My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

BAPTISM IS THE MYSTERION (SACRAMENT) OF ILLUMINATION OR
ENLIGHTENMENT.

"For it is impossible for those who were once ENLIGHTENED, and
have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the
Holy Spirit" (Hebrews 6:4).

"But recall the former days in which, after you WERE ILLUMINATED,
you endured a great struggle with sufferings" (Hebrews 10:32).

"Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ WILL GIVE YOU LIGHT" (Ephesians 5:14).

Jesus speaking to Soul (Paul) on the road to Damascus, says, "I will deliver you from the
Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send
you, TO OPEN YOUR EYES, IN ORDER TO TURN THEM FROM
DARKNESS TO LIGHT, AND FROM THE POWER OF SATAN TO
GOD, THAT THEY MAY RECEIVE FORGIVENESS OF SINS AND AN
INHERITANCE AMONG THOSE WHO ARE SANCTIFIED BY FAITH
IN Me" (Acts 26:17-18).

"For it is the God Who commanded LIGHT to shine out of darkness,
Who has shone in our hearts to give the LIGHT of the knowledge of
the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6)

In the first place in the series of Mysteries (Sacraments) of our Holy Orthodox Church stands the Mystery (Sacrament) of Baptism. It serves as the door leading into the Kingdom of Grace, and it grants access to participation in the other Sacred Mysteries. Speaking to Nicodemus our Lord indicated THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF BAPTISM FOR SALVATION: "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God." And He went on to explain what He stated. "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:3-6). In Baptism the new believer receives the Grace of God within him, united with his soul, as Adam had it before the Fall.

Saint Symeon the New Theologian writes concerning the saving fruits of this Mystery: "There has come another birth, or REBIRTH, which REGENERATES MAN THROUGH Holy Baptism by the Holy Spirit, again unites him with the Divine Nature as it was when he was created by the hands of God, RESTORES ALL THE POWERS OF HIS SOUL, RENEWS THEM AND BRINGS THEM TO THE CONDITION IN WHICH THEY WERE BEFORE THE TRANSGRESSION OF FIRST-CREATED Adam; in this way, IT LEADS INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD, INTO WHICH NO ONE UNBAPTIZED CAN ENTER, AND ENLIGHTENS HIM WITH ITS LIGHT AND GRANTS HIM TO TASTE ITS JOYS. Thus each one who is baptized BECOMES AGAIN SUCH AS ADAM WAS BEFORE THE TRANSGRESSION, AND IS LED INTO THE NOETIC PARADISE AND RECEIVES THE COMMANDMENT TO WORK IT AND KEEP IT–TO WORK IT BY FULFILLMENT OF THE COMMANDMENTS OF JESUS CHRIST WHO HAS RECREATED HIM, AND TO KEEP IT BY THE KEEPING OF THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WHICH WAS GIVEN TO HIM THROUGH HOLY BAPTISM, CONFESSING THAT THE POWER OF THE GRACE WHICH DWELLS IN HIM FULFILLS TOGETHER WITH HIM THE COMMANDMENTS OF CHRIST" (First-Created Man, p. 71).

To walk in the Light is to walk in one’s baptism. In the Church, the baptized ae one humanity, one flesh with Christ. "Do you not know that as many of you were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection" (Romans 6:3-5). Because of ignorance many are miserably defeated in their battle against sin. What our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ accomplished on the Cross–an actual and real death to sin–BAPTISM is to us AN ACTUAL and REAL DEATH TO SIN, A LIBERRATION FROM IT. Therefore, in our union with Christ THROUGH BAPTISM, in His death and Resurrection, lies the power for victory over the law, the power of sin. In this sense baptism is an exact likeness to Christ’s death on the Cross. Baptism is our Cross! There we tap into the power of the God to say no to sin’s commands and temptations.

In our union with Christ through baptism we are also raised with Him to share His Resurrection. As He will never die again, so there is no second baptism. We lay hold on our one baptism and continue in communion with God. At the Mystery of Baptism we pray: "O Master of All, show forth this water, a water of redemption, a water of sanctification, a purification of body and soul, a loosening of bonds, a forgiveness of transgressions, AN ILLUMINATION OF SOULS, a washing of regeneration, a renewal of spirit, a gift of sonship, a garment of incorruption, a fountain of life…". Also, the blessing at the Mystery of Chrismation: "Blessed art Thou, O Lord God Almighty, the Source of Goodness, the Sun of Righteousness, Who lightedst up for those in darkness the Light of Salvation, through the manifestation of Thine Only-Begotten Son and our God, and Who grantest to us who are unworthy, blessed purification through Holy Baptism, and Divine sanctification through Thy Life-Giving anointing; Who has also now been pleased to regenerate Thy servant NEWLY ILLUMINED through water and the Spirit and has granted him forgiveness of his voluntary and involuntary sins. Do Thou, O compassionate Master, King of All, grant to him also the Seal of the Gift of Thine Holy, All-Powerful, and Worshipful Spirit, and the PARTICIPATION OF THE Holy Body and of the Precious Blood of Thy Christ…". Then, after the priest has administered Holy Communion to all the communicants, the chanter sings: "We HAVE SEEN THE TRUE Light, we have received the Heavenly Spirit, we have found the True Faith by worshipping the Undivided Trinity; FOR THIS HAS SAVED US." We solemnly rejoice and confess that by receiving the Eucharist we have also been illuminated. Christ God, Our Divine Savior, not only delivers us from the tyranny of human weakness, but also crowns us with Eternal Life. Baptism is the beginning of Eternal life.

The Mystery of Baptism frees us from being "slaves of sin" and makes us servant of God IF WE CONTINUE WITH A WILLING SPIRIT AND SUBMISSIVENESS TO GOD. Therefore, if we, Orthodox Christians, are to keep God’s illumination within us undiminished and bright, we must continue our struggle against the sinful passions. We are no longer to sin as those who sinned during the period of ancient law. That we must never defect from grace and return to our former life. Our battle against the powers of evil is real and difficult but we have been given the weapons of war to triumph over the ruler of this world. Let us, therefore, keep our light bright and strong! Let us not allow darkness to overtake us and defeat us. Slavery to God, initiated in baptism, is true freedom. Salvation is a process of transformation from sinner to Saint. We ARE SAVED THROUGH BAPTISM, and we are being saved, that is, being transformed by the Uncreated Grace of God to be like Him, in anticipation of Eternal life.

