The Orthodox Vine: Recent Episodes
Fr. Ninos Oshaana
A podcast by Fr. Ninos Oshaana from Sts. Constantine & Helen Orthodox Church in Vallejo, CA offering spiritual inspiration and encouragement through meditations on the Orthodox Christian scripture, including recordings from our small group discussion on the Divine Liturgy, the Sunday sermons, and our bible and faith study classes.
The story of the 10 lepers teaches us about physical and spiritual illness and healing and the power of calling upon the name of Jesus Christ.
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Christ changes the nature of water when he was baptized, reclaiming it for our sanctification. In the same way, when we are baptized in Christ, our true identity is reclaimed and our purpose is revealed and we are called to fulfill it.
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Welcoming a new year let us prepare the way of the Lord and make his path straight within our hearts and lives.--- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-vine/message
Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
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John 3:16 The love of God and our love for God
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What do we posses and what possesses us?
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The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the torturers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
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The power of prayer and fasting
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There is another reality that we too often forget about or don’t allow ourselves to see.
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Cultivating an attitude of giving.
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The blind men cried out the words we say in every Divine Liturgy. This is the cry of the universe.
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Obedience and trust demonstrates faith
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Do we desire God or Mammon?
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The cost of following Christ
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The consequences of spiritual blindness in our world
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The spiritual dangers of laziness.
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Living in expectation of the second coming of Jesus Christ by being always prepared for death.
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The parable of the Prodigal Son reveals God's unchangeable and unending love and how it attracts us back to Him even though we have spent all our love on something else.
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As we begin the Triodion period, we are reminded of two ways of praying. One that God hears and the another which he doesn't.
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Christ desires to come to us. Let us remove the things in our lives that block his path to our hearts.
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You’re invited to the Great Banquet. How will you respond?
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Sermon on the parable of the Sower.
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God is love. And we are called to be his love in the world.
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A recording of our catechism class discussing the Creed and the old and new Covenant that God made with human beings.
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The Lord said: "If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life? For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."
Mark 8:34-38; 9:1
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We often talk about how much God loves us. But how much do we love God and how can we grow that love?
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There are few gospel readings where we hear Christ giving us a stern warning. The reading from Matthew 18:25-35 is one of them. If we are to be true Christians and children of our Father, we must have the compassion and forgiveness of the King in the parable and not be like the wicked servant.
The Lord said this parable: "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began the reckoning, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents; and as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him the lord of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But that same servant, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat he said, 'Pay what you owe.' So his fellow servant fell down and besought him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' He refused and went and put him in prison till he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you besought me; and should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord delivered him to the torturers, till he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."
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A sermon on the commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist.
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In this session from our Orthodox Faith and Life catechism class we discuss the Orthodox Icon of the Nativity and reflect on the meaning and universal significance of the Incarnation of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
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We all fear something. But fear is not a natural condition of human beings but something that entered into us when Adam and Eve disobeyed God. Ultimately, all fear is rooted in the fear of death. In the gospel reading from Matthew 14:23-33, we see how fear leads to doubt and this makes it difficult to keep and increase our faith. But there's a way to overcome both fear and doubt and trust and live in the power of God.
At that time, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear. But immediately he spoke to them, saying "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."
And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they entered the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
Sermon on Matthew 14:23-33.
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Sermon on the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos
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A recording from our Orthodox Faith & Life Catechism Seminar
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Love for Christ makes a person truly human. Without knowing Christ and loving him, we remain incomplete beings. This love for Christ is something that must be developed so that faith might also grow. The key to growing in both love and faith is humility. If we do not humble ourselves before God who humbled himself before us, then God will humble us by allowing us to suffer in order that this development of our love and faith might occur. We see this demonstrated in the two blind men in the gospel reading today. It was their suffering which had humbled them and thus increased their love and their faith; a faith so great that they believed with all their heart that Christ could heal their blindness instantaneously. And that is what he did, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."
The Gospel reading is from Matthew 9:27
At that time, as Jesus passed by, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you." And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.
As they were going away, behold, a dumb demoniac was brought to him. And when the demon had been cast out, the dumb man spoke; and the crowds marveled, saying, "Never was anything like this seen in Israel." But the Pharisees said, "He casts out demons by the prince of demons."
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
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A recording of the first lecture from our Orthodox Faith & Life catechism class discussing the unknowable essence of God, how God reveals himself as Holy Trinity, and how we can know God through the participation and experience of his energies. We also discuss the reason why God created the world and his plan for human beings which he never revoked even after the fall of Adam and Eve.
