Loving One's Enemies - By St. Silouan The Athonite

The soul cannot know peace unless she prays for her enemies. The soul that has learned of God’s grace to pray, feels love and compassion for every created thing, and in particular for mankind, for whom the Lord suffered on the Cross, and His soul was heavy for every one of us.

The Lord taught me to love my enemies. Without the grace of God we cannot love our enemies. Only the Holy Spirit teaches love, and then even devils arouse our pity because they have fallen from good, and lost humility in God.

I beseech you, put this to the test. When a man affronts you or brings dishonor on your head, or takes what is yours, or persecutes the Church, pray to the Lord, saying: “O Lord, we are all Thy creatures. Have pity on Thy servants and turn their hearts to repentance,” and you will be aware of grace in your soul. To begin with, constrain your heart to love enemies, and the Lord, seeing your good will, will help you in all things, and experience itself will show you the way. But the man who thinks with malice of his enemies has not God’s love within him, and does not know God.

If you will pray for your enemies, peace will come to you; but when you can love your enemies – know that a great measure of the grace of God dwells in you, though I do not say perfect grace as yet, but sufficient for salvation. Whereas if you revile your enemies, it means there is an evil spirit living in you and bringing evil thoughts into your heart, for, in the words of the Lord, out of the heart proceed evil thoughts – or good thoughts.

The good man thinks to himself in this wise: Every one who has strayed from the truth brings destruction on himself and is therefore to be pitied. But of course the man who has not learned the love of the Holy Spirit will not pray for his enemies. The man who has learned love from the Holy Spirit sorrows all his life over those who are not saved, and sheds abundant tears for the people, and the grace of God gives him strength to love his enemies.

Understand me. It is so simple. People who do not know God, or who go against Him, are to be pitied; the heart sorrows for them and the eye weeps. Both paradise and torment are clearly visible to us: We know this through the Holy Spirit. And did not the Lord Himself say, “The kingdom of God is within you”? Thus eternal life has its beginning here in this life; and it is here that we sow the seeds of eternal torment. Where there is pride there cannot be grace, and if we lose grace we also lose both love of God and assurance in prayer. The soul is then tormented by evil thoughts and does not understand that she must humble herself and love her enemies, for there is no other way to please God.

St. Silouan The Athonite 

Church Peace Prayer

The most repeated prayer in our Liturgy is the litany for the Church's peace, in which we say, 'Remember, O Lord, the peace of Your One, Holy, Universal and Apostolic Church. Preserve Her in peace.' It is a prayer that we pray from the depths of our hearts. Not just as part of the liturgy, but as living and burning feelings.

H.H. Pope Shenouda III

The Virtue of Gentleness

Gentleness was one of the most outstanding virtues in the life of H.H. Pope Kyrillos VI.  Fr. Raphael Ava Mina told us this incident that showed his great gentleness. It happened one day that the Patriarchate received a letter that has had words against H.H.  Fr. Raphael was the one who read the letter to H.H. He opened that letter but quickly hid it. 

His Holiness noticed that and asked him: "Why did you hide this letter?"  So Fr. Raphael answered: "Your Holiness, one has a sharp tongue and is also swearing!"  But H.H. insisted on reading the letter.  After he read it, H.H. said to him: "Is that what you call swearing?"  Fr. Raphael was amazed and said: "Of course, your Holiness, all these sharp words!"  But H.H. with all gentleness, said: "Do not worry about it, my son. May be God will look at me and save me!"

The sender of that letter was known to them. One of his relatives passed away and H.H. sent one of the bishops to offer Condolences on behalf of H.H.  It was the custom at that time that whoever receives courtesy from the Pope would come to the Patriarchate and record a few words of thanks in the visitor register.  So this man came and Fr. Raphael asked him if he would like to meet the Pope personally. The man was embarrassed, apologized and left in a hurry.

In the evening, H.H. heard that this man came to the Patriarchate.  H.H. asked Fr. Raphael: "Why didn't you tell me that this man came today?!"  Fr. Raphael explained what happened, so H.H. replied: "You should have left him and came to me immediately so I could have went down and reconciled with him."