_________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysotomos
+ + +



With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

ON PRIDE

By Saint John Climacus

An old man, very experienced in these matters, once spiritually admonished a proud brother who said in his blindness: "Forgive me father, but I am not proud." "My son", said the wise old man, "what better proof of your pride could you have given than to claim that you were not proud?"

Saint John writes, "Pride begins where vainglory leaves off. Its midpoint with the humiliation of our neighbor, the shameless parading of our achievements, complacency, and unwillingness to be found out. It ends with the spurning of God’s help, the exalting of one’s own efforts, and a devilish disposition."

If our contemporary world is suffering it is because of a unique pandemic, an old virus known as pride. A spiritual virus, a passion, that is easily spread from one person to another. Pride inflicts humanity with all kinds of symptoms that bring spiritual paralysis and blindness. It takes over the human being and overpowers independent thinking, feeling, and acting. A person loses his/her free will given to us by our Merciful and Loving God.

A proud person is filled with self-admiration and conceit. He or she only thinks of himself or herself. The person becomes selfish and self-centered. People characterize them as the "me" generation. It is what I want, what makes me happy, and what benefits me. No one else matters. The person feels entitled and everyone else is there to satisfy his or her every demand or need. All others are expected to constantly feed their ego and puffed up his/her self-esteem.

What is resented by the proud is any form of criticism. The proud can never be accused of having any faults for they consider themselves infallible. According to the holy Apostle James, "God resists the proud" (James 4:6). Who then could have mercy on them? Before God every proud man is unclean and who then could purity such a person?" asks Saint John Climacus. Pride is the greatest obstacle to communion with God and salvation that comes from Him. The proud person could never even admit to being a sinner and therefore there is not even the slightest desire to repent. Saint John says, "Pride makes us forget our sins, for the remembrance of them leads to humility."

The proud are devoid of faith. He or she thinks of themselves as a deity. The proud person worships himself or herself. There is no need for God. God does not exist. There is no belief in righteousness or holiness. Life is only here on earth and there is nothing beyond it. There are no rules, no morality, no values, no conscience, no apologies, no remorse, no accountability, and no fear of God. The attitude is "eat, drink, and be merry" (Luke 12:19). The proud person is foolish, despite his or her wealth, profession, or social standing because he/she vainly puts all trust in material possessions rather than in God.

Pride causes spiritual blindness and a lack of discernment. Our Lord, God, and Savior taught that "Life is more than food, and the body more than clothing" (Luke 12:23). The proud person is unable to understand that material riches do not bring happiness or contentment while spiritual wealth abides eternally. Gluttony, greed, drunkenness, carnal pleasure, power, and personal corruption are not only acceptable but are justified by the proud.

Pride is a deadly illness of the soul just as dangerous as cancer is to the body. The cure for this grave illness is humility. The holy Apostle James (Iakvos) writes: "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:10). When one becomes humble begins to acknowledge the existence of God and submits to God’s will. In the absence of pride begins a life of virtue. Saint Maximus the Confessor says, "The reward for the toils of virtue is dispassion and spiritual knowledge. For these are the mediators of the Kingdom of Heaven, just as passions and ignorance are the mediators of eternal punishment. It is because of this that he or she who seeks those rewards for the sake of human glory and not for their intrinsic goodness is rebuked by the words of the Holy Scripture: "You ask, and do not receive because you ask wrongly" (The Philokalia Vol II, p. 71).

Avoid the sin of pride and "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8). Since pride is an illness we must seek the Physician of our souls and bodies, Christ God. Jesus is the Divine Healer and throughout His earthly Diakonia (Ministry), He healed all kinds of illnesses and all kinds of diseases (Luke 4:18). In addition, Jesus healed darkened hearts and minds as He released people from demonic oppressions. Our Holy Orthodox Church has never believed as though the gifts of the Holy Spirit or the healing of our Lord Christ have somehow passed away. Our Savior promised us, "He who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father?" (John 14:12). Our Holy Orthodox Church has a special service of healing, Holy Unction (Oil). The Priest prays for the ill person (s), anointing him/her with holy oil saying:

"O Holy Father, Physician of souls and bodies, Who sent Your Only-Begotten Son, Our Lord
Jesus Christ to heal every infirmity and deliver from death, heal also these, Your servants from
the ailment of their body and soul, and endow them with life by the Grace of Your Christ, through
the intercessions of Our All-Holy Lady Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary, the power of the honored
Bodiless Powers in Heaven; the supplications of the honored, glorious Prophet and Forerunner
John the Baptist, the Hol, glorious and All-laudable Apostles…".

At the end of the Service, the faithful come forth to be anointed on the forehead, chin, cheeks, and hands by the Priest who anoints them by making the sign of the cross and says: "O Holy Father, Physician of our souls and bodies, have mercy, forgive, and save Your servant (Name)."

As Orthodox Christians we pray, neither commending God to heal, nor doubting His power to heal, but humbly supplicating for His promised mercy upon all who are suffering spiritually or bodily.

________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

SPIRITUAL STEPS THAT LEAD TO SPIRITUAL
ATTAINMENT.

