OrthoAnalytika

Pentecost.  After offering a brief reflection on green as the color of Pentecost in the East, Fr. Anthony talks about how the Spirit's divinity allows us to do Church, marriage, and friendship in and toward blessed and joyful unity.  Enjoy the show!

John 17:1-13.  Sunday after Ascension, Commemorating the 318 Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council in Nicea.  Today Fr. Anthony offers a reflection on the mystery of fellowship, noting that while that of the nation can point us toward something greater, only Christ can save.  He briefly describes how Christ created a new humanity for full fellowship through His Incarnation.  Note that he misused the word "essence" when he was describing the new shared humanity we have in Christ (he repents sincerely!).  Enjoy the show! 

St. John 9: 1-38.  Despite his preference for the theme of light and enlightenment, Fr. Anthony decided to preach some meat - maybe even some gristle, using the double baptism of spittle and pool.  His main point seems to have been that we really do need to learn how to submit ourselves to God and His Church.  While it is not recorded, he talked for a few minutes at the end of liturgy about practical cases of poor discernment and the resulting need for Church discipline.  Enjoy the show!

In this meditation on the Samaritan Woman (John 4:5-42), Fr. Anthony continues his series on mystagogy by talking about the wonder that there is such a thing as water and a glass to hold it, moves on from there to living water and chalices, and from there to seeing beauty even in our enemies.  If nothing else, it's interesting to hear what Fr. Anthony sounds like when he gets a decent night's sleep.  Enjoy the show!

Today, Fr. Anthony gives a talk introducing the parish's new "Divine Liturgy" pew book.  Most of it was spent reviewing Khouria Frederica Mathewes-Green's essay "12 Things I Wish I'd Known" as it became an opportunity for people to ask questions about parish practices.  Enjoy the show! 

Sunday of the Paralytic.  Fr. Anthony continues preaching on mystagogy, describing what the encounter on the road to Emmaus, Christ's healing of the paralytic at the Sheep Pool, and the healing of Aeneas and the raising of Tabatha in Acts have to teach us about how to experience grace more deeply in Holy Orthodoxy.  Enjoy the show!

Mark 15:43-16:8.  The Sunday of the Myrrhbearers.  Today Fr. Anthony introduces mystagogy, talking about the ways Orthodoxy works to make His will that "we be one as He is one" a reality.   Christ is risen and lives and communicates with us continuously.  We need to learn the language He uses from the inside (rather than through translation).  To do this, we need to spend time with Him on the mountain (in our soul) and then learn what we have learned as we worship and serve.  The audio quality isn't great (it was an awkward placement for the recorder and he stepped in front of it towards the end) and he misses several of his segues, but perhaps that adds to the mystery.  Enjoy the show!

St. John 20:19-31. Fr. Anthony offers a reflection on the problem of discernment, how it affected the thoughts of the disciple Thomas, and why Orthodoxy really is the answer to the problems of knowing and belief.  

Palm Sunday.  John 12:1-18.  Fr. Anthony offers a reflection on how our minds join the pharisees and scribes in rebellion against the coming of Christ into His Temple.  Enjoy the show!

This is part of the talk Fr. Anthony gave for the UOL Retreat in Philadelphia, PA on 1 April 2023.  The theme was "Be Still and Know."  This excerpt followed Natalie Bilynsky's excellent review of mindfulness, an account of its popularity and results, and what separates it from Orthodoxy.  In this portion of his talk, Fr. Anthony describes the Orthodox Way of the Heart, focusing a lot of his attention on how it frees us from our negative and distracting inner dialogues.  These retreats are always wonderful - consider joining us next year!