This is the gentleness of Pope Kyrillos VI who never met evil with evil but defeated evil by doing good, as it is said in the Holy Bible.  This story was told by Fr. Raphael Ava Mina himself.

May the blessing of Pope Kyrillos VI be with us all Amen. 

Fathers Sayings - Abba John The Dwarf

Abba Poemen said of Abba John the Dwarf that he had prayed God to take his passions away from him so that he might become free from care.


He went and told an old man this: ‘I find myself in peace, without an enemy,’ he said. The old man said to him, ‘Go, beseech God to stir up warfare so that you may regain the affliction and humility that you used to have, for it is by warfare that the soul makes progress.’


So he besought God and when warfare came, he no longer prayed that it might be taken away, but said, ‘Lord, give me strength for the fight.’

Accept God's Comfort

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;


He leads me in the paths of righteousness
 

For His name’s sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
 

I will fear no evil;
 

For You are with me;
 

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

 Psalm 23:1-4

These words have often been the source of solace and peace.  Few other biblical passages contain such beautiful imagery.  The reason why people are so uplifted by the Shepherd's Psalm is because it describes the comfort we dream  of having during trials.  But it doesn't have to be a dream! It is available in Jesus Christ right this minute.

This comfort doesn't come with a mere snapping of our fingers.  We must accept God's comfort or we will not possess it.  To receive this emotional healing we cannot cling to our hurts.  They must be dropped just outside the gate to the green pastures.  Then both hands and heart will open to receive soothing restoration of soul and spirit. 

Acquire Grace and Mercy

 

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord  

(2 Timothy 1:2)

Meet the sisters of peace: Grace and Mercy. The first is the ability to give to others that which they do not deserve; the second is the ability to withhold from others that reproof which they do deserve.  When these qualities are interwoven in our living, the end result will be peace.

God is the only one who has the absolute control of grace and mercy because they are inherent in His character.  In fact, these two gems are beyond our human capabilities.  If we are to be equipped to demonstrate exclusively God-like characteristics, then we must be endowed by God.

Scripture says God gives more grace to the humble (John 4:6), and that mercy can be obtained through prayer. (Heb. 4:16)  So then, by reverently seeking the Lord in prayer we can acquire grace and mercy to help us in our time of need.  In turn, we will be able to show grace and mercy unto others.  Always on the heels of the first two sisters is the third sister-Peace.

The Transfiguration of our Lord and Saviour

The Transfiguration of our Lord and Savior 

By St Gregory Palamas  

The Prophet Isaiah foretold in respect of the Gospel that “the Lord will give a concise word on the earth.” (Isaiah 10:23)  A concise word is an utterance containing an abundance of meaning in a few phrases. So let us look again at the Gospel passage, which we examined earlier, and add what we left out, that we may take our fill of the incorruptible meaning stored up in it, and all receive divine inspiration.

“At that time Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought them up into a high mountain apart, and was transfigured before them: and His face did shine as the sun.” [Matthew 17:1-2; see also Mark 9:2-3] “Behold, now is the acceptable time,” brethren, “now is the day of salvation” [2 Corinthians 6:2; see also Isaiah 49:8] a divine, new and eternal day, not measured in hours, never lengthening or shortening, uninterrupted by night. For us it is the day of the Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2) with Whom is no variableness, neither shadow nor turning. (James 1:17) That Sun, since the day when, by the good pleasure of the Father and the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, He lovingly shone upon us and led us “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9) continues without setting to shine upon us for ever.

As the Sun of Righteousness (Malachi 4:2) and truth, He does not consent to give light to, or be known perfectly by, those who cultivate lying and either extol injustice or demonstrate it in their deeds. But He shines upon those who act righteously and love truth, is believed by them, and delights them with His rays. Therefore the Scripture says, “Light has dawned for the righteous, and its companion, gladness”  (Psalm 97:11) And the Psalmist and Prophet also sings to God, “Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in Thy name” (Psalm 89:12) foretelling the joy that those who later saw that illumination would experience. Isaiah tells us “to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free” (Isaiah 58:6) What then? “Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy health as shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee, and the glory of the Lord shall compass thee” (Isaiah 58:8 ) Again he says, “If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke and the stretching forth of the hand, and murmuring speech, and if thou give bread to the hungry from thy heart, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise in darkness, and thy darkness shall be as noonday” (Isaiah 58:9-10) For that Sun makes other suns of those upon whom it brightly shines. “Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Matthew 13:43)