THE LADDER OF DIVINE ASCENT

By Saint John Climacus

A strong faith is the mother of renunciation. The opposite of this
is quite evident.
Unswerving hope is the gateway to detachment. The opposite of
this is perfectly obvious.
Love of God is the foundation of exile. The opposite of this is
quite evident.
Self-criticism begets obedience and the longing for health.
Self-control is the mother of health. The mother of self-control is the
thought of death and the memory of the gall and vinegar of God
our Lord.
The solitary life is the helper and the foundation of chastity.
Fasting quenches the fires of the flesh. And contrition of heart is the
foe of dirty thoughts.
Faith and withdrawal from the world are the death of avarice.
Compassion and love are betrayers of the body.
Unremitting prayer is the death of despondency.
Remembrance of the judgment is an encouragement to zeal.
Love of being dishonored is a cure for anger. And the singing of
hymns, the display of compassion, and poverty are quenchers of
sorrow.
Detachment from the things perceived by the senses means the
the vision of things spiritual.
Silence and solitude are the foes of vainglory. If you are in a
crowd, seek out dishonor.
A gloomy environment will cure open pride, but only He Who is
invisible from all Eternity can cure the pride hidden within us.
The deer destroys all visible serpents and humility and humility
destroys those of the spirit.
We can learn to perceive intelligible things clearly by means of
everything that exists in the natural world.
Clouds hide the sun. Evil thoughts bring shadows to the mind
and ruin it.
One spark has often set fire to a great forest, and it has been
found that one good deed can wipe away a multitude of sins
(cf. James 3:5; 5:20).
Just as by nature we cannot exist without food, we cannot
afford to slip into carelessness even for an instant at any time
up to the moment of death.
A dead man cannot walk. A man in despair cannot be saved.
A man who asserts that he has the true faith and yet continues to
sin is like a man without eyes. And the man who has no faith but
who does good is like someone who draws water and then pours it
into a barrel with holes.
Keep track of the exact condition of each passion and of each virtue,
and you will know exactly how you are maiking progress.
The beginning of repentance is the beginning of salvation.
To have dispassion is to have the fullness of love, by which I mean the
complete indwelling of God in those who, through dispassion, are pure
of heart for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8). To Him be glory
forever and ever. Amen.

_______
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

On the duty of parents and children

By Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

ON THE DUTY OF PARENTS

The Holy Apostle Paul says this to parents, "BRING UP YOUR CHILDREN IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD" (Ephesians 6:4), and he exhorts them to nurture their children in a manner befitting of Christians. All Christians are renewed in holy Baptism to the new, holy, and Christian life, and they have vowed to serve God in faith and in truth, and so to please Him. But lest those who have been baptized become corrupt and come into a poor inheritance and have that saying come into a poor inheritance and have that saying come true in them, A "dog has turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that hath been washed to her wallowing in the mire" (2 Peter 2:22), good nurturers of children must without fail to warn them against this calamitous condition while they are yet small and young. For we sign with pain to see that many children are corrupted in their youth, this happens to them because OF THE CARELESSNESS OF THEIR PARENTS.

Many parents teach their children the arts that serve the temporal life and spend no small sum on it, but they NEGLECT THE CHRISTIAN TEACHING AND ARE REMISS IN TEACHING THEIR CHILDREN TO LIVE AS CHRISTIANS. Such parents beget their children UNTO THE TEMPORAL LIFE BUT CLOSE THE DOOR TO THE ETERNAL.

Saint John Chrysostom, in considering the misfortune of both parents that neglect the good upbringing of their children and of the children not well brought up, says this, "Parents that neglect to bring up their children as Christians are most heinous murderers of children" (Homily 3 "Against Those that Slander the Monastic Life"). Because child-killers separate the body from the soul, but these parents cast both soul and body into fiery Gehenna. It is impossible to escape from the former death according to natural law, but it would be possible to escape from the latter death were the negligence of the parents not to blame for it. Moreover, once it comes, the Resurrection is able to abolish bodily death, but NOTHING CAN OVERTURN SPIRITUAL DESTRUCTION. Therefore, parents, listen to the word of the Lord, "BRING UP YOUR CHILDREN IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD" (cf. Ephesians 6:4).

A gardener binds a newly planted sapling to a stake driven and fixed into the ground lest it be uprooted from the ground by wind and storm, and he prunes unneeded branches from the tree lest they harm the tree and dry it up. You should also act likewise with your small and young children. Bind their hearts TO THE FEAR OF GOD LEST THEY BE SHAKEN BY THE MACHINATIONS OF SATAN AND DEPART FROM PIETY, AND PRUNE AWAY THE PASSIONS THAT GROW IN THEM LEST THEY MATURE AND OVERPOWER THEM AND SO PUT THE NEW, INWARD MAN TO DEATH THAT WAS BORN IN HOLY BAPTISM. Because we see that as children grow up, then sinful passions also appear and grow with them as unneeded branches on a tree. Therefore, lest these iniquitous branches mature and harm and kill the man washed, sanctified, and justified in holy Baptism, it is absolutely necessary TO PRUNE THEM AWAY WITH THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD. Then, beloved, PRUNE AWAY THESE SHOOTS FROM YOUR CHILDREN AND "BRING THEM UP IN THE NURTURE AND ADMONITION OF THE LORD" (Ephesians 6:4). As soon as they begin to understand reason, even a little, and TO KNOW GOOD AND EVIL, YOU SHOULD BEGIN YOUR WORK AND TEACH THEM. Do this with them:

1. Remind them often of holy Baptism and that at that time they promised God to live decently and steadfastly, to serve Him with faith and righteousness, and to keep away from every evil and sin.

2. Repeat to them as often as possible that we are all born and begotten in Baptism not for the temporal life, not for the sake of obtaining honor, glory, and riches in this world — that our very death indicates that we should abide otherwise than forever in this world–but that we are born and begotten for ETERNAL LIFE. ALL our life in this world, from birth to death, IS A JOURNEY ON WHICH WE TRAVEL TO OUR PROMISED HOMELAND AND ETERNAL LIFE.

Remind them often of this, lest they give themselves over to the vanity of this world, and so that they may learn to philosophize on higher and not on earthly things.

3. Let them understand Who is the God of Christians, and what He requires of us, that He hates evil and loves good, that He punishes man for evil and rewards him for good, and although we do not see Him, He does see us and is invisibly present with us everywhere and sees our every deed and hears our every word. It is necessary, then, to fear Him, and to do what is pleasing to Him.

4. Enlighten their INWARD EYES as to Who Christ is in Whom we believe, and for what cause He came into the world and lived and suffered and died. Our sins were the cause of this, and our Eternal salvation, so that by being delivered from sin we might obtain Eternal salvation.

5. Teach them the Law of God, and tell them what that Law demands of us. That is, we should love God and every person; everything that is contrary to that Law IS VICE and SIN, while everything that is in agreement and accordance with it IS VIRTUE.

In holy Baptism, we promised God to keep the Law of God and so depart from every sin and live virtuously. Whoever lives otherwise does not keep these vows and is found to be false before God, and if he does not truly repent and correct himself, he will appear false at the Judgment of Christ.

