THE EASTERN ORTHODOX THREAD (Page 47 of 47)
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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Man's heart fears emptiness; if we evict the good spirit, its place will be taken by the evil one because a heart cannot stay empty. St. John of Kronstadt The Disciple from the Seventy, Thaddeus The Disciple from the Seventy, Thaddeus, was by descent an Hebrew, and he was born in the Syrian city of Edessa. (The holy Disciple from the Seventy Thaddeus mustneeds be distinguished from the Apostle from the Twelve, Jude, also called Thaddeus or Levi. Having come to Jerusalem for a feastday, he heard the preaching of John the Forerunner and, having received from him baptism in Jordan, he remained in Palestine. In beholding the Saviour, he became His follower, and was chosen by the Lord amidst the number of the Seventy Disciples, which He sent by twos for preaching to the cities and locales, which He intended to visit (Lk. 10: 1). After the Ascension of the Saviour to Heaven, the Disciple Thaddeus preached the good-news in Syria and Mesopotamia. He came preaching the Gospel to Edessa, and he converted to Christ king Abgar, the people, and the pagan-priests. He backed up his preaching with many miracles (about which Abgar wrote to the Assyrian emperor Nerses); he established there priests and built up the Edessa Church. Prince Abgar wanted to reward the Disciple Thaddeus with rich gifts, but he refused and went preaching to other cities, converting many pagans to the Christian faith. Having arrived preaching in the city of Berit (Beirut), he founded there the Church, and it was in this city that he peacefully died in the year 44. (This place for his death is indicated in the Slavonic Meneion, but according to other sources he died in Edessa. According to an ancient Armenian tradition, the Disciple Thaddeus after various tortures was beheaded by the sword on 21 December in the Artaz region in the year 50). Holy Martyr Bassa and Her Children: Theognius, Agapius and Pistus (305-311) Venerable Abramius wonderworker of Smolensk (1220), and his Disciple St. Ephraim (1238) Holy Forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob St. Avitus, Bishop of Clermont (Gaul) (594) St. Sarmean, Catholicos of Kartli, Georgia (774) St. Theocleta the Wonderworker, of Asia Minor (840) St. Abramius the Lover of Labor, of the Near Caves in Kiev (13th-14th c.) St. Isaiah of Mt. Athos (14th c.) St. Cornelius, Founder of Paleostrov Monastery (Karelia) (1420), and his Disciple St. Abramius (15th c.) Hiero-Martyrs Romulus, Priest, and the Deacons Donatus and Silvanus, and Martyr Venustus (Romania) Hermits Noephytus and Meletius of Stanisoara Monastery (Romania) (17th c.) New Hieromartyr Symeon, Bishop of Samokov (Bulgaria) (1737) St. Martha, Schemanun of Diveyevo (1829) New Hieromartyr Raphael, Abbot, of Sisatovac Monastery, Serbia (1941) New Hiero-Martyr Ignatius, Hieromonk of Optina Monastery (1942) Translation of the Relics (1953) of St. Nectarius, Metropolitan of Pentapolis (1920) St. Alexander of Iconium New Hieromartyr Isaac of Hanak in Syria (15thc.) New Martyrs Alexander Elokhovski (1918), and Paul Yagodinsky, priests (1937) Galatians 1:1-10, 20-2:5 1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead), 2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia: 3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, 5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. 6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.) 21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, "He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy." 24 And they glorified God in me. 1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. NOTE 1:1, 2 The Judaizers invading Galatia argued that Paul was not a true apostle. Paul introduces himself with a threefold defense: (1) The source of his apostleship is God (v. 1). (2) He has witnessed the resurrected Christ (Acts 9:27), just as the eleven have. (3) His apostleship is confirmed by all the brethren (v. 2) with him. An additional proof of Paul's apostleship is that he founded the churches of Galatia (v. 2). 1:3-5 Paul's greeting encapsulates the true gospel, which he is defending in this epistle. Several points may be drawn from this greeting: (1) The true gospel comes from God Himself (v. 3). (2) Christ gave Himself for our sins not only in His death, but in every phase of His Incarnation, from conception to Ascension (see 2:20). (3) Christ delivers us from this present evil age (v. 4) to enter the age to come. (4) This deliverance is accomplished according to the will of our God (v. 4), the Son in His human nature cooperating with the divine will (Jn 5:30; 6:38). The Father's will is done by Jesus, and then by us, "on earth as it is in heaven" (Mt 6:10). 1:6–10 Different (Gr. heteros, v. 6) means different in kind, whereas another (Gr. allos, v. 7) means another of the same kind. Paul is saying that the teaching the Galatians are listening to is not a harmless variation of the truth, but a completely different, false gospel. This "gospel" (1) is a turning away from the grace of Christ (v. 6); (2) brings trouble to the faithful; (3) will pervert the gospel of Christ (v. 7)-it is a distortion of the truth, a mixture of truth and falsehood; (4) is accursed or anathematized by the Church (v. 8); and (5) is intended to please men (v. 10), not God. Paul's warning about we, or an angel from heaven, is not hypothetical. Angels can and have delivered the gospel to us: they announced Christ's conception (Lk 1:26–38), birth (Lk_2:9- 15), Resurrection (Mt 28:5–7), and Ascension (Acts 1:9–11). But angelic messages are not necessarily true; they may come from fallen angels, who are accursed. 1:24 Glory goes to God, not to the apostle. 2:2 Communicated (Gr. anatithemai) means "laid before" or "submitted." Paul submitted to the apostles James, Peter, and John (v. 2) what he had been teaching among the Gentiles so that he might not run in vain, that is, teach error. He did so privately because the Judaizers were slandering him, giving apostolic honor only to those they considered of reputation, the original apostles. 2:4, 5 The false brethren are not those "of reputation" (v. 2) in the Church, but the Judaizers, whom no one had recognized as apostolic. Mark 5:1-20 1 Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gadarenes. 2 And when He had come out of the boat, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit, 3 who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no one could bind him, not even with chains, 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains. And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broken in pieces; neither could anyone tame him. 5 And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me." 8 For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!" 9 Then He asked him, "What is your name?" And he answered, saying, "My name is Legion; for we are many." 10 Also he begged Him earnestly that He would not send them out of the country. 11 Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. 12 So all the demons begged Him, saying, "Send us to the swine, that we may enter them." 13 And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea. 14 So those who fed the swine fled, and they told it in the city and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that had happened. 15 Then they came to Jesus, and saw the one who had been demon-possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 16 And those who saw it told them how it happened to him who had been demon-possessed, and about the swine. 17 Then they began to plead with Him to depart from their region. 18 And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. 19 However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." 20 And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled. NOTE 5:1–20 The country of the Gadarenes was in Galilee, an area with many Gentiles living among the Jews (see also note at Mt 4:15). Gentile influence on the Jews caused many of them to take on Gentile practices, such as raising swine (v. 11), forbidden by the Law (Dt 14:8). CONTEMPLATION Contemplate David and Saul-one who had the Spirit of God, and one who had lost the Spirit of God (I Samuel 18): 1. How Saul feared David because of his virtues, yet how David was obedient to Saul in everything; 2. How Saul hypocritically rewarded David, but sent him among the Philistines so that he would be killed; 3. How an apostate from God always fears a godly man. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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If a man has no worries about himself at all for the sake of love toward God and the working of good deeds, knowing that God is taking care of him, this is a true and wise hope. But if a man takes care of his own business and turns to God in prayer only when misfortunes come upon him which are beyond his power, and then he begins to hope in God, such a hope is vain and false. A true hope seeks only the Kingdom of God... the heart can have no peace until it obtains such a hope. This hope pacifies the heart and produces joy within it. St. Seraphim of Sarov The Martyrs Agathonikes, Zotikos, Theoprepios (in Slavonic: Bogolep, Akyndinos, Severian, Zinon) and others The Martyrs Agathonikes, Zotikos, Theoprepios and others accepted death for Christ during the reign of the emperor Maximian (284-305). The Martyr Agathonikes was descended from the illustrious lineage of the Hypasians, and he lived at Nicomedia. Having become well versed in Holy Scripture, he converted many pagans to Christ, in which number was also the most eminent member of the Senate (its "princeps" or leader). Comitus Evtolmius was sent to the Pontine (lower Black Sea) region, where he crucified the followers of the Christian Zotikos, all who had refused to offer sacrifice to idols, but Zotikos himself he took with him. In Nicomedia Evtolmius arrested the Martyr Agathonikes (together with the princeps), and also Theoprepios, Akyndinos and Severian. After tortures, Evtolmius ordered that the martyrs be taken to Thrace for trial by the emperor. But along the way, in the vicinity of Potama, he put to death the Martyrs Zotikos, Theoprepios and Akyndinos -- who were unable to proceed further behind the chariot of the governor because of wounds received during the time of torture. The Martyr Severian was put to death at Chalcedon, and the Martyr Agathonikes together with others was beheaded with the sword by order of the emperor, in Selymbria. The relics of the Martyr Agathonikes within a church named for him was seen at Constantinople in the year 1200 by the Russian pilgrim Antonii. And in the XIV Century Philotheos, the archbishop of Selymbria, devoted a discourse of laudation to the Martyr Agathonikes. c1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos. Holy Virgin-Martyr Eulalia of Barcelona (304) Holy Martyr Anthusa of Seleucia and Others with Her (257) St. Symphorian of Autun (2nd c.) Holy Martyr Julian of Heliopolis in Syria (са. 362) St. Ariadne (515), Daughter of Emperor LeoI St. Sigfrid, Abbot, of Wearmouth (ca. 688) St. Bogolep of St. Paisius of Uglich Monastery (16th c.) St. Isaac I, Archimandrite, of Optina Monastery (1894) New Hieromartyr Macarius, Bishop of Orel (1918) New Hiero-Martyr Andrew, Archbishop of Ufa and Menzelin (1937) New Hiero-Martyr Alexis, Archbishop of Omsk (1937) New Hiero-Martyr Theodore, Bishop of Penza (1937) New Hiero-Martyr Theodore, Bishop of Penza (1937) New Hiero-Martyr John, Bishop of Veliki Luki (1937) New Hiero-Martyr Hierotheus, Hieromonk, of Lyubim (Yaroslasvl) (1937) New Hiero-Martyrs John, Hilarion, Hieromonks, of Mirzoyan (Kazakhstan) (1937) New Hieromartyr Gorazd, Bishop of Prague (1942) Georgian Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos (Moscow) (1650) Hieromartyr Athanasius, Bishop of Tarsus in Cilicia, and Martyrs Charesimus and Neophytus (ca. 257) Galatians 2:6-10 6 But from those who seemed to be something- whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man-for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do. NOTE 2:6 Seemed to be to be something is more correctly translated "were of reputation," as in v. 2. To the Judaizers, only the original apostles had valid authority. But the Judaizers were wrong. Paul is not putting down the Twelve; rather he is saying that it makes no difference that all his fellow apostles were formerly "blue collar" workers, not scholars like Paul himself. God does not show personal favoritism. As for correcting Paul's gospel, they added nothing to his teaching. 2:7 Peter and Paul were each responsible to reach one segment of the population in the central part of the Roman Empire: Peter the circumcised (Jews), Paul the uncircumcised (Gentiles). The others of the Twelve also did evangelistic work, as did the Seventy (see article, “The Seventy," at Luke 10). 2:8 One God gave one gospel through two apostles to two different ethnic groups. 2:9 The right hand of fellowship indicates consensus, not merely friendship. The apostles are united in preaching the same gospel. 2:10 Apostles are also united in caring for the poor, which in this case probably refers to the Jerusalem church (see Acts 11:27-30). Mark 5:22-24, 35-6:1 22 And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet 23 and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live." 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. 35 While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue's house who said, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" 36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe." 37 And He permitted no one to follow Him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James. 38 Then He came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and saw a tumult and those who wept and wailed loudly. 39 When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping." 40 And they ridiculed Him. But when He had put them all outside, He took the father and the mother of the child, and those who were with Him, and entered where the child was lying. 41 Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." 42 Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement. 43 But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat. 1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. NOTE 5:41 On Christ raising the dead, see note at Lk 7:11–17. 7:11–17 This is one of three resurrections performed by our Lord as recorded in the Gospels (see also 8:41–56; Jn 11:1-44). They confirm the promise given to the prophet Ezekiel that God will one day open the graves and raise all the dead (Ezk 37:1-14). Many people have exercised authority over the living; only the Son of God "has power over both the living and the dead" (funeral service). While Christ has power through His word alone (Jn 11:43), here He also touched the coffin to show that His very body is life-giving. This event also prefigures Christ's own Resurrection. As Mary would weep for Jesus at the Cross, yet her tears would be turned to joy by the Resurrection, here a widow's only son is raised from the dead, putting an end to her weeping (AmbM). CONTEMPLATION Contemplate the wondrous help David received from God (I Samuel 19): 1. How David played the harp before Saul; 2. How an evil spirit possessed Saul, and Saul hurled a spear at David, intending to kill him; 3. How Saul, even though he was very close to his target, did not hit David. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
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With 9/11 this week, this is St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York, now a national shrine. This was the church that was destroyed when the WTC collapsed. https://stnicholaswtc.org This link shows the iconography, especially an icon of the skyline of New York with the WTC towers on fire and St. Nicholas saving someone. https://friends.stnicholaswtc.org/resources/the-iconography/ |
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Originally Posted By Marie: With 9/11 this week, this is St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in New York, now a national shrine. This was the church that was destroyed when the WTC collapsed. https://stnicholaswtc.org This link shows the iconography, especially an icon of the skyline of New York with the WTC towers on fire and St. Nicholas saving someone. https://friends.stnicholaswtc.org/resources/the-iconography/ I had no idea, thanks for posting. |
Put not your trust in princes, in sons of men in whom there is no salvation.
