives of Paul and his companions as told by Luke in Acts 16:1-12.
In this homily from the Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt in 2008, Fr. Pat discusses the occasion for the writing of the Gospel of Mark, the response of the Apostles to the cross, and the question Jesus asks James and John in the 10th chapter of Mark, which is the same question He asks us as we approach the chalice.
The 9th chapter of the Gospel of Mark opens with the account of the Transfiguration, then is immediately followed by the the story of Jesus healing a boy possessed by an unclean spirit, a spirit which Jesus’ disciples were unable to cast out. Fr. Pat makes three observations about faith which we can learn from this story. The painting Fr. Pat refers to is The Transfiguration by Rafael.
Both Saint Paul and Faust, the man who sells his soul to the devil, have something to say about faith, hope, and patience. Fr. Pat considers the great divide between these two men.
In this homily from 2008 preached on the Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste (which was also Forgiveness Sunday), Fr. Pat reminds us of the great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. The text is Hebrews 12:1-10.
When the Apostle Paul lists faith, hope, and love as a triad of things that abide, he takes care to assert that the greatest of these is love. In this homily from Vespers on January 5, 2014, Fr. Pat examines these three things more closely.
January 30 in the Orthodox Church is the Feast of the Three Holy Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom. In this homily from 2011, Fr. Pat teaches us about these three Fathers of the Church and their contributions to the Faith.
This past Sunday evening All Saints Church hosted a Pan-Orthodox Prayer Service for the Sanctity of Life, sponsored by the Orthodox Christian Clergy Association of Chicago. Fr. Pat was the guest speaker. These were his remarks.
Paul transforms his prison cell into a hub of missions work. The text is Colossians 3:4-11.
In this homily from Christmas Day 2007, Fr. Pat reflects upon the Incarnation in terms of Christ the Only Holy One, Christ our Mediator, and Christ our Brother.
John's Gospel tells us of a time during the Feast of Hanukkah when Jesus was teaching on Solomon's porch (John 10:22-23). Hanukkah is the feast of dedication; Fr. Pat examines this theme of dedication in the lives of three Old Testament saints.
The theory of the perenial philosophy says that there’s a certain core experience of truth that all human beings have. Fr. Pat discusses this theory in light of Luke 14:16-24, the Parable of the Great Banquet.
Paul tells us in Galatians that if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed. In this homily from 2016, Fr. Pat takes a closer look at Abraham, considering historical fact, theological truth, and moral responsibility. The text is Galatians 3:23-4:5.
In this homily from Thanksgiving of 2010, Fr. Pat considers with us God's Covenant with Noah given in Genesis 9.
In this homily from 2014, Fr. Pat takes a close look at the word "who" in the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).
The cross is a catastrophic event in which everything falls apart, and everything that went before has been destroyed. This homily is from the Sunday after the Elevation of the Cross, 2009. The texts are Galatians 2:16-20 and Mark 8:34-9:1.
n 1 Corinthian 4:9-16, the Apostle Paul gives a portrayal of a style of life very much in contrast with the style of life preferred by the Corinthians. In this homily from 2009, Fr. Pat looks at the contrasts enumerated by St. Paul.
In this homily given on the Feast of the Dormition in 2010, Fr. Pat reflects upon the revelation of the Gospel disclosed in the human face
In this homily from 2006, Fr. Pat reflects upon the Body of Christ, the Sacraments, and our own transfiguration in Christ.
Jesus' healing of the Paralytic in Matthew 9 teaches us many things about man's biggest problem, about the corporate nature of the Church's service to the sinner, and about the Lord's authority to forgive sins.
The mid-5th century was a time of chaos, war, poverty, decay, and destruction, but the one concern of the Church was an abbott named Eutyches
Fr. Pat shows us how the Roman centurion who comes to Jesus for healing for his servant can be a model to us of how to approach Jesus. The text is Matthew 8:5-13.
In a homily delivered on Pentecost Sunday 2010, Fr. Pat offers reflections on the Orthodox wedding service, the Holy Spirit, faith, and the Creed.
The institution of the Twelve Apostles is the link between the Church and the Resurrection of Christ. Fr. Pat preaches from Acts 1:15-26. This homily was given April 2, 2015.
Mary of Bethany appears in the gospels of St. Luke and St. John, and in both books she stands as a point of contrast with someone else. Fr. Pat's brief meditation on these contrasts was given at Bridegroom Matins on Tuesday, April 30, 2013.
In this homily given on St. Thomas Sunday, 2012, Fr. Pat examines three subjects related to the resurrection of Christ our Lord.
Fr. Pat offers reflections on baptism and the Creed. This homily was given on Great and Holy Saturday,
The heart of Feast of the Annunciation is evangelism in its most perfect reception, by a Woman who hears and believes the proclamation of the Gospel.
Fr. Pat preaches from Matthew 15:21-28, the encounter of Jesus with the Canaanite woman.
Fr. Pat preaches from Luke 18:35-43, the story of the blind beggar of Jericho whom Jesus heals
Preaching from Luke 17 (The Healing of the Ten Lepers), Fr. Pat examines what it is to have a Christian perspective toward the world.
Fr. Pat preaches on the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness as told in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 4.
When at His baptism the Father speaks of Jesus as his "Beloved Son", declaring Him "well-pleased", the expression would have evoked in the mind of Jesus and anyone else who heard them two Biblical texts with which Jesus Himself was already familiar from the years of study in the synagogue.
The season of Advent is not only a time when we prepare for the Feast of Christ's Birth; it is also the season in which we reflect more directly on the Second Coming of Christ. In this homily from 2009, Fr. Pat preaches from Colossians 3:4-11 about the Hope that is within us.
Fr. Pat preaches from Luke 13:10-17, the story of Jesus healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath. This homily was given on December 4, 2014
Fr. Pat preaches on the Apostle Andrew, whose feast day is November 30. He gave this homily on November 30, 2014.