6. Set before them the Last Things: death, Christ’s judgment, Eternal Life, and Eternal torment, that the fear of God ma so abide in them and preserve them from every evil. Pour these and other things like milk into their young hearts, tha they may mature in piety.
They call you parents, the be true parents. You gave them birth according to the flesh, then also give birth to them according to the spirit. You gave them birth into the temporary life, beget them also to Eternal Life.

Beloved Christians, you and your children shall appear at that Judgment of Christ, and you shall give account for them to the just Judge. He will not ask you whether you have taught your children the arts or whether you have taught them to speak French, or German, or Italian, but whether you have taught them TO LIVE AS CHRISTIANS.

Young children pay greater attention to the actions of their parents than to their teaching. Therefore, if you wish your children to be pious and good, you yourselves should be pious and good, and show yourselves AS AN EXAMPLE TO THEM, and so "Bring your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord" (cf. Ephesians 6:4). And so you and your children together shall receive Eternal Salvation in Christ Jesus Our Lord. Amen. (Source: Journey to Heaven. Counsels on the particular duties of every Christian)

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

"GOD IS UNCREATED"

Saint Gregory Palamas laid great emphasis on the Uncreatedness of the Divine Essence and the Uncreatedness of God’s energy (activity). The word ‘UNCREATED’, is applied to God. GOD IS UNCREATED. He has NOT been created but IS BEFORE ALL THE AGES. There IS NO BEGINNING IN GOD. Man and the entire creation WERE CREATED BY GOD, AND ARE THEREFORE CREATED. Hence the uncreated is identified with the Divine.

Saint Maximos the Confessor writes, "All immortal things and immortality itself, all living things and life itself, all holy things and holiness itself, all good things and goodness itself, all blessings and blessedness itself, all beings and being itself are manifestly works of God. Some began in time, for they have not always existed. Others did not begin to be in time, for goodness, blessedness, holiness, and immortality have always existed." …It is clear, then, that goodness, blessedness, holiness, and immortality are energies of God, which are eternal and uncreated.

"Therefore God’s energies are WITHOUT BEGINNING, ETERNAL AND UNCREATED. And, as God’s essence is Divine, so are His energies as well. This is important for orthodox theology. For if we regard God’s energies as created, then WE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR MAN TO BE DEIFIED. That it to say, if God communicates with the world through created energies, then we can attain union and communion with God ONLY through created energies, WHICH MAKES SALVATION IMPOSSIBLE, God then remains entirely UNKNOWN TO MAN, or if we commune with the essence of God, then the difference between created and uncreated is lost.

"In the Tradition of the Church, a clear distinction is made between THE NOUS and the intelligence. When the nous is functioning according to nature, it acts in the heart, and that is where it should be. Because of the fall of man, the NOUS instead of being in the heart spreads out into the surroundings and becomes enslaved to created things. Moreover, this is what CONSTITUTES THE FALL OF MAN and THIS TRULY IS SIN….Saint Athanasios the Great says that the seat of the intelligence of the soul is in the brain. Saint Makarios the Great says that the SEAT OF THE ENERGY OF THE NOUS IS IN THE HEART…The entrance of the nous into the heart manifests its purity and the fact it is capable of receiving Revelation since man’s nous is the organ of the vision of God…The NOUS, then, IS THE ORGAN THROUGH WHICH MAN SEES THE Divine Light, which IS THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE FOOD OF THE ANGELS, but since the nous is joined to the holy, therefore, when the Saints attain Divine Grace, then by its power THEY SEE "WITH THE SENSE OF SIGHT AND WITH THE NOUS THAT WHICH SURPASSES BOTH SENSE AND NOUS." Thus man SEES THE Divine Light also with the eyes of his sense of sight, but this is because these have previously been transformed and empowered by the Uncreated Grace of God. Moreover, it is known that Uncreated Grace is also TRANSMITTED BY THE SOUL TO THE BODIES OF THE DEIFIED (Theosis).

In the 14 century, which was dominated BY HUMANISM, just as it is today, there were those who maintained that man’s UNION with Christ is through EXTERNAL IMITATION OF THE LIFE OF CHRIST, by an external conforming of our life to the commandments of Christ, WITHOUT LOOKING TO GRACE, which exists THROUGH DOING THE COMMANDMENTS, AND WITHOUT LOOKING FOR AN INNER TRANSFORMATION, WHICH THE COMMANDMENTS CONSTITUTE; IT TAKES PLACE THROUGH A DEVELOPMENT OF MAN’S RATIONAL NATURE, THROUGH FINE THOUGHTS, WITHOUT GOD’S DEIFYING ENERGY. In the "Hagiorite tome", which is a confessional text and received catholic and conciliar recognition, the teaching of the Church is presented as saying that MAN’S COMMUNION WITH GOD IS NOT A HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT, IT IS NOT A WORK OF HUMAN NATURE, BUT A FRUIT OF PARTICIPATION IN THE DEIFYING ENERGY OF GOD. The DEIFICATION (THEOSIS) OF MAN and HIS UNION WITH GOD IS ABOVE HUMAN INTELLIGENCE AND KNOWLEDGE AND ABOVE EVEN THE VIRTUES THEMSELVES.

DEIFICATION (THEOSIS) is NOT a work of nature, but A GIFT OF GOD WHICH IS OFFERED TO THOSE WHO HAVE TEH APPROPRIATE PRECONDITIONS FOR RECEIVING IT. THUS the Grace of deification (Theosis) IS ABOVE NATURE, VIRTUE, AND KNOWLEDGE, AND NATURALLY, ALL SUCH THINGS FALL SHORT OF IT. Virtue and the imitation of God make a man fit for union with the Deity, "BUT IT IS THROUGH GRACE THAT THIS INEFFABLE UNION IS ACCOMPLISHED." Therefore, it is NOT by virtue that we acquire UNION with God, but IT IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE UNCREATED DEIFYING ENERGY OF GOD. Through deifying Grace God in His entirety PENETRATES THE SAINTS IN THEIR ENTIRETY AND THE SAINTS IN THEIR ENTIRETY PENETRATE GOD ENTIRELY, IN THE WAY THAT THE SOUL EMBRACES THE BODY. (Source: Saint Gregory Palamas as a Hagiorite by Metropolitan of Nafpaktos Hierotheos)

_____________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

THE THIRD SUNDAY OF HOLY AND GREAT LENT:
ON THE VENERATION OF THE PRECIOUS AND LIFE-GIVING CROSS. (Part II)

By Saint Gregory Palamas

Lord our God, willingly You spread Your Divine hands to be nailed
on the Holy Cross. Count us worthy to venerate it with a heart
contrite and penitent, and with our bodies and souls aglow through
self-control and prayer and prayer and good deeds and from fasting.
for You are Good and Love humanity.

