Bear Good Fruit ☦⛪ Fr Andrew's Sermon at Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church, Brisbane

Holy Week marks a profound "changing of the guard"—a shift that is especially clear in the Gospel readings. Parables like the two sons, the tenants, and the fig tree all illustrate this transition, not just in history but in our own spiritual lives.

It’s easy to point fingers at those who rejected Christ, but the deeper lesson is for us: we too can lose our inheritance through neglect. It's not enough to "tick the boxes" of religious life; without the fruits of repentance, even the faithful can drift.

True repentance is ongoing. Just as a tree needs regular watering, our spiritual life requires constant attention. A one-time act won’t sustain us.

If we’re already tending to this, we must persevere humbly. If not, we must reorient—turn back toward Christ, like our churches facing east—so that we may bear fruit and remain rooted in Him.

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Preacher: Priest Andrew Smith
Location: St John of Kronstadt Academy (hosting the congregation of Holy Annunciation Orthodox Church, Brisbane)
Date: 13 April 2025
Occasion: First Bridegroom Matins - Eve of Holy Monday
Reading: John 12:1-18

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Holy Annunciation has services each week on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, and on major feastdays of the Christian liturgical calendar. Check out our Parish Schedule for more details, at: HolyAnnunciation.net

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