Shine, O Cross of the Lord! Illumine the hearts of those who honor you! With love inspired by God, we embrace you, for you are the only hope of the world. Through you our tears are wiped away, the snares of death are sprung, and we pass over into everlasting joy. Through the Cross […]
Read MoreA young man called me recently to discuss his family’s movement toward the Orthodox Church. He told me a priceless story about how his seven-year old daughter helped him and his wife understand an Orthodox practice that is often a hindrance to inquirers. Although the family had icons in their home they could not grasp […]
Read MoreA young man once approached an older Christian with the question, “What does it mean as far as this life is concerned to be ‘crucified with Christ?’” The believer replied, “It means three things: (1) a man on a cross is facing only one direction; (2) he is not going back; and (3) he has […]
Read MoreMan, with the aid of grace, is given the opportunity of relaying his fundamental essence, of really becoming that which according to his divine destiny he should be and longs to be, a child of God. In the liturgy he is to go “unto God, who giveth joy to his youth” … Because the life […]
Read MoreKnow to what extent the Creator has honoured you above all the rest of creation. The sky is not an image of God, nor is the moon, nor the sun, nor the beauty of the stars, nor anything of what can be seen in creation. You alone have been made the image of the Reality […]
Read MoreThe culture in which we live constantly instills in us the sense of pride, of self-glorification, and of self-righteousness. It is built on the assumption that man can achieve anything by himself, and it even pictures God as the One who all the time “gives credit” for man’s achievements and good deeds. Humility—be it individual […]
Read MoreProbably, the thing most of us think about as we contemplate Great Lent is fasting. We often see Great Lent as a time when we have to give up something, probably something we really enjoy. We look at Lent as a time of hardship and misery. Of course, fasting means, outwardly, going without food and […]
Read MoreA note about the term catechumen: Although often thought of as signifying someone who is learning about the Orthodox Faith, in actual fact the person should be thought of as a Christian, but not a member of the Body of Christ quite yet. Because of the prayers that are prayed over him at the […]
Read MoreThe Theotokos (paraphrased from Christos Yannaras, Elements of Faith) The Church sees in the person of the Most-holy Theotokos the one creature who actually achieved the fullness of purpose for which all of creation exists, that is the fullest possible union with God and therefore to the fullness of true human life. No one else, […]
Read MoreSome time ago, we had an adult baptism at our church and I began to reflect on the battle he was about to face, one which we all face, a battle that is fierce and, ultimately, that will last to the end of our lives. This battle is not against flesh and blood but against […]
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RJB
March 23, 2020
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