Lord, I pray, blot out my abundant transgressions according to the
abundance of Your compassion, Merciful Savior. And in Your love
for humanity, account me worthy to see and venerate Your Holy Cross,
during this fourth week of Lenten fasting, with my soul and body purified.

Truly amazing! On view is the Tree on which Christ was physically crucified.
The world venerates it, and illumined cries out: How great is the Cross’s
power! When demons simply look at it, it burns them. We make the sign of it,
and indeed it scorches them. O immaculate Tree, I extol you; with fear I
venerate and honor. And I send up glory to God my Savior, Who through you
to me granted never-ending life. [Third Saturday, Vespers]

+



Whereas earthly kings require those who follow them to be prepared to die for them, the Lord gave Himself over to death for our sake and commands us to be ready to die not for His sake, BUT FO OURS. To make it clear that it is FOR OUR OWN SAKE, HE ADDS, "For whosoever will save his soul shall lose it; but WHOSOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS SOUL FOR MY SAKE AND THE GOSPEL’S, THE SAME SHALL SAVE IT" (Mark 8:35). What doe this mean, that anyone who wants to save it shall lose it, and anyone who loses it shall save it? Man is twofold, consisting of our outward man, THE BODY, and our INWARD MAN, THE SOUL. When our outward man gives himself over to death, he loses his soul, being separated from it. But when SOMEONE LOSES HIS SOUL FOR CHRIST AND THE GOSPEL, HE CLEARLY SAVES AND GAINS IT, BECAUSE HE HAS PROCURED FOR IT ETERNA LIFE IN HEAVEN. In the resurrection, HE WILL RECOVER IT, and by means of it he will become, even in his body I say, just as heavenly and eternal as it is. Anyone, by contrast, who clings to life is not prepared to lose his soul in this way, because HE LOVES THIS FLEETING AGE AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH IT. He will inflict loss on his soul, depriving it of True Life, and he will lose it, surrendering it along with himself, alas, to ETERNAL PUNISHMENT. The All-Merciful Lord mourned for such people and indicated how great a disaster was theirs by saying, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? O what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Mark 8:36-37). For neither his glory nor any of the other deceptive honors and delights of this present age, chosen by him in preference to a death which brings salvation, will go down with him. How could any of these things be given in exchange for a human soul, WHICH IS WORTHY MORE THAN THE WHOLE WORLD?

Even if a man could gain the whole world, brethren, it would be OF NO BENEFIT TO HIM BECAUSE HE WOULD HAVE LOST HIS OWN SOUL. In reality, each person can only acquire an infinitely small share of this world. What a disaster, then, if someone loses his soul in his efforts to acquire this tiny share, rather than choosing TO TAKE UP THE SIGN AND WORD OF THE CROSS AND TO FOLLOW THE GIVEN OF LIFE. Now both the Sign which we reverence and the word concerning it are, in fact, the Cross.

As the word and the mystery came before the Sign itself, we shall expound them to your love first. Or rather, Saint Paul expounded them before us, Paul who boasts in the Cross, determined not to know anything, SAVE THE LORD JESUS, AND Him CRUCIFIED (cf. 1 Corinthians 2:2). What does he say? The Cross means CRUCIFYING THE FLESH WITH ITS PASSIONS AND DESIRES (cf. Galatians 5:24). Do you think he is referring only to the passions of sensual pleasure and gluttony? In that case, he would not have written to the Corinthians, "Since there is among you strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men?" (1 Corinthians 3:3). Consequently anyone who loves glory or money or simply wants to impose his own will in his eagerness to prevail, is carnal and walks as men since such things are the source of divisions. As Saint James (Iakovos), the Lord’s brother, says, "Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?" (James 4:1-2). Crucifying the flesh with its passions and longings means STOPPING ALL ACTIVITY WHICH IS DISPLEASING TO GOD. Although our body may pull us down and exert pressure on us, we must still lift it up urgently to the height of the Cross. What am I trying to say? When the Lord was on earth He lived life of poverty, and not just lived but PREACHED POVERTY, SAYING, "Whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciples" (Luke 14:33).

Surely we should honor and use this Divine Trophy of the freedom of the whole human race. Its appearance alone puts the serpent, the originator of evil, to flight, triumphs over him, and disgraces him, proclaiming him defeated and crushed. It glorifies and magnifies Christ, and displays His victory to the world. If it were really necessary to disregard the Cross because Christ suffered death on it, then His death too would be neither honorable nor salutary. So how can we have been baptized into His death, as the Apostle tells us (Romans 6:3)? And how can we share in His Resurrection, if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death?" (Romans 6:5). On the other hand, if someone were to reverence the Sign of the Cross without the Lord’s name written upon it, he could justly be accused of doing something incorrectly. Since "at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things in the earth, and things under the earth" (Philippians 2:10), and the Cross bears this Venerable Name. How very foolish not to bow the knee at Christ’s Cross!

Inclining our hearts as well as bending our knees, come, "let us worship", with David the psalmist and prophet, "at the place where His feet stood" (Psalm 132:7), where His All-embracing hands were outspread and His Life-Giving body was stretched out for our sake. As we reverence and greet the Cross with faith, let us draw and keep the abundant sanctification flowing from it. Then, at the sublimely glorious future advent of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ, as we see Him come in glory we shall rejoice and skip for joy unceasingly, having attained a place on His right hand and heard the promised joyful words and blessings, to the glory of the Son of God crucified in the flesh for us.

