Today we see the cross raised up in the midst of our church. As we reach the mid-point of the Great Fast we are reminded of our goal – not the crucifixion – Good Friday; but the Resurrection – Pascha. Those who were at matins this morning were perhaps surprised that the canon was the […]

This Sunday’s Gospel reports Jesus telling the paralytic that his sins are forgiven and the Pharisees asking who can forgive sins but God alone. In St. John’s Gospel, after the Resurrection, Jesus appears to his disciples and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit, whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven; whose sins you shall retain, […]

The Japanese snow monkey has been observed in the wild for over 30 years. In 1952, on the island of Koshima, scientists were giving them sweet potatoes dropped in the sand. They liked the potatoes but not the sand. An 18-month old monkey, named Imo, figured out that she could wash the potatoes in the […]

Today, Cheese-fare Sunday, is also called Forgiveness Sunday, both because of the Gospel reading for today’s Liturgy and because of the vespers this evening during which we have the ceremony of mutual forgiveness. The epistle reading gives us an additional consideration – rash judgment – which often gives rise to the need for forgiveness. The […]