Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

Christ is in our midst! He was, is, and ever shall be.

"DO NOT LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES ON EARTH,
WHERE MOTH AND RUST DESTROY AND WHERE THIEVES
BREAK IN AND STEAL" (St. Matthew 6:19).

Man must acquire the gift of discernment and seek heavenly wisdom to avoid repeating the same foolish mistakes in his life over and over again. Even after twenty-hundred years, mankind is still preoccupied with the same goals, passions, and material possessions. Instead of worshipping God, he worships things created. Even though "He came unto His own… His own received Him not" (St. John 1:12). Even though He gave us His Divine and perfect agape, we in our spiritual blindness denied Him, we chose to turn away from Him.

Man’s passions and idols today are two, wealth (materialism), and hedonism (pleasure). Humanity instead has chosen to reject Him and prefers to seek the "treasures" and pleasures of this temporary life on earth. Contemporary man has become a captive/hostage by his material possessions. He is truly enslaved by things that are in reality of no consequence or worth. This is why Jesus reminds us when He says, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

In verse 24, the Lord again teaches us that "No man can serve two lords." In other words, no person can serve two masters who demand things that are opposed to each other. The lords in question are God and mammon. We make the devil our master when we allow sinful passions to rule over us and become our gods. "For either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. You CANNOT serve God and mammon." It is obvious and true that it is not possible for a wealthy and unrighteous man to serve God. His love for wealth drives him away from God. He is obsessed with greed and the power that is derived from possessing such wealth.

What man should seek is the heavenly Treasure, the Lord, and Savior of the world Jesus Christ. He that no power can take away from us but is eternal. This is why at the Divine Liturgy the priest inaudibly offers the following prayer:

"It is meet and right to hymn Thee, to bless Thee, to praise Thee, to give thanks unto Thee, and to worship Thee in every place of Thy Dominion. For Thou art God ineffable, inconceivable, invisible, incomprehensible, ever-existing
and eternally the same, Thou and Thy Only-begotten Son and Thy Holy Spirit, Thou didst bring us into being out of
nothing, and when we had fallen away didst raise us up again, and didst not cease to do all things until Thou hadst
brought us back to heaven, and hadst endowed us with Thy Kingdom which is to come. For all these things we give
thanks to Thee, and Thy Only-begotten Son, and Thy Holy Spirit, for all the things we know and we do not know, for
the benefits conferred upon us, both seen and unseen…".

Furthermore, "as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of
Him Who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that
through these you may be PARTAKERS OF THE DIVINE NATURE, having escaped the corruptions that is in the world
through lust. But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge,
to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly and brotherly kindness love. For if these
things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:3-8).

Set your sights always on our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and Him alone. Patriarchs, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and Laity are all willing servants of the Almighty God and there to worship Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Triune God, and Creator of all. Our Protector and Divine Leader is one, the One Who gave His life voluntarily so as to save us from sin and death. We are urged and encouraged to keep undefiled the "good soil," to accept without doubt the Divine seed of faith in God in Whom "we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:28).

No one can deny that we live in a fallen world motivated by selfishness, vanity, greed and consumed with the desire to enrich ourselves with material goods. However, our struggle is more about "fighting the good fight" against evil which threatens our very existence and salvation. We must not relent or surrender to the dark and wicked powers of this world. Be of good courage and continue to battle against these evil forces that will never win over us as long as we remain near to God. Protect your dignity, purity, integrity, faith, and stay loyal to our Creator and Heavenly Father. Remember that we are called to "be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect" (St. Matthew 5:48).

"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are are just,
whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any
virtue and is anything praiseworthy–MEDITATE ON THESE THINGS. The things which you learned and
received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace WILL BE WITH YOU" (Philippians 4:8).

How do we confront the daily pressures and challenges of life? First by faith that "the Lord is at hand," present with us, (v.5); refusing to worry, being "anxious for nothing"(v.6); prayer and supplication (v.6); thanksgiving … to God (v.6); meditation on that which is virtuous (v.8); and imitating the godly (v.9).

__________________

"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.

"Then they also will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You
hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, AND
DID NOT MINISTER TO You?’ Then He will answer them, saying,
‘Assuredly, I say to you inasmuch as YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ONE
OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ME" (St. Matthew 25:44-45).

As we approach closer and closer to the Holy and Great Lent, it is a common practice for all of us, without exception, to turn our attention to prayer, vigils, and fasting. These pious and most beneficial spiritual exercises are part of our discipline and necessary to our ascesis. However, one must not neglect to pay attention to other duties which we have that are even more significant and spiritually profitable and indispensable to our salvation.

