In this sermon, Fr. Stephen Osburn reflects on the Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22:1-14 and its warning about the excuses we make in the spiritual life. The king prepares the feast and sends out the invitation, yet those who were invited allow other priorities to keep them away. The Gospel asks us to consider whether we do the same thing with God. Are prayer, worship, fasting, confession, and service central to our lives, or do we practice them only when they are convenient? The invitation has been given, but we still have to respond.

The sermon also considers why the Orthodox Church gives Christians rules and spiritual disciplines. Fr. Stephen discusses Canon 80 of the Council in Trullo, which shows how seriously the historic Church regarded regular participation in Sunday worship. These disciplines are not given simply to contr ...