For to Him belongs All Glory, together with His Father without beginning and the All-Holy, Good, and Life-Giving Spirit, now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

____________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things1"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +



With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

On the Precious and Life-Giving Cross

"But God forbid that I should boast except in the Cross of
Our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been
crucified to me, and I to the world" (Galatians 6:14).

Throughout the history of the Church, Christians have preached the Cross, displayed the Cross in their homes and altars, venerated the Cross in the Divine Liturgy, worn the Cross on their person, signed themselves with the Cross in the worship of the Holy Trinity, and during times of danger and temptation.

On the Third Sunday (Sunday of the Cross) during Holy and Great Lent. On this day the service of Orthros (Matins) concludes the solemn Veneration of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross; the ceremonies are closely parallel to those at the feasts of Exaltation of the Cross (14 September) and the Procession of the Cross (1st August). The Veneration of the Cross on this Third Sunday in Lent PREPARES US FOR THE COMMEMORATION OF THE Crucifixion which is soon to follow in Holy and Great Week, and at the same time it REMINDS US THAT THE WHOLE OF LENT IS A PERIOD WHEN WE ARE CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: as the Synaxarion at Orthros (Matins) says, ‘Through the Forty-Day Fast, WE TOO ARE IN AWAY CRUCIFIED, DYING TO THE PASSIONS.’ The dominant note on this Sunday, as on the two Sundays preceding, is ONE OF JOY AND TRIUMPH. In the Canon at Orthros (Matins), the Irmoi are the same as the Pasch Midnight, ‘This is the day of Resurrection…’, and the Troparia are in part a paraphrase of the Paschal Canon by Saint John of Damascus. No separation is made between Christ’s Death and His Resurrection, but the Cross is regarded as an emblem of VICTORY and Calvary is seen in the light of the Empty Tomb.

On the Precious and Life-Giving Cross Saint Gregory Palamas writes, "The Cross of Christ was mysteriously proclaimed in advance and foreshadowed from generations of old, and no one was ever reconciled with God except by the power of the Cross. After our First Parents transgressed against God through the tree in Paradise, sin came to life, but we died, submitting, even before physical death, TO THE DEATH OF THE SOUL, its SEPARATION FROM GOD. After the transgression we lived in sin and according to the flesh. Sin "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God" (Romans 8:7-8).

The first mystery of the Cross is flight from the world, and parting from our relatives according to the flesh, if they are a hindrance to piety and a devout life, and training our body which Saint Paul tells us is of some value (1 Timothy 4:8). In these ways the world and sin are crucified to us, once we have fled from them. According to the second mystery of the Cross, however, WE ARE CRUCIFIED TO THE WORLD AND THE PASSIONS, once they have fled from us. It is not of course possible for them to leave us completely and not be at work IN OUR THOUGHTS UNLESS WE ATTAIN TO CONTEMPLATION OF GOD. When, through action, we approach contemplation and cultivate and cleanse OUR INNER MAN, SEARCHING FOR THE DIVINE TREASURE WHICH WE OURSELVES HAVE HIDDEN, AND CONSIDERING THE KINGDOM OF GOD WITHIN US, THEN IT IS THAT WE CRUCIFY OURSELVES TO THE WORLD AND THE PASSIONS. Through MEDITATION OF THIS A CERTAIN WARMTH IS BORN IN OUR HEART, WHICH CHASES AWAY EVIL THOUGHTS LIKE FLIES, INSTILLS PEACE AND CONSOLATION IN OUR SOUL, AND BESTOWES SANCTIFICATION ON OUR BODY. One of our God-bearing Fathers taught us saying, "STRIVE AS HARD AS YOU CAN TO ENSURE THAT YOUR INNER LABOR IS ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL, AND YOU WILL CONQUER THE OUTWARD PASSIONS."

Not only the world and the mystery of the Cross are divine and to be reverenced, but so also is its sign. For it is a Holy, Saving, and Venerable Seal, able to hallow and perfect all the good, marvelous, and indescribable things that God had done for the human race. It can take away the curse and condemnation, destroy corruption and death, and bestow Eternal Life and blessing. It is the Wood of Salvation, the Regal Scepter, the Divine Trophy of Victory over visible and invisible enemies, even though the heretics’ followers are insanely displeased. They have not understood that the Lord’s Cross DISCLOSES THE ENTIRE DISPENSATION OF HIS COMING IN THE FLESH, AND CONTAINS WITHIN IT THE WHOLE MYSTERY OF THIS DISPENSATION. Extending IN ALL DIRECTIONS, IT EMBRACES EVERYTHING ABOVE, BELOW, AROUND, AND BETWEEN. The heretics abhor the sign of the King of Glory (Psalm 247:7-10), putting forward an excuse, in accordance with which, if they were reasonable, they ought to reverence the Cross along with us. The Lord Himself, when He was going to ascend the Cross, openly referred to it as His lifting up and His glory (John 3: 14-15). And He announced that when He came again and manifested Himself, THIS SIGN OF THE SON OF MAN WOULD COME WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY (Matthew 14:30).

The heretics say that because Christ died nailed to the Cross, they cannot bear to see the form of the Wood on which He was put to death. But where was the handwriting nailed which was drawn up against us because of our disobedience, when our Forefather stretched out his hand to the tree? How was it taken out of the way and obliterated, enabling us to return to God’s blessing? Where did Christ despoil and drive completely away the principalities and powers of the evil spirits, which had taken hold on our nature since the time OF THE TREE OF DISOBEDIENCE? Where did He Triumph over them and put them to shame, so that we could be set free? Where was the middle wall of partition broken down and our enmity towards God abolished and put to death? By what means were we reconciled with God and how did we hear the Good News of peace with Him? Surely it was on the Cross and by means of the Cross. Let those who doubt listen to what the Apostle Paul writes to the Ephesians, "For Christ is our peace, who hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; for to make in himself of twain ONE NEW MAN, so making peace; and that he might RECONCILE BOTH UNTO GOD IN ONE BODY BY THE CROSS, HAVING SLAIN THE ENMITY THEREBY" (Ephesians 2:14-16). (Source: Saint Gregory Palamas. The Homilies)

(To be continued)

_____________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE,

THE ARK OF SALVATION

Then God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me,
for the earth is filled with unrighteousness through them; and behold,
I will destroy them with the earth. Make yourself an ARK of square timber…And behold, I am
bringing a flood of water on the earth, to destroy from under
heaven all flesh in which is the breath of life. Whatever is on
earth shall die. But I will establish My COVENANT WITH
YOU; AND YOU SHALL GO INTO THE ARK…" (Genesis 6:14-18).