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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Remember your end, and you will not sin
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The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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Let there always be a preponderance of mercy with you, even though you don't feel such mercy in yourself, as God has for the world ... A cruel and merciless heart is never purified. A merciful man is the doctor of his own soul, because as it were by a strong wind from his heart he drives out the darkness of the passions. St. Isaac the Syrian The Transfer of the Relics of the Apostle Bartholomew The Transfer of the Relics of the Apostle Bartholomew Was at the end of the VI Century. His apostolic activity and martyr's end are remembered by the Church on 11 June. The Apostle Bartholomew suffered for Christ in Armenian Albano (now Baku) in the year 71, where also his holy relics were situated. From the relics of the holy apostles occurred numerous miracles, and many of the unbelieving were converted to Christ. Under the emperor Anastasios (491-518) the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew were transferred into the newly constructed city of Anastasiopolis (or Dareia) and remained there until the end of the VI Century. When the city of Anastasiopolis was captured by the Persian emperor Khozroes, Christians took up the chest with the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew and fled with it to the shores of the Black Sea. Having overtaken them, pagan-priests threw the chest with the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew into the sea. Together with it, 4 other chests were thrown into the sea containing the relics of the holy Martyrs Papian, Lucian, Gregory and Akakios. By the power of God the chests did not sink into the depths of the sea, but rather accomplished a miraculous floating upon the waves and reached Italy. The chest with the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew came to land at the island of Lipari, and the remaining chests continued their journey and came to land at various places in Italy. The chest with the relics of the Martyr Papian halted at Sicily, the Martyr Lucian - at Messina, the Martyr Gregory - at Calabria, and the Martyr Akakios – at Asculusa. The arrival of the relics of the holy Apostle Bartholomew was revealed to the bishop of the island of Lipari -- Agathon, who went with clergy to the shores of the sea, took up the chest from the waters and solemnly transferred it to church. From the relics of the Apostle Bartholomew there flowed out myrh, giving healing for various illness. The holy relics remained in the church of the island of Lipari until the middle of the IX Century, when the island was captured by pagans. Christian merchants took up the holy relics of the Apostle Bartholomew and transferred them to the city of Beneventum, where they were received with great veneration and placed in the main church of the city. c1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos. Apostle Titus of the Seventy Holy Confessors of Edessa St. Menas, Patriarch of Constantinople Hieromartyr Geruntius, Bishop of Italica (Spain) (ca. 100) Holy Martyr Genesius of Arles (3rd c.) Sts. John the Cappadocian (520) and Epiphanius (535), Patriarchs of Constantinople St. Aredius of Limousin (Gaul) (591) St. Ebba the Elder, Abbess, of Coldingham, Northumbria (683) St. John, Bishop of Carpathos (7th c.) St. Gregory, Abbot, of St. Martin Monastery in Utrecht (775) Translation of the Relics (ca. 860) of St. Hilda of Whitby (680) New Hieromartyr Moses, Hieromonk of Solovki Monastery (1931) Greek cal.: Synaxis of Hierarchs of Crete: Andrew, Archbishoр [740]; Сyril [ca. 303] and Eumenius [7th c.], Bishops of Gortyna Galatians 2:11-16 11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. NOTE 2:11 No individual apostle (or bishop or patriarch) is infallible. Even when he speaks officially (ex officio), he is correctable. Unchecked, Peter could have caused a schism. 2:12, 13 The men who came from James were probably trying to force the culture of the Jerusalem church on the Gentiles-and they were not necessarily representing James. Jerusalem was Jewish, but to impose that culture on Gentiles was hypocrisy (v. 13). And to mistake culture- any culture-for the gospel is even worse. God had already shown that Jewish dietary laws were obsolete (Acts 10:11-16), for the law is fulfilled in Christ. 2:15 Gentiles were considered sinners by the Jews. Mark 5:24-34 24 So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. 25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. 28 For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." 29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. 30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched My clothes?" 31 But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' " 32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction." NOTE 5:21-34 See notes at Mt 9:18-26. 9:18-26 Authority over life and death is in the hand of God alone (Dt 32:39; 1Kg 2:6). Being of one essence with the Father, Jesus has this authority (Jn 5:21). The healing of this woman demonstrates Christ's power to cleanse and heal (see 8:1-4). In the OT, hemorrhage caused ceremonial defilement, imposing religious and social restrictions, for contact with blood was strictly prohibited (Lv 15:25). This suffering woman, accounting herself unclean, nevertheless approaches Jesus secretly and with great faith. In v. 22, Jesus (1) brings her good cheer because of her faith; (2) corrects her thinking, for neither could she hide her touch from Him, nor is she excluded from Him because of her illness; and (3) exhibits her faith to all, so that they might imitate her. 5:25-29 A spiritual interpretation of this encounter given by the Fathers is that this woman symbolizes human nature in general. Humanity is in constant suffering and subject to death, symbolized by the flow of blood. The physicians who could not cure her stand for the various religions of the world, as well as the OT Law, which were unable to grant life to humanity. Only through Christ are we freed from suffering and bondage to sin. CONTEMPLATION Contemplate the extraordinary selflessness of David (I Samuel 24): 1. How Saul, pursuing David, unknowingly entered into the cave where David was hiding with the young men; 2. How the young men pressed David to kill Saul, but David refused; 3. How David cried out to Saul: The Lord judge between me and thee. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
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Vesperal Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos tonight. Verse on Lord, I call. Today God, Who rests upon the spiritual thrones, has prepared for Himself a holy throne on earth. He Who in wisdom established the heavens has fashioned a living heaven in His love for mankind; for, from a barren root He has made a life-bearing branch spring up for us, even His Mother. O God of wonders and Hope of the hopeless,// O Lord, glory to Thee! |
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Originally Posted By Marie: Vesperal Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos tonight. Verse on Lord, I call. Today God, Who rests upon the spiritual thrones, has prepared for Himself a holy throne on earth. He Who in wisdom established the heavens has fashioned a living heaven in His love for mankind; for, from a barren root He has made a life-bearing branch spring up for us, even His Mother. O God of wonders and Hope of the hopeless,// O Lord, glory to Thee! <3 |
Put not your trust in princes, in sons of men in whom there is no salvation.
Remember your end, and you will not sin
Joined:
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Remember your end, and you will not sin
Joined:
Oct 2013
Posts:
37519
EE: 100% (2)
MT, USA
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Originally Posted By Marie: Vesperal Liturgy for the Nativity of the Theotokos tonight. Verse on Lord, I call. Today God, Who rests upon the spiritual thrones, has prepared for Himself a holy throne on earth. He Who in wisdom established the heavens has fashioned a living heaven in His love for mankind; for, from a barren root He has made a life-bearing branch spring up for us, even His Mother. O God of wonders and Hope of the hopeless,// O Lord, glory to Thee! |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
Joined:
Oct 2013
Posts:
37520
EE: 100% (2)
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When there is a respect for small things, there will be an even greater respect towards the bigger things. When there is no respect for small things, then neither will there be for the bigger ones. This is how the Fathers maintained Tradition. Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos Holy Martyrs Adrian and his Wife Natalia, and 23 Companions, of Nicomedia (305-311) Adrian and Natalia were husband and wife, both of noble and wealthy families from Nicomedia. Adrian was a pagan and the head of the Praetorium. Natalia was secretly a Christian. They were both young and lived together in marriage for only thirteen months before their martyrdom. When the wicked Emperor Maximian visited Nicomedia, he ordered that Christians be seized and subjected to torture. Twenty-three Christians were hidden in a cave near the city. Someone reported them to the authorities. They were flogged cruelly with cattle whips, beaten with rods, and cast into prison. Soon, they were taken before the Praetor to register their names. Adrian observed these people, serene and meek, tortured but patient. He made them swear to tell him what they thought their God would give them for enduring so many tortures. They told him of the blessedness of the righteous in the Kingdom of God. With that, Adrian turned to the scribe and said to him: "Write my name with these saints, I am a Christian also!" When the emperor learned of this, he asked Adrian: "Have you gone out of your mind?" Adrian replied: "I have not gone out of my mind, rather, I have come to my senses." When she heard of this, Natalia greatly rejoiced. As Adrian sat with the others, chained and in prison, she came and ministered to all of them. When they flogged and intensely tortured her husband, Natalia encouraged him to endure to the end. After lengthy torments and imprisonment, the emperor ordered that the prisoners' arms and legs be broken with a hammer and anvil. This was done. With twenty-three fellow Christian men, Adrian gave up the spirit under the greatest of tortures. Natalia took their relics to Argyropolis (near Constantinople) and buried them honorably there. After a few days, Adrian appeared to her in heavenly radiance and called out that she should also come to God, and she peacefully gave up her spirit to God. Venerable Tithoes of the Thebaid St. Zer-Jacob, Missionary of Ethiopia Miracle of the Most-Holy Theotokos in Moscow in the year 1395 St. Maximus, Archbishop of Jerusalem (347) St. Ibestion the Confessor, Egyptian Ascetic (ca. 450) St. Adrian of Uglich (after 1504) St. Adrian, Founder of Ondrusov Monastery (Karelia) (1549) Blessed Cyprian of Storozhev, Former Outlaw (16th c.) Finding of the Relics (1748) of St. Bassian, Schemamonk of Alatyr Monastery (ca. 1698) St. Maria of Diveyevo, Fool-for-Christ (1931) New Hieromartyr Nectarius, Bishop of Yaransk (1937) New Hiero-confessors George Kossov (1928) and Roman Medved (1937), archpriests, and new martyrs Victor Ellanski, priest, Dimitri Morozov and Peter Bordan (1937) Greek cal.: Monk loasaph, Prince of India (4th c.) The Miraculous Renewal of the Vladimir Icon of the Theotokos in Harbin (Manchuria) (1925) Holy Martyr Adrian the Prince (3rd c.) Holy Martyrs Atticus and Sisinius Galatians 2:21-3:7 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain. 1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain-if indeed it was in vain? 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?- 6 just as Abraham "believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." 7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. NOTE 2:21 Set aside the grace of God is what Peter and Barnabas had done (vv. 12, 13). The faith of Christ is not opposed to the works of the law, but it is opposed to using works to justify oneself before God. As Moses himself looked ahead to Christ (Heb 11:26), so the law is a shadow, an icon, pointing toward Christ Himself, who brings us life. 3:1-5 The Galatians had believed in Jesus Christ (v. 1) and received the Spirit through the hearing of faith (v. 2). But they are foolish because they have rejected ongoing life in Christ and the Spirit, teaching instead that we are made perfect by the flesh (v. 3)-circumcision. Paul argues they do not understand righteousness, nor how men have always participated in it. Mark 6:1-7 1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? So they were offended at Him. 4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5 Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. 