As Orthodox Christians, we absolutely expect and await the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We refer to the Second Coming as the ‘Final’ Judgment of humanity. Jesus Christ says, "When the Son of Man COMES in HIS GLORY, and the Holy Angels with Him, then He WILL SIT O THE THRONE OF His glory. All the nations will be gathered BEFORE HIM, and He will SEPARATE THEM ONE FROM ANOTHER, AS A SHEPHERD DIVIDES THE SHEEP FROM THE GOATS. AND HE WILL SET THE SHEEP ON HIS RIGHT HAND, AND THE GOATS ON THE LEFT" (St. Matthew 25:31-32). As you can plainly see that ACCORDING TO OUR LORD CHRIST HIMSELF that there is A FINAL JUDGMENT that will take place and AN ACCOUNTING GIVEN BY ALL OF US WITHOUT EXCEPTION. NO ONE CAN ESCAPE THIS JUDGMENT. Everything which we have done and not done will be revealed, in other words, acts of commission and acts of omission will be revealed before all. Including thoughts and feelings, i.e., "logismoi" (wicked thoughts) and feelings of hatred, pride, contempt, apathy, uncaring, selfishness, etc.

Prayer, fasting, and vigils are spiritual tools to help us in our quest to strengthen our spiritual discipline, but the criterion of Our Lord Jesus Christ for one to be saved is much greater than this. He Himself makes it abundantly clear that His standard of judgment IS UNCALCULATED MERCY TOWARD OUR NEIGHBOR, OUR FELLOW MAN, THE NEEDY. IN THEIR WORDS, WORKS OR ACTS OF MERCY, OF COMPASSION, OF AGAPE TOWARD THOSE WHO ARE DEPRIVED OF EVERYTHING, INCLUDING LOVE AND COMPASSION. Saving faith produces righteous works. Jesus’s earthly life is one of GREAT MERCY AND COMPASSION. Our philanthropy or charity to the needy IS DIRECTLY CONNECTED TO His Person, to Himself.

"When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE My brethren, YOU DID IT TO Me." (vv. 38-40). How much more clear can the Lord be? It is urgent that we begin to pay greater attention to our fellow man. We all witness daily the struggle and suffering of men, women, and children who have no means of support, who are homeless, who are abused, who are neglected, sometimes, even from their own family members. Those who are in prison and those who have been abandoned by all. Our Lord and God Jesus Christ IDENTIFIES HIMSELF WITH THE POOR AND THE OUTCASTS.

What good is it to robotically or mechanically adhere to certain spiritual traditions of our Faith and ignore the most pressing and important ones such as the commandments of our Savior? Hear what Saint James (Iakovos) the Holy Apostle and Brother of the Lord says about helping those in great need? "What does it profit, my brethren if someone says he has faith but does NOT have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily bread, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, WHAT DOES IT PROFIT? Thus also FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT DOES NOT HAVE WORKS, IS DEAD. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith WITHOUT WORKS, and I will show you my faith BY MY WORKS" (St. James 2:14-19).

You see the genuine faith that saves IS A TOTAL OR COMPLETE FAITH: not just the mind believing and the tongue confessing, but which reveals one’s TOTAL COMMITMENT TO GOD, FAITH. "faIth alone" is empty faith, inert faith, static faith which does NOT save! We must cultivate our faith and nurture our faith in God and love for Him through our works of mercy.

Saint Paul says that the invitation of Christ involves a readiness to be shaped by the Holy Spirit, as in Romans 8:4; and 8:11, A self-giving service of love to others, as in 1 Corinthians 13, and his epistle to the Galatians 5:13. The imitators of Christ in his epistle to the Ephesians 5:1. We, as Christian believers must reflect all those things humanly possible which our Lord said and did while on earth. Whatever is impossible for man, is possible for God! "Be ye, therefore, imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk-in love, even as Christ also loved you."

Those who are foolish view everything revealed by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as elective or optional. The salvation of one’s soul is NOT something to take lightly, my good people. It requires OBEDIENCE to the Will of God, to His Divine Teachings, to His Holy Commandments. It is not something to toy with. It is a matter of life and death! Jesus Himself threatens those of us who ignore His command to help the poor and indigent by saying, "And these will go away INTO EVERLASTING PUNISHMENT, BUT THE RIGHTEOUS INTO ETERNAL LIFE" (v. 46). And as Saint Theophylaktos states: "He sends those on the left into the fire which has been prepared for the devil. For as the demons are without compassion and are cruelly and maliciously disposed toward us, it is fitting that they WHO ARE OF LIKE MIND WITH THEM, AND WHO HAVE BEEN CURSED BY THEIR OWN DEEDS, SHOULD MERIT THE SAME PUNISHMENT."

