The Good Shepherd Blog
Blindness, Trust, and the God Who Works in Unexpected Ways
In this sermon for the Sixth Sunday of Pascha — the Sunday of the Blind Man — Sub Deacon Timothy Grace reflects on Christ's healing of the man born blind alongside the story of Paul and Silas in prison and the life of Abba Anastasios. He explores God's apophatic nature, the call to trust his hidden work in our own darkness, and how this freedom can lead us to wonderworking acts of grace in the world.
The Well, the Witness, and the Worldwide Mission
In this sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Pascha, Fr. Geoff Harvey reflects on the encounter between Christ and St. Photini at the well of Samaria, drawing together the Gospel of John and the Acts of the Apostles. Under three headings — the well, the witness, and the worldwide mission — he explores how Christ meets us in our weakness, how transformed people naturally proclaim Christ, and how one encounter at a well can overflow into a missionary church that reaches the whole world through the power of multiplication.
Do You Want to Be Healed? A Sermon on the Paralytic at the Sheep Pool
In this sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Pascha, Daniel McInnes reflects on the healing of the paralyzed man at the Sheep Pool and draws contrasts with the apostolic healings in Acts — Aeneas and Tabitha. He explores the Church's primary image as a hospital for souls, the difference between isolation and community, and the call to bear one another's burdens as we approach the feast of Pentecost.
Who Will Roll Away the Stone? A Sermon for the Sunday of the Myrrhbearing Women
In this sermon for the Third Sunday of Pascha, Fr. Nicholas Frazer reflects on the quiet courage of Joseph of Arimathea, Nicodemus, and the Myrrhbearing Women — those who remained faithful to Christ when fear had scattered the disciples. Drawing on the Gospel of Mark, he explores three movements of love: the courage to stand with Christ when it is costly, the faithfulness to seek him even in darkness, and the revelation of the empty tomb, where Christ has already overcome what we fear most.
From Doubt to Knowledge: St. Thomas and the Path of Faith
In this sermon for the Sunday of St. Thomas, Sub Dn. Timothy Grace explores the spiritual journey from crippling doubt to unshakable faith — and ultimately to the knowledge of God. Drawing on the Church Fathers, including St. Gregory the Great, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Cyril of Alexandria, he shows how doubt, surrendered to Christ, becomes the foundation for transforming faith. A message for all who struggle with uncertainty on the journey toward God.
The Wonder, the War Zone, and the Weariness: A Pascha Sermon
In this Pascha sermon, Fr. Geoff Harvey reflects on John 1:5 — “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” — through three themes: the wonder of the empty tomb, the spiritual war zone of human history, and the weariness that Christ meets with resurrection. A message of hope and transformation for all who carry the light of the risen Christ into their daily lives.
Palm Sunday: Walking with Christ in Weakness and Hope
In this Palm Sunday sermon, Daniel McInnes reflects on the lessons of Great Lent as we enter Holy Week. Drawing on the figures of Lazarus, Martha, Mary, and Judas, he explores what it means to walk with Christ honestly — acknowledging our weakness, resisting despair, and trusting in the resurrection.
The Path to Glory: Humility, Repentance, and the Cross
In this sermon, Fr. Nicholas Frazer reflects on the Fifth Sunday of Great Lent, drawing together the Gospel account of James and John's request for glory with the life of St. Mary of Egypt. He explores how Christ overturns the world's understanding of greatness — revealing that the path to true glory leads not through power and prestige, but through humble service, repentance, and the cross.
Climbing the Ladder: St. John Climacus and the Ascent to God
In this sermon for the Fourth Sunday of Lent, Sub Dn. Timothy Grace explores the life and teaching of St. John Climacus, author of the Ladder of Divine Ascent. Drawing on the imagery of Jacob's ladder and the structure of this celebrated spiritual classic, he reflects on the Christian life as a long and demanding ascent — and how the Ladder itself becomes a gateway through which God comes down to meet us.
The Cross We Venerate, the Cross We Carry, the Cross That Saves
Fr. Geoff Harvey reflects on three dimensions of the cross: the cross we venerate as the sign of our salvation, the cross we carry in our daily lives, and the cross that saves through Christ's self-offering for the world. A timely encouragement for the Lenten journey, preached at The Good Shepherd Orthodox Church.
