“…We often think about sin as being something invisible and if there is no outward appearance, no one, including ourselves, has any idea of the weight that we are carrying.  It is like the woman in today’s Gospel lesson, who is so weighed down by the extent of the “demons” that she has been carrying on her back that she cannot even lift her head.  This is the question that we are asked to consider today: What is the weight of our sins?”

We know from experience in the spiritual life what happens when we do not give thanks to God in our lives, and it is why our worship services always take on a tenor of thanksgiving.  To not say “thank you”…is to say in our minds and our hearts:  “I deserve this”.  It is to fill ourselves up with ourselves, and when we do that, we become like the “inn” in Bethlehem…there is no place for the Christ Child to lay his head. 

…Remember to not have your gaze at your feet, or all around you…but rather stare up at the heavens, and search for that bright star that is shining over Bethlehem, as the world makes it’s way towards the newborn King…

One of the truly wonderful things about Holy Orthodoxy, is that we have been handed down throughout the centuries…a more complete picture of the Bible. Holy Tradition is that which turns scripture from black and white letters on parchment, into color, depth, and reality…and the story that we hear this morning is no different.  The woman with the issue of blood is not a nameless person whose story ended after these verses.  Her name was St. Veronica…

…How many wars have been started…how many innocent people have lost their lives, because of men and women who have been possessed by one of the demon of anger…or greed?  You want scary stuff this time of year?  Find me a haunted house that can destroy the world, the way that the passions can?