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The first class of our Orthodox Faith & Life catechism seminar where Fr. Ninos explains the Orthodox approach to catechism as beyond learning with our minds but, more importantly, cultivating an Orthodox phronema (mindset) so that love for God and the journey of union and life with Christ can occur in accordance to one's struggle in the spiritual life within the arms of the Church.
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We can spend our short lifetime on this Earth worrying about our bodily health only and neglect the health of our souls. The sickness and wounds of the soul that are caused by sin will be eternal, if left untreated. But if we desire it, they can be healed through our repentance and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ as we heard in the gospel reading today.
At that time, getting into a boat Jesus crossed over and came to his own city. And behold, they brought to him a paralytic, lying on his bed; and when Jesus saw their faith he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming." But Jesus, knowing their thoughts, said, "Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say 'Rise and walk?' But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins" he then said to the paralytic -- "Rise, take up your bed and go home." And he rose and went home. When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men. - Matthew 9:1-8
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Matthew 5:14-19 The Lord said to his disciples, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
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Sermon on the Sunday gospel reading from Matthew 6:22-33. What is the purpose of our eyes? How do we use them to increase our spiritual vision? How does that affect our daily lives?
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Today's Sunday Gospel reading is from Matthew 4:18-23.
At that time, as Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left their boat and their father, and followed him. And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every infirmity among the people.
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The Sunday of All Saints Gospel reading and sermon.
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Pentecost is the day when true unity between human beings was made possible through The Church and through the Holy Spirit our path to reunion with God was opened.
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The Gospel reading and Sermon on John 17:1-13. At that time, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work which you gave me to do; and now, Father, you glorify me in your own presence with the glory which I had with you before the world was made.
"I have manifested your name to the men whom you gave me out of the world; yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you; for I have given them the words which you gave me, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you did send me. I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are mine; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me; I have guarded them, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. But now I am coming to you; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves."
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From our bible study discussion on St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, chapter 6. God's purpose for marriage is hidden in the mystery of Christ's love for the Church.
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The more we repent the more we receive God’s mercy and the greater our capacity to love becomes.
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How do we follow Christ in an authentic way? Not out of religious obligation. Not out of fear or pressure. Not because we want a reward. The secret is to first really know Jesus Christ.
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 15:39-45
Brethren, not all flesh is alike, but there is one kind for men, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are celestial bodies and there are terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Gospel Reading
Luke 5:27-32
At that time, as Jesus passed by, he saw a tax collector, named Levi, sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, "Follow me." And he left everything, and rose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his house; and there was a large company of tax collectors and others sitting at table with them. And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?" And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick; I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
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"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few," our Lord Jesus Christ tells his disciples in the gospel reading today. What is the harvest? Who are the laborers?
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16
Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 9:36-38; 10:1-8
At that time, when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest."
And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every infirmity. The names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaios, and Lebbaeos called Thaddaios; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. These twelve Jesus sent out, charging them, "Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And preach as you go, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying, give without pay."
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It's so easy and even enjoyable to talk about Orthodoxy. I can meditate on all the interesting theological truths, the mystery of faith, the sacraments, repentance, the journey of Theosis and all the beauty and struggle it entails. I could do this all my life and feel like I really understand it all. But if I haven't actually applied or experienced it, I will quickly collapse when the troubles of life or persecution come against me.
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 5:25-33
Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. Even so husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is a profound one, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church; however, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.
Gospel Reading
John 20:19-31
The Lord said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? Every one who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep, and laid the foundation upon rock; and when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house, and could not shake it, because it had been founded upon the rock. But he who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation; against which the stream broke, and immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great." After he had ended all his sayings in the hearing of the people he entered Capernaum.
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As Orthodox Christians, it's so important for us to always be discerning about what is happening around us in our society. There are forces at work whose only goal is to sow division and destruction. Divide and conquer, is the oldest tactic in the book. As long as we seek peace, justice, fairness, equality, according to the standards of an ever-changing and flawed humanistic agenda instead of repenting and submitting ourselves to the divine will and truth of God, like Adam and Eve, we will again only achieve self-destruction. Because when we turn away from God, we will eventually turn on each other.
The reading is from St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians 4:9-16
Brethren, God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are ill-clad and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become, and are now, as the refuse of the world, the off-scouring of all things. I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
The Gospel According to John 20:19-31
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being shut where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them: "Peace be with you." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them: "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him: "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them: "Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe."
Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said: "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe."
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
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The epistle and gospel readings from Ephesians 4:25-32 and Matthew 6:24-30 give us rules for the Christian way of life. If we look at them closely, we'll quickly realize that we all fail to live up to these standards from time to time. But let us not be discouraged and lose hope. Instead, let us ask God to give us his grace to inspire and encourage us in the struggle.
Epistle Reading
The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 4:25-32
Brethren, putting away falsehood, let every one speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his hands, so that he may be able to give to those in need. Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, with all malice, and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 6:24-30
The Lord said to the Jews who had come to him, "Woe to you that are rich, for you have received your consolation.
"Woe to you that are full now, for you shall hunger.
"Woe to you that laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep.
"Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.
"But I say to you that hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from him who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to every one who begs from you; and of him who takes away your goods do not ask them again."
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Let us imitate the faith and patience of the saints before us who received the prize of eternal life.
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Has the Covid 19 pandemic done any good?
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The central message of the gospel and the purpose of the Christian life is to be reunited with God and to know and love him. This is only possible through repentance without which we can never truly know and love God and thereby others, including our enemies.
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Christ warns his disciples not to follow after strangers but to always hear the familiar voice of the Good Shepherd and follow only him. Who is this stranger? What is this voice?
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The importance of being open to the guidance of the Holy Spirit so as to remain in the Truth and not fall for the deception of our times.
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After the resurrection, the apostles understand the hidden meaning behind Christ's words and what is prepared for those who love God.
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Celebrating the feastday of our church, honoring our patron saints Constantine and Helen and their testimony on the power of the Holy Cross.
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The more that we remain in Christ through repentance, confession and prayer along with the healing and sanctification through God's Grace in the Holy Sacraments, the more we will remain in Truth and have power to discern what is right from wrong, what is godly or evil, within a world where falsehood and deception are ubiquitous and relentless.
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The people wanted to see signs and wonders performed by Christ and his apostles. We often desire the same thing in order to believe. The solution is to see what’s always been there all along.
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The Holy Tradition is a fire that we must preserve burning within our lives. In this way, we can be disciples who are the light of the world.
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The difference between seeking the glory of the world and the glory of God. John 5:30-47 and John 6:1-2, and the difference
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The post-resurrection appearances of Christ and the courage and power given to the apostles.
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The signs of the resurrection have been revealed from the beginning in all creation.
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Today we witness the great humility and love of Christ. He saves us by assuming our weak and defenseless condition so that he could lift it up by his power and glory.
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A meditation on Holy Monday.
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A meditation on the proverb “He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself cry out and not be heard”
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Suffering is not meaningless but meaningful and necessary for our salvation. Just as Christ suffered, died and resurrected, so our suffering can help us repent by putting to death the spiritual illness within us so that Christ will resurrect us also.
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God tested the heart of Abraham. The corona virus pandemic is testing our hearts. What will we learn about ourselves and God?
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Meditation on how we can overcome the restraints of social distancing by coming closer to God and one another spiritually. In this way, we experience the touch of Christ.
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Mediation on how illness and death is a result of sin. What does the current crisis of the corona virus tell us about God’s chastisement and our need for repentance.
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Meditation on Isaiah 25:19, Genesis 9:8-17, Proverbs 12:8-22
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In these days where we are experiencing the threat of illness and death, we must remember that the Cross of Christ has transformed death into the door to true and eternal life.
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A meditation continuing on the theme of last Sunday’s sermon.
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We may be driven to fear and anxiety over the threat of dying from the corona virus. Rather than just listening to the media and being filled with anxiety, let us turn to Christ and be filled with his peace and strength. If we have the fear of God, we will not have the fear of Death.
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Daily Meditation on the words of Isaiah, "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil"
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Daily Meditation for March 10. The danger of pride and self-reliance how thinking about the deeds of the Lord can help us live up to our purpose and identity.
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Daily Meditation for March 9. What the martyrs teach us about faith, perseverance, sacrifice and reward.
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Sermon on the Sunday of Orthodoxy where we declare and rejoice in the triumph of Truth and how we are accountable to attain and remain in it as well.
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In this meeting, we discuss the role of humility in our restoration to our original identity and purpose as created by God. Based on Isaiah 2:11-21, Genesis 2:4-19 and Proverbs, 3:1-18
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How should I prepare for confession? What should I confess? This episode offers answers on the importance of coming to confession and how to prepare for it.
