Homily - 14th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/25/13

Homily given by Fr. Rankin on the 14th Sunday after Pentecost.  The Gospel reading for the day was the parable of the man throwing a wedding feast for his son.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin spoke of the understanding the Church has about the parable.  Father also spoke of the fruits of the Holy Spirit and a teaching by St. Seraphim of Sarov that a person who manifests just one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit saves 1,000 souls by that outward manifestation of the Holy Spirit in their life.

Homily - 14th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/25/13

Gospel - 14th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/25/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 14th Sunday after Pentecost.

Gospel - 14th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/25/13

Homily - 13th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/18/13

Homily given on the 13th Sunday after Pentecost by Fr. Rankin.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin spoke about the meaning of Gospel reading of the Parable of the Householder who planted a vineyard and sent his servants and his son to get his fruit.

Homily - 13th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/18/13

Gospel - 13th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/18/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 13th Sunday after Pentecost.  The Gospel reading comes from Matthew 21:33-42 and reads as follows:

33 “Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; 35 and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them.37 Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:

‘The very stone which the builders rejected

has become the head of the corner;

this was the Lord’s doing,

and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Gospel - 13th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/18/13

Homily - Feast of The Dormition - 8/14/13

Homily given by Fr. Rankin on the Feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin spoke about the meaning of the words spoken about the Theotokos "Blessed is She who believed that the words to Her would be fulfilled".

The Holy Theotokos was the perfect daughter of Israel, waiting to receive the Messiah.  And she is the perfect woman who represents the Church.  Finally, she is the perfect Christian and was the first human to receive the fulfillment of the resurrection where body and soul are reunited after death.

Homily - Feast of Dormition - 8/14/13

Homily - 12th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/11/13

Homily given on the 12th Sunday after Pentecost.  Fr. Rankin briefly reflected on the Gospel passage of the Rich Man asking Jesus what he must do to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven.

Homily - 12th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/11/13

Gospel - 12th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/11/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 12th Sunday after Pentecost.

Gospel - 12th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/11/13

Homily - 11th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/4/13

Homily given on the 11th Sunday after Pentecost by Fr. Rankin.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin reflected on the Gospel passage of the servant forgiven his debt and how is applies in our life on forgiving those who trespass against us.

Homily - 11th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/4/13

Gospel - 11th Sunday after Pentecost - August 4, 2013

Byzantine Catholic gospel reading for the 11th Sunday after Pentecost.

Gospel - 11th Sunday after Pentecost - 8/4/13