Let us cast off, brethren, the works of darkness, and let us perform the works of light, that we may not only walk honestly, as in the day (Romans 13:12-13) but also become children of the day. (1 Thessalonians 5:5)  And come, let us go up the mountain where Christ shone forth, that we may see what happened there. Or rather, if we become children worthy of that day, the Word of God Himself will take us up when the time comes. Now, I beseech you, strive to lift up the eyes of your understanding towards the light of the Gospel message, that you may be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2) and having acquired the divine brightness from above, be conformed to the likeness of the glory of the Lord (Romans 8:29) Whose face shone like the sun today on the mountain.

From a sermon by Saint Gregory Palamas

9 - YOUR SELF AND THE OFFENCES - By H.H. Pope Shenouda III

9 - YOUR SELF AND THE OFFENCES 

By H.H. Pope Shenouda III

The following is a collection of articles entitled, "The Release of the Spirit" written by HH Pope Shenouda III for the Sunday School Magazine from the year 1951 before starting his monastic life.  

These articles were published in the form of a book in the year 1957 including some of his poems which were published in the magazine as well.. 

It was his first published book and it gained the approval of many and was reprinted many times.

9 - YOUR SELF AND THE OFFENCES 

My beloved brother, unless you are released from your "self" which you worship in place of God, and which you exalt and elevate in front of people, you will never attain the eminence of the release of the spirit... 

Perhaps you sometimes like to be praised by people.. and we have discussed in a previous article what you ought to do when others praise you.. Now, in this calm meeting I'd like to ask you, 

'What do you feel and how do you behave when others offend you or mistrust you?'

Perhaps you would think that you are insulted.. and perhaps you would be much concerned about your dignity and the awe and respect due to you.. This would make you angry and furious.. You may avenge or defend yourself.. I do not deny you this right, for I am in the flesh like you and have experienced all such feelings or rather have been tempted by them... But come, let us discuss the matter together.. 

What benefit does anger avail you?.. It disturbs you, and destroys your nerves.. Moreover it deprives you of the peace of heart and of comfort.. Do you not remember the words of St. James the Apostle,

"For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. " (James 1:20) 

Getting angry for the sake of your self is no doubt that kind of anger meant by St. James the Apostle.. I hear you saying that such anger relieves your sorrow and gives vent to the agitation suppressed within you! But why do you have such suppressed agitation which needs to come out? Of course the reason is obvious which is that you are much concerned about yourself! Be released, my beloved brother, from this self and you will have comfort.. 

If anyone insults you, do not think of yourself being insulted, but of the person who insulted you.. He is your brother.. and you-being a spiritual person full of love ought to think what can you do for that brother who sinned against you..

Of course, you do not want his precious soul to descend into hell, or that your insult stand in the way of his salvation.. Therefore you have to ask God not to count that sin on his behalf or punish him for it.. You have to pray that God may deliver him of such sin so as not to commit it again against you or others.. 

When you think of the brother who insulted you, try to find out the reason which led him to do so.. Perhaps he was ill, or nervous, his mind agitated or his strength exhausted or overloaded with social, scholastic or financial problems.. Consider what you can do for him.. Perhaps you can arrange for him a nice journey or a picnic or try to provide him with some means of amusement or entertainment.. If you find yourself unable to do anything for him, at least show compassion for him and ask God to give him special help..

People, my dear brother, are not wicked by nature, because when God made man, "God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good". As for evil, it comes to people from without; it is alien to them...

There may be other reasons which led that person to insult you.. He might have misunderstood you.. In such a case you can argue with him to convince him gently and lovingly..

However, there may be some persons who insult others merely because they like to do so, depending on their tolerance, to make of them a subject of their jokes and fun.

Avoid dealing with such persons, or address them, in a severe and firm but polite way to show them their faults and warn them against falling in such faults again..

This, you have to do not with purpose to avenge yourself or to retain a personal dignity but out of love for the person at fault. This would give him no chance to repeat the fault or fall again and destroy himself... 