As a young child in Greece, I had the opportunity to experience an act of kindness and compassion. It was in the year 1948, soon following the civil war with the communists in Greece when we, a family of seven, were uprooted from our village of Zaharo in Peloponnessos, southern Greece. Our house was bombed WITH US IN IT. By the grace of God and the holy intercessions of our Patron Saint Spyridon we were saved. We were not homeless. My good and pious parents had a strong faith, but they knew that we could not stay in our village any longer and had to relocate to the capital city of Athens. My father had an acquaintance in Athens, an Archimandrite who he felt could help my father to find a job and to resettle in the city. He wrote to him and then took my sister Ioanna and me on a train to Athens; I was five years old and Ioanna around ten. We arrived in Athens and went directly to the Archimandrites’ house. There, my father was treated with respect and we were all offered refreshments. Father was polite and listened attentively, but regretfully, he told my father, there was nothing he could do to help us. We left his house in the early evening without having any place to go. Everything was closed in the city except for a taverna nearby. Athens was cold and damp and the clothes that we wore were not for the cold weather in the city. Having not very much money or a place to stay, my father decided to go across to the opened taverna to eat something and to think of what to do. There was only one customer that was still there. When the stranger saw us, he immediately realized that we were not from Athens, but from the country and poor. He recognized from my father’s facial expression that we were in trouble. He came over to our table, introduced himself, and said to my father, ‘I see you are not from here. Do you and the children have a place to stay? My father explained our predicament to him in some detail. He said to him, ‘not to worry and you and the children will come with me to my house. My house is not very big and we don’t have beds, but we can all sleep on the floor together and you are welcomed to stay with us for as long as you need. I have a wife and two young daughters. His kindness, his compassion, his act of mercy, and his family’s, saved us literally. This is what our Lord Jesus Christ is speaking about. It wasn’t only the offer to stay at his house but HIS COMPASSION! That is what is meant by an act of mercy. What it means to think, feel and act as a fellow human being. There are some who feel it is about the monetary gift, it is not. IT IS ALL ABOUT LOVE AND COMPASSION!

"THANKS, BE TO GOD!"

____________________

" 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.

"Therefore be IMITATORS OF God as dear children. And
walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Him-
self for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a
sweet-smelling aroma" (Ephesians 5:1-2).

Holy Apostle Paul continues offering guidance to the faithful and followers of Christ by beseeching them "to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love" (Ephesians 4:1-2). His message continues to be the same for Christians throughout time and place. How Christians, and specifically Orthodox Christians, believe and act. How one believes must affect how one lives; one’s faith or belief should influence his/her conduct i.e., to "walk in love, as Christ…"

"Walk worthy of the calling." He explains further what he means by "walk": To walk in love; to walk in the light; to walk in wisdom as people of God. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:32). To walk implies a slow steady pace; a daily but consistent spiritual progress; more of a marathon, not a sprint.

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8-9). The Holy Apostle Paul continues his admonition to the children of God by saying, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is" (Ephesians 5:15-17).

The aim of one who follows Christ is not so much to abandon the world, but to keep oneself in Christ. The Orthodox Christian is one who remains steadfast in his/her faith and in the new life in Christ. Although, as Christians, we live in an ungodly secular world, the true believer must not surrender to the world. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 5:12).

We, the contemporary Christians, who stand for good must be prepared to wage constant battle with the forces of evil and not stand idle and indifferent.
We believe, and we see it daily, that the wicked forces still have a great deal of influence in the world. This dangerous situation will continue until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again in glory. It is incumbent for all believers of Christ to stay strong in the faith and not yield to any outside evil influence or temptation.

The evil one has not ceased his attacks on the Holy Church and the followers of Jesus Christ for all two thousand years of its existence. The persecution of Christ and His Church, of which He is the Head, will continue until His Second Coming. For centuries his attacks were manifested through the pagan Roman state and other enemies of our Savior. Then wicked forces within the Church began to appear in the form of heresies and heretics. These attacks were insidious and even more dangerous because they attempted to subvert, corrupt, divide, confuse, distort, create mistrust, and turn one Christian against the other. This is not hyperbole, but a reality. We can look at the result of this evil today. See how Christians are divided and how the Christian Gospel, the Good News, has been deliberately distorted by these evil forces. There are at least 35,000 Protestant denominations throughout the world that share a common Scripture but cannot come to a mutual interpretation and understanding. Christ unites the Christian people by His Truth, by His Divine Gospel, and does not divide! Jesus Himself warns us: "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand" (St. Matthew 12:25).

