In this homily, given on the Sunday before the Nativity in 2017, Fr. Anthony explains why Jesus (i.e. Joshua) is the name the Angel of Great Counsel gives for the Incarnate Christ.  Enjoy the show!

It is both the second Sunday before the Nativity and, at least for most of our neighbors, the day before the Nativity.  In this homily Fr. Anthony talks about why we remember our Forefathers on this day and gives us advice on how to make peace the center of our pattern. Enjoy the show!

Was Jesus Christ really born on the 25th of December?  It's an interesting question, but the real confusion is not about the day the Virgin Mary miraculously delivered the baby Jesus in a humble stable in Jerusalem but about the day when Christ was actually brought into being.  In this homily Fr. Anthony shares the mystery of a God begotten before all ages born as a baby in Bethlehem.  Enjoy the show!

In this episode Fr. Anthony shares the scriptures that describe why Balaam, a prophet who said things that were true, is still a false prophet of God.  Enjoy the show!

We finish up Numbers 21 by talking about missing books of the Bible and the defeat of two giants: King Sihon of the Ammorites and Og of Bashan.  Why do we celebrate these victories every Sunday and Feast Day?  Enjoy the show!

This week we have a special guest and friend of the podcast, Rev. Michael Landsman, the pastor at Zion Stone UCC in Northampton, PA.  He takes us through Numbers 21, focusing primarily on the fiery serpents and the bronze serpent God had Moses to heal their poisonous bites.  Enjoy the show!

The lesson is that we need to have the courage and compassion to love all people that are in need; even those who are different from us.  But if that was the main point, why not make the Samaritan the one on the roadside? Why did Jesus make him the one who saves the victim?  Enjoy the show!

After reviewing some of OT insights regarding the day's feast (St Michael), Fr. Anthony uses Numbers 15-18 as a chance to talk about unintentional sin, the cost of going against God, and the epic battles of censors and wooden rods (with the winners being proven worthy of the priesthood).  What does it all mean?  Enjoy the show!  As always, Fr. Anthony's lecture notes are available at orthoanalytika.org

Orthodoxy is a rational faith, we do not have to “leave our minds at the door.”, but as with our feelings, our minds need to be trained. In order to be trained, first they need need to stripped of all nonsense and lies so that all our thoughts can be true. We need to allow something that is beyond our understanding live in the temple of our hearts. To the extent we value control and understanding over the Truth, we will not be able to make this change. Then it will not be Christ that lives within and motivates us, it will be our own pride. And that pride, that control, that understanding cannot bring us joy, salvation, or eternal life.

Listen as Nicholas Kotar talks about the benefits of using fairly tales to teach and evangelize and how he does this in his book, The Song of the Sirin.  Enjoy the show!