There is a great difference between blaming a sinner with a desire to take vengeance in such a way as to arouse his wrath against you, and blaming him out of love in a firm but calm way so that he may feel that you love him...

This concerns your attitude towards the person whom you feel has insulted you.. but let me go a little deeper into your self to argue concerning your inner feeling..

1. Why do you consider the words of the others an insult or an abuse?  Why do you not consider such an insult - as you take it to be - a plain word useful to reform yourself 

If you get annoyed due to this, that is because you like to be praised and want all people to speak well of you.. You ought to rejoice, my brother, when people criticise and rebuke you.., because this is for your good. It purifies and benefits you in your coming life.. 

When someone criticises you, you thank him, for perhaps his voice is the voice of God..

I mean that God who loves you may have sent such a person to you to guide you and reveal to you your wrongdoing so that you may stop doing it.

2. Perhaps God is punishing you with such insults for other sins which you have committed in the far or near past..  When David the Prophet heard an insult, he said humbly, "Let him curse, because the Lord has said to him: 'Curse David?"  
(2 Sam. 16:10)

My beloved brother, when someone insults you, remember your past sins and know that you are not perfectly pure so as to be beyond reproach...

3. Sometimes, God performs a successful act through you, but you take such success as a weapon to vaunt and right yourself with, feeling self-righteousness. So, God fearing that you may fall through pride, permits someone to insult you.. This may make some equilibrium within your feelings and eliminate your pride a little. Many of the persons who are insulted by others are proud.. while the Bible teaches us that the meek are raised by God from the dunghill and seated with the princes of their people (Ps. 113:8)

4. Perhaps your conduct has offended others though you are not aware, and so they insulted you... Therefore it is good to know the point of view of the person who insulted you for he may be right..

5. Such an insult may be a lesson for you to teach you love and long-suffering.. One of the spiritual fathers said about some monk who lived in seclusion not mixing with the brethren, 'Being with the brethren in the assembly is necessary for a monk, because if he cannot endure the quarrels of the brethren, how can he endure the wars of the devils in his solitude as St. Isaac says!!'

6. What harm is caused to you if someone judges you wrongly or thinks you are at fault? Would this hinder you from attaining God's Kingdom or would God judge you according to what the people say!

7. Or do you like to be praised and favoured by human beings who are created of dust like you?  My friend, remember that your Master, ".. was oppressed and was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth." and, "He was numbered with the transgressors." (Is. 53:7,12).. He accepted that cross..

8. Lastly, my beloved brother, when you are insulted and when you feel annoyed and resent the insult though you are a sinner like myself, remember then how we insult God and how He endures patiently, loves us and accepts us! How great our compassionate God is! He has no likeness among gods...

   The Release of The Spirit

 By H.H. Pope Shenouda III

Used With Permission

A few years ago on a late Spring day a soft wind was blowing through the trees in the park. I went there that day not expecting anything more than just a few moments of solitude. Oh, there were a few people there doing various things and the usual scurrying of the resident squirrels; but overall, it was fairly quiet. I was a little surprised with myself. I didn't usually go to the park alone, but I felt no apprehension going and being there alone that day. I had spent all morning at work and for some reason, I'm not certain of, I decided to take the afternoon off to go to the park.

As I sat there at the picnic table, I watched two squirrels playing on a nearby tree. I wondered what it would be like to live such a seemingly, carefree life as they. Those two squirrels appeared to belong together, a bond was there, they belonged with each other. Oh how I wished I had that sense of belonging in my life. As a child, and into adulthood, I didn't feel like I was where I was suppose to be. The parent-child bond was there for me; but, I had always felt like there was something missing in my life. I took a deep breath, slowly exhaling, and watched the two squirrels run off to play elsewhere.

I was so immersed in my thoughts and feelings that I did not hear my visitor approach my table.

"Excuse me Miss, could I sit here with you?" asked the elderly man, his voice barely above a whisper. Oddly, I wasn't surprised that he approached me and had no problem with granting his request. I smiled and motioned for him to be seated.