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The apostle Jude warns the believers to remain in the correct, apostolic faith and not be misled by heresies and false teachers who will only lead a person to spiritual death. How can we remain there as well but also live out our faith instead of existing in a duality, i.e. I act one way in church and different at home or in public. How can Christ remain within me and live in me always?
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As we prepare to begin our journey to Pascha (Easter) during Great Lent, we hear the words of the Prophet Joel telling us how and why God commands us to practice fasting.
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In this meeting, we look at the themes of the Triodion as they prepare us for the journey of Great Lent. In this meeting, the readings from the Gospel of Mark 15 and St. John first epistle depict the incomprehensible and radical love of God and how we must strive to love in that way if we are to be called his children.
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In this session, we discussed the ending petitions of the first part of the Divine Liturgy called the Liturgy of the Catechumens, specifically the petitions asking for help, safety, salvation and the role of Grace. The commemoration of the Holy Virgin and the meaning of her many titles that are mentioned in the petition. The significance of committing ourselves and our whole life to Christ. We also discuss the proper posture for prayer and how to participate in the worship more intently.
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In this episode, we cover a few of the petitions at the beginning of the liturgy, during the great litany, such as the meaning of "for this holy house" and the "fear of God" as well as praying for good weather and the connection between sin and environmental calamities.
About this series:
We are devoting ourselves to learning about The Divine Liturgy. What is the meaning, the divine phenomenon and mystery of the Divine Liturgy? What happens to us when we are in church for the Divine Liturgy? If you've ever wondered about the words of the liturgy, the hidden spiritual reality reflected in the words and actions performed by the people and the priest and the purpose of it all, don't miss this opportunity to know your faith better and be able to participate in the Divine Liturgy with a fresh and new understanding, deeper prayer and spiritual joy. We meet in Vallejo, Fairfield, Suisiun and Napa. Contact Fr. Ninos at fatherninos@gmail.com if you'd like to attend.
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In this session, we discuss how making contact with God is the ultimate purpose of our life and how this happens in the Divine Liturgy.
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The icon of Christ enthroned reflects how we will be judged at his second coming.
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Christ is a mirror that reveals the truth of who we are. Are we one of his disciples or one of his betrayers?
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Most of the time we behave like God doesn't see us. But today's reading from St. John's Epistle tells us that "God knows everything," and he wants us to know this as well. But that's not all. If we want to truly know him, we have to know ourselves first.
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What are the rules of the spiritual life? Today's daily meditation is on St. Paul's words to Timothy, "An athlete is not crowned unless he competes by the rules.
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Sermon on the Parable of the prodigal son.
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How should we stand before God in prayer?
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Understanding the sacrament of confession in the Orthodox Church
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A sermon on how the desire, humility and hope of Zacchaeus led to his transformation and salvation.
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A sermon on the healing of the 10 lepers.
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Repentance is a way of life. A life of always growing in holiness through our own ascetics efforts combined with God’s Grace.
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A new year brings another chance to grow in holiness through increased spiritual struggle and the grace of God.
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The old tale of the king who disguised himself as a beggar reflects in many ways how God emptied himself to become one of us.
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A sermon on the parable of the banquet from Luke 14:16-24
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A sermon on the epistle to the Ephesians 4:1-7
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A teaching sermon about the Orthodox practice of fasting.
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Sermon on the gospel reading of the Rich Man who desired eternal life.
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A sermon on the Parable of the Rich Man and what King Solomon’s hard-earned wisdom can teach us.
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Sermon on the Parable of the Good Samaritan
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EPISTLE READING: The reading is from St. Paul's Letter to the Colossians 1:1-3; 7-11
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ at Colossai: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ from the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth, as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.
GOSPEL READING The Gospel According to Luke 12:42-48
The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master when he comes will find so doing. Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. But if that servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed in coming,' and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will punish him, and put him with the unfaithful. And that servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to his will, shall receive a severe beating. But he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of him to whom men commit much they will demand the more."
MEDITATION On the Gospel reading: Lead a life worthy of the Lord
“A continuously happy life produces extremely unhappy consequences. In nature we see that there are not always pleasant springs and fruitful summers, and sometimes autumn is rainy and winter cold and snowy, and there is flooding and wind and storms, and moreover the crops fail and there are famine, troubles, sicknesses and many other misfortunes. All of this is beneficial so that man might learn through prudence, patience and humility. For the most part, in times of plenty he forgets himself, but in times of various sorrows he becomes more attentive to his salvation.”
