The name of “Lord” is subversive.

Homily 694– 5APEHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaJuly 5, 2026Epistle: (103) Romans 10:1-10 and (213) Galatians 5:22-6:2Gospel: (28) – Matthew 8:28-9:1 and (24) – Luke 6:17-23 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. First off, my apologies for putting the incorrect Gospel text in the bulletins and email.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/07/05/the-name-of-lord-is-subversive/

Bringing back persons.

Homily 693– 4APEHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaJune 28, 2026Epistle: (93) Romans 6:18-23Gospel: (25) Matthew 8:5-13 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. I spent a lot of time in the car this week. Which is dangerous for me, because it gives me time to think. I drove to Iowa City, helped my son and his wife move on Monday to Minneapolis and returned to Ames, then left Tuesday for Dormition of…

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/06/28/bringing-back-persons/

Why Christ died for us.

Homily 692– 3APEints of North AmericaHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaJune 21, 2026Epistle: (88) Romans 5: 1-10Gospel: (18) Matthew 6:22-33 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul makes a statement that has echoed throughout the centuries and certainly throughout my life.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/06/21/why-christ-died-for-us/

In retrospect, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords really might've been a better basis for a system of government.

Our Country is not our Kingdom.

Homily 691– 2APE All Saints of North AmericaHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaJune 14, 2026Epistle: (81-ctr) – Romans 2:10-16 and (330) – Hebrews 11:33-12:2Gospel: (9) Matthew 4:18-23 and (10) Matthew 4:25-5:12 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. This Sunday we celebrate the Saints of North America.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/06/14/our-country-is-not-our-kingdom/

Becoming a saint.

Homily 690– 1APE All SaintsHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaJune 7, 2026Epistle: (330) – Hebrews 11:33-12:2Gospel: (38, mid-79) – Matthew 10:32-33, 37-38; 19:27-30 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Today, the feast of All Saints, is a good time to consider the saints, and what they are.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/06/07/becoming-a-saint/

Stolen from another network:

To "saunter" originally meant to visit the "sacred places" (sainte-terre) - and therefore not according to a rigidly laid out plan; not with a relentlessly pursued aim or goal; but rather with a generalized intent of lovingly seeing what is there, and of being open to being moved spiritually by God. It is a testament to the grimly utilitarian character of our culture that the word now has only the connotation of "pointless and non-strenuous walking around."

#English #etymology

This right here.

Oneness.

Homily 689 – PentecostHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaMay 31, 2026Epistle: (3) Acts 2:1-11Gospel: (27) John 7:37-52; 8:12 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. We should speak about the Holy Spirit. We know that the Spirit was given to the Apostles on Pentecost. And that giving, that proceeding, of the Spirit continues to us even today and throughout eternity.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/05/31/oneness/

Moses and Pentecost

Homily 688 – 1st ECHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaMay 24, 2026Epistle: (44) – Acts 20:16-18, 28-36Gospel: (56) – John 17:1-13 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. This passage of the Gospel is really quite challenging to keep track of when we hear it. It seems to me at least to bounce around, back and forth, and we are the object of the dialogue, not participants in it.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/05/24/moses-and-pentecost/

Donald Trump is using the threat of fines and prison to make taxpayers fill his pockets. Add extortion to Trump's long list of pending charges.

#IRS #ThugFund #SlushFund #TrumpMustGo #KingOfTreason #RepublicansDidThis #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

The spirits that distract us from God.

Homily 687 – Blind ManHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaMay 17, 2026Epistle: (38) – Acts 16:16-34Gospel: (34) – John 9:1-38 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Christ is risen! Let’s spend a moment considering the Epistle reading from the Acts of the Apostles. Paul and Silas were in Philippi in Macedonia.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/05/17/the-spirits-that-distract-us-from-god/

An enlightened woman.

Homily 686 – Samaritan WomanHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaMay 10, 2026Epistle: (28) – Acts 11:19-26, 29-30Gospel: (12) – John 4:5-42 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Christ is risen! We know the woman at the well by two names – one in Greek, Photini, and one in Slavonic, Svetlana.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/05/12/an-enlightened-woman/

We are all paralyzed.

Homily 685 – ParalyticHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaMay 3, 2026Epistle: (23) – Acts 9:32-43Gospel: (14) – John 5:1-15 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Christ is risen! I’m always struck by the hymns for this feast. If you were here at vespers you’ve heard some of these verses before.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/05/03/we-are-all-paralyzed/

Women showing the way.

Homily 684 – MyrrhbearersHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaApril 26, 2026Epistle:  (16) – Acts 6:1-7Gospel:  (69) – Mark 15:43-16:8 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Christ is risen! Today in the Church we remember specifically the Myrrhbearing Women, who, with Joseph of Arimathea, buried the lifeless body of our Lord.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/05/01/women-showing-the-way/

New life, new perspective, new ways.

Homily 683 – Thomas SundayHoly Transfiguration Orthodox Church, Ames, IowaApril 19, 2026Epistle: (14) – Acts 5:12-20Gospel: (65) – John 20:19-31 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Christ is risen! One of the most critical aspects of understanding scripture is to place yourself in the passage. This means that sometimes we are the object, sometimes we are part of the crowd.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/04/19/new-life-new-perspective-new-ways/

Dying to live.

Homily 681 – 5GLHoly Transfiguration, Ames, IowaMarch 29, 2026Epistle: (321-ctr) Hebrews 9:11-14 and (208) Galatians 3:23-29Gospel: (47) Mark 10:32-45 and (33) Luke 7:36-50 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Today’s Gospel is so fascinating to me, mostly because I identify so closely with James and John with this.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/03/29/dying-to-live/

Exile – the next step.

Homily 680 – 4GLHoly Transfiguration, Ames, IowaMarch 22, 2026Epistle: (314) Hebrews 6:13-20 and (229) Ephesians 5:9-19Gospel: (40) Mark 9:17-31 and (10) Matthew 4:25-5:12 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. Last weekend, we didn’t have a service because of the impending blizzard. I encourage you, if you haven’t already, to go back and read the homily posted on our amesorthodox.org webpage.

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/03/23/exile-the-next-step/

Trump wouldn't know Jesus if He walked across the pool at Mar-a-Lago.

The Essence of the Christian Life.

Homily 679 – 3GLHoly Transfiguration, Ames, IowaMarch 15, 2026Epistle: (311) Hebrews 4:14-5:6Gospel: (37) Mark 8:34-9:1 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, One God. In today’s Gospel passage, it is my opinion that we find absolutely everything we need to live a Christian life. The first statement is enough: “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”

https://bogoslov.wordpress.com/2026/03/15/the-essence-of-the-christian-life/