Most of the sources in Holy Scripture, and most emphatically the Psalms, look upon Israel's time in the desert as a period of unmitigated tragedy. Israel was consistently unfaithful. However, the prophets Hosea and Jeremiah chose to see things differently, which is a source of strength and consolation for us today.
Preaching on the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), Fr. Pat urges us to always maintain a proper perspective.
In this vesperal homily, Fr. Pat preaches from 1 John 2:1-6, about the true blessed assurance of our salvation.
Fr. Pat takes a closer look at Rabbi Gamaliel, teacher of St. Paul, and at Gamaliel’s advice to the Sanhedrin concerning how to deal with the Apostles, who in disobedience to the Sanhedrin would not stop teaching in Jesus’ name.
In this homily from Agape Vespers 2021, Fr. Pat explains how the task of the Church is to share with the world the message of the Cross; not as an abstraction, but as something they can reach out and feel.
In this Palm Sunday homily, Fr. Pat looks briefly into the testimony of three spokesmen for the apostolic memory with respect to the passion and death of Christ.
On the 5th Sunday of Lent, Fr. Pat preaches on the request by James and John from Mark 10: "Grant us to sit, one at Thy right hand and one at Thy left, in Thy glory.”
In this homily preached the fourth Sunday of Great Lent 2014, Fr. Pat looks at the story from Mark 9 of Jesus driving a demon out of a young boy, and makes three observations of what this story teaches about faith.
A meditation on Christ’s humanity for the Third Sunday of Lent; the Scripture readings are Mark 8:34-9:1 and Hebrews 4:14-5:10. Fr. Pat preached this sermon in 2011.
Fr. Pat preaches from 1 Kings 18:42-19:18, about Elijah, who, after his fearless encounter with the priests of Baal, is now isolated and filled with self-pity.
Fr. Pat preaches from Isaiah 2:1-9, in which Isaiah delivers two oracles: the first about the ideal Jerusalem which is to come and the second about the actual Jerusalem which exists in Isaiah’s time.
On Forgiveness Sunday and the start of Great Lent, Fr. Pat encourages us to rededicate ourselves to a serious life of prayer.
Fr. Pat offers pre-Lenten reflections on Hanna, the mother of Samuel and Anna the Prophetess.
In this meditation on Isiah 1:16-31, Fr. Pat reflects upon the Bible’s prophetic voice on behalf of the poor.
Fr. Pat preaches from Isaiah 1:1-15. This homily was given at Vespers on November 13, 2010.
In this meditation from a vespers service in January of 2010, Fr. Pat looks at Numbers 20, in which the people of Israel complain to Moses about their situation.
Israel recognized no possibility of conflict between God’s will fixed in the Torah and the more fluid guidance He provided in the cloud and the pillar. Fr. Pat offers reflections from Numbers Chapter 9.
We bear within our very flesh the hope of which the Apostle Paul speaks; therefore there is going to be something very fleshly about our transformation. Fr. Pat preaches from Colossians 3.
Strictly speaking, the Orthodox Church does not celebrate doctrines, it celebrates events. On this homily given on the Sunday before Theophany, Fr Pat considers the event of Jesus's Incarnation.
The Christian faith is based on an event that took place in a specific place at a specific time in history; God instructs us through history, and we are to be learners. Fr. Pat gave this homily on Christmas Eve several years ago.
Isaiah's prophetic vision of a Child, a son of David who was to come and Who would be God with us, Immanuel.
The bishops at the Seventh Ecumenical Council reasoned that the legitimacy, indeed, the necessity of icons in the church was an organic inference from the thesis that God became visible in the Man Jesus of Nazareth. Fr. Pat gave this homily on The Sunday of Orthodoxy, 2020.
The story of Israel’s forty years wandering in the desert became a Rabbinic paradigm for the interpretation of the whole history of Israel, and carries over into the Desert Fathers of the Church. “Harden not your heart….as in the day of temptation in the wilderness” is a major motif. The story became an ascetical model for the early Christians, and is to this very day. Fr. Pat speaks to this topic.
The very fact that God designed the Bible for the purpose of penetrating the human conscience indicates an intentional affinity between the two. Preaching from Romans 2:10-16 and Matthew 4:18-23, Fr. Pat instructs us on man's conscience.
Matthew 25:31-46, the Gospel passage for the Sunday of the Last Judgment, is about the judgment of history, meaning the judgment to which history itself will be subjected. Fr. Pat delivered this homily on February 23, 2020.
In the Bible, the designation “saint” is not restricted to those who are already in Glory. Rather, it designates all those who are in Christ, no matter how much their lives may need improvement. On the Feast of All Saints, Fr. Pat delves into this topic for our edification.
On the Feast of Pentecost, Fr. Pat compares events in the book of Genesis with the events in Acts 2.
On the Sunday of the Commemoration of the Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council, Fr. Pat preaches from John 17 and Acts 20.
In a sermon given on the Sunday of the Paralytic, Fr. Pat preaches on this healing told in John 5:1-15.
Rather than discussing the main themes from the story of the Prodigal Son, Fr. Pat examines features of the story not related to its central core, but nonetheless significant.
Fr. Pat's homily on the Feast of the Presentation of our Lord and Savior in the Temple.
Fr. Pat discusses the meaning of moral realism, the radical mercy of God, and Christ and His Cross.
On the feast of Theophany, Fr. Pat looks at the juxtaposition of two texts from Matthew: the baptism of Jesus in Chapter 3, and Jesus’ sending the apostles out to baptize others in Chapter 28.
In this homily given on the Feast of the Holy Innocents, Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects upon what makes us children of God.
The metaphysics of Gnosticism represents a major threat to the Gospel, and is an enemy of the doctrine of the Incarnation. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon offers reflections on this.
Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon warns us about three things which impede our ability to walk worthy of the vocation with which we have been called.
Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon preaches from Luke 18:35-43, the story of the blind beggar who receives his sight.
On the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos to the Temple, Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon preaches on Mary's canticle of thanksgiving, found in Luke Chapter 1.
Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon discusses Paul’s response to the Gentile converts in Galatia being compelled by Jewish Christian teachers to live according to Jewish customs.
Paul’s letter to the Galatians is directly concerned with the meaning and the integrity of the Gospel. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon offers three points on Paul's words spoken against the loss or distortion of the very essence of the Gospel.
Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon discusses three types of witness, with special focus on the witness we call “the faith once delivered to the saints.”
Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects on the story of the Gadarene demoniac, who, according to Luke, originally was from the city, and having been healed, returned to the city to proclaim how much Jesus had done for him.
In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus teaches us about hearing the Word of God and and holding it fast in our hearts. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon offers reflections on this topic.
In 2 Corinthians 6:2 Paul says “…now is the day of salvation.” In order to be “in the now,” or fully present, one must come into the Presence. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon considers three requirements for this.
Second Corinthians has been summarized as “strength made perfect through weakness.” Preaching from 2 Corinthians 4:6-15, Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon looks at three examples from the Old Testament of God’s strength being made perfect through the weakness of His servants.
In 2 Corinthians 1:23 Paul says, "He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God.” Father Patrick Henry Reardon provides three ways to describe this anointing.
Preaching from Galatians 2:16-20, Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects upon justification through faith.
On the Sunday which is both the birthday of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and the Sunday before the Feast of the Holy Cross, Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon looks at how these two are connected.
Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon discusses the meaning of the Ecclesiastical New Year for Christians, its connection with the Feast of Joshua, and the significance of the Biblical texts chosen for this date.
In 1 Corinthians 4:16, Paul urges the Corinthian Christians to be imitators of him. In what ways should they, and we, do this?
It seems that our society is trying to walk on water without the power of God, and is consequently in the process of drowning in its many confusions. Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects on our adhering to God’s revealed will vs. trying to make history.
Last week a former vice-president and now presidential candidate said on the campaign trail, "We choose science over fiction; we choose truth over facts.” Fr. Patrick Henry Reardon reflects upon truth vs. facts, and the role memory plays in this.
The Apostle Paul instructs us in Romans 15 that we are not to please ourselves, but to please our neighbor for his good, to edify him. Fr. Pat encourages us in this matter.
Fr. Pat looks at the story of the paralytic in Matthew 9 from three literary perspectives.
The English word “time” has various meanings. Fr. Pat looks at three of these in regard to our experience and knowledge of God.
Fr. Pat preaches on Jesus’ teaching from Matthew 5 that we are to be salt and light to the world.
Fr. Pat preaches on the parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders and the miracle of the cleansing of the leper (Matthew 7:24-8:4).
What sorts of things do we mean when we profess that the Church is catholic and apostolic? Why are these words so important that they are explicitly mentioned in the creed? Fr. Pat explores these questions.
On the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, Fr. Pat looks at two questions posed to St. Peter; each question has to do with the identity of the same Person, but the two questions are posed very differently.
Jesus tells us that the Holy Spirit will be our teacher and instructor; He will lead us into all truth. When we pray Psalm 118:66 we ask the Holy Spirit to teach us goodness, discipline, and knowledge. Fr. Pat looks a these three things.
Fr. Pat compares the march of the Israelites through the desert, the Church’s march through history, and the Christian's daily walk.
The account of the man born blind serves as a narrative completion of the themes introduced on the night of Pascha. Fr. Pat preaches on the darkness of blindness and the True Light, which gives light to every man coming into the world.
The Samaritan Woman whom Jesus meets at the well has, like many people today, a disordered life. Fr. Pat offers reflections on how this disorder afflicts the soul.
Discussion of the care of the human soul is of special necessity in the age and atmosphere in which we live. Fr. Pat turns once again to this very important topic.
Fr. Pat examines three failures of the rich man in the story of the rich man and Lazarus from Luke 16. This homily was first given at All Saints Church several years ago.
In this homily given on St. Thomas Sunday, 2011, Fr. Pat considers how the revelation of the Holy Trinity takes place through the entire Pentecostarion, and how Pascha is not really complete until Pentecost.
In four brief meditations given on each of the four Royal Hours on Great and Holy Friday, Fr. Pat reflects upon Ephesians 3:18.
Fr. Pat captures some dimensions of the place of the mother of Jesus in the passion of Christ.
Among Biblical concepts, one of the central is the covenant. Indeed, covenant is at the absolute center and root of the identity of the people of God. In today’s homily, Fr. Pat considers three aspects of covenant.
There are times in our lives when we make our own the petition of the father in Mark 9: “Help my unbelief.” But faith is increased only by being tested. Fr. Pat offers reflections on this.
On the Sunday of the Holy Cross, when Jesus asks us “What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” Fr. Pat shares reflections on faith and its relationship to the soul.
On the second Sunday of Lent Fr. Pat looks at our Lord’s passion, the power of His blood, and the authority of the Church.
What exactly is the Sunday of Orthodoxy? Is it recognition of an achievement, or is it more than that? Fr. Pat explores the meaning of icons and the Triumph of Orthodoxy. This homily was preached in 2008.
Fr. Pat considers three aspects of the works that are traditionally associated with the Great Fast: prayer, fasting, and deeds of mercy.
On the Sunday of the Last Judgment, Fr. Pat reflects upon the most important question ever posed to the mind of man.
On the Sunday of the Prodigal Son, Fr. Pat reflects upon human history, the event of Jesus of Nazareth, and upon the true protagonist of this parable.
Timothy’s mother and grandmother not only raised him in the faith, but they instructed him in the study of sacred grammar. Fr. Pat suggests three blessings that came to young Timothy through this study, which pertain to all of us, not just those raising children.