Christians today must be aware of their surroundings at all times and in every place including the Church. Jesus warns us, "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves" (St. Matthew 7:15). One cannot be too careful or let his guard down at any time. We live in a world of deception and so-called ‘confidence men’ who deliberately desire to take advantage of our innocence and trust. The holy Apostle advises, "Beloved, DO NOT BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT, BUT TEST THE SPIRITS, WHETHER THEY ARE OF GOD; because many false prophets have gone out unto the world. By this, you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit THAT DOES NOT BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS COME IN THE FLESH IS NOT OF GOD. AND THIS IS THE SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST, WHICH YOU HAVE HEARD WAS COMING AND IS NOW ALREADY IN THE WORLD" (1 jOHN 4:1-3).

Be strong, be alert, remain steadfast in the Faith, and loyal to Christ our God and Savior. Do not deviate from the Truth and the Gospel of Christ and stay close to our Holy Orthodox Church. Do not allow anyone at all to corrupt our HolyTradition and defend Christianity as the Christians of the early Church did. They were willing to be imprisoned, tortured, and even killed for the Lord and His Church. Millions of Christians have given their lives over the centuries and millions will continue to do so now and in the future. Don’t be stupefied or gullible. Remember that the devil can take all kinds of forms and shapes, including by presenting himself as "an angel of light." Do not be deceived! Instead, pray that the Almighty God will give you the gift of discernment and be able to see through the devious snares of the evil one. Study the Holy Scripture, pray daily, receive the Sacraments as often as possible and the sacred writings of the Holy Fathers and Mothers of the Church.

Let us pray to the Lord. Kyrie eleison,

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Spirit. Amen.

O Christ our God,
At all times and every hour, in heaven and on earth,
You are worshipped and glorified;
You are long-suffering, Most Merciful, Most compassionate,
You love the righteous and have mercy upon the sinners;
You call everyone to salvation
through the promise of future blessings;
Receive, O Lord, our prayers at this hour
And direct our life toward your Commandments,
Sanctify our souls, make our bodies chaste;
Correct our thoughts, purify our intentions;
And deliver us from every grief and pain that comes from evil,
Encompass us by Your holy Angels,
So that guarded and guided by them
We may attain to the unity of the faith
And to the knowledge of Your inapproachable glory,
For You are Blessed unto the age of ages. 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

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

Christ is in our midst! He was, is, and ever shall be.

As we embark on our pre-Lenten Season, known as the Triodion, on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, our attention turns to self-abasement, to the Day of Judgment, to our sinful nature and acts, to pride, and to repentance. At Orthros (Matins) we hear the hymns of the Triodion proclaim: "Open to me the gates of repentance, O Giver of Life." "Guide me in the paths of salvation, O Theotokos." And, "When I ponder in my wretchedness on the many terrible things that I have done, I tremble for the fearful day; the Day of Judgment. But trusting in the mercy of Your compassion, like David, I cry to You, ‘Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy" (Idiomelon, Mode pl. 2).

We are asked to ponder why humility leads up to the heights of righteousness, while self-conceit and arrogance lead down to the depths of sin? Because anybody who thinks he is something great or special, even before God, is certainly abandoned by God. In the Gospel of Saint Luke 14:11, our Lord Himself warns us that "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Another clear message comes from the Book of Proverbs 3:34, which states, "The Lord resisteth the proud: but be He giveth grace unto the lowly (humble)".

Our Lord and God Jesus Christ Himself is giving this parable of the publican and Pharisee, wanting to teach us the "gain (benefit) that comes from HUMILITY and the loss (damage) from PRIDE". His listeners, the Pharisees, who were self-righteous and thought themselves above and better than everyone else. The Lord says, "Two men went up to the Temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus WITH HIMSELF, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I FAST TWICE A WEEK, I GIVEN TITHES OF ALL THAT I GET.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, WOULD NOT EVEN LIFT UP HIS EYES TO HEAVEN, BUT BEAT HIS BREAST, SAYING, ‘GOD, BE MERCIFUL TO ME A SINNER!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house JUSTIFIED RATHER THAN THE OTHER; FOR EVERYONE WHO EXALTS HIMSELF WILL BE HUMBLED, BUT HE WHO HUMBLES HIMSELF WILL BE EXALTED."