"…Only Noah and those with him in the ARK remained alive" (Genesis 7:23).

The ARK was a type of the Theotokos with Christ and the Church in her womb. The floodwaters were a type of baptism, in which we are saved. The Lord God made Noah righteous THROUGH FAITH, by which he pleased God (Hebrews 11:6-7). Through the grace of the Holy Spirit, he OBEYED EVERYTHING GOD COMMANDED HIM TO DO. So he and his family ENTERED THE ARK, WHICH TYPIFIED SALVATION.

The Lord God closed the door of the ARK. for He is the Judge and determines who is in and who is out. The people on the outside were going about their usual manner of life–buying, selling, eating, drinking, marrying, and giving marriage–but they WERE INDIFFERENT TO GOD AND HIS GRACE. The FLOOD CAUGHT THEM UNAWARES, but it was too late for them to respond. SO IT WILL BE IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT (Matthew 24:37-39; Luke 17:26-27; 2 Peter 2:4-5).

"God remembered Noah" AND SAVED HIM FROM THE FLOODWATERS. Noah WAS SAVED BECAUSE GOD REMEMBERED HIM. This REMEMBRANCE IS SALVATION. Many Holy Scriptures speak of God REMEMBERING MAN IN SALVATION. The thief on the cross said to Jesus, "LORD REMEMBER ME WHEN YOU COME INTO YOUR KINGDOM." And Jesus said to him, "ASSUREDLY I SAY TO YOU, TODAY YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE" (Luke 23:42-43).

As Noah preached righteousness, suffered unjustly, and rescued those who were with him, so also did Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Christ descended to those in darkness and death that Light might shine on them and He might deliver them from death. As Christ fearlessly faced His tormentors, death, and hell, so we through Him can confidently face mockers and tormentors–and, yes, bring His Light to them.

The Flood is an Old Testament MYSTERY OF the SALVATION of the human race. Noah was saved from a godless society–not so much from the water, AS THROUGH THE WATER FROM EVIL. For through the water of BAPTISM the Resurrected Christ, having taken His place IN HEAVEN ITSELF gives us a clean CONSCIENCE.

The Orthodox Christian understands and believes the Church to be a type of Ark. Those on board this new Ark will be saved. The Pilot of the Ark is none other than our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. The crew members are the heavenly powers, Archangels, and Angels. The passengers are the faithful and righteous people of God. Outside the Ark are those who are struggling to believe as well as those who reject and mock God. There is only one Ark of salvation, only one Church of Christ. No one is forced to get on board the Ark but those who are eligible to get on, are those who are Baptized. Unbelieving humanity faces the turbulence and murkiness of the waters of life that constantly threatens its future and existence. However, there is still hope for those who repent of their sins and seek God’s forgiveness. We pray that our Lord God will remember us.

Humility is the foundation of all virtue; it is learned through submission and obedience to our Savior Jesus Christ. The Holy Scriptures remind us, "God resists the proud. But gives grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5). "If then you were raised with Christ seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting on the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which are idolatry" (Colossians 3:1-5).

______________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +



With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

Jesus said, “But the hour is coming, and now is, when the
true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;
for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit.
and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth”
(John 4:23-24),

“Then Noah built an Altar to God, and took of every clean
animal and of every clean bird, and offered whole burnt
offerings on the Altar. So the Lord GLod smelled a sweet
aroma.” [Genesis 8:20-21]

“So the two of them went together. They came to the
place where God had told him. And Abraham built an
Altar there and placed the firewood in order; and he
bound Isaac his son hand and foot and laid him on
the Altar, upon the firewood” (Genesis 22:8-9).

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you; that
the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took
bread; and when He given thanks [Gk. eucharistesas], He broke it
and said, ‘TAKE, EAT; THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS BROKEN FOR YOU;
DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME.’ In the same manner, He also took
the cup after supper, saying, ‘THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN
MY BLOOD. THIS DO, AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE
OF ME” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

From time immemorial mankind felt the need to worship God and built an Altar, upon which he would offer a sacrifice as an offering to express his thanks to God. It did not matter to God where the Altar of worship took place, whether on a mountaintop or desert. The need to worship God is seen not only among believers but also among pagans.

The Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well said to Jesus, ‘Sir I perceive that You are a prophet. Our fathers worshipped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father. You worship what you do not know, for salvation is of the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when THE TRUE WORSHIPERS WILL WORSHIP THE FATHER IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH, FOR THE FATHER IS SEEKING SUCH TO WORSHIP HIM. GOD IS SPIRIT, AND THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH” (John 4:19-24).

Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ takes the opportunity to teach her and us that worship is not tied to any certain geographical place. Instead, He turns to the heart of the matter: the object of worship, God Himself, and how worship takes place. The “Father” is worshiped “in spirit” — that is, in the Holy Spirit Who is given upon the completion of Christ’s Divine Mission “and truth” which is Jesus Christ Himself and His revelation. God “is Spirit”, that is, He possesses a spiritual nature that cannot be confined to a particular location. Those who believe in the revelation of Christ and have the power of the Holy Spirit can truly worship God anywhere.

For Orthodox Christians worshipping God is never optional. We refer to our worship as “Liturgy” (Λειτουργία). More specifically it is referred to as Divine (Θεία) Λειτουργία (Liturgy). Holy Tradition calls the Divine Liturgy the “Mystery of Mysteries”, the “Sacrament of Sarcraments”, is a liturgical act or divine service of the Church by which we receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, the goal of this experience is to become recipients of the Holy Spirit, to experience God and be filled by Hs uncreated grace, to “become of the same body and blood with Christ,” to unite with the God-man Christ–and thus be saved.”

