Be Transfigured Ministries

On Mothers' Day we turn to the Church as our mother. Like our earthly mothers, the Church knows what is good for us when we are sick. We may not like cure, but just like our mothers' cure-all, the Church offers us the sacraments and the life of the Church to heal us. We should learn to trust the Church like we trust our mothers, and we will be made well. A life of prayer, fasting, caring for the poor and the sacraments of the Church, are all for our healing.

When Christ first appeared alive with His Apostles after his resurrection, Thomas was absent. The Apostles said, “We have seen the Lord,” but Thomas needed to see for himself. Eight days later Thomas saw Christ with his own eyes and believe. Christ said, “You believe because you have seen. Blessed are those who believe but who have not seen.” The Church has spread through the centuries because the Church stands in the world as eyewitness to the Resurrection of Christ. With our faith and courage, and God's grace many more will believe in the Resurrection of Christ because of our eyewitness to them. We believe because others share their eyewitness. The Church will continue only if we share our eyewitness. It is up to us.

There were thousands of people gathered in Jerusalem who witnessed the glory of Jesus Christ. They witnessed Lazarus whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Despite seeing His glory with their own eyes, they didn't understand God's glory. We sit in Church. We see the glory of God. We proclaim our faith in Him. Still, like the ancient crowd we just don't understand Jesus for Who really is. Now is our chance to witness God's glory and change our life to be with the King of Glory.

Sometimes we doubt our faith. Sometimes we doubt that our faith is strong enough to ‘get us over the finish line' so that we can grow closer to Christ. Sometimes we have ‘just enough' faith to come to Christ and ask for help. In those moments, Christ gives us what we need to be stronger in our faith in Him. In those moments Christ helps us in our weakness, and always gives us what we need.

When we gather as the family of God, we have the blessing to bring people to Christ who need His help and healing. When Christ saw the faith of four friends of a paralyzed man, He healed the man and forgave his sins. Our responsibility to God is bring people to the Church so they can be healed and forgiven.

On Forgiveness Sunday, the Gospel teaches us that God will only forgive once we have forgiven others. This is difficult when we fight about who was right and who was wrong. Since all since is against God, then forgiveness comes much easier. If we can forgive for reconciliation rather than right or wrong, then we unite with each other and God. Then, and only then, we God forgive us.

The Parable of the Last Judgment in Matthew 25 can confuse us into believing that our actions will save us. Our judgment isn't about the works that we do, our ability to love others as if we are loving Christ. Even our giving to the Church should be out of love for God and not out of duty.

When someone who has wasted everything and lost everything, or has strayed away from God, chooses to return in repentance, it is a blessing to witness. The Parable of the Prodigal Son is much more than just a story about repentance. It is also a story of the ‘one left behind' and being too cold to be joyful over another's repentance. You never know when you will meet a prodigal son returning to God. It is just as important to welcome others home as it is to repent and return home.

There are special days in our life when we feel so happy and content that we can't imagine life getting any better. Saint Symeon had such a day when he saw Jesus Christ. “Lord, now let your servant depart in peace.” The Church invites us to consider what it might take for our hearts to be filled with so much peace and joy at seeing Him that we are ‘ready' to die.

We say ‘thank you' all the time, but we rarely live a life of gratitude. Being truly thankful requires a life-change, more than just a few words. When we want to thank God, we come to His Church, bow and worship Him, and live a new life of gratitude.

When we hear the human lineage of Christ in Matthew 1.1-25, we hear about our human ancestors. The ‘list of names' reminds us that God has never walked away from us, no matter how far we have strayed away from Him. The Feast of Christmas is a celebration of God's saving act of becoming human and saving us. The story of our ancestors is a story of faith. It is a story of those who kept returning to God no matter how often or how far they may have strayed. It inspires us to return to Him and celebrate Christmas and our salvation.

When we think of the Holy Canons of the Church, we most often think of them as ‘laws' to be followed. They should be followed but not because they are laws. In the story of the women bent over for eighteen years, Christ reveals the true purpose of the Law. Following the laws and Canons of the Church frees us from the burden of sin. When we allow the Holy Canons to change our hearts, we change the way we think of Christ and the Church. Fast, but not because it is the law. Fast to change your heart. Fast to be free from sin.

