Musings from the High Desert

Fr. Gabriel offers sermons weekly on both lessons, normally the Epistle at Great Vespers on Saturdays and the Gospel at Divine Liturgy on Sunday. This week's sermons explore St. Mary of Egypt weekend from the perspective of the Galatians 3 passage (Saturday), where Paul consider the place of the Law, and the Luke 7 passage on the woman who anoints Jesus and washes his feet with his tears.

Fr. Gabriel reflects this week on the "hinge" of the gospel of Mark (indeed, the hinge of all the Gospels) which is the movement from the question "who is this man who is so appealing and yet so elusive?" to Jesus' affirmation of what it means for him to be "Son of Man." The hinge that connects these two parts of the Gospel is the confession of Peter. Our text for this week comes shortly thereafter as a challenge to original and contemporary disciples to take up the cross.

Fr. Gabriel reflects this week on the "hinge" of the gospel of Mark (indeed, the hinge of all the Gospels) which is the movement from the question "who is this man who is so appealing and yet so elusive?" to Jesus' affirmation of what it means for him to be "Son of Man." The hinge that connects these two parts of the Gospel is the confession of Peter. Our text for this week comes shortly thereafter as a challenge to original and contemporary disciples to take up the cross.

This week Fr. Gabriel discusses the personal meaning of St. Gregory's work. Far from being academically theological in a way we cannot understand, St. Gregory's ministry safeguarded our integrity as Christians by focusing on demonstrating our relationship to God.

This week Fr. Gabriel discusses the personal meaning of St. Gregory's work. Far from being academically theological in a way we cannot understand, St. Gregory's ministry safeguarded our integrity as Christians by focusing on demonstrating our relationship to God.

Fr. Gabriel opens up the big picture on the Iconoclastic Controversy, whose conclusion we commemorate this Sunday. There is much more here than dealing with idolatry, icons, and religious depictions of all kinds. This is about fundamental issues at the very heart of Christianity.

Fr. Gabriel opens up the big picture on the Iconoclastic Controversy, whose conclusion we commemorate this Sunday. There is much more here than dealing with idolatry, icons, and religious depictions of all kinds. This is about fundamental issues at the very heart of Christianity.

Fr. Gabriel offers his insights into the Gospel text from Matthew for Cheesefare/Forgiveness Sunday.

Fr. Gabriel offers his insights into the Gospel text from Matthew for Cheesefare/Forgiveness Sunday.

There are a number of ways to approach the parable of the Last Judgment, which is clearly a teaching parable that Jesus intended to be repetitive so it could be learned. In this year's approach to the parable, Fr. Gabriel emphasizes our response to the parable's admittedly frightening tone, using the words of St. Silouan, "keep your mind in hell, and despair not" as a prism through which to view the parable.

There are a number of ways to approach the parable of the Last Judgment, which is clearly a teaching parable that Jesus intended to be repetitive so it could be learned. In this year's approach to the parable, Fr. Gabriel emphasizes our response to the parable's admittedly frightening tone, using the words of St. Silouan, "keep your mind in hell, and despair not" as a prism through which to view the parable.

We begin a look at the Pastoral Epistles this week with an introduction to the person of Timothy, who accompanied Paul on his journeys after Timothy's conversion, the character of the Timothy correspondence, and the wonderful passage in the first chapter which is our reading for the 36th Sunday after Pentecost. (I Timothy 1:15-17)

We begin a look at the Pastoral Epistles this week with an introduction to the person of Timothy, who accompanied Paul on his journeys after Timothy's conversion, the character of the Timothy correspondence, and the wonderful passage in the first chapter which is our reading for the 36th Sunday after Pentecost. (I Timothy 1:15-17)

Fr. Gabriel reflects on the Parable of the Talents in light of the society in which we live as Orthodox Christians.

Fr. Gabriel reflects on the Parable of the Talents in light of the society in which we live as Orthodox Christians.