My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

HOPE IS AN INDISPENSABLE VIRTUE

Let us see what the Holy Scripture say about the virtue of hope:

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all
men the most pitiable." (1 Corinthians 15:19)

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom also we have access by faith into
this grace in which we stand, and rejoices in hope
of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1-2)

"Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God
has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who was given to us." (Romans 5:5).

"For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope;
for why does one still hope for what he sees? But if we hope what
we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance," (Romans 8:24-25)

Faith and hope are inseparable. The virtue of hope goes together with the power of faith. Hope is the confidence that despite all the challenges which we face in life, the grace of our loving God is upon us to guide us to do that which seems impossible.

Hopelessness is the opposite of hope. According to our Church tradition, the state of hopelessness or despair is the most dangerous and sad condition a person can be afflicted with. It is the most harmful and one of the most precarious states for the soul to be in. The loss of hope is the most awful state because, without hope, nothing else is possible. What empowers hope is faith. "If a person is faithless, he can be chastised. If a person is proud, he can be humbled; impure, he can be cleansed; weak, he can be strengthened; evil, he can be made righteous. But if a person is despondent and despairing, the very condition of his sickness is such that his heart and soul are dead and unresponsive to the Grace of God and the support of his brothers."

"The demon of despondency which is called the "noon-day demon" Psalm 91 is the funeral psalm in the Orthodox Church, a song of confidence in God’s protection. It is also a prayer before bedtime. This psalm describes Satan in various ways: "the terror by night, the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that walks in darkness", and "the destruction that lays waste at noonday. The psalmist proclaims, however, the victory of the man of God over all of these manifestations (vv 9-16).

Hope is indeed more than optimism; it is settled confidence about things to come. Hop is the sincere trust in God’s unconditional love and mercy. The most significant cure for despair is humility and patience, the steadfastness to faith. Saint Seraphim of Sarov advises: "It is to visit with spiritual friends, with those who are hopeful, merciful, joyful and strong. It is to stand fast t the end while passing through aridity and darkness until the delight of blessed hope and comfort are found. There is no other way, and "those who find it are few" (Matthew 7:44). But when one "fights and conquers against despondency and despair, this struggle is followed by a peaceful state and the soul becomes filled with ineffable joy." (Evagrius, To Anatolius On Eight Thoughts)
We are warned by the Holy Fathers of the Church say, "that despair is a great danger to spiritual life. Once you fall into it, it is very difficult to climb out. If frequently comes up in the sacrament of confession, and as a spiritual advisor, it is one of the most difficult spiritual illnesses to cure. The Church Fathers refer to it as "akedia", in other words, the passion of despair.

The Holy Spirit is always present when we turn to Him in prayer and fidelity. Hope leaves our heart open to the Holy Spirit, while despair or hopelessness, shuts the entrance to our heart. It is up to us to keep the door to our heart open to the Holy Spirit so that He may enter it, cleanse it, dwell in it, bring His Divine Light in it, enlivened it, bring healing, and life in it, and transformed it to the true dwelling place of God, the Holy Spirit.

One of the most dangerous weapons in the arsenals of the evil one, is despondency or despair. He uses these weapons against us to cripple us spiritually and to obstruct and prevent our salvation. He uses our disappointments, illnesses, sorrows, and failures in life to turn us against our Maker and Savior. This arch-liar and adversary seeks our destruction and to turn us against our Loving Lord. Satan weaponizes despondency to his advantage and induces in us a profound sadness.

Depression is mental illness, and there are all kinds of drugs, and thearapies for it. There are millions of people who suffer from depression all over the world. Most of them turn to phsychiatrists and other professionals for assistance and therapy. Others tragically give up and end their lives abruptly. A person of faith, though, turns to prayer and the Greatest of All Physicians, Christ, the Physician of our souls and bodies. It is in Him that we find healig, hope, love, truth, restoration, and peace. There is absolutely no one who knows us better than our Creator! There is absolutely no one who loves us more than Him; There is absolutely no one else who accepts us as we are more than our Savior; There is absolutely no one who has sacrifice more to save us from sin and death more than our Master Jesus Christ.

