Homily for Fifth Sunday of Lent- Wilt thou be made whole?

When Jesus saw him lie there, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? John 5:6 

This morning I would like us to spend a little time considering one of the miracles of Christ, this incident described in the Gospel we have just read together. The miracles of Christ are often used as a means of confirming our faith in his divinity, and his being truly the incarnate Son and Word of God. But this morning I would like us to look at one of those who were the subject of miracles, to see what lessons we can learn for ourselves, as we seek to be faithful and obedient to the will of God.

Homily for 23rd March - The Woman at the Well

This morning I would like us to spend a few moments considering the Gospel reading for today which is taken from the 4th chapter of the Gospel of St John. It is the account of Jesus meeting the Samaritan woman at the well, and it seems to me that it is a passage which is filled with necessary lessons for us to consider and learn. It is too long a passage to consider in its entirety this morning, but let us look at a few aspects of the narrative.

100 Words on the Gospel in Coptic Lent - 21st March

 Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire."

In Matthew 15:21-31we read about the Canaan woman who came to Jesus to ask for her daughter to be healed. She would not take no for an answer because she had a complete trust in our Lord Jesus as the only one who could help her in desperate need. As I engage in missionary ministry I find more and more people who are non-Christians and non-Orthodox who have this same unshakeable trust in Christ and will not be put off by any circumstances as long as they can find the one they seek in the Church, which is his Body. What an example those who wish to become Orthodox should be to us. They should teach us to value that which we have received even more than we do. How great is the faith in Christ of those who having discovered the abundance of life in Christ in the Orthodox Church will not be dissuaded by any obstacle until they receive that which they desire.


Prayerfully consider making an offering to God to support Orthodox Missionary work in the UK. Without your kind and generous support it will be impossible to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of those wishing to learn about our Orthodox Faith. We need your support now.  

100 Words on the Gospel in Coptic Lent - 10th March

The lamp of the body is the eye. Therefore, when your eye is good, your whole body also is full of light.

In Luke 11:33-36 we are taught that what comes into our hearts through the sense of sight will affect us for good or for ill. What we watch on TV, the movies we see, and the websites we visit will all leave a lasting influence that is not easily overcome. In this season of Lent, while we are making efforts to control our appetite for food, we must strive to overcome the appetite of the mind and heart for sights which are unhealthy to our souls. This will mean avoiding many TV programmes and websites, turning our eyes from sights and images in the world around us, and filling the sense of sight with images of Godly things. If we guard ourselves against what enters our heart through the eyes then we will find ourselves filled with light and not darkness. 

Prayerfully consider making an offering to God to support Orthodox Missionary work in the UK. Without your kind and generous support it will be impossible to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of those wishing to learn about our Orthodox Faith. We need your support now.  

On the Practice of Fasting

It would be hard to consider developing an Orthodox spirituality rooted in the practice of the Church throughout the ages without introducing the practice of fasting. It was Jesus Christ Himself who said, ‘When you fast...’, not ‘If you fast...’.

In the West the concept of self-denial sits ill at ease with the dominant philosophy of ‘do what you want’. But the results are all around us in growing levels of obesity among young and old, and an increasing preoccupation with our personal appearance, and the satisfaction of self.

100 Words on the Daily Gospel in Coptic Lent - 6th March

If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.

In Matthew 19:16-30 our Lord makes it clear that there is no following after him without letting go of the things of this world. The rich young man had many things and they turned out to be more important to him than the treasure in heaven which was offered. It is not enough to commit ourselves to the season of fasting if we are not also giving up those other things which stand in the way of a perfect obedience and commitment to Christ. Where there are needs are we meeting them? Now is surely the time to test whether what we have is more important than perfection in Christ.

Prayerfully consider making an offering to God to support Orthodox Missionary work in the UK. Without your kind and generous support it will be impossible to meet the needs of the increasing numbers of those wishing to learn about our Orthodox Faith. We need your support now.  

Orthodox Mission in the UK - 5th March

It has been almost a couple of weeks since I last updated this account of the Orthodox missionary ministry I am fortunate to be engaged in here in the UK. I have celebrated the monthly Saturday morning Liturgy at the Orthodox Mission of St Andrew in Windsor. In the small community there I am assisted at the altar by an Egyptian man who is a Subdeacon. Our Liturgy is that of St James, rather than the usual Coptic use of St Basil, and he has done well to grow in confidence in serving in the liturgical celebration of the British Orthodox Church. After the Feast of Pascha a British man in the community will be made a Reader by our bishop, Metropolitan Seraphim, and will bring his own committed service to the Liturgy.