St. Ambrose of Optina
FROM THE FATHERS Until a man’s earthly life finishes its course, up to the very departure of the soul from the body, the struggle between sin and righteousness continues within him. However, high a spiritual and moral state one might achieve, a gradual or even headlong and deep fall into the abyss of sin is always possible. Therefore, communion of the holy Body and Blood of Christ, which strengthens our contact with Him and refreshes us with the living streams of the grace of the Holy Spirit flowing through the Body of the Church, is necessary for everyone.
St. John the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco
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“Man seeks joy and happiness in heaven. He seeks what is eternal far from everyone and everything. He seeks to find joy in God. God is a mystery. He is silence. He is infinite. He is everything. Everyone possesses this inclination of the soul for heaven. All people seek something heavenly. All beings turn towards Him, albeit unconsciously.
Turn your mind towards Him continually. Learn to love prayer, familiar converse with the Lord. What counts above all is love, passionate love for the Lord, for Christ the Bridegroom. Become worthy of Christ’s love. In order not to live in darkness, turn on the switch of prayer so that divine light may flood your soul. Christ will appear in the depths of your being. There, in the deepest and most inward part, is the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God is within you [Luke 17:21].”
So we no longer pursue plainness and simplicity of life. We no longer value stillness, which helps to free us from past defilement, but prefer a whole host of things which distract us uselessly from our true goal. Rivalry over material possessions has made us forget the counsel of the Lord, who urged us to take no thought for earthly things, but to seek only the kingdom of heaven (cf. Matt. 6:33). Deliberately doing the opposite, we have disregarded the Lord’s commandment, trusting in ourselves and not in His protection. For He says: ‘Behold the fowls of the air: for they do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them’ (Matt. 6:26); and again: ‘Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they do not toil or spin’ (Matt. 6:28). When He sent the apostles out to declare the good news to their fellow men. He even forbade them to carry wallet, purse or staff, and told them to be content with His promise: ‘The workman is worthy of his food’ (Matt. 10:10). This promise is to be trusted far more than our own resources.
Despite all this we go on accumulating as much land as we can, and we buy up flocks of sheep, fine oxen and fat donkeys – the sheep to supply us with wool, the oxen to plough and provide food for us and fodder for themselves and for the other animals, the donkeys to transport from foreign lands the goods and luxuries which our own country lacks. We also select the crafts which give the highest return, even though they absorb all our attention and leave no time for the remembrance of God. It is as if we accused God of being incapable of providing for us, or ourselves of being unable to fulfill the commitments of our calling. Even if we do not admit this. openly, our actions condemn us; for we show approval of the ways of worldly men by engaging in the same pursuits, and perhaps working at them even harder than they do.
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Sermon on the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus.
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On the Gospel reading: "Woe to you Pharisees" A man went into the forest to choose a tree from which to make roof-beams. And he saw two trees, one beside the other. One was smooth and tall, but had rotted away inside, and the other was rough on the outside and ugly, but its core was healthy. The man sighed, and said to himself: “What use is this tree to me if it is rotten inside and useless for beams? The other it is rough and ugly, is at least healthy on the inside and so, if I put a bit more effort into it, I can use it for roof-beams for my house.” And, without thinking any more about it, he chose that tree.
So will God choose between two men for His house, and will choose not the one who appears outwardly righteous, but the one whose heart is filled with God’s healthy righteousness. St. Nikolai Verimilovic
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Sermon on the raising of Jairus' daughter and the woman with the issue of blood and how in confession we need to tell "Our Father" everything with humility and love as the woman in the gospel reading.
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What else does he mean by “the eye” than simply the mind, which will never become simple unless it contemplates the simple light? The simple light is Christ. He who has his light shining in his mind is said to have the mind of Christ. When your light is this simple, then the whole immaterial body of your soul will be full of light. If the mind is evil, that is, darkened and extinguished, then this body of yours will be full of darkness….We say, “See to it, brothers, that while we seem to be in God and think that we have communion with him we should not be found excluded and separated from him, since we do not now see his light.” If that light had kindled our lamps, that is, our souls, it would shine brightly in us. Our God and Lord Jesus Christ said, “If your whole body is full of life, having no dark part, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light."
