Orthodixie

Letters have been pouring into the Orthodixie headquarters over the past week, many of them dealing with what can only be said and not written.  You’ve all no doubt heard it, it is pronounced ******** (or EIEIO).  Fr Joseph tries to allay fears [of EIEIO] while assuring us that "this, too, shall pass."

Fr Joseph quotes Chicago, Kevorkian, Ben Franklin, St Paul and Hallmark in making a case for April Fools.

Much like the pains of labor endured by a mother bearing a child, sometimes our journey back to healing is a painful one. And yet, the joy that comes with the new birth is far greater -- inexplicably greater -- than that which our cold heart endured. In the meantime, we must begin where we are.

Fr Joseph, struggling toward humility in the first week of the Fast, tells of his first visit to Fasters Anonymous... and their curious theme song.

Fr Joseph reveals one of his Lenten pet peeves: “Do the best you can.” Do the best you can? Now brothers and sisters, that’s a recipe for failure. Heck, sinner that I am, the best I can is what has got me to where I am! We don’t give an inexperienced bunch of players a ball – with no practice whatsoever – and say, “Okay, it’s game time. Do the best you can.” No. We practice and practice and practice. We fall down, get back up; struggle to do better.

Ladies and gentlemen, prepare yourself, it’s almost that time; time to cue your favorite theme song for the upcoming Lenten Fast! Perhaps the theme song from Star Wars? Or maybe we could sing a fasting song, during this election year, to the tune of "Hail to the Chief?" Then again, there’s always the Beverly Hillbillies ...

This week, Fr Joseph gets real: "The thing about Confession is that it is natural. That is, it is Real. Almost everything else we do with our sin is false and unnatural. We punish ourselves, justify our actions, and hide. Yet, in Confession -- in opening ourselves to God the Light -- we expose the hypocrisy of our double life. In truth, we've been living a lie. Without Confession, Absolution, and Reconciliation we live a lie before God and Man as if it were Reality. In reality, no one is fooled -- not our neighbor, not ourselves. And, let's be real, certainly not God."

Miss Jane gets a tongue lashing, Mr. Bodine speaks in tongues. Things go dark as Fr. Joseph interviews Dr. Indadark. In the end, lacking the main ingredient, it's all just peas and carrots. Suffice it to say: Love covers a multitude of podcasts.

This week's podcast is taken from the book, "One Flew Over the Onion Dome" – any similarities to your own parish, bishop or jurisdiction is purely intentional. Orthodoxy not available in all states. In your area, it may only be available in a foreign language – in which case, your mileage may vary …

Fr Joseph reviews the rules of life, particularly Murphy's Law and its variants, and and then provides us with a rule we can all live with.

Fr Joseph, with help from Fr Thomas Hopko and Elder Porphyrios, delves into the malady known as Nojoyatall.

No matter what you call your grandparents, go to Church Camp, write home, and beware the Mama Eater.

A brief history of the coffee hour, with some suggestions about how best to use the time as you sip your morning brew!

The Theophany and House Blessings. What happens in the service, in our homes, and in our lives.

Fr. Joseph discusses his introduction to, and the Church's teaching about, St. Joseph the Betrothed.

Every year at this time we reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas. Fr. Huneycutt shows us from Holy Scripture and from the Church Fathers that Christmas is all about .... clothing!

Just a few more days until the Nativity feast. With the fast, the shopping, the preparations....how are you doin'? Let us prepare? Yes. But regardless of how prepared we are, let us be thankful.

Fr. Joseph sets out on a search for the Baby Jesus.

Fr. Joseph talks to us about Santa Claus in his son's—and in his own—imagination.

Today Fr. Joseph answers the questions sent in by listeners on the subject of fasting.