If the Pharisee is condemned by his attitude and words, it is because, as a Pharisee, he thinks of himself as someone important and righteous. Instead, he reveals that he is self-centered and enamored. It is this attitude that provokes God’s condemnation. The Greek word, KENODOXIA describes his attitude perfectly. ‘Kenodoxia’ is translated as VAINGLORY OR EMPTY GLORY, in other words, worthless and devoid of any substance or value.

Our Holy Church purposely and wisely brings this specific Parable of our Lord, ‘The Publican and Pharisee,’ to our attention as we commence this solemn season of the Triodion, which will prepare us spiritually for the Holy and Great Lent which is to follow. We must not lose sight that the theme is REPENTANCE. The act of repentance, or Gk. "metanoia," is the door through which we enter the holy season of Lent; the starting-point of our long journey to the All-Holy Pascha. The holy Desert Fathers of the Church point out clearly the essence of the meaning of the day: "Better a man who has sinned, if he knows that he has sinned and repents, than a man who has not sinned and thinks of himself as righteous."

Saint Gregory Palamas, one of the great holy Fathers of the Church, in his homily says that "the two were different not only in their manner and way of praying, but also in their type of prayer, for there are two kinds. Prayer is not simply a matter of entreaty, but also of thanksgiving. Of those who pray, one goes up to the Temple of God praising and thanking God for what he has received from Him. Another asks for what he has not yet received, including, in the case of those of us who sin all the time, remission of sins… The Pharisee’s behavior and words prove he was afflicted with these diseases. He went up to the Temple to give thanks, NOT TO MAKE SUPPLICATION and, like a wretched fool, mingled conceit and condemnation of others with his thanksgiving. For he stood and prayed thus with himself: "God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers" (St. Luke 18:11)."

The difference between the two men is stark. The arrogant Pharisee reveals shameless self-exaltation and the other man, the Publican, such humility that he wouldn’r dare to lift up his eyes to heaven. "The publican, standing far off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven" (St. Luke 18:11). He stood before God, not with arrogance, but bowed down as an unworthy servant (‘δούλος = lit. slave). He saw himself as totally unworthy either of heaven or of the earthly Temple. He is beating his breast out of self-condemnation and to show that he is deserving of punishment.

The Saints of our Holy Church constantly condemned themselves and considered themselves as ‘the sinner of sinners.’ They never declared themselves as either saints or superior spiritually to anyone else. They constantly shed abundant tears of repentance and grief. We too must join them and see ourselves not as righteous, but as the worst sinners on earth. Truly repent of your sins and with a contrite and sincere heart seek forgiveness from our Creator and Savior. We deserve nothing at all, not even the crumbs that fall from our Master’s table. It is only out of God’s love and mercy that there is hope for salvation. You and I must see ourselves as rescued publicans.

When we come to our senses, we must add to our penitential prayers words and the renunciation of evil. One of the most meaningful and inspiring Psalms, Psalm 50[51] we use in our Holy Orthodox Church, it is the psalm of repentance that reflects this spirit says: "…Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight… (vv.1-4). However, we must be very careful to avoid falling into TYPOLATREIA meaning an empty or superficial form of worship.

Again the Greek metanoia (repentance) and epistrophy (return) are the two Greek words used to express the TOTAL INTERIOR CONVERSION AND RADICAL TURNING AROUND that was demanded by Jesus’ call to repentance. For our Lord Christ, the disposition of genuine repentance was only possible when one took on the attitude of a child (St. Matthew 18:3) and turned away from the dispositions of SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS AND PRESUMPTION (St. Luke 18:10-14). The repentance that our Merciful God and Savior Jesus Christ preached was good news to be received with joy.

After His Resurrection, Jesus sent His disciples TO PREACH REPENTANCE and to baptize ALL NATIONS for the remission of sins. The early Church developed for its membeers penitential paractices to meditate publically the call to repentance. In the first three centuries the procedure for penance comprised a confession of sin to the bishop or priest, a public exomologesis and/or a reconciliation or absolution, usually public. So, you see the Mysterion (Sacrament) of Repentance/Confession is not a recent practice as some regretfully believe that our Monasteries have invented and introduced for the first time here in the U.S. Some even, unfortunately, believe that the Mysterion of Reptentance/Confession is optional or elective.

