2017 – Page 4 – Royal Doors

Mar

29

2017

Royal Doors

Both Lungs

by Brent Kostyniuk One of the most distinctive features of the interior of a Byzantine church is its iconostasis, a richly decorated icon screen which establishes the altar area. Far from being a wall which isolates the nave from the sanctuary, theologically the iconostasis actually serves to bring the two together. In Byzantine theology, the sanctuary is believed to be heaven placed on earth. It is the Holy of Holies. In this way, events which are part of the spiritual realm are made available to those on earth. This may be likened to the great Temple in Jerusalem. The holiest…

Mar

23

2017

By Fr. Michael Bombak

Preaching in Capernaum

NewsCapernaum, Paralytic

And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath- Luke 4:31 This past Sunday the lesson was from Mark 2:1-12, about the healing of the paralyzed man at Capernaum and how the crowds were so great they had to take the man up on the roof, make a hole and lower him to Jesus. How amazing it was to have been at Capernaum just a few short weeks ago and see the ruins. We also visited the synagogue ruins which were built over the first one there in the time of…

Mar

23

2017

By Fr. Michael Bombak

Genesis 10:32–11:9- Back to Babbling

Faithbabel, materialism, pride, science

Glory be to Jesus Christ! I love science. When I was a boy I spent a lot of time reading about astronomy and different natural phenomena in geology and the other natural sciences. I was fascinated by many of the inventions that had been designed by famous scientists and I even had some crazy inventions of my own (which didn't work). Scientific breakthroughs have made life much easier for us and have even made life possible in many cases. But have you ever heard someone say "science can't explain it yet, but it's only a matter of time?" There's a…

Mar

22

2017

By Fr. Michael Bombak

Genesis 9:18–10:1- Do We Cover Nakedness?

Faithcanaan, clothing, ham, nakedness, noah, shem

Glory be to Jesus Christ! Think back to the first time you heard about nakedness in the Bible. Not very far in right? After Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil they discovered they were naked. Not because they had become more sophisticated, educated or "civilized" from their choice, but because they realized what they had done- they had traded their dignity for a half-truth, and were now exposed. Nakedness in the Bible is often used to show vulnerability and a lack of dignity. In our reading today from Genesis we see the…

Mar

21

2017

By Fr. Michael Bombak

Isaiah 25:1-9- Who are you Waiting For?

Faithredeemed, savior, superheroes

Glory be to Jesus Christ! I enjoy superhero stories very much. When I was a boy I wanted very much to be Spiderman and use my powers to make the world a better place. The idea of someone who cares and "saves the day" simply because it is the right thing to do seems to be an idea which is both inspiring and yet one which is becoming more and more difficult to trust in our world. Like everything else in our culture, superheros may be becoming more advanced, amazing, powerful and more super, but they are becoming less heroic.…

Mar

20

2017

By Fr. Michael Bombak

Genesis 8:21-9:7- My Brother’s Keeper

Faithbrothers keeper, heaven, hell, lewis

Glory be to Jesus Christ! What do you think Hell is like? There have been many different analogies used for Hell throughout the Scriptures and by contemporary authors. Our Lord used the garbage dump just outside the city of Jerusalem, Gehenna, where trash was burned day and night as an example of what Hell is like. Some people have seen Hell as a cold place and lonely place, where others have seen it as a place of intense physical and spiritual suffering. The analogy which I have always found very terrifying and yet very telling comes from C.S. Lewis' The…

Mar

18

2017

By Fr. Michael Bombak

Unto Us a Son is Given | February 17, 2017

NewsBethlehem, Cave, Christmas, Nativity

Feb. 17, Friday: Bethlehem – Ein Karem This morning we drive to Bethlehem to visit the place of birth of our Lord, The Basilica of the Nativity. We will visit the Grotto of Nativity and the Church of St. Catherine where the Midnight Mass is celebrated and the Caves of St. Joseph and St. Jerome underneath the church. Visit Shepherd's Fields, where the Angels appeared to the shepherds who were watching over their flocks during the night. Lunch at Tent Restaurant in Bethlehem. This afternoon drive to nearby village of Ein – Karem to visit the birth place of St.…

Mar

17

2017

By Fr. Michael Bombak

Genesis 8:4-21- A New Creation

Faithcreation, flood, noah

Glory be to Jesus Christ! God made a reboot of creation. Having seen the wickedness that the world had descended into, and regretting His creation of the world, God begins again. We often focus on the death and destruction which ensues in this story, and sometimes forget the saving message of the story as well: Noah and his family (and their families) are saved by God. What is happening here is not simply the annihilation of sinful humanity, but the recreation of the world. Noah and his family, in a very special way, will cooperate with the Lord's plan through…

Mar

15

2017

By Fr. Michael Bombak

Isaiah 10:12-20- It’s All Gift

Faithgift, humility, job, Suffering

Glory be to Jesus Christ! Any teacher will tell you that the most difficult student to teach isn't the one who doesn't know anything, but the one who thinks he already knows everything. You might have an important message to transmit but he's heard it. He knows it. Until he accepts that he is a student and you the teacher you will never get through. This is the problem with pride brothers and sisters. What do we have which was not given to us? Even when we cultivate our gifts, they still remain that, gifts which the Lord has endowed…

Mar

13

2017

By Fr. Michael Bombak

Genesis 6:9-22 A Desert Boat

Faithark, flood, noah

Glory be to Jesus Christ! Ever seen a boat in the middle of the desert? Noah's contemporaries hadn't either. In the midst of the confusion, chaos and moral degradation which is described in the book of Genesis, the Lord comes to Noah and tells him he needs to build a giant boat...in the desert. Imagine the kind of trust that Noah would have had to have. I'm sure it wasn't made any easier by those of Noah's time passing by "the boat guy" day in and day out while the Ark was being constructed. We see here an incredible counter-cultural…