He sat across from me, his hands clasped in front of him, resting on the table, he had such a calm expression on his face. I saw a familiarity in that old man's eyes but I couldn't place him, and was certain I had never seen or met him before. It seems like we sat there for the longest time, each looking at the other with a slight smile and an aura of peace about us. Across from me sat a stranger, but not a stranger, or so it seemed.

He broke the silence by saying to me, "We all belong even when we don't feel like we do. We all have a place to go."

I was taken back by his words and said, "I'm sorry, I don't understand what you are trying to say."

"Even as a child, you've felt that way." He replied and explained to me.

I was stunned and could not speak, but still felt no apprehension due to his words or his presence. He extended his hand, so warm and soft, and gently laid it upon my clasped hands. He squeezed my hands with that hand and said, "He wants you to come home."

And with that, he slowly rose to his feet and left. I sat there for hours, stunned. I thought about what he had said the rest of the day, and for days thereafter, but eventually I filed his words away. I never truly listened to the words of that stranger; at least, not until the day of my father's funeral four years later.

Daddy was raised Catholic, as were my siblings, and I was baptized Catholic as a newborn. It seemed only natural to have a priest at his funeral. As I sat before daddy's coffin I saw the priest; but, did not hear his voice or words spoken. Although the priest and the stranger in the park were not the same man, I heard that whisper of a voice of the stranger and remembered his calm expression and the gentleness in his eyes. Those words spoken to me four years prior I heard once again.

This time I 'listened' to the words, to the message that stranger delivered to me that day in the park.

"He wants you to come home." 
 
About a month or so after daddy's funeral, I inquired and signed for a program at the parish where I was baptized as a newborn. I had made it to the place where I belonged, in God's loving embrace.

I realized there's a difference between 'hearing' and 'listening'...finally... I 'listened' to the message from the stranger...and now... I'm home.

Your Cross

For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in Him shall not 

perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

Pick up your cross no matter how difficult it may seem.  Rely on God to help you so that you do not try to carry your cross alone. Each time you ask for assistance, believe that God hears your prayers. Believe that God is with you and that you never have to carry your cross alone. Believe and turn to Him and trust in His love and mercy. Ask for guidance in everything that you do. Ask and I promise you, peace and joy will be given, given to you.

Do not wait until your cross becomes too heavy, turn to Jesus now. Rely on God each new day so you have joy no matter what you must go through. God will be by your side if you trust in His love for you

God said, do not try to carry your burdens alone. Have hope and place all your trust and confidence in my Son, Jesus. Surrender your lives completely to Him. Surrender all you have with your heart, to His Will, in prayer. Through prayer and complete trust in God, your lives will surely change.

Those who trust will be able to accept whatever cross God allows. They will have peace in their hearts through all trials and tribulation. They will know how to survive when their material possessions are taken away.

God will not abandon those who trust. God will comfort and console those children who have complete trust in Him.

God will carry your cross however heavy it is.

God have sacrificed His only son on the cross to save you from your sins because He loves you. God has promised those who trust and believe in Him to be saved and will be granted eternal life.

7th Sunday - Sunday of The Pentecost

CHRIST is Risen - Truly He is Risen  
Khristós Anésti! Alithós Anésti!


Sundays of the Holy Fifties


Meditation on Church reading during the Holy Fifties:
Reading: John 15: 16-26

The fathers of the church arranged and named Sundays of the Holy Fifties as they did with the Sundays of the Great Fasting.


 + 1st Sunday of the Holy Fifty Days  is the Sunday of Faith (Thomas Sunday)
 +  2nd is the Sunday of the Bread of Life.
 +  3rd is the Sunday of the Living water. 
 +  4th is the Sunday of the True Light.
 +  5th is the Sunday of the Only Way.
 +  6th is the Sunday of the Joy of Spiritual Asking.
 +  7th is the Sunday the Pentecost.

7th Sunday - Sunday of The Pentecost : 
John 15:16-26

At the end of the Holy Fifty days following the Resurrection of Our beloved Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples.  "And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance."   Acts 2:2.-4

There were a number of signs and prophecy that accompanied the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples.

- A Sound of A Strong Wind: The gushing and loud sound of the strong wind, represents the warning and the reminder from the Holy spirit to us to redeem our souls by repentance and confession of our sins. The Lord wants us to become pure and cleansed of our sins to be able to receive the Holy Spirit. He wants us to work for our own salvation for the everlasting life, the life of eternity.