All Orthodox Christian believers who are tuly committed to the Faith ought to take time to first understand our Holy Orthodox Christian Tradition and then to implement it in their lives. The purpose of faithfully observing our Holy Tradition is one, SALVATION. Everything that we do leads to the Kingdom of God, to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. When we miss ‘the Target’, it is called AMARTIA. Our ONLY TARGET IS JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF. We must always keep Him in our sights!

KALO TRIODION!

__________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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.

"Then Jesus said to them, ‘A little while longer the light is
with you, Walk while you have the light, lest darkness
overtakes you; he who walks in darkness does not know
where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the
light, that you may become sons of light" (St. John 12:35-36)

When the Orthodox Christian recites the Symbol of Faith (Creed) in the Divine Liturgy he confesses openly, "…And (I believe) in One Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father, before all Ages. Light of Light, True God of True God…". Christ is "Light from Light". In union with Him, we partake of His Light, becoming children of Light.

"He was the true Light which enlighteneth every man that cometh into the world" (John 1:9). "Even before He took flesh, He (Jesus) was the true Light." We are indeed the creation of the True Light. Jesus Christ gives light to all, however, coerces no one to accept it. The light of Christ is given freely. Saint Theophylactos writes, "Neither death nor deception could overcome it, for this Light, God the Logos/Word, is UNCONQUERABLE."

We are all the recipients of the life-giving rays of our sun. The sun rises every day and gives light and energy to all. Without the sun’s rays, nothing would grow and life would not exist. It is said, that the distance of our planet earth from the sun is precisely where it should be. If it was a fraction closer to it, our planet earth would burn to a crisp. If the sun was a fraction away from the earth it would instantly freeze. This very fact indicates to us that it is foolish to believe in man-made theories that exclude God’s divine hand, like the ‘big bang theory,’ instead of the truth that God created all from nothing. The sun and its energies are indispensable to us.

God creates light

"Then God said, "Let there be light; and there was light. God saw the light; it was good; God divided the light from darkness; God called the light Day; Darkness He called Night; and there was evening and morning, one day. (Genesis 1:3-5)

"Then God said, "Let there be lights in the firmament of heaven for ILLUMINATION TO DIVIDE DAY FROM NIGHT. Let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years. Let them be the illumination in the firmament of Heaven to give light on the earth. It was so. Then God made two great lights the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also, God set them in the firmament of Heaven to give light on the earth and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide THE LIGHT FROM THE DARKNESS. God saw it was good. So evening and morning were the fourth day" (Genesis 1:14-19).

Saint Gregory Palamas says that the sensible sun is seen by all who dwell on the earth, apart, of course, from anyone blind, while the intelligible sun of righteousness is seen by those who are worthy and prepared… Therefore, the intelligible and UNCREATED LIGHT is seen by all to whom God grants this experience, since God reveals Himself to those He wishes; and this revelation is according to the spiritual condition of the people who are granted it."

"It is a fact," writes Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos, "that God is and is called Light, for, on the one hand, it is a revelation from Christ Himself, who said: "I am the Light of the world" (St. John 8:12), and on the other hand, because all who were granted to see Him; saw Him, as radiant Light. Saint John Chrysostom points out that the Evangelist says that the Person of Christ shone like the sun, because there is no other image to present the radiance of Christ’s Person at that moment" of His Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. The Church sings: "Today on Tabor is the manifestation of Thy Light, O Logos/Word… we have seen the Father as Light and the Spirit as Light…". So too, the face of Christ Himself shone brighter than the sun.

It is understood now that Our Divine Creator, in His Great Wisom, and out of His unconditional love, gave us the Light of Life. Following the administrarion of Holy Communion at the Divine Liturgy to all, we chant: "We have seen the True Light, we have received the Heavenly Spirit, we have found the True Faith by worshipping the undivided Trinity; This has saved us." Also, at the sacrament of baptism or ‘illumination,’ there are number of prayers that the officiant priest offers for the candidate: "…Thou receive him into Thy heavenly Kingdom. Open the eyes of his mind that he may discern the illumination of Thy Gospel…" ".. make him a reasoning sheep of the holy flock of Thy Christ, a worthy member of Thy Church, a sanctified vessel, a child of light and an inheritor of Thy Kingdom…" "Blessed is God Who lighteth and sanctifieth every man that cometh into the world, now and forever..". The blessings offered by the Church, entreat our Loving, and Merciful God, to illumine and enlighten the person who is baptized into the Faith.