In 2 Timothy 2:1-10, Paul holds out three models for Timothy’s life which are three metaphors for the life in Christ. Timothy is not free to choose which one he wants; he must follow all three.
Can God be hurt? Can he be offended? Is God sensitive? Can he be disappointed? Fr. Pat offers reflections on the Parable of Talents and the nature of God.
Fr. Pat offers reflections on the life of Hosea and what his example teaches us about the character of God.
In Ephesians 4:11-13, Paul talks about Christian service. But what does it mean that we serve God? Fr. Pat examines the life of the Prophet Samuel and considers three lessons for us today.
Fr. Pat looks at the life and character of Joseph the Betrothed: a model of God, and another David.
On the Sunday before the Nativity, Fr. Pat looks for the Biblical David in two works of Western art: Michelangelo’s David and Rembrandt’s sketch of David in prayer. The works can be seen here: Michelangelo's "David" and here: Rembrandt's "David in Prayer"
Using 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 as his text, Fr. Pat looks at three qualities of the Thessalonian Church, and finds these qualities exemplified in the lives of three Old Testament saints.
The Christian life is one of effort. Faith in Christ is not something that simply can be attached to a secular lifestyle. In this homily preached in 2008, Fr. Pat reflects upon Ephesians 4:1-6.
Were the new Gentile converts obliged to observe all the mandates of the Torah? As the Apostle Paul contemplated this, he came to the understanding that history not only matures, but had a pivotal point. Fr. Pat preaches from Galatians 3:23-4:5.
Preaching on the first seven verses of Ephesians 4, Fr. Pat considers one God, the one hope of our calling, and the Christian lifestyle.
Fr. Pat reflects upon the treasure of which Paul speaks in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7; what that treasure is, what is needed to take possession of it, and that in which it is contained.
Preaching from Ephesians 2:4-10 and Luke 16:19-31 (The Rich Man and Lazarus), Fr. Pat Reardon looks at God’s grace in the world and in the life of the believer.
The sacraments are not just the sign that something is happening, they are the means by which it is happening; they are not just signs of an inner grace, but the effective means by which the grace of justification is imparted. Fr. Pat meditates with us on the thesis that holiness is something physical.
The story of the Gadarene Demoniac in Luke 8 provokes three questions which are important for us to ask today.
Our contemporary culture is accustomed to thinking of the heart as a symbol of spontaneous feelings. That’s about the last thing it means in the Bible. Fr. Pat Reardon reflects on the Parable of the Sower from Luke 8.
In the raising of the son of the widow of Nain, a liturgical parallel to the raising of Lazarus, Luke declares Jesus as Lord and Victor not only over death, but over everything.
The Christian love of one’s enemies is not ultimately rooted in the quest for inner peace. It is rooted in the life we have in Christ. Fr. Pat preaches from Luke 6:31-36.
In the Hebrew Scriptures, the angelic announcement of a conception is a special sign of some new resolve of God; a resolve of God to alter the course of history. Fr. Pat's reflections given on the Feast of the Conception of the Forerunner and Baptist John.
Deception is a major phenomenon of our own times. There have always been deceivers. But deception has become a far more integral part of modern life. Fr. Pat discusses the psychology and theology of deception, as well as the solution to the problem.
In 1 Corinthians 1, Paul teaches us that Jesus Christ crucified is the power of God and the wisdom of God. But one cannot say this without having experienced and known the cross. Fr. Pat reflects upon three ways in which we experience the cross in our lives.
The Christian must guard against anything antithetical to the Holy Spirit, whom, in 2 Corinthians 1, Paul calls the downpayment and guarantee of salvation. Fr. Pat considers three such things which should be of special concern given the world in which we live.
A certain mindset of vigilance is an essential part of the transmission of the Gospel. We do not simply hand on the Gospel, but we hand on that sense of vigilance and care that is essential to its reception. Fr. Pat Reardon compares Biblical vigilance with that of other traditions.
Does the world have coherent structure? Does reality make sense? If it does, what is that structure? Father Pat looks at three answers to these questions.
None of us has been given everything, but each of us has been given something, and been given an allotted amount of time in which to do it. In this homily based on the three parables in Matthew 24:36-25:30, Fr. Pat encourages us to be sensible rather than foolish.
The idea that all things came from God the Father was an idea that fell on the Greco-Roman intellectual world with the force of a bomb. It still does. Fr. Pat preaches from 1 Corinthians 8:6.
Preaching from the first chapter of 1 Corinthians, Fr. Pat discusses what is attractive in the Church, what distracts us from Christ, and the importance of resistance if one is to make progress.
Preaching from 1 Corinthians 3:18 through 4:8, Fr. Pat discusses wisdom and knowledge, intellectual self-deception and the wisdom of God.
In Romans 12, Paul reminds us that we are all members of one body. Fr. Pat offers reflections on how we are to live with respect to one another.
Preaching from Romans 13, Fr. Pat looks at what Paul has to say about the political, social, and economic life of the Christian in the world.
In the opening verses of Romans 5, Paul says we "rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Fr. Pat examines the characteristics of Christian hope.
Paul's explanation of what it means to be a human being as expounded in the Book of Romans should be the key to everything we do.
Using stories found only in Luke, Fr. Pat looks at features quite prominent to this Gospel. (From October 18, 2015, the Feast of St. Luke)
In this homily from Pentecost Sunday, Fr. Pat reflects with us on three points about the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in our lives.
Fr. Pat examines the ten days between Christ's ascension and Pentecost, when the disciples were gathered in the Upper Room.
It is imperative always to follow the light—never the darkness. The light is given to us in Christ our Lord and conveyed through the teaching of the Church.
The Gospel is the Word of Truth directed to the conscience of man in the presence of God. Fr. Pat explores this topic in the context of the conversation Jesus has with the Woman at the Well.