7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. NOTE 6:1–3 This double response of being both astonished (v. 2) and offended (v. 3) occurs frequently with those who encounter Christ (Lk 11:14–16; Jn 9:16). Christ's rejection in his own country foreshadows His rejection by the whole Jewish nation at His trial before Pilate (Jn 19:14, 15). 6:5, 6 Jesus could do no mighty work there, not because He lacked power, but because of the unbelief of all but a few in Nazareth. While grace is always offered to all, only those who receive it in faith obtain its benefits. CONTEMPLATION Contemplate the greatness of David's soul (I Samuel 26): 1. How David entered the camp of Saul at night and, while Saul was sleeping, took his spear and cup; 2. How David's commander wanted to spear Saul, but David forbade it; 3. How David left vengeance to God. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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Whoever with fear of God corrects and directs a sinner gains virtue for himself, that of opposition to sin. But whoever insults a sinner with rancor and without good will falls, according to a spiritual law, into the same passion with the sinner. St. Mark the Ascetic Venerable Poemen the Great, of Egypt (450) Poemen was an Egyptian by birth and a great ascetic of Egypt. As a boy, he visited the most renowned spiritual men. He gathered tangible knowledge from them as a bee gathers honey from flowers. Poemen once begged the elder Paul to take him to St. Paisius. Seeing Poemen, Paisius said to Paul: "This child will save many; the hand of God is on him." In time, Poemen was tonsured a monk and attracted two of his brothers to the monastic life as well. Once, his mother came to see her sons. Poemen did not allow her to enter but asked her through the door: "Do you desire more to see us here, or there, in eternity?" The mother withdrew with joy, saying: "Since I will surely see you there, then I do not desire to see you here!" In the monastery where these three brothers dwelled (which was governed by Abba Anoub, Poemen's eldest brother), their rule was as follows: At night they spent four hours doing manual work, four hours sleeping, and four hours reading the Psalter. During the day, they alternated work and prayer from morning to noon, did their reading from noon until Vespers, and made supper for themselves after Vespers. This was the only meal in twenty-four hours, and it usually consisted of some cabbage. Poemen is said to have commented: "We ate that which was given to us. No one ever said, 'Give me something else,' or, 'I do not want that.' In this way, we spent our entire life in silence and peace." Poemen lived a life of asceticism in the fifth century and reposed peacefully in old age. Venerable Poemen of Palestine St. Hosius, Bishop of Cordova Hieromartyr Kuksha and Poemen the Faster Holy Martyr Phanourios St. Sabbas, Monk, of Benephali St. Liberius the Confessor, Pope of Rome (366) St. Praulius, Archbishop of Jerusalem (422) St. Caesarius, Bishop of Arles (543) New Hiero-Martyrs Michael, Priest (with 28 Other Martyrs), and Stephen, Priest (with 18 Other Martyrs), all of Nizhni-Novgorod (1918) New Hieromartyrs Methodius, Abbot, of Sukovo (Moscow) and John Smirnov, Archpriest (1937), and Dimitri Kryuchkov, Priest and Confessor (1952) Uncovering of the Relics (1991) of St. John, Archpriest, of Korma (1917) Holy Martyr Djan Darada, the Ethiopian eunuch of Queen Candace. (See Jan. 4.) Holy Martyr Anthusa the New Galatians 3:15-22 15 Brethren, I speak in the manner of men: Though it is only a man's covenant, yet if it is confirmed, no one annuls or adds to it. 16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. 17 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. 19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. NOTE 3:15-18 The Jews were blinded by the multitude of details of the law. They failed to see that their sonship was founded on God's promises (the covenant) made to Abraham (v. 16). Since a covenant that was confirmed (v. 17) cannot be added to, changed, or annulled, the law, which comes later (v. 17), cannot alter the covenant's promise (v. 15). The Jews thought they were sons of Abraham (seeds) through physical genealogy. They overlooked the fact that Seed (v. 16) is singular, referring to Christ. 3:19 Why was the law given then? Because Israel was transgressing what they knew of God's law through conscience and nature. So God put it in writing! The law was never a savior, but a tutor (v. 24) to convict Israel of transgressions and to lead her to Christ. 3:20 For Christ to be the mediator between God and man (see also 1Ti 2:5), He had to be both God and man. God is one is a reference to the one divine nature and does not deny the existence of three divine Persons. (Priests, by the way, are not seen as mediators between God and man; their role is to lead people to the Mediator.) Mark 6:7-13 7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff-no bag, no bread, no copper in their money belts- 9 but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. 10 Also He said to them, "In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place. 11 And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city 12 So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. NOTE 6:7-13 See notes at Mt 10:1-15. 10:5–10 The disciples' mission is like Christ's: to preach (v. 7) and to heal (v. 8). Note that Jesus sends them only to the Jews. Christ's earthly ministry was focused on the Jews (15:24) so that, after the Resurrection, the Jews could not blame the disciples for going "to uncircumcised men" (Acts 11:3). Jesus prepares them to be single-minded in their mission to preach and heal: (1) He reminds them that His power is free-a gift from God (v. 8); and (2) He instructs them to carry no money (v. 9) so that they could not be accused of greed, and so they would learn dependence on God. 10:12, 13 Christ commissions His servants to give a greeting of peace, the same peace that was proclaimed by the prophets (Is 52:7), that He would offer to the disciples (Jn_14:27; 20:19), and that would be revealed as a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22). To this day, Christ's peace is offered to the faithful in the Liturgy with the words, "Peace be to all." 6:13 Anointing the sick with oil has not only medicinal value but sacramental value as well. As God's healing power is bestowed through creation (5:27; Nm 21:8, 9; 4Kg 13:21; Jn 9:6, 7; Acts 5:15; 19:11, 12), so oil is a vehicle of God's mercy and healing in the Church (Jam 5:14). CONTEMPLATION Contemplate Saul's total apostasy from the one God (I Samuel 28–31): 1. How, when frightened by the Philistines, he turned to a pagan sorceress to prophesy for him; 2. How the sorceress, through her sorcery, evoked a spirit who called himself Samuel and who prophesied Saul's death; 3. How Saul and his sons perished at the hands of the Philistines. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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God loves us more than a father, mother, friend, or anyone else could love, and even more than we are able to love ourselves. St. John Chrysostom Venerable Moses the Black, of Scetis (ca.375) Attached File Moses was an Ethiopian by birth. In the world, he was a thief and the leader of a band of thieves, and yet he became a penitent and a great ascetic. Moses was once a slave who escaped and joined the thieves. Because of his great physical strength and daring, the robbers chose him as their leader. Then, one day, he was suddenly overcome with pangs of conscience and repented for his misdeeds. He left the thieves, entered a monastery, and gave himself over completely to obey his spiritual father and the monastic rule. He benefitted much from the teachings of Saints Macarius, Arsenius, and Isidore. Later, he withdrew to solitude in a cell, where he dedicated himself completely to physical labor, prayer, vigils, and contemplating God. Tormented by the demon of lust, Moses confessed to Isidore, his spiritual father, who gave him counsel to increase his fasting and even when eating to avoid satisfying his appetite. When this regimen did not help, he was counseled to keep an all-night vigil and to pray standing. Then, he also began the practice of bringing water to the elderly monks from a distant well all night long. After six years of terrible struggles, St. Isidore miraculously healed him of lustful thoughts, fantasies, and dreams perpetrated on him by the demon. Moses was ordained a priest in old age. Не founded his own monastery, had seventy-five disciples, and lived to the age of seventy-five. He foresaw his death: one day, he told his disciples to flee, for the barbarians were about to attack the monastery. When the disciples urged him to escape with them, Moses said that he had formerly been violent and had to suffer violence himself, according to the words: For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword (Matthew 26:52) He remained at the monastery with six brethren, and the barbarians slew them. One of the brethren, hiding nearby, saw seven shining wreaths descend from heaven upon the seven martyrs. Venerable Sava of Pskov and Krypetsk The Synaxis of all the Saints of the Monastery of the Kiev Caves Righteous Hezekiah, King of Judah (691 В.C.) Righteous Anna the Prophetess (1st c.) Repose of Blessed Augustine, Bishop of Hippo (430) Holy Martyr Queen Shushanik (Susanna) of Georgia (475) St. Amphilochius of the Kiev Caves, Bishop of Vladimir, Volhynia (1122) St. Theodore (in Monasticism Theodosius) of the Kiev Caves, Prince of Ostrog in Volhynia (1483) Uncovering of the Relics (1659) of St. Job, Abbot and Wonderworker of Pochaev (1651) New Hieromartyrs Sergius, Archimandrite, Lawrence and Seraphim, Hieromonks, Theodosius, Hierodeacon, New Monk-Martyrs Leontius and Stephen, and Martyred Novices George, Hilarion, John, and Sergius, of Zilantov Monastery in Kazan (1918) New Hieromartyr Chrysostom, Metropolitan of Smyrna (1922) Holy Martyrs Diomedes and Laurence Holy Martyrs Ferreol of Vienne and Julian of Brioude New Hieromartyr Basil Sokolsky, Priest (1937) Galatians 3:23-4:5 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. 1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, 2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. 4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. NOTE 3:26, 27 Paul directly relates saving faith (v. 26) and being baptized, connecting them as the most intimate of friends. Verse 27 is the ancient hymn perhaps already being sung at Christian baptisms during the procession of the newly regenerated into the assembly-and sung at every Orthodox baptismal service to this day. 3:28, 29 We share one human nature in Christ. Therefore, valuing people based on opinions and ethnicity (neither Jew nor Greek), pride and social status (neither slave nor free), or gender (neither male nor female) has no place in the Church. All are one in nature, and so all are equal in dignity. 4:1, 2 Child refers not to age but to understanding. Guardians and stewards provide the special discipline and protection required for growth. Slave refers to one under the rule of a taskmaster, in this case, the law. 4:3 The elements of the world are the philosophies and traditions developed by humanity without regard to God (Col 2:8). 4:4, 5 Son refers to Christ as God by nature. God, then, is born of a woman, and so Mary is rightly called the mother of God (Theotokos). Since Jesus is born under the law, He can redeem those under the law. Jesus fulfilled the law as an infant by being circumcised on the eighth day and being presented in the temple forty days after His birth. Both of these events are remembered in the liturgical cycle of the Orthodox Church. Why does God redeem those who were under the law? To fulfill His promise to Abraham. God owes no one anything-He certainly does not owe us salvation. Whereas the Son is God by nature, we become sons of God by adoption. We cannot become members of the Godhead by nature because we are human by nature. But we do become members of His family by grace. In adoption we become everything God is, except that we do not share His nature. Because we are given new life, adoption is also called a new birth, being born again. Mark 6:30-45 30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And He said to them, "Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32 So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves. 33 But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. 34 And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things. 35 When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat. 37 But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?" 38 But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish." 39 Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties. 41 And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all. 42 So they all ate and were filled. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. 45 Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. NOTE 6:30 This verse picks up where v. 13 left off, as the story of the beheading of St. John is given parenthetically (see note at 6:20). 