The Orthodox Christian faithful who truly believe in Jesus Christ our Savior are members of His Holy Church, receive His Light. This is how Orthodox Christians themselves become light or light-bearers; by reflecting the Divine Light of Christ from within. The Light of Christ cannot be kept for one self or hidden, but must be shared with all. The life of an illumined person is a virtuous and holy life, filled with love and compassion. At times, just being near or in the presence of such a godly or saintly person is enough to spiritually profit from that unique and special experience.

I recall such a unique and memorable experience some years ago that had a lasting impact on me and my family. By the Grace of God, Presbytera Elaine, our children, and I, crossed paths with Geronda (Elder) Ephraim the Hieromonk, of blessed memory, of Saint Anthony’s Monastery in Arizona. Many years ago, in Tampa, Florida, when I was serving the Greek Orthodox parish of Saint John’s, I was asked by Metropolitan Alexios of the Atlanta Metropolis, to assist Geronda Ephraim to find a suitable location to establish a Monastery in the Tampa Bay area. I, of course, was very happy, not only to help, but to meet Geronda Ephraim and to be part of such a holy undertaking; the establishment of the first Greek Orthodox Monastery in the state of Florida. It was the first time that I, and my family, met a Greek Orthodox monk; especially someone as godly as Geronda Ephraim and fellow monk, father Savvas. Just being in Geronda’s presence had a lasting and incredible impact on me personally and my family. In such a short time, he changed our lives forever. Everything about our Faith became more vivid and alive. This is what happens and how, when you are in the presence of an illumined, saintly, and Grace-filled person, your life can change instantly.

____________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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.

"…TEACHING THEM TO OBSERVE ALL THINGS
THAT I HAVE COMMENDED YOU." (Matthew 28:20)

The sacred mission of the Holy Church is to continue revealing God’s absolute Divine Truth to all of humanity. To accomplish this task our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ commissioned and commanded His holy Disciples to "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19). Making disciples cannot be done in the strength of man, but only in the power of God Himself.

Beginning His earthly Divine Ministry, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ began to preach and to say, ‘Repent for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matthew 4:17). Repentance is absolutely necessary to enter and continue in Jesus’ New Way of life. Repentance, Gk. Metanoia, indicates man’s turning from himself to Our Creator and God. It means belief and a total about-face, a radical change of one’s "phronema" or mindset and heart. "A complete reorientation of the whole of one’s life and being." It is the actual change in one’s thinking, feeling, and acting. The willingness of man to conform to the Divine will and commandments of the Almighty and Merciful God.

Christianity is not another of the thousands upon thousands of man-made religions, but the absolute Truth of God, revealed by Him to all of mankind through His Only-begotten Son Jesus Christ. Our Divine and Heavenly Teacher, our Master, the Logos/Word of God set out to reveal that He indeed is "the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6). And too, "No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). To Him we look and to Him we listen. We are called by God to be "in Christ."

It is absurd for any one of the Christian Faith to assert or believe that the Divine Teachings of our Lord can be changed by us. He is very firm and resolute when it comes to His Divine Teachings. He says, "Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called the least in the Kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19). Not observing the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ is a severe violation of God’s law. It is unthinkable for a Christian believer to pick and chose, or to be selective of what he/she likes or does not like about the revealed truths taught by our Lord Christ.

The Holy Orthodox Church is the principle and primary interpreter of God’s revelation, because of the permanent presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church. The Holy Spirit gives her aid and guidance because she is "the church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth" (1 Timothy 3:15). The Church is the body of Christ, the Incarnate Logos (Ephesians 1:22). Who else is to declare the Gospel? Who shall preach the Word of God? Preaching and proclaiming are part of the essence of the Holy Church.

It is in the Holy Church that we, as members of the body of Christ, are guided, enlightened, and nourished by the Holy Spirit our God. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself is always present within the Church, for "He is the Head of the body, the Church." The baptized members of the Church are constantly transformed and saved by the grace of the Holy Spirit within it. The Church is the Ark of salvation.

No one Orthodox Christian should ever marginalize or dismiss the guidance of our Holy Orthodox Church. As Orthodox Christians, we believe that the Church is Christ Himself. When we listen to the Church speak, we believe, that we are listening to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Himself, for Christ is in her and she in Him, she is in very truth His body (Ephesians 1:22, 23).

We live in very dangerous times and we need to turn more and more to our Church for guidance. There are many voices of false prophets and preachers out there who are attempting to lure us away from our Church. They use all kinds of enticements and snares to catch us, but we must be alert and wise to avoid becoming their victims. The authentic Church of Christ is the only means for salvation. It is up to the individual Orthodox Christian to listen. Many times after the Lord Christ spoke to the people, He would say, "He who has ears to hear let him hear" (Luke 8:8).

