Mission and Restoration - Fr. Chris Rowe - March 1, 2026

On this Sunday of Orthodoxy, visiting priest Fr. Christopher Rowe, Development Director at the Orthodox Christian Mission Center, delivers a homily on the church’s mission of restoration. He explains that today’s Gospel reading reveals something simple and profound about the Christian life. When Christ calls Philip, Philip goes to find Nathaniel and says, “Come and see.” In this story, we see that Philip is not called only for himself, but also that through him, someone else may encounter Christ. To be apostolic does not only mean preserving the faith, but also living as those who are sent.Fr. Chris connects this to today’s commemoration of the restoration of the holy icons. He explains that we are living icons — created in the image and likeness of God — but that image has been darkened by sin. Salvation restores and renews that image, making it radiant again. This is mission — the work of restoration. When missionaries are sent, icons are restored. As we celebrate the restoration of the holy icons, Fr. Chris encourages us to understand that we ourselves can become radiant icons through whom others encounter the Lord.