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

Homily - 10th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/28/13

Homily given on the 10th Sunday after Pentecost.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin reflected on the gospel reading that comes from Matthew 17:14-23 and reflected on that scripture in light of the coming Feast of the Transfiguration and the world that we live in today.

Gospel - 10th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/28/13

Homily - 9th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/21/13

Homily given on the 9th Sunday after Pentecost by Fr. Robert Rankin.  The Gospel reading for the Divine Liturgy came from Matthew 14:22-34.  In this Gospel, Peter walks on the water towards Jesus, but takes his eye off Jesus and begins to sink into the water.

Fr. Rankin reflected on that Gospel reading and spoke about the importance of our having both faith and works.  Faith and works are not opposites of each other, as many Protestants believe. Rather, they are both necessary for our salvation and that is what the Church teaches us.

Homily - 9th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/21/13

Gospel - 9th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/21/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 9th Sunday after Pentecost.  The Gospel reading comes from Matthew 14:22-34.

22 Then he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was many furlongs distant from the land, beaten by the waves; for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately he spoke to them, saying, “Take heart, it is I; have no fear.”
28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.” 29 He said,“Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus; 30 but when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 
34 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

Gospel - 9th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/21/13

Homily - 8th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/14/13

Due to technical difficulties, the homily given on 7/14/13 was unable to be recorded.  The homily given on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost in 2012 is included instead.

Fr. Rankin spoke of the multiplication of the fishes and loaves as being a foreshadowing of the Eucharist.

Homily - 8th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/14/13

Gospel - 8th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/14/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading of the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.

Gospel - 8th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/14/13

Homily - 7th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/7/13

Homily given by Fr. Rankin on the 7th Sunday after Pentecost.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin spoke about the year of faith and reflected on the beginning of Pope Francis' encyclical, Lumen Fidei and related it to the Gospel passage for today.

Homily - 7th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/7/13

Gospel - 7th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/7/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 7th Sunday after Pentecost.  The reading comes from Matthew 9:27-35

Gospel - 7th Sunday after Pentecost - 7/7/13

Homily - 6th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/30/13

In his homily on the 6th Sunday after Pentecost, Fr. Rankin reflects on the Gospel reading of Jesus healing the paralytic.

Homily - 6th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/30/13

Gospel - 6th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/30/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 6th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/30/13.  The Gospel reading came from Matthew 9:1-8.

Gospel - 6th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/30/13

Homily - 5th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/23/13

Homily given on the 5th Sunday after Pentecost and on the Baptism, Chrismation and First Communion of a newly born member of the parish.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin spoke of how the early church called the Sacrament of Confession a Second Baptism due to the fact that it restores our baptismal purity. 

Fr. Rankin reflected on the Gospel reading for today, the Gadarenes demoniacs mentioned in Matthew 8:28 - 9:1 and how appropriate this scripture was in regards to the newly enlightened Servant of God, Nicholas Steven.  Baptism in not just pushing out the darkness, but bringing in the light of Christ.  Fr. Rankin finished by reflecting on a sermon of Pope Francis on Evangelium Vitae.

Homily - 5th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/23/13

Gospel - 5th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/23/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 5th Sunday after Pentecost.

Gospel - 5th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/23/13

Homily - 4th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/16/13

In his homily on the 4th Sunday after Pentecost, Fr. Rankin tied together the Old Testament reading from Saturday Vespers, the Epistle and the Gospel reading.

The Gospel reading came from Matthew 8: 5-13 and was the healing of the centurion's servant.  The reading from Saturday vespers came from the 8th Chapter of 1 Kings, where Solomon consecrated the temple to God and gave an exhaustive prayer.

In 1 Kings God reveals to Solomon that he will take the temple from the Jews and give it to those outside of the faith.  This ties with the Gospel reading as Jesus said in all of Israel I have not seen faith such as this when talking about the faith of the centurion.

Gospel - 4th Sunday after Penteocost - 6/16/13

Gospel - 4th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/16/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 4th Sunday after Pentecost.

Gospel - 4th Sunday after Pentecost - 6/16/13

Homily - 3rd Sunday after Pentecost - 6/9/13

In his homily, Fr. Rankin continues reflecting on the gifts of the Holy Spirit and how they apply to the Gospel,   Epistle and Old Testament readings from Vespers.

Homily - 3rd Sunday after Pentecost - 6/9/13

Gospel - 3rd Sunday after Pentecost - 6/9/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost.

Gospel - 3rd Sunday after Pentecost - 6/9/13

Homily - Sunday after Pentecost - 5/26/13

In his homily, Fr. Rankin begins a series of reflections on the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.  On the first Sunday after Pentecost, Fr. Rankin spoke on two gifts, wisdom and fear of the Lord, as these two gifts matched up to the Gospel reading for Sunday.