___________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!

–Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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 VALUE OF PEACE

There can be no peace unless there is faith and prayer. And he who truly seeks peace, is he, whose heart and mind seek the Lord, Jesus Christ. There can be no peace without our Savior and Redeemer. "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:9). Our Master Himself is the source of peace. Our Lord reveals Himself to us as the Great Reconciler, the Prince of Peace (Ephesians 2:14,16). The Holy Spirit gives peace, the Sign of God’s presence. to those who imitate Him.

Saint Seraphim of Sarov said, "Aquire the Spirit of peace and a thousand souls around you will be saved." And Saint Anatoly of Optina states: "Wherever God is – there is peace. And the opposite is self-evident: where there is envy, enmity, impatience, self-love – there is the devil. Wherever the devils – there, everything is ruinous, proudn and hostile."

Without peace nothing can be accomplished. Peace is essential to pray, peace is essential to grow spiritually, peace is essential to love, peace is essential to forgive, peace is essential to build, and peace is essential to commune with our Creator. Peace is God’s gift to us. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I GIVE TO YOU; not as the world gives do I give to you" (John 14:27). Perfect peace is brought by the Messiah, who carries out the work of salvation and reconciles man with God.

Peace is not exclusively a Christian need, but also a human need. It is indispensable to all human beings, not only to have peace, but to be always at peace with Almighty God and withe one another. It is a fact that peace can be illusive and at times a rare experience for the average person. Yet, we can NOT do without it. Even at our worship during the Divine Liturgy the priest shouts, "Peace be to all."

"So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be to you!" As Christians we do not see this as simply a greeting from the Lord, but a great blessing. Understanding how necessary to our life peace is, we cannot, but to accepted it, as a special gift from Him to us. Saint Maximus the Confessor advises us to "stop defiling your flesh with shameful deeds and polluting your soul with wicked thoughts; then the peace of God will send upon you and bring you love."

Another Great Holy Father of the Church, Saint Seraphim of Sarov wrote: "There is nothing better than peace in Christ, for it brings victory over all the evil spirits on earth and in the air. When peace dwells in a man’s heart it enables him to contemplate the graceof the Holy Spirit from within. He who dwells in peace collects spiritual gifts as it were with a scoop and he sheds the light of knowledge on others. All our thoughts, all our desires, all our efforts, and all our actions should make us say constantly with the Church: "O Lord, give us peace! When a man lives in peace, God reveals Mysteries to him."

Saint Isaac the Syrian stated: "The soul that loves God has its vest in God and in God alone. In all the paths that men walk in the world, they do not attain peace until they draw near to hope in God." Our Lord Christ reminds us that none of us need to go very far to meet with God "For indeed; THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU" (Luke 17:21). Also, we are reminded that His ver name, Immanuel, means when translated, "GOD WITH US." (Matthew 1:23). Where God is so is His Kingdom! His Kingdom, is the Kingdom of peace! The Kingdom of Agape!

God’s will is that His Kingdom on earth is to be a Kingdom of peace too. We, as His followers, need to be His instruments of peace. Our world has known warfare and conflict, the loss of precious life, injustice, and often cruelty. God’s world was never meant to be abused, exploited and mismanaged by man,but for man, to be a good stward of it. "Then God blessed them; and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it, and HAVE DOMINION over the fish of the sea, over the birds of heaven, and over every living thing that moves on the earth" (Genesis 1:28). However, the reality is, that mankind has proven not to be reliable or responsible or obedient to God’s will. When God handed over His creation t102:22).o man, "everything He had made, was indeed, it was very good," (Genesis 1:31).

Man has failed to maintain God’s creation and peace and harmony within the world which he lives in. It is time for us all to ask His forgiveness and with great and sincere humility to repent of our sins. Follow the example of the Psalmist and his words, "I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall always be in my mouth, and in all places of His dominion, bless the Lord, O my soul!" (Psalm 102:22).

According to the Holy Scripture, the most powerful prayer is short prayer that is done from the depth of the heart, with sighs and tears: "Our of teh depths have I cried to Thee, O Lord, Lord, hear my voice" (Psalm 129:1). Such short prayer was used by the thief on the cross, the Cananite woman, the apostles when they were caught in the storm on the Sea of Galilee, the blind mand of Jericho and the leper.

Peace be on to you!

________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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

+ Father George