Musings from the High Desert

Fr. Gabriel focuses on discipleship, using the passage from Matthew 4 where the disciples are called as lead-in to the topic.

Fr. Gabriel focuses on discipleship, using the passage from Matthew 4 where the disciples are called as lead-in to the topic.

Fr Gabriel focuses on the dual nature of the stories of miraculous healing in the gospels, that healing occurs on both the physical and the spiritual levels. John's Gospel begins with the announcement of the Word made flesh who will bring Light and Life into our midst. The chapters from 9 to 11 in particular pick up this theme, speaking as they do of healings of vision and death, thus bringing light and life out of darkness.

Fr Gabriel focuses on the dual nature of the stories of miraculous healing in the gospels, that healing occurs on both the physical and the spiritual levels. John's Gospel begins with the announcement of the Word made flesh who will bring Light and Life into our midst. The chapters from 9 to 11 in particular pick up this theme, speaking as they do of healings of vision and death, thus bringing light and life out of darkness.

Fr Gabriel looks at the communitarian spirit and life of the early church as depicted in Acts. This sub-text in the book makes us ponder the meaning of community in this day and age, particularly as we confront the trials of negotiating a Christian path through an increasingly secularized world. The book referred to in the homily is Rodney Stark's The Rise of Christianity.

Fr Gabriel looks at the communitarian spirit and life of the early church as depicted in Acts. This sub-text in the book makes us ponder the meaning of community in this day and age, particularly as we confront the trials of negotiating a Christian path through an increasingly secularized world. The book referred to in the homily is Rodney Stark's The Rise of Christianity.

So often we pass by the little notes in scripture that are of great importance. In this sermon Fr. Gabriel opens up the small things in the text to reveal the depth of the references to the Holy Myrrhbearers.

So often we pass by the little notes in scripture that are of great importance. In this sermon Fr. Gabriel opens up the small things in the text to reveal the depth of the references to the Holy Myrrhbearers.

In this week's homily, Fr Gabriel outlines various ways in which Thomas—not really the "doubter" we think of according to the longstanding epithet—and we are alike in trying to discover the meaning of the Resurrection for our lives. The passage is quite clear about this, if we but clear our minds of preconceived notions and allow it to speak to us.

In this week's homily, Fr Gabriel outlines various ways in which Thomas—not really the "doubter" we think of according to the longstanding epithet—and we are alike in trying to discover the meaning of the Resurrection for our lives. The passage is quite clear about this, if we but clear our minds of preconceived notions and allow it to speak to us.

This week Fr. Gabriel, having spoken the message of the Triumphal Entry at Great Vespers, dwells on the Epistle for Palm Sunday from Philippians 4, showing its connection to our lives and the mysterious self-emptying of our Lord about which Paul spoke in the previous Christ-hymn at chapter 2.

This week Fr. Gabriel, having spoken the message of the Triumphal Entry at Great Vespers, dwells on the Epistle for Palm Sunday from Philippians 4, showing its connection to our lives and the mysterious self-emptying of our Lord about which Paul spoke in the previous Christ-hymn at chapter 2.

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 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 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.