St. Symeon the New Theologian
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On the Gospel reading: "Because of their unbelief"
“When you read a worldly magazine or newspaper, it is light and agreeable reading, you easily believe in everything in it. But if you take up a religious publication or book to read, especially one relating to church matters, or sometimes when you begin reading prayers? You feel a weight upon your heart, you are tormented by doubt and unbelief, and experience a sort of darkness and aversion. Many acknowledge this. From what does it proceed? Of course, not from the nature of the books themselves, but from the nature of the readers, from the nature of their hearts, and chiefly from the Devil, the enemy of mankind, the enemy of everything holy: ‘he takes away the word out of their hearts’ (Lk. 8:12). When we read worldly books, we do not touch him and he does not touch us. But as soon as we take up religious books, as soon as we begin to think of our amendment and salvation, then we go against him; we irritate and torment him, and therefore he attacks us and torments us on his side. What can we do? We must not throw aside the good work, the reading or prayers that are profitable to our souls, but we must patiently endure and in patience save our souls.”
-St. John of Kronstadt
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On the Gospel reading: "Forgive us our sins"
“When you pray that your sins may be forgiven, strengthen yourself always by faith, and trust in God’s mercy, Who is ever ready to forgive our sins after sincere prayer, and fear lest despair should fall on your heart — that despair which declares itself by deep despondency and forced tears. What are your sins in comparison to God’s mercy, whatever they be, if only you truly repent of them? But it often happens that when a man prays, he does not, in his heart, inwardly hope that his sins will be forgiven, counting them as though they were above God’s mercy. Therefore, he certainly will not obtain forgiveness, even should he shed fountains of involuntary tears; and with a sorrowful, straitened heart he will depart from the Gracious God: which is only what he deserves. ‘Believe that ye receive them,’ says the Lord, ‘and ye shall have them.’ Not to be sure of receiving what you ask God for, is a blasphemy against God.”
St. John of Kronstadt
Today we commemorate St. Abercius Bishop and Wonderworker of Hieropolis.
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Like the disciples to whom our Lord addressed these words, as Christians today, we also are blessed to be able to see what all the ancient prophets, kings and wise men of the world died not seeing. We are able to see God, face to face, in the person of Jesus Christ. Not in a symbolic way, but by participating in and living within a spiritual reality. Through the Holy Spirit, which is received at baptism and chrismation, I am made capable of knowing God and seeing him, experiencing him, of seeing him with the eyes of my heart and my soul. If I respond to this gift, if I exercise the power I have been given, if I commit myself to spiritual struggle, my life becomes one continuous opening, unfolding and revelation of an experience of God, of "seeing God" and this nourishes and grows my faith. The experiences will vary for each person. I may hear the sweet and loving voice of Christ as it enters my heart and touches my soul whenever I read the Bible. I may be moved to tears when I meditate on the suffering in the world due to sin and death, the brokenness of the human person, and how Jesus Christ came to heal us and save us by joining us to his own holy and resurrected flesh and blood and soul. I may receive consolation, relief, comfort, light, spiritual peace and joy when I go to confession, when I participate attentively and sincerely in the Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion in repentance and with love for Christ. In the astonishing miracles performed by Christ, his Holy Mother, and all the saints, from the days of the apostles to our modern times, I may finally be convicted in the belief that God is indeed with us. In the radical changes, through the grace of God, of my own mind, my heart, or that of someone I know, I may witness first-hand the power of God and become convinced that no matter what may happen in my life, a deep sense of hope and trust in our Lord is firmly planted in me and will continue to be nourished in me through both my joys and my trials. In all these ways and more, we are blessed to see and know God and to be known by Him.
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Daily meditation: "Take up your cross". Today we commemorate St. Lucian the Martyr.
When we were baptized, we each received a cross around our necks. This wasn't simply a beautiful ornament but an outward sign of an inner calling. The calling to remain loyal to Christ no matter what may happen in our life. Loyal in the sense that one believes all things come from God, whether good or bad, and that one trusts in the Providence of God, that he is in control, even in the most desperate and difficult times. This is the essence of faith. And yes, our faith may waver at times when we try to make sense of how or why bad things happen. But we can't allow such wavering to lead to doubt of God's love or even his presence. The most powerful example of this is when Abraham was willing to sacrifice his son Isaak. He didn't understand why and it was the most painful and difficult thing he had ever faced. Yet his love for God was so great that he accepted God's plan, God's will, God's wisdom above his own, firmly believing that there was a reason for it and that, whether in this life or the next, all will be revealed, all will be restored, and all will be exceedingly good. St. Paul speaks on this in his First Letter to the Corinthians 13:12, he writes: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
St. Nikolai Verimilovitch offers the following explanation on the words, "take up your cross," writing: “What does it mean to take up your cross? I means the willing acceptance, at the hand of Providence, of every means of healing, bitter though it may be, that is offered. Do great catastrophes fall on you? Be obedient to God’s will, as Noah was. Is sacrifice demanded of you? Give yourself into God’s hands with the same faith as Abram had when he went to sacrifice his son. Is your property ruined? Do your children die suddenly? Suffer it all with patience, cleaving to God in your heart, as Job did. Do your friends forsake you, and you find yourself surrounded by enemies? Bear it all without grumbling, and with faith that God’s help is at hand, as the apostles did.”