If we would look at depresssion, despondenc, despair closely we would see that it is also a form of temptation. This form of despair attempts to sever ties with the Almighty God and surrender to the adversary who brings death and destruction. Pray! Pray! my good people and invite our Lord into your life and do not listen to lies and slander. Our God is the God of Love, the God of Life, the God of Truth; and the God of Light! Trust Him and Him alone!

(To be continued)

__________________

"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.

"WHAT MUST I DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE?"

"Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt
before Him, and asked Him, ‘Good Teacher, what shall I do that
I may inherit eternal life?" (Mark 10:17)

To which, Jesus replies, "You know the commandments, ‘Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother." And he answered and said to Him, ‘Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.’ Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me" (Mark 10:19-21).

The question asked of our Lord Jesus Christ, by the ‘man’ in the gospel, "What must I do to inherit eternal life" is a question that echoes throughout the centuries among believing Christians. This well-mannered man in the gospel approaches Our Lord Christ, respectfully, but as a mere human, another rabbi, not knowing that He is the anticipated Messiah. The Theanthropos, and Creator, treat him gently, patiently, and lovingly. As the Kardiognostis, the one who knows the hearts of men, Christ our Savior, who knows everything about him, as He does about each, and every one of us.. For the Lord Christ, no man is a mystery. For, "there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to Whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:13). Nothing, and no one, can escape the discernment of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Logos/Word of God. God knows our vulnerabilities, and weaknesses, and desires to remedy them by exposing them to the Light.

There are all kinds of illnesses, both physical and spiritual, that man struggles with throughout his lifetime. Jesus shows the young rich man how he was suffering from one of the most horrible passions, the love of money. For him it was his great wealth, for another it could be power, and for others, it may be pride or greed, lust, anger gluttony, envy, sloth (laziness). Our human passions obscure the Divine Light and instead bring us darkness and gloom. The only One Who is able to dispel darkness and to restore the light, is the Lord, Who Is the Light of the world, Christ God. Repentance begins when the sinner acknowledges and confesses openly his transgression. Saint Symeon the New Theologian emphasizes that "God in His loving goodness receives and loves those who repent." Saint Basil the Great states: "The Father stands and waits for your return from delusion. You only have to return, and while you are yet far off, He will run to you, fall on your neck and embrace and kiss you lovingly, now that your soul is already cleansed by repentance. And He shall clothe the soul, with the first robe…He shall place a ring on his hands… and shoes on the feet that have returned from the evil road to the way of the Gospel of peace. He shall announce a day of delight and joy to those who are His own, Angels and men, and will celebrate your salvation in every possible way" (Letter to a Fallen Virgin, p, 46:6).

Our loving God waits for us to return home. And even when one of us "is still a great way off," our heavenly Father sees us, has compassion on us, and rejoices over our return. "But take heed to yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly…Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, to stand before the Son of Man" (Luke21:34-36).

"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.

"…AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, EVEN
TO THE END OF THE AGE." AMEN.

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or
famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? …nor
height nor depth, nor any other created thing,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God
which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:28-39).

As God and Creator, He has authority over all things. What is needed now is man’s voluntary submission to the will of God. According to Saint Theophylact, "submission is of two kinds: the one is involuntary, inasmuch as we are all the servants (δούλοι) of God even unwillingly, as are the demons themselves. The other is voluntary, as seen in Saint Paul who voluntarily became a servant (δούλος) of Christ."

"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 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, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…" (Matthew 28:18-20).