The Orthodox Christian family attends church not out of a “requirement” or a religious “obligation” but it is about fulfilling a necessity of a soul that thirsts for God and desires to be consumed by Him. In the Divine Liturgy we commemorate the Mystical Supper, that is, we live through it and partake of its reality mystically, yet really, in the present. The Lord told His disciples that those who “keep eating (trogon) His Flesh and “keep drinking” (pinon) His Blood stay with Him, and He with them (cf. John 6:56). “For as often as you eat this Bread and drink this Cup, you proclaim the Lord’s Death until He comes,” Says Saint Paul (1 Corinthians 11:26).

The Divine Eucharist traces its origin directly to the Eucharistic meal the Lord had with His Disciples in the Upper Room in Jerusalem before His betrayal. We perpetuate this meal because the Lord told us through His disciples, “Do this in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:19; 1 Corinthians 11:24). Since then, “on the first dasy of the week, “the Church has been gathering together “to break bread” (Acts 20:7).

The Divine Liturgy is the Mystery of union of human beings with God and the union of human beings among themselves. “It is called Communion because through it we commune the Divinity of Jesus Christ” together with His glorified humanity. The purpose of the Divine Liturgy is to change the sacramental elements (bread and wine mixed with water) into the Sacred Body and Blood of the Lord through the action of the Holy Spirit so that the people of God gathered in His Name may commune them and thus be united with Christ and live His life.

This “divine and most sacred of services” constitutes the higher expression of praise, glorification, love and gratitude to God for His inexpressible love toward us. The people of God gather together in obedience to Christ’s command (“do this”) to offer their “sacrifice of praise” in thanksgiving, to actualize Christ’s saving actss, to commune His Sacred Mysteries, to to rejoice in partaking of His life now, in anticipation of that “day” when they will partake of Him “more perfectly” in the “unsetting day” of His Kingdom. [Source: The Heavenly Banquet. Understanding the Divine Liturgy by Fr. Emmanuel Hatzidakis)

___________

“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”

– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

THE "WHEAT" AND THE "CHAFF" (Matthew 3:12)

"His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly
clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the
barn, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire"
(Matthew 3:12).

The image of "winnowing" the threshed grain from the "chaff" is a metaphor for Divine Judgment, which always SEPARATES THE GOOD FROM EVIL.

Saint Theophylact says, "His winnowing fan is in His hand." Do not think, if you are baptized by Him and then remain an unrepentant sinner, that He will forgive you. For He also has a winnowing fan, that is, judgment and examination. "He will clean His threshing floor," namely, the Church, which holds many who are baptized, just the threshing floor holds all the crop. But some of those who are baptized are chaff, those who are light-minded and moved about by the evil spirits, while others are the wheat, who bring benefit to others and nourish them with teachings and deeds. "And gather the wheat into His granary, but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." That the fire is unquenchable. Therefore Origen the heretic is babbling nonsense when he said that there will be an end to hell.

Here Saint Theophylact is referring to Origen’s teaching of "apokatastasis", i.e. "restoration," which was condemned by the Fifth Ecumenical Synod in Constantinople in 553 A.D. According to the heretical teaching, the punishment of the demons and the impious in hell will one day come to an end, and "all will be restored."

Saint John the Baptist anticipates Divine Judgment on God’s people through the coming of the Messiah. "Fire" is a symbol of destruction, and often describes the Final Judgment. "And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (v. 10). According to Saint Theophylact, "the axe means the judgment of Christ, and the trees stand for each one of us. Therefore, he who has not believed, and thus is rooted only in himself, is now and henceforward being cut down into Gehenna. "Therefore every tree," even though descended from Abraham, "which bringeth not forth good fruit." He did not say, "which hath not brought forth," but "which bringeth not forth," for one must continually be bringing forth fruit. For if you gave alms yesterday but today you are greedy and grasping, you are not pleasing to God. "Is hewn down and cast into the fire." The fire, that is, of Gehenna."

This warning of Saint John the Baptist who is anticipating the Messiah to come is very clear that He will bring Divine judgment on God’s people. It behooves all believers to prepare themselves for that judgment. No one can escape Divine Judgment. One must not only flee from evil and wickedness but also bring forth fruits (works) of virtue. "Turn away from evil and do good" (Psalm 33:4).

"Repent: for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand," declared Jesus. The Kingdom of Heaven is Christ Himself and it is also the life of virtue. For when someone lives as an Angel on earth, is he not heavenly? So the Kingdom of heaven is within each one of us when we live as Angels. The monastic life in the Orthodox Church is referred to as the "angelic life." The life of monks and nuns of our Church live a life of virtue, a life of ceaseless prayer, and charity. However, it is not exclusively a monastic life for it should be the life of every Orthodox Christian living in the world.

Jesus said, "For this reason, I say unto you, Take no thought of your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor yet for your body, what you shall put on." (Matthew 6:25), Saint Theophylact comments, "For this reason" –for what reason? Because concern over money drives a man away from God. The soul does not eat, for it is bodiless, but Jesus said this according to the common use of the word. For it is obvious that the soul does not consent to remain in a body if the flesh is not fed. Jesus does not forbid us to work, but rather He forbids us to give ourselves over entirely to our cares and to neglect God. Hence we must work for our livelihood while not neglecting the soul. "Is not life more than food, and the body more than raiment?" This means, will not He Who gave what is greater, life itself, and fashioned the body, will He not also give food and clothing?" "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" This means, even if you take the utmost care, you can do nothing if God does not will it. Why then do you dive yourself to exhaustion with futile worries?"

A person of faith is a person who places his life in God’s Divine hands. "The Kingdom of God is the enjoyment of all that is good. This comes through righteousness. To him who seeks after the spiritual things of God in His generosity adds that which is needed for physical life." What is required by us is to trust God implicitly. There can be no doubt in His Divine will knowing that He, our Savior, sacrificed His life on the Cross to save us, unworthy as we all are. It is the evil one who should not be trusted for he hates mankind and desires our destruction and death. We need only to open our eyes and see the evil working among men and the destruction, the chaos, the pain, the confusion, the divisions, the fear and hate that it brings. Whatever we ask, unhesitantly believing in God’s power, we shall receive. We must, however, not ask for something foolish and unprofitable. We seek only those things which are profitable for us and for things which will lead to our salvation.

________________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George