22 APR 2024 · On the 5th Sunday of Great Lent, Abp. Irineos preaches on the Gospel for the Sunday, when James and John entreat Christ to grant them places of honor on his right and left hand.  From the Gospel lesson, Abp. Irineos expounds how Christ's words become a later proof of his voluntary passion, how the disciples and those around them failed to understand the nature of the kingdom, and how Christians to this day suffer the same passion for honors and glory that James and John were burdened with. As we approach Holy Week, let us all be mindful of the call to humility and service that Christ exemplifies and calls us to, and journey with him in his sufferings, struggles and ultimate victory over death they we might truly drink of His cup and be baptized of His baptism.

18 MAR 2024 · On the Sunday before Great Lent, we cover a lot of ground. We have the physical Cheesefare, as we prepare for the abstinence of the Fast.  We have the beauty of the rite of mutual forgiveness, as we cleanse ourselves or grudges and retained wrongs, while seeking forgiveness for ourselves as well.  And on this day, the Church calls to remembrance the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise.  In today's homily, Abp. Irineos discusses why the Church puts this image before us and how it is an aid to our own preparation for Great Lent.

11 MAR 2024 · On the Sunday of the Last Judgment, Abp. Irineos preaches on the Gospel account of the Last Judgment from Matthew.  Commenting on our modern culture with division and outrage seen as de rigueur when we encounter those who differ from us for any number of reasons, Abp. Irineos asks whether we would be able to be judged among the sheep, or would following culture leave us with no defense before the dread judgment seat.  

25 FEB 2024 · On the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, we enter the Triodion with a focus on humility and repentance. Humility and repentance, of course, go hand in had, as in the absence of humility, pride prevents us from making the metanoia necessary to form true repentance. The Publican and the Pharisee approached the temple to pray from two very different perspectives. The Pharisee, in his pride, saw himself through his own eyes, and liking what he saw, thanked God for who he was, condemning those that he was not. But the publican saw himself as God saw him, and sorrowing for his sins, entreated only the mercy of God. As we prepare to enter Great Lent, may God grant us to see ourselves as he sees us, and bless us with the humility of the Publican, that we might make a good repentance as we prepare to receive our risen Lord.

31 DEC 2023 · In discussing the geneaology of Christ, Abp. Irineos discusses how the complementary genaologies of Matthew and Luke are important to our understanding of the incarnation, and how God's uniting of divinity to humanity in the incarnation calls us to unite our humanity to his divinity in our struggle for salvation. Understanding then the place of the Church as the Body of Christ, he urges Orthodox Christians to redouble their efforts to unite themselves with Christ as participants of His grace-filled mysteries in the Church.

5 DEC 2023 · This Sunday, we heard the Gospel reading of the Parable of the Rich Fool. This man, who has prospered greatly in his business, has such a great harvest he vows to tear down his existing barns which are overflowing, to build even bigger ones so that he might take his rest for many years. But then he hears from the Lord, "You fool, this night thy soul be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?" This is yet another "harsh" parable from Luke, who has given us just recently the Rich Man and Lazarus and the Unjust Steward. And of course it is only Luke who tells of the Prodigal Son, thou reconciled in the end, he suffers much for his wasteful living. In each of the parables, the message to us is clear. None of these material things are "ours" - they are simply gifts from God. And none of it will travel with us to the next life. Let us commit ourselves to live simply with what is provided, being sure to distribute to those in need, as we are able, to minister to their needs with any excess we may be granted. As St. Basil the Great reminds us, it is in our stewardship of these perishable things, that we will be granted the heavenly rewards.

14 NOV 2023 · On the Sunday of Luke on which we read the Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, Abp. Irineos considers how this parable calls each of us to self-appraisal. The Rich Man was condemned, not for his riches, but for his vainglory and gluttony. Lazarus was saved, not for his poverty but for his humility and long-suffering. Lazarus was the rich man's opportunity for salvation, but he passed him by every day. Let us all consider who God may be placing in our path for our salvation, or whether like Lazarus, our call is to patient humility.

29 OCT 2023 · On the 4th Sunday of Luke, we read the Parable of the Sower. In this parable Christ both gives the parable to the listeners, but then he explains it to his disciples. In today's homily, Abp. Irineos discusses the four different types of ground discussed by Christ, and how they may present themselves today. More importantly, though he explains that the condition of the ground depends not on its location but on how it has been prepared. We as Christians are called to constantly tend and work the gardens of our hearts. that we may receive the seed of God and bring forth that perfect fruit.

12 SEP 2023 · Today's Gospel reading is the Parable of the Wedding Feast of the Son of the King from the Gospel of St. Matthew. In his homily, Abp. Irineos discusses the wedding garment in the parable as a gift from the king, and how that relates to the failure of the guest to wear it. Comparing this parabolical robe to our own baptismal robe, Abp. Irineos urges us to be careful not to dishonor the gift our King has given to us. In closing, he ties this parable to the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers in the opening of the Church to the Gentiles.

3 SEP 2023 · This week's Gospel is the parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. Abp. Irineos takes us through the explication of this reading from Blessed Theophylact and along the way poses some questions for us - asking whether not just the heterodox, but also the Orthodox, share too much in common with the evil husbandmen of the parable. Are we rejecting God's providential care for us, just as the Pharisee's rejected the many preparations God offered to the Jews?