Homily - Sunday after Pentecost - 5/26/13

Gospel - Sunday after Pentecost - 5/26/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the Sunday after Pentecost.

Gospel - Sunday after Pentecost - 5/26/13

Homily - Pentecost Sunday - 5/19/13

Homily given on Pentecost Sunday 2013 by Fr. Robert Rankin.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin spoke on the meaning of Pentecost and how it fulfills the work of Christ and the tie in with Moses getting the ten commandments from God on Mt. Sinai.   Fr. Rankin also reflected on three things that the Holy Spirit does in our life: 1.  It saves us, 2. It shapes us and 3. It sanctifies us.

Homily - Pentecost Sunday - 5/19/13

Gospel - Pentecost Sunday - 5/19/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for Pentecost Sunday.

Gospel - Pentecost Sunday - 5/19/13

Homily - Sunday after Ascension - 5/12/13

Homily given on the Sunday after Ascension by Fr. Robert Rankin.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin reflected on the liturgical period we are in with the Ascension and the promise of Christ fulfilled; with Pentecost coming upon us and the promise of the Holy Spirit yet to come; and finally, with these two liturgical events happening on Mothers Day and how the Holy Theotokos is there as a spiritual mother to all of us.

Homily - Sunday after Ascension - 5/12/13

Gospel - Sunday after Ascension - 5/12/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the Sunday after Ascension - 5/12/13

Gospel - Sunday after Ascension - 5/12/13

Homily - Sunday of Man Born Blind - 5/5/13

Homily given by Fr. Rankin on the Sunday of the Man Born Blind, May 5, 2013.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin spoke of ten traits that all Christians should strive to live by and tied those traits into the Gospel reading and the Epistle for the Sunday of the Man Born Blind.

Homily - Sunday of Man Born Blind - 5/5/13

Gospel - Sunday of Man Born Blind - 5/5/13

Bzyantine Gospel reading for the Sunday of the Man Born Blind.

Gospel - Sunday of Man Born Blind - 5/5/13

Homily - Sunday of Samaritan Woman - 4/28/13

Homily given on the 5th Sunday of Pascha by Fr. Rankin.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin spoke of the meaning of the 5 husbands the samaritan woman had and how the represent the 5 broken covenants between man and God.  These 5 covenants are:

• Covenant with Adam - Promise to send a savior
• Covenant with Noah - Promise to renew creation
• Covenant with Abraham - Promise that all people will have the blessing of God
• Covenant with Moses - The giving of the law representing mans being made in image & likeness of God
• Covenant with David - Promise of a kingdom that never ends

Homily - Sunday of Samaritan Woman - 4/28/13

Homily - Sunday of Paralytic Man - 4/21/13

Homily given on the Sunday of the Paralytic Man by Fr. Rankin.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin used a triptych to help explain how the story of the paralytic man being healed by Jesus applies to us.  There was the period of time in life before we know the risen Christ, that moment when we meet Christ and what happens after that conversion.

Homily - Sunday of Paralytic Man - 4/21/13

Gospel - Sunday of Paralytic Man - 4/21/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the Sunday of the Paralytic Man - 4/21/13

Gospel - 4/21/13

Homily - Myrrh-Bearing Women - 4/14/13

Homily given on the 3rd Sunday of Easter, The Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women.  In his homily, Fr. Rankin talked about "three bottles of myrrh" we all bring with us in our walk with Christ.  These three "bottles of myrrh" are:

• All Of Our Possessions - We must realize that everything we have and everything in our world comes from God.  We can do nothing without God and we can have nothing without God.
• Human Sexuality - We must understand that God gave us the gift of sexuality in furtherance of his divine plan to go forth and multiply.  In order for us to understand this, we first must understand that all that we have comes from God.
• Divine Worship - Every Sunday, we come to the empty tomb with our bottle of myrrh and pour it out at the empty tomb when we participate in the Divine Liturgy.  This pouring out during worship is a great witness to our faith for visitors to our church as well as those who do not know Christ.

Homily - Myrrh-Bearing Women - 4/14/13

Gospel - Myrrh Bearing Women - 4/14/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 3rd Sunday of Easter, The Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women.

Gospel - Myrrh-Bearing Women - 4/14/13

Homily - Thomas Sunday - 4/7/13

Due to technical issues, the homily for Thomas Sunday 2013 was not recorded.  Attached is Fr. Rankins homily from Thomas Sunday - 2012.