In this homily given on the Sunday of the Paralytic, Fr. Pat explores three aspects of our obedience to God in response to God’s self-revelation to us.
The tensile integrity of a three-stranded cord is far greater than the sum of each of the strands within it. In rhetoric and in literature, there’s something about three-ness that suggests strength, stability, and finality. Fr. Pat looks at a very famous tripodic construction from the Bible.
In this homily from St. Thomas Sunday, Fr. Pat considers a person with a Stoic personality facing the great puzzle presented in the books of Job and Ecclesiastes.
People come in to the Church through various ports of entry. But when they come in, they come in through the Cross. In this meditation given over the course of the four Royal Hours on Great and Holy Friday, Fr. Pat considers with us four people, one from each Gospel, who cross over the border into the sphere of faith through the event of the Cross.
In this homily from Palm Sunday Fr. Pat asks what the Cross means for each believer—what it does mean and what it should mean.
In the prologue to his Gospel, the Apostle John says “And the Word became flesh.” Fr. Pat considers three things, regarding the Word, that John did NOT say.
Fr. Pat talks to us about an important theme from the Epistle to the Hebrews, namely “today”, beginning with the question: “what does it mean for a human being to “be present”?
The Cross is the key to unlocking God’s will for us in every stage of our lives. But at every stage, we may find ourselves resistant to the word of the Cross. And just when we imagine we have grasped what it means to be a Christian, we discover, perhaps with shock, that we’ve hardly begun.
In today’s very short story from Mark 2, we perceive a firm and complex portrait of Christ, who is clearly the central figure in the text—it’s all about what He sees, what He says, what He does.
Fr. Pat considers with us the Icon of the invisible God from three perspectives that Christ Himself gave to us when He declared "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
Many religions believe there is only one God. But do they worship the same God as us? Fr. Pat looks at Biblical monotheism, what it is, and what it means to our worship.
What is there about the human being that must be said if we are to take the Last Judgment seriously? Fr. Pat explores this question.
Fr. Pat contrasts the Prodigal Son and Esau, and offers thoughts on the mystery of repentance.
St. Luke both begins and ends his Gospel with the people God praying in the Temple. This suggests a priority for the Gospel writer. So too, the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican is story about the proper way to pray.
In our society, worth usually has some connection with what is called “market value.” However, worth or value is not ultimately an absolute thing. Worth is always “worth to whom?” Fr. Pat Reardon makes three points concerning this question.
John the Baptist is a man caught in the tectonic crisis of the major shift in world history. Fr. Pat considers the three answers Jesus gives to his own question about John: "What went ye out into the wilderness to see?”
An abiding sense of the beyond is utterly native to human experience. Fr. Pat Reardon makes three points about this experience.
In Jesus’ circumcision, God’s own flesh is marked by the sign of the covenant; Jesus' circumcision was the ratification and fulfillment of the prophetic dimension of the rite. Fr. Pat discusses three verbs associated with the Hebrew word Berith (covenant).
In the Incarnation, God assumes not only human nature, but also human experience. With respect to this, Fr. Pat Reardon talks about human memory, human speech, and human resolve
Based on the Parable of the Great Banquet in Luke 14, Fr. Pat reflects upon the freedom presupposed in the invitation, the nature of the banquet itself, and the messengers of the banquet.
While imprisoned in Caesarea, St. Paul, influenced by the medical expertise of his companion Luke, contemplates the armor of the soldier guarding him.
Throughout the book of Ephesians (and elsewhere) the Apostle Paul uses the phrase “in Christ.” Based on Ephesians 5:8-19, Fr. Pat looks at some practical ways to live a life in Christ.
The unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace is certainly the gift of God. But St. Paul considers a great deal of human effort to be necessary for its maintenance. It does not take care of itself. Fr. Pat fleshes this out.
In Ephesians 2:14-22, St. Paul references the psychological, social, and historical aspects of the faith. Fr. Pat offers reflections on these.
"Neighbor" is not a matter of being, but of doing. Fr. Pat reflects on this in today's homily from Luke 10 about the Good Samaritan.
Based on today’s readings from Galatians 6 and Luke 16, Fr. Pat talks about Abraham and his true children.
What was Jesus wearing in the manger? When he carried out his ministry? In his Resurrection appearances? How is he clothed today? We reflect on these questions with Fr. Pat.
Both Galatians 1 and Luke 8 contain stories of men converting to Christ. Fr. Pat examines these two accounts.
In the parable of the sower and his seed from Luke 8, we learn about parables themselves, and as with all parables, we’re admonished to find ourselves in Jesus’ words.
A look at the journey of the human race as such, the meaning of the incarnation, and the fulfillment of the great promise of Israel’s prophets.
There is no easy way to eternal life. We are made to know God, to love God, to serve God, and that is hard. Fr. Pat offers reflections on this via three theses.
The radical path taken by Peter, James, and John in Luke 5 to forsake all and follow Christ is a path for us as well. It has has a fundamental effect on our imagination and memory, our approach to knowledge, and our relationship to truth.
Fr. Pat focuses his attention on that which Saint Paul calls “of primary importance” for us to learn both from the saint’s words and from his life experience.
The Cross of Christ addresses the human condition. On the Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross Fr. Pat examines three traits of the human condition.
Using as a jumping-off point the Parable of the Vineyard in Matthew 21, Fr. Pat asks the same question asked by Nathaniel in John 1.
In Matthew 19, a young man has an encounter with Christ. Fr. Pat looks at three qualities of that encounter.
What sort of life we live is determined by who we think we are. If we are servants of God, that means that not one of us belongs to himself. His time, his energy, his resources, all belong to the King that he serves.
The call placed on every man’s life is to walk under the direct gaze of God. And the joy of heaven consists of gazing upon the transfigured face of Christ, and going from glory to glory, as much as we are able to bear.
Christ is the Living Center of the Church, and He does not abandon His Church. The big question is whether we will cling to Him, or get distracted by something else.
