and of the Holy Spirit. Glory to Jesus Christ.
Well today we celebrate the second Sunday after
Pentecost. All the saints of Russia and of North
America. We celebrate all the saints of Russia
because the founders of the Holy Protection Church
built back in 1936. immigrated here, many from
Russia and many from the Slavic lands, and they
brought the Orthodox faith with them. And the
richness of the saints of Russia came with them,
starting with Saint Vladimir, who called the
people of Kiev to gather and to be baptized,
leaving paganism behind, and all the way to Saint
Seraphim of Sarov, who we see here. on this in
this great wonderful icon we have in the church
the patron of this holy cathedral so dear to
us and so we celebrate those who were saints
in russia and we also celebrate all the saints
of north america because this is our land we
live here and the lord is with us and so we celebrate
all those that have come before in this church,
on this land of North America, known and unknown,
and who have shown forth in our land. Since the
very first liturgy, the divine liturgy on July
20th, 1741, until this very day in this very
church. So why is it? that the Holy Church, in
her wisdom, sets aside this Sunday for us to
honor and remember these saints. One reason is
for us to focus on their example. Their example
of prioritizing salvation, of being sanctified,
of living a life of faith. Their lives and the
things they did and the decisions they made led
them to eternal life. And that is an example
that is set for us so that we too can follow
that same path. All these saints from Russia
and North America have one thing in common. have
confessed our Lord and God and Savior, Jesus
Christ. All the saints have followed Jesus as
their Lord. They have become saints because they
have been filled with the Holy Spirit. And being
filled with the Holy Spirit, they have lived
lives of faith and thus were made holy and sanctified.
And now today, you and I are blessed to have
their prayers, yes, in heaven, but also to have
the example of their lives for us. Examples such
as St. John of Shanghai and San Francisco, of
St. Herman of Alaska, of St. Innocent, Enlightener
of North America, of St. Alexis Toth, of St.
Raphael of Brooklyn, of St. Ticon, and very soon
a new saint will be recognized, St. Olga. there
are so many others. And for me, I think of Father
Michael Margitich. He, if anyone I've ever met
in my life, is a saint and is in heaven. It is
him. These, all of these, prioritize their faith
and they put Christ first. And today, for each
of us here, we must face The question, am I prioritizing
my faith in Christ first? Or have I made something
or someone else more important? In today's Gospel
reading from Matthew, the Lord Jesus calls his
first disciples. Simon Peter and his brother
Andrew, as fishermen, were casting their nets
in the sea. And Jesus said, follow me. and I
will make you fishers of men. And immediately
they left their nets and followed him. And then
Jesus called James and John, the sons of Zebedee,
to follow him. And they too immediately left
and followed him. And Jesus calls you and me,
all of us here, to follow him. To where? To heaven.
To follow him to eternal life. to save our souls.
How could anything or anyone else be more important
than that? So now is the time to prioritize your
Christian faith as first in your life. Today
is the day to determine in your heart and mind
and soul to do God's will, to leave worldly ways
and appetites behind. And to follow the example
of the saints who have walked before us, they
showed us how. The words of St. Herman, let us
heed his instruction, who said, for our good,
for our happiness at least, let us make a vow
that from this day, from this hour, from this
minute, let us strive to love God above all and
fulfill his holy will. Is there something or
someone that you have prioritized more highly
than doing God's will? Perhaps in word, perhaps
in deed or thought, you have denied Christ. Well,
do not despair. Even St. Peter denied Christ.
He heard the cock crow. And when he repented,
Our Lord forgave him and made him the chief of
the apostles, and it blessed us here to this
very day. Let us repent of any past mistakes
we have made and enter into a life of faith following
the wonderful examples of all the saints who
have walked before us, both in Russia and in
North America. Glory to Jesus Christ.