6:31 Christ gives rest to His disciples to show those engaged in preaching and teaching that they must not labor continuously, but must also take rest. 6:37-44 See notes at Mt 14:14-21. 14:14-21 This miracle, reported by all four evangelists, shows Jesus feeding a great multitude of His people as He fed the Israelites in the desert (see Ex 16). The Church Fathers see in this an image of the Eucharist, an idea made clear in Jn 6. In 15:32-39, another miracle is mentioned in which Jesus feeds four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fish. While certain modern scholars have attempted to say that these are merely the same story, the witness of the gospel is clear that they are two distinct accounts, with Christ Himself referring to both of them separately (16:8–10). Moved with compassion is used frequently concerning the Lord (20:34; Mk 1:41; 6:34; Lk 7:13), showing that His power and authority are extended to those who suffer. A spiritual interpretation given by the Fathers teaches that the five loaves indicate the five books of the Law (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which are broken open in Christ and thus feed the universe. The two fish represent the Gospel Book and the Epistle Book, the teaching of the fishermen. The gathering of the leftovers by the apostles (v. 20) shows that the teachings the faithful are unable to grasp are nevertheless held in the consciousness of the Church. 14:19 Jesus shows us that we should never eat without first giving thanks to God. The terminology points to the Last Supper (26:26) and leads to a eucharistic interpretation of this miracle. Just as the disciples distribute the bread to the multitudes, so also Christ feeds the Eucharist to His flock through the hands of His bishops and presbyters. Gal 5.22-6.2 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. 1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. Luke 6.17-23 17 He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by evil spirits were cured, 19 and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. 20 Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. 23 "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets. CONTEMPLATION Contemplate the nobility of David (II Samuel 1): 1. How a messenger arrived and told David of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan, thinking to receive a reward; 2. How David bitterly mourned and lamented for Saul, who had wished nothing but death for David. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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If you begin to guard wealth it will not be yours. But if you begin to distribute it, you will not lose it. St. Basil the Great Beheading of Saint John the Baptist Attached File Herod Antipas (son of the Herod who slew the children of Bethlehem at the time of Christ's birth) was the ruler of Galilee when John the Baptist was preaching. He was married to the daughter of Aretas, an Arabian prince. But Herod, an evil sprout of an evil root, put away his lawful wife and unlawfully took Herodias as his concubine. Herodias was the wife of his brother Philip, who was still alive. John the Baptist stood up against this lawlessness and strongly denounced Herod. Herod then casts John into prison. During a banquet in his court at Sebastia in Galilee, Salome, Herodias and Philip's daughter, danced before the guests. Herod, drunk with wine, was so taken by this dance that he promised Salome anything she asked of him, even if it were half of his kingdom. Salome was persuaded by Herodias to ask for the head of John the Baptist. Herod gave the order, and John was beheaded in prison, and his head was presented to her on a platter. John's disciples took the body of their teacher by night and honorably buried it, but Herodias pierced John's tongue with a needle repeatedly and buried his head in an unclean place. What later happened to John the Baptist's head can be read on February 24. However, God's punishment quickly befell this group of evildoers. Prince Aretas, avenging his daughter's honor, waged war against Herod with his army and defeated him. The defeated Herod was sentenced by the Roman Caesar, Caligula, to exile (at first to Gaul, then later to Spain). Herod and Herodias lived lives of poverty and humiliation in exile until the earth opened up and swallowed them. Salome died an evil death on the Sikaris (Sula) River (see "Reflection" below). St. John's beheading occurred just before Passover, but its celebration on August 29 was established because a church that had been built over his grave in Sebastia (by Emperor Constantine and Empress Helena) was consecrated on August 29. The relics of John's disciples, Eliseus and Audius, were also placed in that church. Venerable Theodora of Thessalonica Holy Martyr Vasilissa Holy New-Martyr Anastasius (Spaso) of Strumica Sts. Candida (418) and Gelasia (422), of Constantinople St. Sebbi, King of Essex and Monk (ca. 694) New Martyr Theodore Ivanov of Tobolsk (1937) Commemoration of all Orthodox Soldiers Killed on the Field of Battle Greek cal.: St. Arcadius of Arsinoe, Cyprus, Bishop and Wonderworker Greek cal.: Translation of the relics [1699] of St. Joseph Samakus the Sanctified, of Crete (1511) Translation of the relics of St. Alexander, Abbot of the Monastery of Voche Acts 13:25-33(Forerunner) 25 And as John was finishing his course, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose. 26 Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28 And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29 Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead. 31 He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32 And we declare to you glad tidings-that promise which was made to the fathers. 33"God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.' NOTE 13:25–32 This passage is read on August 29, the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist. 13:26 The family of Abraham refers to the Jews, while those who fear God refer to Gentile believers; thus, salvation is proclaimed to all mankind. 13:27 Paul consistently presses the point that if the OT is properly understood, it is clear Jesus is the Messiah. Even the Jewish leaders' rejection of Jesus fulfilled these prophecies (Ps 2:1, 2; 118:22, 23; Is 53:1-9). Mark 6:14-30 (Forerunner) 14 Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, "John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." 15 Others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets." 16 But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!" 17 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; for he had married her. 18 Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19 Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21 Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22 And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." 23 He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom." 24 So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" 25 Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb. 30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught. NOTE 6:14–30 This passage is read on August 29, the Feast of the Beheading of John the Baptist. 6:14 This King Herod was the son of the one who slew the infants in Bethlehem (Mt 2:16). Though he was technically a governor, he was popularly called king. Knowing that John the Baptist had worked no miracles while living, Herod now believes John was raised from the dead (v. 16), thinking powers are at work in him. Thus, he fears John more dead than alive. 6:15 Elijah was expected to return and work signs before the second coming of the Lord (Mal 4:5). The Prophet is interpreted by some to be a reference to the Messiah, the One whom Moses foretold (Dt 18:15), while others interpret it as simply meaning a new prophet had arisen. 6:17–29 This account is given parenthetically, explaining John's earlier death so hearers would understand why Herod would think that John had risen from the dead. After this flashback, v. 30 picks up where v. 13 left off. The beheading of St. John is remembered in the Church on August 29 with a day of fasting. As part of God's plan of salvation, John's martyrdom allowed the coming of the Messiah to be announced to the souls in Hades, for John was the forerunner of Christ there as well as on earth. At Matins on this day we sing, "Your tongue, which constantly speaks of God, has preceded Christ into death and is sent to preach Him to those in Hades." 6:20 That Herod, with his wealth and soldiers, feared John, a man who lived in poverty and was clothed in camel's hair (1:6), is a testament both to the power of personal holiness and integrity, and also to the people's perception of John, for they held him in the highest esteem (11:32). REFLECTION If you observe how men die, you will see that the death of a man usually resembles his sin. As it is written: For all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword (Matthew 26:52). Every sin is like a knife, and men usually are slain by that sin which they most readily commit. An example of this is that of Salome- the foul daughter of Herodias-who asked for and received the head of John the Baptist on a platter. Living in the Spanish town of Lerida with the exiled Herod and Herodias, Salome set out across the frozen river Sikaris one day. The ice broke, and she fell into the water up to her neck. Shards of ice jammed around her neck and she struggled, treading her feet in the water, as she once danced at the court of Herod. She was unable either to raise herself up or to sink down, and a shard of ice severed her head. The water carried her body away, and her head was brought to Herodias on a platter, as was once the head of John the Baptist. Behold how terribly a death resembles the sin committed. CONTEMPLATION Contemplate the righteousness of David (II Samuel 3): 1. How Abner the commander, one of David's opponents, gave himself over to David, trusting him; 2. How Joab, David's commander, slew Abner; 3. How David cursed the house of Joab, and wept copiously for Abner. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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A soul that is nurtured by hatred toward man can not be at peace with God, Who has said: If you forgive not men their sins, neither shall your Father forgive your sins (Matt. 6:15). If a man does not want to be reconciled, you must at least guard yourself from hating, praying with a pure heart for him, and speaking no evil of him. St. Maximus the Confessor 1 Corinthians 4:17-5:5 17 For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, andI will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power. 21 What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and a spirit of gentleness? 1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles-that a man has his father's wife! 2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. NOTE 4:18-20 Paul will soon visit Corinth and face those who prejudge him to see if any power (Gr. dunamis) lies behind their word. Citizenship in the kingdom of God, discovered in the Church, does not consist in mere talk, but is manifested in a growing life of grace. 5:1 Sexual immorality (Gr. porneia, from which we get "pornography") originally meant prostitution, later immorality in general. In this case of incest, his father's wife is not the man's own mother, but a stepmother. Even so, this sin is grievous among Jews and Gentiles alike. 5:2 The Greek word for mourned (pentheo) is also used in the Septuagint to refer to (1) grieving for the dead, and (2) sorrow over unrepentant sinners (see Neh 8:9; Is 24:4; Dan 10:2; Am 8:8). Taken away from among you refers to excommunication. 5:4 My spirit (Gr. pneuma) is Paul's human spirit, which is being sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 5:5 In the Church there is protection from the destructive power of Satan (Mt 16:18). This protection is here removed through excommunication in the hope that, having experienced the difference between God's rule and Satan's, this offender may repent and in the end be saved. The flesh (Gr. sarx) is not synonymous with "body" (Gr. soma; see v. 3). Paul is calling for the destruction not of the body but rather of the lusts of the flesh. Matthew 24:1-13 1 Then Jesus went out and departed from the temple, and His disciples came up to show Him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down." 3 Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?" 4 And Jesus answered and said to them: "Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ, and will deceive many. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of sorrows. 9 Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name's sake. 10 And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. 11 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved. NOTE 24:1, 2 Christ's prophecy of the destruction of the temple was fulfilled in AD 70, when the temple was destroyed by the Romans (see note at 22:7). 22:7 Burned up their city: St. John Chrysostom teaches that Christ is prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70, and thus attributes this destruction to an act of God rather than simply to that of men. Nevertheless, God showed His patience by waiting some 40 years from the time of Christ, giving the entire generation a chance to repent. CONTEMPLATION Contemplate the victories of David over the Philistines (II Samuel 5): 1. How the Philistines invaded David's land, and David prayed to God, and defeated the Philistines; 2. How the Philistines invaded again, and David prayed to God, and defeated the Philistines again. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