- The Divided Tongues of Fire: Fulfills the prophecy of John the Baptist that Christ would "baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."  (Luke 3:16)  This fire is a manifestation of the uncreated energy of God.

- The Different Languages Spoken: Fulfills the prophecy of  Joel 3:1
The Holy Spirit shown to have overwhelming power to unite, even in diversity. A key lesson of Pentecost is that the people hear the gospel in their own language.

It was the first Christian Pentecost, the unity of assembling with one accord in one place, in which the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in us, as we became temples of the Lord.  It is also an indication that the Holy Spirit is the truth, that will give us guidance.
"However when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;" John 16:13

The decibels were Chosen, Appointed and Commanded by the Lord to go out to the whole world, preach and teach the word of the Lord and be witness to the Lord's Crucifixion and Resurrection. They were blessed with bountiful gifts; the gifts of the Holy Spirit to speak with other tongues.
"but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you."  John 15:16-17.

At the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Lord gave them complete power. Go and bear fruit, and "Whatever" you ask in My name will be given to you.. whatever is eternal and redeemable in God's creation. With this bountiful gifts and with the power of the Holy Spirit, "that your fruit should remain" John 15:16 
On the first Pentecost, St. Peter managed to bring three thousands people to Christ during his first sermon.
"Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them."  Acts 2:41

Peter's sermon focused on two prophetic themes:

1 - The promised Coming of The Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:14 & 21)
2 - The Resurrection of Christ. (Acts 2:22 & 40)
This method of preaching led directly to the multitude's repentance, baptism, and reception of the Holy Spirit ( Acts 2:38-39)


Their job was not an easy glorious task. The Lord warned them that they will find obstacles along the way. He warned them that the "WORLD" will hate and persecute them.
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you."  John 15:18-19

The rebellion of the world against God reveals several things:

1- While union with Christ brings love, truth and peace, it also brings persecution, because the world "HATES" love and truth " 
John 15:19"

2- The world hated Christ; therefore, it will hate all who try to be Christlike "If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you."  
John 15-20

3- The world hates Christ because it neither knows nor desires to know the Father. "But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me." John 15:21
"If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father."  John 15:24

4- Hatred for Jesus Christ is irrational and unreasonable, for Christ brings love and mercy; thus, Christ is hated "Without A Cause"  John 15:25

The Son sends the Holy Spirit from the Father. The Holy Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father alone. In other words, the Holy Spirit receives His eternal existence only from the Father. 
In conformity with Christ's words, the Nicene - Constantinopolitan Creed confesses belief "in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father." While the Son is begotten of the Father alone, the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father alone; the source, the Fountainhead, of both Persons is the Father.   

The Promise of God includes both our union with Christ in Holy Baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit at Chrismation.

May we all be always united with Christ, and fulfilled with the Holy Spirit. May the fruit of the Spirit guide us to always live with pure love, peace and truth. 
Amen!

The Four Candles

Four candles
slowly burned.

The ambiance was so
soft, one could almost
hear them talking …..


The first candle
said:

"I am PEACE!"

"The world is full of anger
and fighting. Nobody can
keep me lit."

Then the flame of Peace
went out completely.

The second candle
said:

"I am FAITH!"

"I am no longer indispensable. It doesn't
make sense that I stay lit
another moment."

Just then a breeze softly
blew Faith's flame.

Sadly the third candle
began to speak:

"I am LOVE!"

"People don't understand
my importance so they
simply put me aside. They
even forget to love those
who are nearest to them."

And waiting no longer Love's
flame went out.

Suddenly …

a child entered
the room and saw
the three unlit
candles.

"Why aren't you
burning? You're
supposed to stay
lit till the end."

Saying this, the child began to cry.

Then the
fourth
candle
answered:

"Don't be
afraid.

I am HOPE!"

"While I am still burning
we can re-light the other
candles."

With shining
eyes the child
took the
candle of hope
and lit the
other candles.


The Greatest Of These
Is LOVE …

… but the flame of Hope should never
go out of your life!

With hope each of us
can live with Peace,
Faith and Love. 

