“…We are offered these reminders and opportunities during Advent, not because they are “things that Father wants to add to my already full plate…”, but because re-establishing that relationship with God is what the Church is!  This is a place for all of us to learn how to fast, to learn how to transform ourselves, and to learn how to pray and come into the Divine Presence.”

This homily was given by Fr. Gabriel during the Baptismal Divine Liturgy of a very special little 6 year old named Eliana, who despite her struggles with cerebral palsy, has faithfully been showing others what an authentic love for Christ and His Church looks like.

This same power and miracle is available to us here today! Regardless of how we individually have lived our lives in the past, how many times we have missed the mark, how often we have spent our lives in darkness…we are reminded today that all it takes is one moment, one Divine Liturgy, one word from THE Word, to penetrate the soil of our existence, so that we can bear Divine Fruit to others.  

As Orthodox Christians, there is no greater gift that we can give to our children than the experience of the Faith and of Christ. Regular participation in the Divine Services, whether we think that they are paying attention or not, is an absolute necessity! I cringe when I think of the world that our children are growing up into, which seems to become more backwards as the weeks go by!

If we are clairvoyant enough to see that we all have sinned, then we also need to see and understand that anytime we turn our back to God, we participate in something that is “pure evil”.