Fr. Pat examines the three steps that St. Paul takes in Romans to illustrate the theme of "receiving one another as Christ receives us."
Fr. Pat compares the three parables from Matthew 13:44-53, finding gems in the field, in the market, in the stars, in the sea, and in us.
We all have schedules and agendas, and we’re mindful of our own and of those with whom we interact. Using stories from the Gospels and Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Fr. Pat considers with us God's schedules and hidden agenda.
Fr. Pat reflects upon the Apostolic Office by means of three adjectives, which, when considered, can greatly enrich our understanding of the apostles, and can deepen our own relationship with Christ.
The opening verses of Romans 5 are not about moral improvement; they are about God’s dealings in our lives: as God did with Abraham, He tests us that we might have patience toward Him who "makes all things work together unto good."
Being a disciple, a student of Christ, is very serious business. Fr. Pat discusses what it means to have Christ as a teacher.
Fr. Pat provides brief reflections on three parables from Matthew 24:36-26:2; the Parable of the Faithful and Evil Servants, the Parable of the Ten Virgins, and the Parable of the Talents.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the grace of God comes into the soul and transforms it. Fr. Pat gives three major examples of the Holy Spirit’s transformation of our instinctual human capacities.
Building on his homily from last week, Fr. Pat discusses an example of the authority of darkness, and encourages us with reminders of both Christ’s prayer for us, and of our fellowship with each other.
In this homily from the Sunday of the Man Born Blind, Fr. Pat considers with us light and darkness, both in this story and in our lives.
Father Pat looks at the encounter with the Samaritan woman through the lens of Jesus' statement “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)
On the Sunday of the Paralytic, Fr. Pat reflects upon a most pernicious kind of paralysis—the spiritual kind.
In this homily given on Great and Holy Thursday, we meditate with Fr. Pat both on the encounters that Moses, Job, and Isaiah had with God, and on Jesus’ agony in the garden, and the significance of these various events as they pertain to our daily practice.
On St. Thomas Sunday Fr. Pat considers the theological meaning of memory, the quality of the event of the Church, and the challenge of that event.
In the Holy Communion, there is a change of substance. The bread and the wine have been transformed. We receive into our flesh the risen power of Christ.
In this homily from Palm Sunday, Fr. Pat fortifies us on our journey with three points about the Cross: two negative and one positive.
Mark’s account of the Lord’s questions about baptism and the cup (Mark 10:32-45) are especially poignant for the Christians at Rome, who are thereby instructed about an important dimension of their own participation in the sacraments.
In Mark 9, just after the Transfiguration, Jesus addresses the faith of the crowds surrounding the disciples as well as that of a man whose son He then heals. As we look toward the last weeks of Lent, Fr. Pat helps us think about our own faith.
To follow Christ is first to be understood in a literal and existential way. It is not a diminishing of observance, it’s the augmentation of observance. We profess our allegiance to Christ, and our commitment to His Lordship.
In the encounter in Mark 2, the paralytic encounters the One in whom the presence and power of God is revealed; the One from Whom no secrets are hid, Who pardons all our iniquities and heals all our diseases.
Is the god we’re worshipping actually the God of the Bible? Or are we worshiping the benevolent, optimistic, political, social, economic god of contemporary American culture? Because the worship of a false god is worse than the worship of no god.
Will we be judged by history? Is a thing wrong because those who are in power say it’s wrong? Fr. Pat looks at Jesus’ words about the Last Judgment from Matthew 25.
What does Biblical repentance look like? Is it saying, "I made a mistake" or "I take full responsibility"? Is it looking at one's moral failure and being disgusted? Fr. Pat gives us a third response, as exemplified by the Prodigal Son.
"The religious impulse is as natural to human beings as the intake of oxygen." In this homily based on the story of the Publican and the Pharisee in Luke 18, Fr. Pat reflects upon the soul's innate attraction to God.
Father Pat looks at what we can learn about prayer from the story of the Syrophoenician woman found in Matthew 15. This is part one of a two-part series.
When a sculptor works, he hammers and chisels to reveal the image that is already in the stone, but hidden. This is what God did in the life of Timothy, and what He does in our lives today, in order to reveal the image of God in us.
Fr. Pat preaches on putting to death our passions, as St. Paul admonishes us to do in Colossians 3:4-11.
By considering the ancestors of Jesus found in Matthew 1, we can discern qualities of the Divine Initiative in our lives. Fr. Pat looks at three of these.
Three Second-Temple Prophets who were among those who prepared the world for the coming of the Messiah have much to teach us about how to keep the Lord uppermost in our hearts and lives.
To put on Christ necessarily involves a great deal of studious application; indeed, we are obliged to study Him. Fr. Pat looks at the account of the healing of the crippled woman in Luke 13 and gives us three ways we can endeavor to look like Christ.
The Christian lives an upright moral life not because of conformity with some commandment, and not by way of modeling himself on some external model, but because he does not want to depart from Christ.
Each of us is the servant of the Lord, which means that we do not belong to ourselves. And if we do not belong to ourselves, we certainly do not belong to the world, we belong to God.
We are all familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan. Fr. Pat looks at persons from this story seldom, if ever, considered: the thieves who set the events in motion.
Fr. Pat considers three aspects of what St. Paul calls "the mind of Christ"; three ways in which Christ thought of himself with respect to us.
By giving Paul so dominant a place in the sacred Canon, the Fathers surely intended us to learn from his example how to examine the circumstances of our lives in order to attain wisdom in Christ.
Using Luke 8:26-27 as a starting point of his reflections, Fr. Pat encourages us to live our lives with an awareness of death as an important part of our mental composition.
In this homily based upon the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8, Fr. Pat teaches us about the qualities of the heart, its enemies, and our example of one with a patient heart.
In this homily on Luke 7:11-16, Fr. Pat offers reflections on Jesus' raising of the son of the widow of Nain.
