Fr. Gabriel
It is Good for Us to Be Here!

“It is indeed good for us to be here, as you have said Peter.  It is good to be with Jesus and to remain here forever.  What greater happiness or higher honor could we have, than to be with God…to be made like him and to live in His Light?” -St. Athanasius of Sinai

It is Good for Us to Be Here!

Herod's Unholy Family

Herod's Unholy Family

...the Gospel lesson today is a wonderful reminder for us, that how we act within our families speak volumes about us and our devotion to God.  It shows us through Herod’s family…a clear picture of what happens when our priorities are not where they should be.  When God is absent from our homes…when we don’t take the time to converse with Him in communal prayer…when we don’t give thanks before our meals…when we don’t show gratitude for all that He has given us…and when we don’t praise him for all he has NOT given us (this is a difficult one to grasp)…we fall prey to the temptations that Herod’s family had fallen into....

"Into The Stench...": A Story of What our Lord's Unconditional Love Looks Like

"Into The Stench...": A Story of What our Lord's Unconditional Love Looks Like

...He was born in the midst of beasts, so that we might turn from beasts who instinctively follow their passions, into rational and deified human beings.  And perhaps the most stirring of all, He was born in that lowly place knowing the fate that awaited Him at Golgotha.

 Our Lord knew that He was to lead a life of perpetual humiliation, one that was climaxed when the human race who He came to save, betrayed Him and nailed Him to the cross. 

What more could we possibly ask from a humble savior, Who was willing to come so far…and endure so much…out of his love for mankind....

How Do We Respond to Our Invitation to Christ's Banquet?

How Do We Respond to Our Invitation to Christ's Banquet?

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the banquet lies before us today.  It is not some superficial place that we will get to eventually after we pass away…it is here….it is now.  The Gospel today says:  “Come NOW, for all things are ready.” 

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, remember…this…gospel lesson.  Read it over and over again.  Study the invite that has been given to you by the Holy Forefathers, Apostles, Saints, and Fathers of the Church. 

Wake Up and Walk Circumspectly!

Wake Up and Walk Circumspectly!

"So rather than all the nonsense that the world says is so important to our happiness, we should follow St. Paul’s direction, and speak “to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”  That is exactly what we do at each Divine Liturgy and every service of the Church.  The focus has always been Christ, Who is celebrated without all the trappings.  A Christmas with Christ is the one gift that fits all, is the perfect color, and no one will be boxing up to return to the store the next day.  Salvation is the gift that you will want to keep this year."

Letting the Glitter Settle

Letting the Glitter Settle

Brothers and Sisters in Christ, let us strive this advent season not to be called a “fool” by our Lord.  Let us not be blinded by all of the noise in our lives, and instead focus on gaining clarity for what the Incarnation means for our lives.  If you have not already, practice a daily devotion to God, take a few minutes at the beginning and the end of your busy days to “let the glitter settle”, so that you able to see more clearly what your purpose is in this life.