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We did vespers for the Exaltation of the Cross today after coffee hour. When you have a lot of people who drive 45-60 minutes to church, this makes much more sense. Liturgy is tomorrow at 8. I can’t make those due to work. Met some new people this weekend. The husband is Orthodox from Eastern Europe, the wife is American. This was two couples. They had been attending a parish for the husband’s ethnic background (such as Romanian, Serbian), but the wife, who is not Orthodox, couldn’t understand the foreign language services. That two couples were sent to my parish by friends who attend already. The wives loved being able to understand the services. The husbands had never heard them in English before. They loved our choir. My current priest’s last liturgy is last Sunday in October. He’s on vacation for the next two weeks. His replacement is actually filling in next Sunday. |
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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New round of Catechism classes. Glory to God Attached File |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
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Originally Posted By Anastasios: New round of Catechism classes. Glory to God https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/369185/790318840_18101967317625618_366201903591-3827298.JPG How many? That’s great. |
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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The soul that loves God has its rest in God and in God alone. In all the paths that men walk in in the world, they do not attain peace until they draw nigh to hope in God. St. Isaac the Syrian Beginning of the Church Year, or the Beginning of the Indiction The First Ecumenical Council [Nicaea, 325] decreed that the Church year should begin on September 1. The month of September was, for the Hebrews, the beginning of the civil year (Exodus 23:16), the month of gathering the harvest and of the offering of thanks to God. It was on this feast that the Lord Jesus entered the synagogue in Nazareth (Luke 4:16, 21), opened the book of the Prophet Isaiah and read the words: The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me; because the Lord hath anointed Me to preach good tidings unto the meek; He hath sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn (Isaiah 61:1, 2). September is also important in the history of Christianity because Emperor Constantine the Great was victorious over Maxentius, the enemy of the Christian Faith, in September. Following this victory, Constantine granted freedom of confession to the Christian Faith throughout the Roman Empire. For a long time, the civil year in the Christian world, followed the Church year, with its beginning on September 1. The civil year was later changed, and its beginning transferred to January 1. This occurred first in Western Europe and later in Russia under Peter the Great. Venerable Simeon the Stylite (the Elder) (459) and his Mother St. Martha (428) Attached File He was born in Syria to peasant parents. At eighteen, he left home and was tonsured a monk. He undertook the most difficult ascetic practices and sometimes undertook a strict fast for forty days. He eventually took upon himself a form of asceticism that was previously unknown. He stood day and night on a pillar in unceasing prayer. At first, his pillar was six cubits high; he later raised it to twelve cubits, then to twenty-two cubits, then to thirty-six cubits, and finally to forty cubits high. On two occasions, his mother Martha came to see him, but he refused to receive her, saying atop the pillar: "Do not disturb me now, my mother. If we become worthy, we'll see each other in the next world." St. Simeon endured countless assaults from demons, but he conquered them all by prayer to God. The saint worked many great miracles, healing by word and prayer for many afflicted. People gathered around his pillar, the rich and the poor, kings and slaves. Simeon helped everyone: healing some of the infirmities, comforting those in need, instructing others, and reproaching some who held heretical beliefs. Thus, he turned Empress Eudocia from the Eutychian heresy and brought her back to Orthodoxy. He lived the ascetic life during the reigns of the Emperors Theodosius the Younger, Marcian, and Leo the Great. Simeon, the first great stylite in Christianity and a great miracle worker lived to be 103 years old. He reposed in the Lord on September 1, 459. His relics were translated to Antioch, the church dedicated to his name. Righteous Joshua, the Son of Nun Holy Martyrs Callista and Her Brothers Evodus and Hermogenes, at Nicomedia (309) Holy 40 Women Martyrs at Heraclea in Thrace (321-323) St. Verena of Zurzach (Switzerland) (ca. 350) Holy Martyr Aeithalas of Persia (380) Commemoration of the Great Fire at Constantinople (ca. 470) St. Dionysius Exiguus, Monk, of Rome (ca. 545) St. Giles (Aegidius), Monastic Founder, Along the Rhone (ca. 712) St. Meletius the Younger, of Thebes (1095-1124) St. Nicholas of Courtaliatis on Crete, Monk (1670) New Martyr Angelis of Constantinople (1680) St. Haido of Stanos (1820-1821) Synaxis of the Most Holy Theotokos in Miasena Monastery, in commemoration of the Discovery of Her lcon Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos: "Chernigov-Gethsemane" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos: "Of Alexandria" Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos: "All-blessed One" (Kazan) Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos: "Avgustovskaya" Greek cal.: St. Symeon of Lesbos St. Evanthia 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (Epistle, New Year) 1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle-l am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying-a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. NOTE 2:1, 2 Intercessory prayers are to be offered for all without partiality, but special attention is given to prayer for those in authority. Thus, Orthodox Christians repeatedly pray for "all civil authorities." 2:1-7 This passage is read on September 1, the beginning of the Ecclesiastical New Year. 2:3-5 The religions of the Greek world were pluralistic and elite. In contrast, Paul teaches that there is one Savior, one God and one Mediator (v.5). And God offers salvation equally to all, for Hе created us to share in His goodness, and for this end He became a Man like us. 2:5 Some who are opposed to the established Church use this verse to claim that "all you need is Jesus -not the Church, her clergy, and her sacraments." But the Son became the one Mediator by becoming Man through the Holy Spirit and a virgin-that is, through God and men. He “built" His humanity not from Himself alone but from another, the Virgin Mary. Likewise, as the Mediator He says, "I will build My church” (Mt 16:18); He establishes her leaders and her worship. As Mary gives us Christ in His humanity, the Church introduces us to Him, who alone is our Mediator. 2:6 Regarding ancient slaves, a ransom did not so much purchase them as free them from their bondage to experience liberty. Luke 4:16-22 (Gospel, New Year) 16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD." 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." 22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?" NOTE 4:18 Being the eternal Son of God, Christ did not become the world's anointed Savior, but has always been our Savior from before the foundation of the world. It was Christ speaking through Isaiah who said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me” (Is 61:1). Note He does not say, "The Spirit has come upon Me." When the Spirit of the LORD descended on Jesus at His baptism (see 3:22), this was a sign revealing an eternal, not temporal, truth to the people. 4:19 Ассeptable year: The time of the Incarnation, when the Kingdom of heaven has come to earth (see 2Co 6:2). Colossians 3:12-16 (Epistle, St.Simeon) 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. NOTE 3:15–17 True liturgical experience: Note how the liturgy of worship can be experienced as divine through the unity and holiness of the Church-the one New Man in Christ. Worship is experienced in the word of Christ, including the Scriptures and their exposition; the hymns and spiritual songs; the Eucharist (giving thanks to God). Matthew 11:27-30 (Gospel, St.Simeon) 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. NOTE 11:28–30 Jesus' yoke is submission to the Kingdom of God. A yoke could be seen as a sign of hardship, burdens, and responsibilities (3Kg 12:1-11; Jer 34:1– 11; WSir 40:1), but in Christ, the yoke is easy, for the power of God works in each person. Furthermore, the reward is infinitely greater than any effort man puts forth. Gentle (v. 29) is literally "meek". Meekness is an attitude of being content with both honor and dishonor. It is an imitation of Christ, who said, "Learn from Me, for I am gentle [meek] and lowly in heart” (11:29). The meek are God-controlled and have mastery over their passions, especially anger. Meekness is not passive weakness, but strength directed and under control. The earth that the meek will inherit is not power or possession in this world, but the new earth, which is everlasting (Rev 21:1). CONTEMPLATION Contemplate the lawlessness of David (II Samuel 11): 1. How David committed adultery with Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, while Uriah was away at war; 2. How David arranged the death of Uriah; 3. How God became angered with David. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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Originally Posted By Marie: How many? That's great. Originally Posted By Marie: Originally Posted By Anastasios: New round of Catechism classes. Glory to God https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/369185/790318840_18101967317625618_366201903591-3827298.JPG How many? That's great. |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
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Originally Posted By Kalahnikid: Thats wonderful. We probably have 5. The evangelical mega church and lutherans are strong here.  He’s also got no other Orthodox parish for hours around. Mine has the draw of being the only fully English speaking parish for a wide area. The other one is town is very very Greek. |
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Originally Posted By Marie: He’s also got no other Orthodox parish for hours around. Mine has the draw of being the only fully English speaking parish for a wide area. The other one is town is very very Greek. Our Priest went to an online Catechism class with a different Priest from our Diocese. I definitely see the benefit of the perspective from this particular Priest, but I really like the community aspect of an actual in person class. |
Put not your trust in princes, in sons of men in whom there is no salvation.
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Originally Posted By Kalahnikid: Our Priest went to an online Catechism class with a different Priest from our Diocese. I definitely see the benefit of the perspective from this particular Priest, but I really like the community aspect of an actual in person class. Originally Posted By Kalahnikid: Originally Posted By Marie: He’s also got no other Orthodox parish for hours around. Mine has the draw of being the only fully English speaking parish for a wide area. The other one is town is very very Greek. Our Priest went to an online Catechism class with a different Priest from our Diocese. I definitely see the benefit of the perspective from this particular Priest, but I really like the community aspect of an actual in person class. Our catechism classes are done via Zoom. We have people who drive up to an hour to church, plus when you add in people who have little kids, our catechist says Zoom makes coordinating schedules so much easier. |
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Originally Posted By Marie: Our catechism classes are done via Zoom. We have people who drive up to an hour to church, plus when you add in people who have little kids, our catechist says Zoom makes coordinating schedules so much easier. Us too and I get it. I just liked getting to go to church one extra day per week for a couple months and sitting in class. I hated school but I liked church class. 
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Put not your trust in princes, in sons of men in whom there is no salvation.
