Are You Ready for a Holy Task - homiletic sermon Sunday December 17, 2006

Are You Ready for a Holy Task - homiletic sermon by Fr John Brian recorded
Sunday, December 17, 2006 at Maruroopa Palli (Holy Transfiguration Orthodox
Mission Chapel) in Madison, Wisconsin USA. Focusing of the lessons of the
dream of Joseph - Matthew Chapter 1:18-25 and St Paul to the Galatians
Chapter 1: 11-24 and 1 Peter 2:11-17.

One unique feature of these recorded sermons is that they are
extemporaneously given - no written text or outline is used besides the
scriptures.

Due to technical difficulty between website and service at this time, this
sermon is only available for podcasting or download go to
http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian

"Are You Ready for a Holy Task"
should be the top listed audio file.

All sermons can be downloaded - podcast at
http://feeds.feedburner.com/frjohnbrian

More sermons and articles are posted at www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com

*****************************************
LIVING IN THE EIGHTH DAY
By Fr. John-Brian Paprock
Available at Amazon.com and other fine book sellers Or at a special price at
www.lulu.com/transfiguration Buy the book and help our mission effort
******************************************
2007 Orthodox Calendars
Dates for all major holy days
For all Orthodox jurisdictions in America www.lulu.com/transfiguration
(printed 11x18) Buy the calendar to help our mission Or, after clicking on
the calendar, choose preview (PDF file), then "save as" to download your own
copy to print
*****************************************

Other recent audio sermons posted to listen on-line:

Toward Fullness as a Holy People - homiletic sermon by Fr John Brian
recorded Sunday, December 10, 2006 at Maruroopa Palli (Holy Transfiguration
Orthodox Mission Chapel) in Madison, Wisconsin USA. Focusing of the lessons
of the birth of St John the Baptist - Luke Chapter 1:57-80 with Isaiah 62
and John's 1st Epistle 3:1-3.

www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/12/toward-fullness-as-holy-people.html

Baptizing Babies into the Fullness - homiletic sermon by Fr John Brian
recorded Sunday, December 3, 2006 at Maruroopa Palli (Holy Transfiguration
Orthodox Mission Chapel) in Madison, Wisconsin USA. Focusing of the lessons
of Holy Baptism (on the occasion of two infant baptisms), Luke Chapter
1:39-56 and Peter's 1st Epistle 3:1-7.

www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/12/baptizing-babies-into-full-members.html

Miracles and Angels Await - homiletic sermon by Fr John Brian recorded
Sunday, November 19, 2006 at Maruroopa Palli (Holy Transfiguration Orthodox
Mission Chapel) in Madison, Wisconsin USA. Focusing of the lessons of
Zachariah's vision (Luke Chapter1) and the beginning of Peter's 2nd Epistle.
Including references to 1 Samuel 1:9-18 and Isaiah 41:8-15.

www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/11/miracles-and-angels-await-homiletic.html

Why We Need The Altar - homiletic sermon by Fr John Brian recorded on
November 12, 2006 Lectionary/scripture readings for Sanctification Sunday:
Exodus 33:7-11, I Kings 8:22-40, Isaiah 55:1-13, Acts 7:44-53, Hebrews
9:1-14, and John 10:22-38
www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/11/why-we-need-altar-homelitic-sermon-by.ht
ml

Between A Rock and A Hard Place - sermon by Fr John Brian recorded Sunday,
November 5, 2006 - Focusing on the lectionary readings: Matthew 16:13-23; I
Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:15-20 and 1 Peter 2:1-12
www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/11/between-rock-and-hard-place-sermon-by.ht
ml

Last Sunday of the Cross - homiletic sermon by Fr John Brian given Sunday,
October 29, 2006 - based on the scripture readings: Matthew 5:21-25; I
Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Peter 2:15-17 Hear about four things that are
indications of our freedom...
www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/10/last-sunday-of-cross-homiletic-sermon.ht
ml

And One More Thing - homiletic sermon by Fr John Brian recorded Sunday
October 22, 2006 based on the scriptures: Luke 18:18-27 and Isaiah 43:16-25
www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/10/and-one-more-thing-homelitic-sermon-by.h
tml

Driving Humility - sermon by Fr John Brian delivered and recorded on Sunday,
October 15, 2006 based on Matthew 23:1-12 - this homiletic sermon asks "Is
it possible to be humble while driving an automobile in America?" among
other things...
www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/10/driving-humility-sermon-by-fr-john.html

Can We Break The Rules? - sermon Sunday October 1, 2006 by Fr John Brian -
scriptures: Mark 2:23-28; Romans 8:1-8; Acts 7:2-5
www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/10/can-we-break-rules-sermon-sunday.html