Homily - Thomas Sunday - 4/7/13

Homily - Pascha 2013 - 3/31/13

In his homily for Pascha, Fr. Rankin spoke of Pope Francis' homily at the Easter Vigil and the 3 emotional reactions to the resurrection that the disciples had.  These 3 emotions were: Surprise, Fear and Confusion.  Fr. Rankin also reflected on how even in modern times, whenever God is doing some in our lives, we still have those same 3 emotions.  At the end of the homily, Fr. Rankin led everyone in renewing their baptismal vows.

Homily - Pascha 2013 - 3/31/13

Gospel - Pascha 2013 - 3/31/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for Pascha.

Gospel - Pascha 2013 - 3/31/13

Homily - Palm Sunday - 3/24/13

Finishing up the Great Fast study of the churches in the Book of Revelation, Fr. Rankin reflects on the church at La-odice and what it means for us today.



"And to the angel of the church in La-odice'a write: `The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.  "`I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing; not knowing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. Therefore I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, that you may be rich, and white garments to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nakedness from being seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see.
Those whom I love, I reprove and chasten; so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if any one hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.'

Homily - Palm Sunday - 3/24/13

Gospel - Palm Sunday - 3/24/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for Palm Sunday.

Gospel - Palm Sunday - 3/24/13

Homily - 5th Sunday of Great Fast - 3/17/13

Continuing the Great Fast journey through the Book of Revelation, Fr. Rankin reflects on the meaning of the letter to the Church at Thyatira.



"And to the angel of the church in Thyati'ra write: `The words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and whose feet are like burnished bronze.  "`I know your works, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your latter works exceed the first.  But I have this against you, that you tolerate the woman Jez'ebel, who calls herself a prophetess and is teaching and beguiling my servants to practice immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols.  I gave her time to repent, but she refuses to repent of her immorality.  Behold, I will throw her on a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her I will throw into great tribulation, unless they repent of her doings; and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches shall know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you as your works deserve. But to the rest of you in Thyati'ra, who do not hold this teaching, who have not learned what some call the deep things of Satan, to you I say, I do not lay upon you any other burden; only hold fast what you have, until I come. He who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, I will give him power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received power from my Father; and I will give him the morning star.  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Homily - 5th Sunday of Great Fast - 3/17/13

Gospel - 5th Sunday of Great Fast - 3/17/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 5th Sunday of the Great Fast.

Gospel - 5th Sunday of Great Fast - 3/17/13

Homily - 4th Sunday of Great Fast - 3/10/13

Homily given on the 4th Sunday of Great Fast by Fr. Rankin.  Continuing the lenten discussion of the Churches in the Book of Revelation, Fr. Rankin spoke today on the Church at Pergamum and reflected on three mountains, three compromises and three promises by Christ.

Homily - 4th Sunday of Great Fast - 3/10/13

Gospel - 4th Sunday of Great Fast - 3/10/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 4th Sunday of The Great Fast.

Gospel - 4th Sunday of Great Fast - 3/10/13

Homily - 3rd Sunday of Great Fast - 3/3/13

Continuing a multi-week theme, Fr. Rankin reflected on the Book of Revelations and spoke about the second church mentioned, The Church in Smyrna and the words of Jesus

"To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:  These are the word of him who is the first and the last, who died and came to life again.  I know your afflictions and your poverty- yet you are rich!  I know about the slander of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan.  Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer.  I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days.  Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor's crown."  

Fr. Rankin spoke of the church in Smyrna and that it was headed at that time by Polycarp, who studied at the feet of the Holy Apostle John and that Jesus had nothing but positive things to say about that church.  Would that all of our churches be found in the same spiritual condition as the church at Smyrna.

Homily - 3rd Sunday of Great Fast - 3/3/13

Gospel - 3rd Sunday of Great Fast - 3/3/13

Byzantine Catholic Gospel reading for the 3rd Sunday of the Great Fast.

Gospel- 3rd Sunday of Great Fast - 3/3/13

Homily - 2nd Sunday of Lent - 2/24/13

Homily given by Fr. Rankin on the 2nd Sunday of Lent.  Fr. Rankin talks about Chrismation in the Eastern Church.

Homily - 2nd Sunday of Lent - 2/24/13

Homily - 1st Sunday of Great Fast - 2/17/13

Starting a multi-week theme, Fr. Rankin reflected on the Book of Revelations and spoke about the first church mentioned, The Church in Ephesus and the words of Jesus that the Church in Ephesus has lost its first love, Jesus.  Fr. Rankin offered three things to meditate on in order to rediscover our first love, Jesus: 1.) Look at what false altars we have been worshiping at instead of God, 2.) Realize that this world is not our home or our ultimate destination and 3.) Use our imagination to place ourselves in the stories of the bible.

Homily - 1st Sunday of Great Fast - 2/17/13