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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Great happiness is in God, there can be no happiness outside God, only the tyranny of passions. St. John of Kronstadt Holy Martyrs Mamas of Caesarea in Cappadocia (275), and his Parents, Theodotus and Rufina (3rd c.) Attached File He was born in Paphlagonia to renowned Christian parents, Theodotus and Rufina. His parents were cast into prison for Christ's name. His father died first in prison, and as soon as Rufina bore Mamas, she also died. Thus, the newborn child was left alone between the dead bodies of his parents. However, God the Provider sent an angel to a noble widow, Ammia. Ammia saw the angel in a dream: he told her to go to the prison and take the child in. The local eparch granted Ammia permission to bury the dead and to take the child to her home. When Mamas reached his fifth year, he began to talk, and his first word was "Mama!", for which he received the name "Mamas." In school, Mamas displayed unusual intelligence, and as he had been reared in a Christian spirit, he did not hide his faith but confessed it to the other children and laughed at the idols. During the reign of Aurelian, there was a bitter persecution of Christians. The pagans did not even spare the Christian children. Mamas was fifteen years old when he was brought before the emperor. The emperor told him that he needed only to deny Christ verbally. Mamas replied: "Neither in my heart nor with my lips will I renounce my God and King, Jesus Christ." The emperor ordered him to be beaten, burned with torches, and finally thrown into the sea. But an angel of God saved him and took him to a high mountain near Caesarea. There, he lived in solitude and prayer. Even the wild beasts were tamed by his sanctity. He was finally discovered by his persecutors and subjected to torture again. When he had overcome torture both by fire and by wild beasts, St. Mamas was run through with a trident by a pagan priest. Thus, he gave his holy soul to God, to Whom he had been faithful during all of his tortures. From his relics, many healings of the sick have taken place. St. John the Faster, Patriarch of Constantinople (595) Righteous Eleazar, Son of Righteous Aaron, and Righteous Phineas (ca. 1400 В.С.) Feast of the Miracle of the "Kaluga" Icon of the Mother of God (1748) 3,628 Martyrs at Nicomedia (303-305) St. Hieu, Abbess of Tadcaster (England) (ca.657) Sts. Anthony (1073) and Theodosius (1074), of the Kiev Caves New Hiero-Martyrs Barsanuphius, Bishop of Kyrillov, and Priest John, and Martyrs Seraphima, Abbess of the Therapontov Convent, and Anatole, Nicholas, Michael, and Philip, all at the St. Cyril of White Lake Monastery (1918) New Hiero-Martyrs Damascene, Bishop of Starodub, Herman, Bishop of Vyaznikov, and the Priest Stephen (1937) Holy Martyr Diomedes Holy Martyr Julian Holy Martyr Eutychian Holy Martyr Hesychius Holy Martyr Leonidis Holy Martyr Eutychius Holy Martyr Philadelphus Holy Martyr Melanippus Holy Martyr Parthagape Holy Martyrs Ammon and Aethalas of Thrace New Hieromartyrs Damascene, Bishop of Starodub, Herman, Bishop of Vyaznikov, and the Priest Stephen (1937) Galatians 5:11-21 11 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12 I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off! 13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; NOTE 5:13–15 The way of life in the Spirit, the way of faith and love, is expressed through service to God and one another (v. 13). We must avoid at all costs competitive comparisons of each other's deeds. 5:16 By the flesh, Paul does not mean the body. The flesh here is a general term for evil actions, the depraved will, the earthly mind, the slothful and careless soul—things that are under one's control, not part of human nature. This flesh is crucified with Christ (v. 24). It is not human nature that is mortified, but its evil deeds. Mark 7:5-16 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" 6 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. 7 And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men -the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do. 9 He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 10 For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.' 11 But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, Whatever profit you might have received from me is Corban"-' (that is, a gift to God), 12 then you no longer let him do anything for his father or his mother, 13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do. 14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear! NOTE 7:1-13 The issue here is not the observation of Jewish customs or traditions, which Jesus certainly does not prohibit (Mt 5:17–19; 23:23). At issue is setting human tradition contrary to the tradition of God (v. 8). The tradition of the elders (v. 3) is a body of interpretations of the Law, which for the Pharisees and the scribes (v. 1) was as authoritative as the Law and often superseded it. According to this tradition, offerings (called Corban, v. 11) could be promised to God in such a way that property or earnings could still be used for oneself, but not for anybody else, including one's parents. Secondary traditions such as this obscure the primary tradition of the Law, which is contained in God's commandments. 7:15–23 Food cannot defile a person because it is created by God and is therefore pure. Evil things (v. 21) are not from God, and these are what defile a person. CONTEMPLATION Contemplate God's punishment of David for his adultery and murder (II Samuel 12): 1. How God, speaking through the prophet Nathan, told David that because he took another's wife, his own wives would be taken by other men; 2. That his son would die; 3. That the sword would not depart from his house-all of which came to pass. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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Seek the simplest in all things, in food, clothing, without being ashamed of poverty. For a great part of the world lives in poverty. Do not say, "I am the son of a rich man. It is shameful for me to be in poverty." Christ, your Heavenly Father, Who gave birth to you in the baptistery, is not in worldly riches. Rather he walked in poverty and had nowhere to lay His head. St. Gennadius of Constantinople The PriestMartyr Anthymos, Bishop of Nicomedia, and theMartyrs with him The PriestMartyr Anthymos, Bishop of Nicomedia, and the Martyrs with him suffered during the time of the persecution against Christians under the emperors Diocletian (284-305) and Maximian (284-305). The persecution of Christians became particularly intense after the occurrence of a conflagration at the imperial court at Nicomedia. The pagans accused the Christians of setting the fire and reacted against them with terrible ferocity. Thus, in Nicomedia alone, on the day of the Nativity of Christ, at a church as many as twenty thousand Christians were burned. But this monstrous inhumanity did not frighten off the Christians: they firmly confessed their faith and accepted a martyr's death for Christ. And thus during this period of sufferings died Saints Dorotheus, Mardonius, Migdonius, Peter, Indysos and Gorgonios. One of them was beheaded by the sword, others perished by burning, or being covered over in the ground or by drowning in the sea. Zinon, a soldier, for his bold denunciation of the emperor Maximian was stoned, and then beheaded. Then also perished at the hands of the pagans the holy Virgin-Martyr Domna - a former pagan- priestess, and also Saint Euthymios, because of their concern that the bodies of the holy martyrs should be buried. Bishop Anthymos, who headed the Nicomedia Church, at the request of his flock concealed himself in a village not far from Nicomedia. From there he sent missives to the Christians, urging them to cleave firmly to the holy faith and not to fear tortures. One of his letters, dispatched with the Deacon Theophilos, was intercepted and given over to the emperor Maximian. Theophilos was subjected to interrogation and died under torture, without revealing to his torturers the whereabouts of Bishop Anthymos. But after a certain while Maximian managed to learn where Saint Anthymos was situated, and he sent a detachment of soldiers after him. The bishop himself met up with them along the way. The soldiers did not recognise the identity of the saint. He invited them to join him and provided them a meal, after which he revealed that he was the one that they were searching for. The soldiers did not know what to do in this instance; indeed, they wanted to leave him be and tell the emperor that they had not found him. Bishop Anthymos was not one to tolerate a lie, and so he would not consent to this. The soldiers themselves came to believe in Christ and accepted holy Baptism. But amidst all this, the saint nonetheless demanded them to carry out the orders of the emperor. When Bishop Anthymos was brought before the emperor, the emperor gave orders that the instruments of execution be brought out and placed before him. "Dost thou think, emperor, to frighten me with these tolls of execution?" - asked the saint. - "No indeed, thou canst not frighten one that doth wish to die for Christ! Execution is frightening only for the cowardlyof soul, for whom the present life is most precious". The emperor then directed that the saint be fiercely tortured and beheaded by the sword. Bishop Anthymos to his last gasp with joy glorified God, for Whom he had been vouchsafed to suffer. Attached File c1996-2001 by translator Fr. S. Janos. Holy Martyr Basilissa of Nicomedia St. Joanikije II, Archbishop and First Patriarch of Serbia Venerable Theoctistus of Palestine (467) St. Phoebe, Deaconess, at Cenchreae, Near Corinth (1st c.) Hieromartyr Aristion (Kelladion), Bishop of Alexandria (ca. 167) St. Constantine the New, Emperor of Byzantium (641) St. Aigulphus of Provence (Gaul) (676) St. Remaclus, Bishop of Maastricht (677) St. Edward, Martyr and King of England (978) Blessed John "the Hairy," Fool-for-Christ, of Rostov (1580) New Martyr Polydorus of Leucosia (Cyprus), at New Ephesus (1794) New Hiero-Martyr Pimen, Bishop of Vernensk (1918) New Hiero-Martyr Meletius, Hieromonk of the Issyk-Kul Holy Trinity Monastery (Kyrgyzstan) (1918) Holy Martyr Chariton Holy Martyr Archontius New Martyrs Alexis Zinoviev, priest (1937) and Peter Sorokine, deacon (1953) Galatians 6:2-10 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. 3 If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, 5 for each one should carry his own load. 6 Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. 7 Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. 8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. Mark 7:14-24 14 When He had called all the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear Me, everyone, and understand: 15 There is nothing that enters a man from outside which can defile him; but the things which come out of him, those are the things that defile a man. 16 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear! 17 When He had entered a house away from the crowd, His disciples asked Him concerning the parable. 18 So He said to them, "Are you thus without understanding also? Do you not perceive that whatever enters a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 because it does not enter his heart but his stomach, and is eliminated, thus purifying all foods? 20 And He said, "What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22 thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within and defile a man. 24 From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. NOTE 7:15–23 Food cannot defile a person because it is created by God and is therefore pure. Evil things (v. 21) are not from God, and these are what defile a person. CONTEMPLATION Contemplate God's punishment of David for his sins (II Samuel 13): 1. How Amnon, David's son, defiled David's daughter, Tamara; 2. How Absalom, David's son, slew Amnon his brother because of this; 3. How David wept bitterly. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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A lie is a delusion of the mind, while evil is a delusion of the will. The sign by which one is distinguished from the other is the judgement of God Himself ... that which he teaches a man: Truth is that which leads a man to will the good. But whatever contradicts this is entirely false, entirely evil. St. Nicholas Cabasilas Holy Hieromartyr Babylas, Bishop of Antioch with Martyrs Urban, Prilidian, and Epolonius, and their Mother Christodula (250) This "great and wonderful man, if he could be called a man", as St. John Chrysostom spoke of him, was Bishop of Antioch during the reign of the wicked Emperor Numerian. This Numerian concluded a peace treaty with a barbarian king, who was more noble and peace-loving than he. As a sign of his sincere desire for lasting peace, the barbarian king brought his young son up and educated him in Numerian's court. One day, Numerian stabbed this innocent boy to death with his own hands and offered him as a sacrifice to the idols. Still hot from the crime and the innocent blood, this criminal with an emperor's crown went to a Christian church to see what was going on there. St. Babylas was at prayer with the people and heard that the emperor had come with his retinue and desired to enter the church. Babylas interrupted the service, went out in front of the church, and told the emperor that as he was an idolater, he could not enter the holy temple where the one true God was glorified. In a homily about Babylas, St. John Chrysostom said: "Who else in the world would he fear, he who, with such authority, repulsed the emperor?" By this, he taught emperors not to overreach their authority beyond the measure God gave them, and he also showed the clergy how to use their own authority." The shamed emperor turned back but planned revenge. The following day, he summoned Babylas and berated him, urging him to offer sacrifice to the idols, which the saint steadfastly refused to do. The emperor then bound Babylas and cast him into prison. The emperor also tortured three children: Urban, age twelve; Prilidian, age nine; and Hippolinus, age seven. Babylas was their spiritual father and teacher, and they had not run away out of love for him. They were the sons of Christodula, an honorable Christian woman who had herself suffered for Christ. The emperor first ordered that each child be beaten with several blows corresponding to his years and then had them cast into prison. He finally had all three beheaded with the sword. The chained Babylas were present at the beheading of the children and encouraged them. After that, he laid his own honorable head under the sword. He was buried in his chains by the Christians, in the same grave as those three wondrous children, as he had willed before his martyrdom. Their holy souls flew off to their heavenly habitation, while their miracle-working relics remained for the benefit of the faithful as a constant witness to their heroism in the Faith. They suffered in about the year 250. Holy Prophet and Moses the God-Seer Holy Martyrs Marcellus and Cassian Holy Martyr Hermione (117), Daughter of Apostle Philip the Deacon Holy Martyrs Theodore, Ammianus, Julian, Oceanus, and Centurionus, of Nicomedia (288) Holy Martyr Babylas of Nicomedia, and with him 84 Children (4th c.) St. Petronius of Egypt (346), Disciple of St. Pachomius the Great St. Symeon, Abbot and Wonderworker of Gareji (1773) St. Anthimus the Blind, New Ascetic, of Cephalonia (1782) New Hieromartyr Parthenius, Abbot, of Kiziltash Monastery in Crimea (1867) Uncovering of the Relics (1911) of St. loasaph, Bishop of Belgorod (1754) New Hiero-Martyr Gregory, Bishop of Schlisselburg (1937) New Hiero-Martyr Sergius, Bishop of Narva (1937) New Hiero-Martyr Stephen, Hieromonk, of Nikolskoye (Tver) (1937) New Hiero-Martyr Peter, Metropolitan of Dabro-Bosnia (1941) Second Uncovering of the Relics (1989) of St. Metrophanes (Macarius in Schema), Bishop of Voronezh (1703) Synaxis of the Saints of Voronezh Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "The Unburnt Bush" Sts. Theotimus and Theldulus, the Tormentors of St. Hermione Holy Martyr Jerusalem of Berea, and her three sons, Secendos, Secendicos and Segoras (276-282) Holy Martyr Sarbelus New Hieromartyr Gorazd, bishop of Slovakia and the Czech Lands (1942) Michael Bogorodsky, Archpriest, Nicholas Khvochtchev, Nicholas Lebedev, Peter Lebedinsky, Alexander Nikolsky, John Romachkin, Nicholas Sretensky, John Vasilevsky, Paul Vasilevsky, priests, and Holy Martyrs Alexander Blokhine, Basil Ejov, Peter Lonskov, and Stephen Mitiushkin (1937) Ephesians 1:1-9 1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, NOTE 1:1, 2 Saints and faithful are biblical and historical references to Christian believers. Here, God (v. 2) refers to the Father, Lord (Gr. kyrios) refers to the Son. Early Christian usage of these words indicates an identity of nature but distinction of Persons between the Father and the Son. 1:3–14 In the original Greek, this is all one sentence. Paul's opening theme is the preeminence of God's initiative. We say, simply, "Blessed is the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Paul's doxology is more detailed: The Father has all power (vv. 3–6); the Son, all rule (vv. 7–12); the Spirit, all caretaking (vv. 13, 14). 