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Fr. Ninos Oshaana offers a sermon on the Parable of the Sower and how the deeper meaning of the the parable corresponds to the deeper meaning of who we are.
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Daily Meditation
We find in the gospels many references to food and eating. In particular, having to do with the miracles that Christ performs, as in today's Gospel reading where he feeds 5000 people. Other examples are when Christ is visiting the outcasts of society, the publicans and sinners, and dining with them. Elsewhere we see him dining with the religious leaders such as the pharisees. Before his passion, he gathers his disciples for the Passover meal, where he first institutes the sacrament of Holy Communion, offering his own body and blood as the sacrificial lamb. After his resurrection from the dead, he appears to his disciples and again he eats food in their presence to prove that he was truly there in his body and not a ghost. And finally, he appears to the two disciples as their were traveling on the Road to Emmaus and while they at first didn't recognize him, their eyes were opened when he blessed and broke the bread and gave it to them.
All these examples tell us that the act eating has been transformed by Christ from something base and carnal meant only to satisfy our taste buds and stomachs, to something spiritual through which we experience an intimate encounter and union with the divine and one another. Just as Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree and it led to hostility between themselves and separation from God, physically and spiritually, so the act of eating the Body and Blood of Christ causes us to be reunited to God and renewed physically and spiritually. And since we all received from the one chalice, we also now are joined not only with God, but also with one another so that there is no longer any hostility and separation between us but we are truly one, as St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:17,
"For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread."
But having received this wonderful and life-saving nourishment, we are now responsible and accountable for it. It perfects within us love for God and love for others. In the gospel reading, thousands of people have been following and listening to Christ. They are hungry and thirsty. Christ tells the apostles "You give them something to eat." St. Ignatius of Antioch, in his Epistle to the Smyrneans dated to about the year 100 AD, makes a connection between faith and love, specifically, how faith and belief that what we eat is truly the Body and Blood of Christ then inspires love and care for others. But how the lack of faith, and disbelief leads to a lack of love. He writes:
"Let no man deceive himself. Both the things which are in heaven, and the glorious angels and rulers, both visible and invisible, if they believe not in the blood of Christ, shall, in consequence, incur condemnation. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. Let not [high] place puff any one up: for that which is worth all is faith and love, to which nothing is to be preferred. But consider those who are of a different opinion with respect to the grace of Christ which has come unto us, how opposed they are to the will of God. They have no regard for love, no care for the widow, or the orphan, or the oppressed; of the bond, or of the free; of the hungry, or of the thirsty. They abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer, because they confess not the Eucharist to be the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, which suffered for our sins, and which the Father, of His goodness, raised up again. Those, therefore, who speak against this gift of God, incur death in the midst of their disputes."
Listen to this episode for the entire meditation on this gospel reading.
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Daily Meditation, Scripture readings, Saints of the Day: St. James son of Alphaeus On the Gospel Reading Matthew 9:36-38; 10:1-8: "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few"
With these words, our Lord is referring to the disciples who, although only twelve of them, will go out into the vast world and spread the Gospel. The harvest are all the people in the world who were desperate for the message of salvation, who were helpless and had no hope, who were enslaved to the power of the devil and death. As it was then, so it is today. The Gospel message that Christ is Risen and has destroyed the power of the devil and has given life to all who desire it, continues to be relevant to us today, in fact, one could say, even more today. Another way to understand this reading for an Orthodox Christian today is that the harvest is not the world outside but the world within: your own heart and your own soul. In these are plentiful riches and treasures of God's image and likeness which must be labored for. The labor, the work, is your own prayer life, your repentance, your ascetical struggle, the work of the Divine Liturgy and ultimately your love for Christ and compassion for others. As we labor to purify our hearts and minds, to restore the image of God within us, to continually grow in the likeness of God by acquiring the Holy Spirit, the change in our behavior, in our life, in our disposition, will silently declare the truth and power of the Gospel message to the world around us as well.