In this homily based on 2 Corinthians 4:6-15, Fr. Pat reflects upon the glory of Christ in creation, in the Bible, and in our daily cross.
St. Paul says, "It is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ" (2 Corinthians 1:21). In a certain sense, every verse in the Bible is telling us to stand firm. In this homily Fr. Pat encourages us to do just that.
When Holy Scripture speaks of the sacrifice of the cross in connection with God's anger, it is invariably in terms of deliverance; it has nothing to do with placating that anger. Fr. Pat addresses St. Anselm's theory of the Atonement.
In this homily given on the Sunday before the Elevation of the Holy Cross, Fr. Pat looks at what death means to the Christian.
When, in Matthew 18, Jesus instructs us to be merciful as the Heavenly Father is merciful, he is telling us how to partake of the life of God; how to arrive at theosis.
Fr. Pat looks at three moral impediments to faith: chameleon morality, narcissistic morality, and indolent morality.
On the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, Fr. Pat offers reflections about the Mother of Our Lord: her presence in the early church, earliest references to her in the Scriptures, and about the Marian quality of the people of God.
If we are justified by faith, if we live in the Holy Spirit, and if Christ is our Lord, then what should our lives be like? Fr. Pat looks at Paul's exhortations to the believers at Rome.
Fr. Pat looks at God’s providence with respect to three things: our sin, the moral order, and our conduct.
In Romans 8 Paul asserts that God causes all things to work for good to those who love him. Fr. Pat examines this thesis in regards to general history, in the lives of individuals, and in the life of Christ, the supreme example of this.
Father Pat compares the characteristics of faith in Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the events in their lives which shaped that faith.
In this homily based upon Matthew 6:22-33, Fr. Pat looks at three things necessary for us to have purity of heart.
The calling of the first four apostles gives us a model of the calling each of us receives from Christ. Fr. Pat looks at three qualities of this calling.
Holiness is not about an ideal to be striven for; it’s about a conformity to God’s will in the individual vocation of each person. In this homily from the Sunday of All Saints, Fr. Pat considers what it means to be holy.
In this homily from Pentecost Sunday, Fr. Pat looks at three benefits given by the Holy Spirit to the people of God: proclaiming God as our Father, parsing the Scriptures correctly, and praying.
St. Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 that fierce wolves would come to draw men away from the flock. Fr. Pat considers three of these wolves, that challenge us today just as they challenged the early Church.
The story of Jesus healing the man born blind in John 9 provides the context for Fr. Pat's reflections on epistemology, anthropology, and history.
Because in creation man was modeled on the deliberating mind of God, he has a capacity for conscience. The Samaritan Woman escaped the condemnation of her conscience because she permitted her heart to receive the mercy of God in Christ.
In the story of the healing of the paralytic in John 5, we learn about sin from three sources: the paralytic, the opponents of Jesus, and Jesus himself.
In this homily from the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, Fr. Pat looks at the characteristics of the memory of the Church—that it is reflective and rationally conscious, it is literary and rhetorical, and it is maternal.
In this homily from the Sunday of St. Thomas, Fr. Pat comments on three things that jump out at him from the Gospel text of John 20:19-31.
If Christ really is risen from the dead, we have the basis for the renewal of everything. Fr. Pat considers this in his Paschal homily.
Holy Scripture uses three verbs in relation to the making of a covenant. In this homily from Palm Sunday, Fr. Pat explores these three Hebrew words.
The Christian hope is based on an oath God made to a man from Mesopotamia 4,000 years ago. Fr. Pat looks at the irony of hope, its source, and how we should go about strengthening it.
Baptism and the Chalice represent the sacramental initiation into a new identity founded on union with Christ; thus the two questions Jesus put to the sons of Zebedee are for us today as well.
Christ died for each of us personally, but he also died for families; and the context of the family is often the locus in our experience of the Cross. Fr. Pat considers three individuals whom Jesus loves as a family: Lazarus, Mary, and Martha.
Fr. Pat looks at the story from Mark 2 of the paralytic being lowered through the roof.
Lent, and particularly the Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy, is a time to reflect upon our being made in the image of God, our having an affinity to Christ, and our being healed by Him.
As Lent begins Fr. Pat considers Jesus' words about the abundant life, about building one's house upon a rock, and about His standing at the door and knocking.
Fr. Pat speaks on the Gospel of the Final Judgment, and what it teaches us about Christ.
In the Parable of the Prodigal Son, we see a Father who has lost a child who bears his image, a son running from himself, and an elder brother who is glad he is not like his younger sibling.
The parable of the Publican and the Pharisee teaches us much about prayer. Father Pat looks at three things: the meaning of the temple, the issue of repeated prayer, and authenticity when speaking with God.
Jesus' encounter with the Syrophoenician woman as recounted by Matthew (chapter 15) has much to teach us when we consider Phoenicia's history, the woman herself, and the meaning of the children's bread.
The Parable of the Talents is often used as a reminder to be the best you can be. It's really about the structure of history and the Lordship of Jesus.
Fr. Pat reflects upon the meaning of these words that Jesus said to Zacchaeus, considering where God abides, what it means, and who is our best model of one who lives with the understanding of these things.
Fr. Pat reflects upon the healing of the blind man of Jericho as recounted in Luke Chapter 18.
In this reflection, Fr. Pat considers what we have to learn from those in the Nativity story who look into the sky and ponder the moon and the stars.
On the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, Fr. Pat compares our Lord's Mother with the rich man in Luke 12, today's Gospel reading.
Fr. Pat reflects upon the inseparability of the message of Christ from the Person of Christ, and how that affects three aspects of our lives: our piety, our forgiveness of others, and our justification.
In this homily, given on the Sunday after the Elevation of the Holy Cross, Fr. Pat looks at the cross through the eyes of Paul, Peter, and John.