1:3 God blesses and so is blessed. The Christian life is a response to God's initiative, especially that of the Father but also that of the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Spiritual blessing is primarily the work of the Spirit. The heavenly places, where the risen and ascended Christ reigns, are experienced in Christ, that is, by the life that is begun when one is joined with Christ in baptism (see Rom 6:3–5). 1:4–6 Everything comes from God, and everything should be drawn back to Him. God's original intent for the Incarnation was not redemption from the Fall but adoption as sons of God (v. 5), that is, deification. For when God contemplated creating the world, He planned on bringing it into union with Himself through the Incarnation of His Son, that is, through the Son's union with human nature. That is why St. Athanasius can say, "God became man that man might become god." The Father chose us (v. 4) in Him, the Son. Christ, who is God by nature, became Man by choice. If we choose Him, we, who are human by nature, become "gods" by grace. If we are in Christ, the Son of God, we are sons of God. Paul is not addressing individuals as such but us, the community, the Church. And he is not addressing the issue of human will in salvation but the will of God, which is that all are chosen (see Rom 11:32; 1Ti 2:4; 2Pt 3:9). But being predestined (v. 5) by God does not nullify human will: in everything, God is the originator, the initiator; we merely respond, but our response is necessary. Becoming a Christian is not so much inviting Christ into one's life as getting oneself into Christ's life. What is true of Christ must become true of one who is in Him. 1:7, 8 The sacraments of baptism (redemption) and the Eucharist (His blood) are alluded to as the necessary foundation for drawing near to God. Redemption has a technical meaning relative to the freeing of slaves. Here, the bondage is to sins; the act of releasing is forgiveness; the price of redemption is blood—the human life of Christ given over to death for the sake of new life. This beginning of life in Christ is not merely legal, nor instantaneous, but living and dynamic. 1:9, 10 The mystery is the plan of salvation, the gospel, the Kingdom of God, the Church. This mystery centers on Christ Himself (Col 2:2), from the Incarnation (1Ti 3:16), to the Cross (1Co 2:8), to the restoration and culmination of all things (v. 10). It is the fullness (v. 10) of all, not only for humanity but for the whole creation. Although it was announced by the prophets (Rom 16:25, 26), God revealed it through Christ, and it is made known to us through the apostles (3:1–5; 1Co 2:6, 7, 10–16; 4:1). The mystery is made manifest in history by the fact that Gentiles and Jews compose one body (3:6; Col 1:26–28). The mystery is experienced in the sacraments of the Church, which are called the "mysteries." Mark 7:24-30 24 From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden. 25 For a woman whose young daughter had an unclean spirit heard about Him, and she came and fell at His feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phoenician by birth, and she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. 27 But Jesus said to her, "Let the children be filled first, for it is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the little dogs." 28 And she answered and said to Him, "Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs under the table eat from the children's crumbs." 29 Then He said to her, "For this saying go your way; the demon has gone out of your daughter." 30 And when she had come to her house, she found the demon gone out, and her daughter lying on the bed. NOTE 7:24-30 See notes at Mt 15:21–28. 15:21–28 The story of ministry to this Gentile woman illustrates the Jewish orientation of Matthew's gospel. This account is also mentioned in Mk 7:24- 30, but with two major differences: (1) Matthew records Christ's words concerning the lost sheep of the house of Israel (v. 24), while Mark does not, and (2) Matthew records the woman using the title Son of David, a Jewish term for the Messiah, while Mark does not. Christ went to the Gentile cities not to preach, but to withdraw from the faithless Pharisees. This is confirmed in Mark's gospel, where we read that Christ "wanted no one to know" He was there, and here, where Christ says that He was only sent to the house of Israel. 15:22 This woman shows immeasurable love-she so identifies with the sufferings of her daughter that she cries "Have mercy on me," for she sees her daughter's well-being as her own and her daughter's sufferings as her own. 15:23 Christ refuses to answer, not only because she is a Gentile and His ministry before His Passion is first to the Jews, but also to reveal this woman's profound faith and love. Several of the Fathers see the disciples' request to send her away as an attempt to persuade Jesus to heal the daughter, as if to say, "Give her what she wants so that she will leave." Christ's response indicates this interpretation is correct, for He again refuses to heal the daughter. 15:26–28 Having evoked this woman's love and persistent faith, Christ now reveals her humility. She accepts her place beneath the Jews, who were the chosen people of God, yet still desires a share in God's grace. Christ's hesitancy was not a lack of compassion, but a conscious means of revealing the virtues of this woman, both to the disciples and for her own sake. Her ultimate acceptance by Christ also points to the gathering of the Gentiles into the Church after Pentecost, no longer as dogs, but as children who are invited to eat the bread of eternal life. CONTEMPLATION Contemplate God's punishment of David for his sins (II Samuel 15): 1. How Absalom, David's son, raised a rebellion against his father; 2. How David fled from Jerusalem before his son, and went barefoot and wept. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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Great happiness is in God, there can be no happiness outside God, only the tyranny of passions. St. John of Kronstadt Ephesians 1:7-17 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth-in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, NOTE 1:7, 8 The sacraments of baptism (redemption) and the Eucharist (His blood) are alluded to as the necessary foundation for drawing near to God. Redemption has a technical meaning relative to the freeing of slaves. Here, the bondage is to sins; the act of releasing is forgiveness; the price of redemption is blood-the human life of Christ given over to death for the sake of new life. This beginning of life in Christ is not merely legal, nor instantaneous, but living and dynamic. 1:9, 10 The mystery is the plan of salvation, the gospel, the Kingdom of God, the Church. This mystery centers on Christ Himself (Col 2:2), from the Incarnation (1Ti 3:16), to the Cross (1Co 2:8), to the restoration and culmination of all things (v. 10). It is the fullness (v. 10) of all, not only for humanity but for the whole creation. Although it was announced by the prophets (Rom 16:25, 26), God revealed it through Christ, and it is made known to us through the apostles (3:1-5; 1Co 2:6, 7, 10–16; 4:1). The mystery is made manifest in history by the fact that Gentiles and Jews compose one body (3:6; Col 1:26–28). The mystery is experienced in the sacraments of the Church, which are called the "mysteries." 1:11-14 The gospel unites all humanity: the Jews (vv. 11, 12) and the Gentiles (vv. 13, 14). The Jews, especially those who trusted in Christ (v. 12)- one of whom was Paul, hence the use of we (v. 11)-were the first witnesses to the coming of the Messiah. In "the fullness of the times" (v. 10) they were joined by the Gentiles. 1:13, 14 The outpouring of the Holy Spirit was an evidence that the last times, the day of the Lord, had come. Hence, Pentecost was a proof to the Jews that Jesus indeed was the Messiah. And the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Gentiles (Acts 10:44–48) was a proof they were equal to the Jews in this final age. After baptism one is sealed with the Holy Spirit, called "chrismation." (The word "seal" is repeated by Orthodox Christians as the priest or bishop anoints the newly baptized with oil.) The guarantee (v. 14) is a first installment in kind, a down payment or earnest of what is later to be completed: we both are redeemed and shall be redeemed. 1:15 This is a way of restating the two great commandments: love God and love man. Mark 8:1-10 1 In those days, the multitude being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them, 2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 And if I send them away hungry to their own houses, they will faint on the way; for some of them have come from afar. 4 Then His disciples answered Him, "How can one satisfy these people with bread here in the wilderness?" 5 He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?" And they said, "Seven." 6 So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude. 7 They also had a few small fish; and having blessed them, He said to set them also before them. 8 So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments. 9 Now those who had eaten were about four thousand. And He sent them away, 10 immediately got into the boat with His disciples, and came to the region of Dalmanutha. NOTE 8:1-9 See note at Mt 15:32-39. 15:32–39 This second feeding of a multitude should not be confused with the first (14:22-33), for they are two distinct miracles (see 16:8–10). The variance in the number of loaves is significant. In the first instance, there were five loaves, symbolizing the Law, while here, there are seven (v. 34). Seven symbolizes completeness and here indicates spiritual perfection. Thus, in the first instance, Christ reveals Himself as fulfilling the Law, while here He shows that it is He who grants spiritual perfection. Note also these crowds had been with Christ for three days (v. 32), the number of days He would rest in the tomb. Participation in His perfection can only come through being united to Christ's death (see Rom 6:3-5). CONTEMPLATION Contemplate God's punishment of David for his sins (II Samuel 17): 1. How Absalom warred with his father and how many people died in that war; 2. How Absalom perished; 3. How David wept bitterly. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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Commemoration of the Miracles of Holy Archangel Michael Attached File Near Hierapolis, in Phrygia, there was a place called Chonae ("plunging"), and there was a spring of miraculous water. When Apostle John the Theologian, accompanied by Philip, preached the Gospel in Hierapolis, he looked upon that place and prophesied that a spring of miraculous water would open up there, from which many would receive healing, and that the great Archangel of God Michael would visit that place. Soon afterward, this prophecy was fulfilled: a spring of water burst forth and became widely known for its miraculous power. A pagan in Laodicea had a daughter who was mute, which caused him great sorrow. Archangel Michael appeared to him in a dream and told him to take his daughter to the spring, where she would be cured. The father immediately obeyed, brought his daughter to the spring, and found many people there seeking deliverance from various infirmities. These people were all Christians. The man asked how he should seek healing, and the Christians told him: "You must pray to the Archangel Michael, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." The man prayed in this way, gave his daughter a drink of this water, and the girl began to speak. The pagan, his daughter, and his whole household were baptized. He also built a church over the spring dedicated to the Archangel Michael. Later, a young man named Archippus settled there and lived a life of austerity, fasting, and praying. The pagans did many malicious things to Archippus, for they did not like the fact that this Christian holy place emanated such spiritual power and attracted so many people to it. The pagans, in their wickedness, rerouted the nearest river to flood the church and the spring. By the prayers of Archippus, the holy Archangel Michael opened a fissure in the rock beside the church, and the river's water plunged into it. This is how that place was saved and why it was called Chonae, or "of the plunging," for the river's water that plunged into the open fissure. St. Archippus labored in asceticism until the age of seventy and peacefully reposed in the Lord. Holy Martyr Romulus and 11,000 Soldiers, in Armenia (107-115) St. Eudoxius and with him Martyrs Zeno, Macarius, and 1,104 Soldiers, in Melitene (311) Venerable David of Hermopolis in Egypt (6th c.) Hieromartyr Cyril, Bishop of Gortyna on Crete (ca. 303) St. Archippus of Hierapolis (4th c.) St. Beya, Virgin, First Abbess of Copeland in Cumbria (7th c.) St. Magnus of Fussen, Enlightener of the Allgau region of Germany (750-772) Holy Martyrs Cyriacus, Faustus, Abibus, and 11 Others, at Alexandria (250) Holy Martyrs Calodote, Macarius, Andrew, Cyriacus, Dionysius, Andrew the Soldier, Andropelagia, Thecla, Theoctistus, and Sarapabon the Senator, in Egypt (256) New Hieromartyr Maximus Sandovich (1914) New Hieromartyr Constantine Bogoslovsky, archpriest (1937) 1 Corinthians 10:23-28 23 All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify. 24 Let no one seek his own, but each one the other's well-being. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market, asking no questions for conscience' sake; 26 for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." 27 If any of those who do not believe invites you to dinner, and you desire to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no question for conscience' sake. 28 But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," do not eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for conscience' sake; for "the earth is the LORD's, and all its fullness." NOTE 10:23, 24 Christians are obligated to obey only one law: the law of Christ, the law of love. This obligates us to what is helpful (v. 23) and edifying to the other's well-being (v. 24). We therefore continually seek the good of others in every way. 10:25–33 Since God created everything, everything is clean (v. 26), even what was once used in idolatrous worship (vv. 25, 27). However, offending a fellow Christian in nonessential matters breaks the law of love, the bond of unity (vv. 28-30). Matthew 24:34-44 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 36 But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. 37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect. NOTE 24:34 This generation refers to all believers at all times, the generation of the Church, and not merely to those alive at the time of Christ. 24:36 According to St. John Chrysostom, Christ tells of the angels being unaware of the exact day of His return “so that men should not seek to learn what angels do not know," and to forbid them not only from learning the day, but from even inquiring about it. According to Mk 13:32, and in Chrysostom's Matthew text, Jesus declares that the Son also does not know the day of His own return. Chrysostom teaches this is not to be understood literally, but is a figure of speech meaning that Christ, though He revealed all the signs that will accompany His return, will not reveal the exact day to anyone, and that believers should not be so brazen as to inquire of Him. 024:36—26:2 This passage is read on Holy Tuesday, the Tuesday before Pascha (Easter). 24:37-41 The second coming of Christ will entail a sudden revelation of judgment. One will be taken to heaven and the other left for eternal condemnation. This separation of the saints from the wicked will occur at the coming of the Son of Man (v. 39), and not, as some teach today, at a certain time before His second coming. 24:42–44 The Lord's purpose in this discourse is not to make people experts on end-time prophecy. Rather, it is so they may watch (v. 42) and be ready (v. 44), continuing in virtue and obeying Christ's commandments. This warning is illustrated in the parable of the returning master (vv. 45-51). CONTEMPLATION Contemplate the example of David's self- restraint (II Samuel 23): 1. How, during battle against the Philistines, David became thirsty, and asked who would bring him water from the well in Bethlehem, which was held by the Philistines; 2. How three heroes slipped through the enemy lines, and brought water back to their king; 3. How David did not want to drink, but rather poured the water on the ground, saying: Is not this the blood of the men that went in jeopardy of their lives? Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
| New priest is very nice. Not a crazy convert nor an Orthobro. He has a good voice. Big sigh of relief in choir about that! Turned out he was choir director at a parish for a long time. Retiring priest is very musically inclined and so we didn’t know what we were getting. |
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Originally Posted By Marie: New priest is very nice. Not a crazy convert nor an Orthobro. He has a good voice. Big sigh of relief in choir about that! Turned out he was choir director at a parish for a long time. Retiring priest is very musically inclined and so we didn’t know what we were getting. Nice 
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Put not your trust in princes, in sons of men in whom there is no salvation.
