The Life Giving Springs

Homily - 4SAP

Mt 8-5-13 

Homily - 3SAP

Homily - 2SAP

Mt 4-18-23 

Homily - All Saints - Baptism of Ignatius Cleopa

Homily preached by Fr. Nathan 

 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOWSTYHkkrM5bZOvbvy0Taw 

Reading Scripture for the Love of God - 4

Reading Scripture for the Love of God - 3

Reading Scripture for the Love of God - 2

Reading Scripture for the Love of God - 1

Rule for Life 9 - Almsgiving, Obedience and Thanksgiving w/ Dcn. Ed

The final class in a series on a Christian “Rule for Life,” and it introduces three closing themes: almsgiving, obedience, and gratitude. Fr. M explains that the class is intentionally pastoral and introductory rather than a full theological treatment, aiming to spark deeper study and connect with future homilies and reflection.

 

In the section on almsgiving, the document draws from the Gospel story of the widow’s offering and teachings from St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil to emphasize that true charity is measured not by amount but by the disposition of the heart. Almsgiving is presented as inseparable from prayer, repentance, and love for Christ, and it includes not only money but also time, labor, service to the parish, visiting the sick, and praying for others. The speaker also stresses that discernment matters in giving and that acts of mercy bear fruit only when offered freely rather than grudgingly.

 

The section on obedience and living in community presents obedience as a foundational Christian virtue for all believers, not only monastics. Rooted in Christ’s obedience to the Father, it includes obedience to God’s commandments, the Gospel, the Church, spiritual elders, family responsibilities, and one another in Christ. The speaker also reflects on the importance of a spiritual father as a guide for confession, prayer, fasting, and a personalized Rule for Life.

 

In the final section on gratitude, thanksgiving is described as central to liturgical and spiritual life, flowing from the recognition that everything is a gift from God. The document encourages practical habits of daily thanksgiving, especially in morning prayer and even in times of suffering, as a way of cultivating endurance, humility, and awareness of grace. Overall, the class closes by presenting almsgiving, obedience, and gratitude as essential habits that shape a faithful and spiritually grounded Christian life.

 

Homily - Sunday of the Holy Fathers of 1st Council of Nicea

Jn 17-1-13

Homily - Ascension of our Lord

Rule for Life 8 - Spiritual Formation

 

“Rule for Life – Spiritual Formation,” is building on a previous session about sacramental life. It argues that spiritual formation must be ongoing catechesis, especially for adults, and critiques the common pattern where formal faith education effectively ends after 8th grade. The author stresses that this drop-off is harmful—particularly during the high school and college years—because it leaves young people without guidance when they most need it. Spiritual growth, should never be treated as something “completed,” but as a lifelong process that begins at baptism and is modeled first and foremost by parents, then supported by parish life, teachers, and clergy.

 

Spiritual formation is not meant to be passive learning but a call to self-assessment and gradual life change—small, steady steps toward deeper commitment to Christ. It frames study as discipleship: gathering around a spiritual teacher to learn not for “intellectual enrichment” alone, but for transformation. Fr. M emphasizes that the deeper a person grows in love for God, the more God reveals, and that reading and applying the teachings of the saints (“Holy Fathers”) naturally reshapes one’s life. Formation is presented as multi-faceted: participation in classes and retreats, attentive listening to homilies, and especially developing a daily habit of Scripture reading as a living encounter with Christ.

 

Finally, Fr. M highlights two main pillars of formation: daily Scripture and the writings/lives of the saints. He quotes the Catechism—“Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ”—and urges consistent daily reading (Gospel and Epistle of the day, psalms, and when possible the Old Testament), arguing that even 20 minutes yields spiritual benefits unmatched by worldly activities. It also strongly promotes reading the saints as a “medicine chest” for the soul, offering guidance for specific struggles (anger, lust, judgment, etc.) and teaching believers how to interpret the Gospel rightly rather than twisting it to personal preference. Practical recommendations include reading the Synaxarion or Prologue, learning from contemporary saints, and building a spiritual library—choosing writings suited to one’s vocation and seeking discernment with a spiritual father to apply teachings wisely.

 

Hand Out  - The Vision of Elder Sophronius (a disciple of St Paisius Velichkovsky)

https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/the-benefit-of-reading-spiritual-books-the-vision-of-elder-sophroniusdisciple-of-st-paisius-velichkovsky/

 

Book Studies: 

 

The Field by Fr. Miron Sr.: https://artofspirituallife.podbean.com/category/ignatius-brianchaninov 

 

St. Isaac The Syrian by Fr. Charbel:  https://philokalia.podbean.com/2016/10/ 

Evergetinos by Fr. Charbel: https://philokalia.podbean.com/?s=evergetinos