When faced with the choice to give up our wealth or follow Christ, most of us choose our wealth and walk away from God. Until we are willing to separate ourselves from money and wealth we cannot have eternal life. This is impossible without God's help.

When we are blessed to have more than we need, it is a challenge for our soul. In the Parable of the Barns, the rich man died without ever using the ‘good things' that God had given to him. What are we doing with all the good things that God has given to us? We always focus on ourselves, but God wants us to think about others more than ourselves. The best way to learn to care about others is to Tithe to the Church. It was the Old Testament, the New Testament and the Church.

We have all been given many good things from God. What have we done with them? Have we used the good things that God has given to us for others or kept them for ourselves. In the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazaros found the in Luke 16.19-31, the rich man who kept everything to himself was in hell when he died. When we consider our stewardship to God's Church, will we find ourselves in the torment of hell because we did nothing with God's good things? We must act now!

When God's blessings come, we don't always understand them for what they are. In the Parable of the Sower found in Luke 8.5-15 we learn that God's sends out His Son for all people, but not everyone is able to understand God's grace fully. In every situation, good and bad, God's grace is for everyone.

When we are faced with struggles we wonder sometimes where is God? This is especially difficult in times of disaster or tragedy. The Gospel tells the story of the burial of the only son of a widow from Nain. She was not alone. God had compassion on her. We are never alone. God is always with us.

Christ went to the Synagogue and read from Isaiah and said, “Today this is fulfilled in your hearing.” Christ speaks to us today, not just in the past. Every year on the Ecclesiastical New Year, we are reminded that Christ came to heal us, to cure us, and to save us. Let's make this the “acceptable year of the Lord.”

When thousands were gathered around Christ in the desert, the Disciples expected the Lord to send them away so they could feed themselves. Instead, Christ said, “They do not need to go away. You give them something,” and thousands were fed with just a few loaves of bread and two fish. Christ fed the crowds through the Disciples. He can bless others through us when we allow Him to use us as He used the Disciples. We become agents of God's grace to help others.

When Christ saw the faith of the friends of the paralytic, He said to the man, “Your sins are forgiven.” Christ didn't heal the man until He wanted to show His power to forgive sins. When we are united in the faith of Christ, our sins can be forgiven by God. When we pray each day, rather than praying for our physical health, we should pray for the forgiveness of our sins and the sins of others.

When we battle against God we cannot benefit from His power. When God healed the Gergesene Demoniacs, the crowed was angry with God. Instead of thanking God, they fought against Him. God has the power to protect us even from demons, but only if we stop fighting against Him.

Last week the Church commemorated the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Church. Christ promised the Holy Spirit would guide the Holy Apostles into all the truth. Christ appointed the Apostles to shepherd the Church to heaven. The Apostles ordained Bishops and throughout history, the Bishops of the Church have served as shepherd leading us to heaven. The only thing that gets in the way is that we need to follow. Only goats do whatever the want. Sheep follow the shepherd.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, June 18, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

It is too easy ignore the work of God when we choose to remain blind. Christ reveals Himself to us through His works and grace, but when we prefer to remain blind to Him, we refuse to believe in Christ.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, June 4, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

When Saint Photini met Christ at the well in the heat of the day, her heart was totally exposed to Him. In her dialogue with God, she felt His love and grace instead of shame. She immediately went and invited everyone she knew, “Could this be the Christ?” They came and had the same experience. Now it is our turn to go and invite others to “Come and see Christ in the Church.”

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, May 28, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, May 21, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Because Joseph of Arimathea courageously approach Pilate and asked to bury Christ, the Myrrh Bearing women were able to see where Christ was buried. Because the Myrrh Bearing women went courageously to His Tomb to anoint Christ, the entire world heard the Good News of Christ's resurrection. Now it is our turn to act with courage and let everyone we know about the Resurrection of Christ and bring the Good News of a better life.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, May 14, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

One of the daily prayers of the Church begs for God's compassion. We can only beg for His compassion when we have faith in the power and love of God. God has shown us everything we need to understand His power to save us and to have compassion on us. Now that we have experienced His power and compassion, it is our turn to be a witness to His power so others can have faith in His compassion and power.