PRAYER:

"Dear God, You are my light
and my salvation. You are my
hope. Please come into my
heart, forgive all my wrongs
and give me Your wonderful
gift of eternal Life. Help me be
an instrument of Your love and
cause Your light to shine on
others through me.  Amen"

5th Sunday - Sunday of The Only Way

CHRIST is Risen - Truly He is Risen
Khristós Anésti! Alithós Anésti!

Sundays of the Holy Fifties


Meditation on Church reading during the Holy Fifties:

The fathers of the church arranged and named Sundays of the Holy Fifties as they did with the Sundays of the Great Fasting.


 + 1st Sunday of the Holy Fifty Days  is the Sunday of Faith (Thomas Sunday)
 +  2nd is the Sunday of the Bread of Life.
 +  3rd is the Sunday of the Living water. 
 +  4th is the Sunday of the True Light.
 +  5th is the Sunday of the Only Way.
 +  6th is the Sunday of spiritual asking.
 +  7th is the Sunday the Pentecost.

5th Sunday - Sunday of The Only Way: 
John 14: 1-11

Jesus is the only way, the only path to lead us to the Father, and He is the only true source of eternal life. The way we reach the Father is forever established in the person and work of the Son. The Son is the truth because He is the unique revelation of the Father. Christ is the life who became Man so we might have life, and as He is our life, not even death can hinder us from coming to Him. Only in Christ can one come to know the Father, for only in Christ is the way of all truth and all life found.
“I am the Way, the Truth and the Life.  No one comes to the Father except through  Me.”  John 14:6

The Lord Reassured us to trust and believe in Him.  He did not want us to be troubled in any way.  He promised us abundance of living accommodations around a central courtyard.  "Mansions" multitude of  blessings that await those who enter the Kingdom of God.
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.  John 14: 2

To be deserving of those mansions, we must follow The Way. We have to follow in the correct path by loving God with all our hearts, praying, repenting and following Our Lord's Commandments.
‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness’. ‘Honor your father and your mother’, and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’   Matthew 19: 18-19

We must also cry with King David to our Lord for support and guidance: “Cause me to know the Way in which I should walk, For I lift up my soul to You.”   Psalm 143: 8  
“But teach us The Way of God in Truth.”   Luke 20: 21
“This man has been instructed in the Way of the Lord.”  Acts 18:25

John the Baptist was a messenger sent to prepare the Way before the Lord  “ Behold I send My Messenger, And he will prepare the way before me”  Malachi 3: 1 & Matthew 11: 10
“For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare the Ways.”  Luke  1: 76

In the Holy Liturgy the Priest ask us to lift up our minds and our hearts to the Highest. “But the path of just is like shining sun.”  Proverbs  4: 18 

To reach the way to the Father we must be obedient to the word of God.
“This is the way, walk in it,” Isaiah 30: 21
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way.”  psalm 37: 23
“For the LORD Knows the way of the righteous.”  Psalm  1: 6 

We must seek eternal life, for those who live seeking material things will be away and perish from The Way. "For as heavens are higher than earth, so are My ways higher than your ways”   Isaiah  55: 9

 

O Jesus You are The Only Way to eternal life.  O God we lift up our soul to You. Support us and guide us to know Your Way, that we may know You and that we may find grace in Your sight. Because You said: "No one comes to the Father except through Me."  John 14: 6
“'Show me  now Your way' 'To You O Lord I lift my soul.' 'O Lord; Teach me Your Paths'”
Exodus 33:13 - Psalm 25:1 & 4 
“That where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know”  John 14: 3-4

O Jesus , let "the rough ways be smooth" "guide our feet into the way of Peace”   Luke  3: 5 & 1: 79
"Teach me Your way, O Lord,  And lead me in a smooth path," "And lead me in the Way everlasting."  Psalms 27:11 & 139: 24
"For all His Ways are justice."  Deuteronomy 32:4
"His ways are everlasting."  Habakkuk 3:6

O Lord, You are The Way. Because through you we achieved peace and happiness, we gained the knowledge of Your teaching and guidance, through You, God and man are reconciled. Smooth our paths O Lord that we may find grace in Your sight.  Amen!