Silly Foolish Children of God - sermon by Fr John Brian recorded Sunday,
September 10, 2006 that challenges: "IF YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD, THEN ACT
LIKE IT." Based on the scriptures: 1 Peter 2:1-5; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23;
Matthew 5:38-48
www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/09/silly-foolish-children-of-god-sermon_12.
html

Proof of Salvation - sermon by Fr John Brian recorded Sunday, August 27,
2006 - based on the New Testament readings: Luke 11:9-20; 1 Thessalonians
4:13-5:11; 2 Peter 3:8-14
www./frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/08/proof-of-salvation-sermon-by-fr-john_31
.html

What Holds the Church Together? - a sermon by Fr John Brian recorded July
30, 2006 on John 6:47-59; 1Peter 2:4-10; Hebrews 4:14-5:5 Readings for the
8th Sunday of Pentecost
www.frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2006/07/what-holds-church-together-sermon-by.htm
l

*****************************************
LIVING IN THE EIGHTH DAY
By Fr. John-Brian Paprock
Available at Amazon.com and other fine book sellers Or at a special price at
www.lulu.com/transfiguration Buy the book and help the mission effort
*****************************************

Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission
6205 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53705 USA
608.236.9622 voice mail
www.angelfire.com/wi/inroads/transfig.html

Haben, Markos and Mikas serve around the altar

Haben serves as thurifer. Markos and Mikas serve as candle-bearers as Fr John-Brian reads the Gospel during Qurbana. November 2006

GIVING AND RECEIVING

GIVING AND RECEIVING (12-26-04)
[Excerpted from the book "LIVING IN THE EIGHTH DAY" by Fr. John-Brian
Paprock, page 125-126] www.lulu.com/transfiguration

The three wise men that came to Bethlehem and saw the newborn Savior of the
world brought gifts symbolic of the noblest of our possessions. The
scripture is clear that these gifts came from their treasure, from their
security, their savings. But if that was the only place from which they
were offered they would not have been worthy. These wise men fell down and
worshipped him and offered their gifts out of the love that was expressed in
their actions. This love is the common source of all genuine giving and
receiving. Armenian Catholicos Karekin II wrote in his book "In Search of
Spiritual Life" (NY 1994):

"Had their gifts not been proceeded and motivated by the act of love
expressed in kneeling, adoration and worship, their value would not have
been as great and as authentic as their material wealth would suggest. St.
Gregory of Narek, the greatest mystical poet of our Church, says: "I look
not upon the gift but upon the giver." It is the spirit of the gift that
makes the real gift, gives color and quality, meaning and value to what is
given. A gift in which there is no self-giving is no gift; a gift in which
love, care, sacrifice are not wrapped, is a show of gift but is not a gift
in Christ-like spirit and form, a genuinely true Christmas gift."

Yes, indeed the gifts of the wise men were graciously received.

A lot of giving and receiving seems to happen at this time of year. However,
much if it is merely buying and selling. Often it is only trading capital
investment in material objects for emotional security of the affection from
others. There is in this culture too much of the buying and selling
mentality. The gift lists are usually related to who is likely to expect a
gift, likely to give one back, likely to appreciate our giving. Of course,
I participate in this annual giving tradition, but I keep in mind the
lessons I have learned about giving and receiving.

Kochamma and our family gave to a soldier without family, to a family in
poverty and to the long-term success of a village in poverty. As a small
mission, we give of our resources to the poor, the oppressed, the suffering.
Many of us volunteer or work to the soothing of human suffering. We give
our hands to the service of our fellow human beings. Yes, we also gave
presents to individuals and to each other. But none is more important than
the loving gift that blesses both the giver and the receiver - that doesn't
wait for Christmas or tragedy to give (although these are not bad reasons to
give).

Kahlil Gibran, a Lebanese poet, wrote: "You give little when you give of
your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."

May all our gifts so bless others and may we be gracious receivers so that
others may also be blessed. Sometimes the gift of humane presence is of
greater value - the bowing in adoring service to Christ-light of everyone
born (John 1:9).

*****************************************

LIVING IN THE EIGHTH DAY

By Fr. John-Brian Paprock

www.lulu.com/transfiguration

Buy the book and help our mission effort

*****************************************

o HEAL YOUR LIFE

o DEEPEN YOUR FAITH

o ENRICH YOUR PRACTICE

o REFRESH YOUR SPIRIT

Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Parish

6205 University Avenue, Madison, Wisconsin 53705

Sundays 10 am ~ 608.236.9622 transfiguration@usa.com

www.maruroopa.blogspot.com

www.angelfire.com/wi/inroads/transfig.html