When we come to Church, no matter what day, we are always looking to ‘get something' from God. Unfortunately, we never ask ourselves what we are coming to Church to give to God. On Palm Sunday we hear about a woman who showed such profound love for God that she spent an entire year's wages on ointment to wipe His feet. That is the sort of love we should want to show to God.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, April 23, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

When we think about our relationship with God in heaven, it can be easy to focus on ourselves. We tend to want the best seats and the best treatment in heaven. We forget that Christ teaches us to want more for others than for ourselves. The message of the Gospel, and the ultimate goal of Great Lent is for us to learn to put others ahead of ourselves.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, April 16, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

During Great Lent we are not simply following rules. We are learning to deny ourselves. We are learning to take up our Cross. We are learning how to follow Christ. If we spend life focusing on ourselves, we will never take up the struggle of our cross. The Church focuses on the Cross so that we can learn how to live as Christ wants us to live.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, April 2, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, March 26, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

The Sunday of Orthodoxy is a celebration of the truth of God's incarnation. It is much more than the celebration of paint and art. Holy Icons are a crucial reminder that God has become human so that we commune with Him. Holy Icons are a reminder of the truth that God has brought us the hope of salvation, through living in communion with God.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

People do good things for three reasons. Some do good to avoid punishment. Others do good to earn rewards. The best reason to do good is because we love God. Doing good to get a response from God is contractual. Love is not a contract. When we are judged by God on Judgment Day, He wants to see our hearts so filled with love that we do good, not hoping God sees us, but simply because we love.

A Bible Study on St Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians, inspired by the Homilies of St John Chrysostom. This session was originally live stream Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

The Parable of the Prodigal Son teaches us that we are all called to return to God. He is waiting for us every time we walk away from the Church. Every time we walk out of Church we are faced with temptations of the world. The sooner we return to God and His Church, the better our chances to be welcomed home by God. Then, when others return who we have seen in a long while, we must fight the temptation to judge them. God welcomes them back just as He welcomes us back.

It is so easy to list the sins of everyone around us. The prayer of the Pharisee was focused on the sins of others rather than his own sins. It was the prayer of the Publican who understood his need for God's mercy. Being preoccupied with following the rules of the Church for the sake of pride and ‘following all the rules' is not going to be a blessing to us. In the Gospel of Luke 18.10-14, Christ uses the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee to teach us to live the life of the Church without pride. The life of the Church is meant to transform our hearts, not meant for us to keep score with each other.

When Christ was asked which love was the most important, He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets." If we want to live according to God's greatest commandment we must learn to love how God wants us to love. We can't love the way God wants on ‘day one'. It takes time to learn how to love.

When we want to be in Church, we plan in advance. When we want to see Christ, we also need to plan. Just like Zacchaeus planned in advance to see Christ, we need to clean our hearts, make plans for him, and be ready for Him. We do this by confessing our sins to the Church and restoring our broken relationships. There will be no room for Christ if our hearts are filled with bitterness and sin. Now is the time for us to plan to see Christ and welcome Him into our hearts.

When Christ healed ten lepers, including one foreigner, He taught us that His grace and healing is for everyone. God sent the ten to the priests, to the Temple, to show the priests they had been healed. They were sent to show that Christ was sent to heal everyone, not just the inner circle.

After His Baptism by John in the Jordan River, Christ proclaimed, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” We are called to repent, or to return to the beginning, before sin took over our life. We are called by Christ to return to a time when the Light of Christ filled our hearts and our life centered around Christ and His Church.

As we consider our annual New Year Resolutions this year remember the message of the Gospel. “John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” The first message of the Gospel according to Saint Mark is the message of repentance. This year, change the way you think about life. Make everything about your salvation.