In the parable of the Vineyard and the Vinedressers, Jesus is not giving a moral teaching, as might be expected, but rather is presenting His own story about His relationship to God and to the people of Israel. Fr. Pat discusses this.
1 Corinthians 15 is arguable among the most important passages of the Bible. Fr. Pat examines this passage from today's reading.
Fr. Pat compares the story of Peter walking on the water with that of the man who brings his son to Jesus.
Fr. Pat explains why the Church emphasizes Christ's multiplication of the loaves and fish.
St. Paul sees the interpretation of the Old Testament as central to his responsibility in the apostolic ministry. So should we.
On the occasion of All Saints receiving the new Antimins, Fr. Pat explains its functions and use in worship.
Part of our communion with God is our connection to the saints; chief among them after the Theotokos are Peter and Paul.
Fr. Pat reflects on the Epistle to the Romans in light of the recent tragic events in South Carolina.
Fr. Pat discusses three points related to the account of the seamstress who was resurrected in the book of Acts: the fall, the resurrection, and integration.
Fr. Pat explains what the story of the Myrrh-Bearers can teach us about the mission of the Church.
Fr. Pat examines the lay practice of Orthodoxy through the lens of the final chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
Fr. Pat introduces three Latin words that shed light on the mystery of the Incarnation.
Fr. Pat introduces three Greek words that shed light on the mystery of the Incarnation.
Fr. Pat presents three points of reflection related to the first three months of Jesus's life: the Holy Spirit, the Ark of the Covenant, and Mary's departure back to Nazareth.
Fr. Pat examines Psalm 3, a prayer that should be recited anytime a believer feels desperate and inundated.
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you?
Fr. Pat reflects on liberation from darkness, the way of the Cross, and the inner Christ.
Fr. Pat discusses the social structure, the moral imperatives, and the discerning moral light of discipleship.
Fr. Pat compares Peter attempting to walk on water to what Holy Scripture tells us of the Patriarch Jacob.
Fr. Pat discusses three problems that the Samaritan woman faces when she comes to the well and meets Jesus.
Fr. Pat argues that the above phrase possesses all of the clarity of the Last Judgment.
Fr. Pat reflects upon the Feast of the Presentation as a boundary between two seasons. It marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of the Lord's Passion.
Fr. Pat reflects upon two people who wanted to see Jesus but were unable to—and what they did about it.
True freedom is not the ability to choose; it is found through habitual thanksgiving, and it leads to a blessed and transfigured soul.
Fr. Pat reflects upon the theme of revelatory light, particularly as Holy Scripture contrasts it with darkness.
Fr. Pat discusses three Old Testament saints that are particularly important in preparation for Christ.
Fr. Pat explains that what God's Son did for the crippled woman is what He came to do for all mankind—to raise us up and straighten out our twisted lives.
Fr. Pat discusses St. Paul's warnings regarding the influence of evil forces in Corinth.
Fr. Pat explains that love must be intelligent, practical and generous, and miraculous.
The man born with the blindness that we all share sees differently and looks different.
Fr. Pat reflects on goodness, beauty, and truth in Jesus's encounter with Photini of Samaria.
Fr. Pat again addresses the "transcendentals," this time explaining how the Incarnation is the manifestation of truth, goodness, and beauty.
Fr. Pat considers the Gospel message of St. Thomas Sunday through the triple lens of what classical philosophy calls "the transcendentals": the true, the good, and the beautiful.
Fr. Pat discusses the three things we ask for in the prayer before the Gospel in Matins that mirror the three gifts of the Holy Spirit as expressed by the Prophet Isaiah.
Fr. Pat examines the principle of synergy, the assent of Mary, and holiness and personal history as they relate to the Feast of the Annunciation.
Fr. Pat examines the primitive proclamation and theological premise of the Christian faith: the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Fr. Pat continues the allegory that Jesus began in the parable of the sowing of the seed.
Fr. Pat explores the literary source of Christian philosophy as found in the Holy Scriptures.
Fr. Pat offers three suggestions about how to render the observance of the commandment to "love your enemies" a bit more obvious.
Fr. Pat discusses the first chapter of Galatians, in which Paul defends himself and his reputation by sharing his conversion experience.
Fr. Pat explains how the calling of the apostles and the miraculous catching of fish are indications of the great crowds that would come to Christ upon hearing the Gospel.
Fr. Pat reflects on the mystery of the Cross as presented during Holy Week through the imagery of other biblical characters.
Fr. Pat examines the expression of the Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15 from three different angles.
Fr. Pat explains that the mandate to forgive offenses is not something we're disposed to do except by grace.
Fr. Pat places the theme of Christian unity and peace in our present historical context.
Fr. Pat makes three points with respect to the central teaching of Chalcedon, particularly as we prepare for the Feast of the Transfiguration.
Fr. Pat explores the dynamic nature of God's word, what it means to profess the Resurrection, and the contrast between law and gospel.
Fr. Pat examines each of the three players in the second of the "miracles of blessing" found in the Gospel of Matthew—the centurion, Jesus, and the servant.
Fr. Pat explains the significance of the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark and what it says about faith.
Fr. Pat takes a closer look at the wounds Christ suffered on his feet, hands, and side.
Fr. Pat discusses the three things expected of us during Lent: works of mercy, works of prayer, and works of fasting.
Fr. Pat examines the three images of Jesus found in this parable: the Judge, the Brother, and the Teacher.
Fr. Pat takes on the characters in this parable one by one—the father, the younger son, and then the older son.
Fr. Pat examines three aspects of the temple: the human being, the family, and the Church.
Fr. Pat reflects on the story of Zacchaeus under three considerations: creativity, intuition, and incorporation.
Fr. Pat examines three saints of the old covenant as three dimensions of the mystery of Christmas.
Fr. Pat addresses those who come to Divine Liturgy with bad attitudes and for the wrong reasons.