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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If a man does not argue with the thoughts that the enemy secretly sows in us, but by prayer to God uproots conversation with them, this is a sign that his mind has attained wisdom, and that he has found a short path. St. Isaac the Syrian The Nativity of the Most-Holy Theotokos this, she foreshadowed Him Who would be born of her as King and High Priest. Her parents were quite old and had no children. Because of this, they were ashamed before men and humble before God. In their humility, they prayed to God with tears, asking Him to bring them joy in their old age by giving them a child, just as He had once given joy to the aged Abraham and his wife Sarah by giving them Isaa . The Almighty and All-seeing God rewarded them with a joy that surpassed all their expectations and all their most beautiful dreams. For He gave them not just a daughter, but the Mother of God. He illumined them not only with temporal joy but with eternal joy as well. God gave them just one daughter, and she would later give them just one grandson - but what a daughter and what a Grandson! Mary, Full of grace, Blessed among women, the Temple of the Holy Spirit, the Altar of the Living God, the Table of the Heavenly Bread, the Ark of God's Holiness, the Tree of the Sweetest Fruit, the Glory of the race of man, the Praise of womanhood, the Fount of virginity and purity - this was the daughter given by God to Joachim and Anna. She was born in Nazareth, and at the age of three, was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem. In her young womanhood, she returned to Nazareth, and shortly thereafter, she heard the Annunciation of the Holy Archangel Gabriel concerning the birth of the Son of God, the Savior of the world, from her most pure virgin body. Attached File Key Features of the Icon Saint Anna Reclining: The upper portion typically shows Mary's mother, Anna, resting on a couch or bed after the birth, attended by maidens bearing gifts. Bathing the Infant: The lower section depicts midwives or servants washing the newborn Mary in a basin. Architectural Setting: The interior and stylized buildings emphasize that the sacred event takes place within a domestic and protected space, often featuring a draped canopy or velum. Feast of Holy Theotokos of Kalishto Feast of the Icon of Holy Theotokos of Pochaev St. Ina, King of Wessex, and his Wife Queen Ethelburga (8th c.) St. Serapion, Monk of Spaso-Eleazar Monastery (Pskov) (1481) St. Lucian, Abbot, of Alexandrov (1654) New Martyr Athanasius of Thessalonica (1774) St. Sophronius of Achtalea in Georgia, Bishop (1803) New Martyr Alexander Jacobson, at Solovki (1930) Sts. loane, Archimandrite (1957), and Giorgi-loane, Schema-Archimandrite (1960), Confessors, of Georgia Icons of the Most Holy Theotokos: Kholmsk (1st c.), "Kursk Root" (1295), "Syamsk" (1524), "Glinsk" (16th c.), "Lukianov" (16th c.), "Isaakov" (1659), "Lesna" (1696), and "Domnitsk" (1696) Holy Martyrs Rufus and Rufianus Holy Martyr Severus Holy Martyr Artemidorus St. Arsenius, Abbot of Konevits (1447). Epistle Philippians 2.5-11 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Gospel Luke 10.38-42, 11.27-28 38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." 27 As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you." 28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Epistle Ephesians 1.22-2.3 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. 1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. Gospel Mark 10.46-52 46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (that is, the Son of Timaeus), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 Jesus stopped and said, "Call him." So they called to the blind man, "Cheer up! On your feet! He's calling you." 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus. 51 "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked him. The blind man said, "Rabbi, I want to see." 52 "Go," said Jesus, "your faith has healed you." Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road. CONTEMPLATION Contemplate God's wonderful gift to Solomon (I Kings 3): 1. How the Lord appeared to Solomon in Gibeon, and asked him his desire; 2. How Solomon asked for an understanding heart, in order to judge the people and recognize good and evil; 3. How God gave him that which he sought, as well as that which he did not seek. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite
Remember your end, and you will not sin
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"I love them that love me, and glorify them that glorify me." (Proverbs 8:17, I Kings 2:30,) says the Lord of His saints. The lord gave the Holy Spirit to the saints, and they love us in the Holy Spirit. The saints hear our prayers and have the power from God to help us. The entire Christian race knows this. St. Silouan the Athonite Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anna St. Joachim was of the lineage of Judah and a descendant of King David. Anna was the daughter of Matthan, the priest from the lineage of Levi, and Aaron was the high priest. Matthan had three daughters: Mary, Sophia, and Anna. Mary married, lived in Bethlehem, and gave birth to Salome; Sophia married, also lived in Bethlehem, and gave birth to Elizabeth, the mother of St. John the Forerunner; Anna married Joachim in Nazareth, and in old age, gave birth to Mary, the Most-holy Theotokos. Joachim and Anna had lived together in marriage for fifty years and yet had remained barren. They lived devoutly and quietly, and of all their income, they spent one-third on themselves, distributed one-third to the poor, and gave the other third to the Temple, and they were well provided for. Once, when they came to Jerusalem to offer a sacrifice to God in their old age, the high priest Issachar reprimanded Joachim, saying: "You are not worthy that a gift be accepted from your hands, for you are childless." Others, who had children, pushed Joachim behind them as one unworthy. This greatly grieved these two aged souls, and they returned home in great sorrow. Then, the two of them prayed before God that He would work a miracle with them as He once had with Abraham and Sarah and give them a child as comfort in their old age. Then God sent His angel, who announced to them the birth of "a daughter most-blessed, by whom all nations on earth will be blessed and through whom the world's salvation will come." Anna straightway conceived and, in nine months, gave birth to the Holy Virgin Mary. St. Joachim lived for eighty years, and Anna lived for seventy-nine when they reposed in the Lord. Commemoration of the Third Ecumenical Council (431) This Council met in Ephesus in 431 at the time of Emperor Theodosius the Younger. There were two hundred Holy Fathers present at this Council. This Council condemned Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople, for his heretical teachings concerning the Most-holy Virgin Mary and the birth of the Lord. Nestorius did not want to call the Holy Virgin the Theotokos (Birth-giver of God), but rather the Christotokos (Birth-giver of Christ). The Holy Fathers condemned the teachings of Nestorius and confirmed that the Holy Virgin be called the Theotokos. Besides this, the Council confirmed the decisions of the First and Second Ecumenical Councils, especially regarding the Nicaean-Constantinopolitan Creed, commanding that no one take from or add to the Creed. Holy Martyr Severian of Sebaste (320) St. Theophanes the Confessor and Faster, of Mt. Diabenos St. Nicetas the God-pleaser (the "Hidden"), of Constantinople (12th c.) St. Kieran (Ciaran) of Clonmacnois (Ireland) (ca. 545) St. Omer, Bishop of Therouanne (670) St. Joseph, Founder of Volokolamsk (Volotsk) Monastery (1515) St. Joachim, Founder of Opochka Monastery (Pskov) (ca. 1550) St. Joachim, Monk of the St. Nicholas-Shartomsk Monastery in Suzdal (1625) St. Cyriacus of Tazlau Monastery, Moldavia (1660) Uncovering and translation of the Relics (1896) of St. Theodosius, Archbishop of Chernigov (1696) St. Onuphrius of Vorona, Moldavia (1789) New Hieromartyr Zachariah, Archbishop of Voronezh (1937) New Hiero-Martyr Andronicus, Hieromonk, of Moscow (1938) Synaxis of the Saints of Glinsk Monastery Holy Martyr Chariton New Hieromartyrs Gregory Garayev, Priest, and Alexander Ipatov, Deacon (1918) Ephesians 2:19-3:7 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit. 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles- 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. Mark 11:11-23 11 And Jesus went into Jerusalem and into the temple. So when He had looked around at all things, as the hour was already late, He went out to Bethany with the twelve. 12 Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry. 13 And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. 14 In response Jesus said to it, "Let no one eat fruit from you ever again." And His disciples heard it. 15 So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 16 And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. 17 Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves. " 18 And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. NOTE 11:13, 14 It was not the season for figs means that this fig tree had sprouted an early full foliage, indicating a first crop, but without bearing any fruit. Jesus, finding not even one fig, condemns it. In Scripture a fig tree is often a symbol of Israel (Hos 9:10). Her fruitfulness has ceased, so the Kingdom will be taken from her and given to another people, who are called to bear spiritual fruit (see Mt 21:43; Gal 5:22, 23 11:15–19 See note at Mt 21:12, 13. 21:12, 13 Those who bought and sold were trading in live animals to be used for sacrifices. The money changers traded Roman coins for Jewish coins since Roman coins, which bore the image of Caesar, were considered defiling in the temple. The cleansing of the temple also points to the necessity that the Church be kept free from earthly pursuits. As each person is considered a temple of God (1Co 3:16; 6:19), it is also a sign that our hearts and minds must be cleansed of earthly matters. 11:20, 21 The cursing and withering of the fig tree is a prophetic act signifying the judgment of Israel. The disciples need to learn that the old covenant with Israel is becoming "obsolete" and will "vanish away" (Heb 8:13). They will establish His Church, ultimately to be filled with Gentiles and Jews, and need assurance that they are following His will. The fig tree will be an indelible image in their minds. CONTEMPLATION Contemplate the wisdom of Solomon (I Kings 3): 1. How two women disputed over a child, and each said that the child was hers; 2. How Solomon ordered that the child be cut in two; and one half be given to each woman; 3. How the real mother cried out for the child, and thus made it known that the child was hers. Glory to God |
The man who cries out against evil men but does not pray for them will never know the grace of God.
-St. Silouan the Athonite
-St. Silouan the Athonite