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This episode offers a meditation on Ephesians 2:19-22; 3:1-7 and the theme of being citizens of the household of God and not of the Devil. Also the life of St, Pelagia along with the other saints of the day.
Household of God
"Brethren you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God". Ephesians 2:19-22, 3:1-7
These opening words of the epistle today beautifully express what each of us has been given. Like myself, some of you come from families that at some point immigrated to the United States. Whether it was your parents, grandparents or great-grandparents who left their homeland and came to a new country. And for the first few days or weeks or even months, they were still strangers, getting to know the people, the land, the laws, the culture. But then, they eventually became citizens and made this country their home.
St. Paul uses the same idea to convey our spiritual journey. Human beings were once estranged from God, having lost our original home with God in the Garden of Eden, we were strangers and sojourners, wanderers until we found the promised land, and that promised land was Christ and his Church, and we were received, welcomed by Christ himself, and through our baptism he made us citizens of his kingdom, together with all the saints, being one household, one family of God.
But having entered our divine home with Christ, the Devil relentlessly tries to call us back out, he tempts us to give up our home, our true identity and once again go wandering in the darkness with him, a journey that only leads to despair and nothingness. He constantly tries to make us forget who we are and what we have received. He does this by making us not take our identity as children of God seriously. It's just a nice metaphor. Just a nice religious idea. And we fail to actually live it. Or he makes us think we're undeserving of this identity because of our mistakes and sins. Or he makes us hyper-focus on some other identity, like our ethnicity or political affiliation or even our profession. Either way, we end up disregarding or even forgetting our true identity as members of the household of God. We end up not living everyday in a way that reflects this reality. We instead live in another reality and the Devil tries to get us to only think about our earthly home, our earthly pleasures, only our immediate family members and relatives, only our friends, and we create a kind of distance between ourselves and our heavenly family and God and other people in this world.
This deception of the Devil is relentless. There's only one way to snap out of it and reject it every day as well. And that is to give thanks to God for all things, and acknowledge him as the giver of all things, that he is everywhere present and sees everything. That all things belong to him and he has made you a steward of his gifts. Give thanks to God for your life, for your country, for your material blessings, for your talents, for your family members and relatives and friends, for your freedom, for your parish, for the saints, for your Orthodox Faith and that you belong to the family of God. In this way, you become a solid person, loyal to your true identity that you received at your baptism. You live as someone who is not double-minded, someone who is not two-faced, someone who is not divided and separated from God but rather united with him. As Christians, we try to live as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven while here on earth. We are called to be the light of the world. We are called to be ambassadors for Christ. Through us, God's heavenly kingdom is made present on earth. That is why we pray: Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. That earth is my own body, my mind, my heart, my soul.
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A meditation on Christ's words, "he who is forgiven little, loves little" which reflect a central truth of Christianity, from the Gospel reading for today. Also the life of the Saints Sergius and Bacchus.
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Sermon on the raising of the son of the widow in Nain. Luke 7:11-16.
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In this episode we reflect on today's epistle reading from St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians, specifically the words "we have redemption through the blood of Christ," and we look at St. John's Chrysostoms meditation on Christ' sacrifice and our redemption. You'll also hear about the saint of the day, Hierotheos, the first bishop of Athens.
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In this daily episode, we begin with a prayer followed by the scripture readings of the day, a meditation on the gospel or epistle readings, the saints we commemorate today and quotes from the writings of the Church Fathers. There's also a daily memory verse and a daily act of kindness suggestion.
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Welcome to the first episode of The Vine, our new parish podcast, this is Fr. Ninos Oshaana and I'm looking forward to using this new format to keep you informed about our parish as well as offering inspiration and encouragement in your Orthodox faith journey. This podcast will offer a number of different things. For example, some of you receive our daily prayer and bible readings and meditation email. Now it will also be available as a daily episode that you can listen to on this podcast. Other episodes will offer recordings of our small discussion group on the Divine Liturgy, our upcoming bible study and also news and announcements from our parish community.
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With love in Christ,
Fr. Ninos
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Today's episode is Christ's words about judging others and a meditation by St. Paisios the Athonite on the final judgment.
Lord and Master of my life, deliver me from the spirit of laziness, meddling, ambition and gossip.
Give me, Your servant, the spirit of prudence, humility, patience and love. Lord and King, grant that I may see my sins and faults and not judge my brother, for You are blessed forever and ever. Amen.
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Readings and mediation on being vigilant against the attack of the enemy the Devil and being ready for the unknown hour of our death.
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