The Three Persons have one Name, which is God. As Saint, Theophylact says, "Because it is not sufficient only to be baptized, but one must also labor to do good after his baptism, Christ says, "Teaching them to observe ALL things whatsoever I have commanded you; not just two or three, but ALL My Commandments." Saint Theophylact writes, "Let us tremble then, brethren when we realize that if even one thing is lacking in us, we are not perfect servants of Christ, for we are required to KEEP ALL THE COMMANDMENTS. See that the Lord’s words contain those two essentials of Christianity: THEOLOGY and ACTIVE VIRTUE. For by saying that is necessary to baptize in the name of the Trinity, He handed down to us THEOLOGY. And by saying that it is also necessary to teach the keeping of the Commandments, He GUIDES US IN THE WAY OF ACTIVE VIRTUE."

Our Lord’s promise to be with them was not made only to the holy Apostles but TO ALL His DISCIPLES. Because the holy Apostles would not live forever He makes this promise to us as well, and to those after us. "I will be with you UNTIL THE END OF THE AGE," reassures us that the Lord Who is with us here, and provides us with every good thing, and again will be with us more perfectly after the end.

By saying He is "WITH YOU ALWAYS," Jesus means His Resurrection is neither of the past nor of the future. It is always present in our lives through the Holy Spirit. We know Him directly, here and now, IN THE PRESENT, as OUR SAVIOR AND OUR FRIEND. To "To the end of the age" does not by any means imply that we are to be separated from Him after that great consummation. He is with us now, and ever, and unto the ages. Amen.

Saint Cyprian concurs with Saint Paul that nothing can separate us from our Creator and God. Saint Cyprian states; "None of these can separate believers; nothing can snatch away those clinging to Christ’s body and blood. This persecution is for the examination and evaluation of our hearts. God wanted us to be tried and proved, as he has always tried his own, and yet, in his trials, never at any time has his help failed believers" (Letters 11:5).

Saint John Chrysostom states: "Even though lit is easy to make a list like this one, each word contains thousands of lines of temptations. TRIBULATION, for instance, includes prions and bonds, calumnies and banishments, and all other such hardships. A single word covers oceans of dangers and reveals to us all the evils which people encounter in life." (Homilies on Romans 15).

Cassarius of Arles wrote: "Good Christians are not separated from Christ even by torture. Tepid and careless ones however are sometimes separated from Him by idle tales; if they suffer even a slight loss they are immediately scandalized, dare to murmur against God and return to their impious, detestable omens" (Sermons 54:2).

Romans 8:39 Nothing Can Seperate Us from God’s Love

Saint John Chrysostom writes: "Saint Paul suffered everything for Christ’s sake not in order to obtain the Kingdom, nor for any honor, but because of his great for his Master. But we are not drawn away from the things of this life either by Christ or by the things of Christ. Like snakes or like swine we keep dragging the things of this world along with us in the mire… Yet God even gave up His Son for your sake!" (Homilies on Romans, 15).

Pelagius writes the following: "I am sure that even if someone threatens us with death, or promises life, or says he is an Angel sent from the Lord, or pretends to be the prince of the Angels, or gives us some honor in this present life, or holds out the glory of the things to come, or works wonders (miracles), or promises heaven and staves of hell, or tries to persuade us with deep learning–I am sure that he will never be able to cut off from the love of Christ.

Saint Paul loved God in Christ. Love for Christ means KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS. Christ established that brotherly love is an imitation of His own love when He said: ‘By this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’ Saint John also says: ‘If you do not love a brother whom you see, how can you love God, Whom you do not see? (Pelagius’s Commentary on Romans).

Father John Romanides, of blessed memory, wrote: "The work of the Church is focused on how each person will see God, not on whether he will see God. In other words, the task of the Church is to proclaim to people that there is a True God, that God is revealed as either Light or a consuming Fire, and that ALL people will see God at the Second Coming of Christ, and to prepare its members so that they might see God NOT as Fire, but as Light.

This preparation of the members of the Church, and also of all people who want to see God as LIght, is essentialy a THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT, which must begin and end IN THIS LIFE. The THERAPY must take place and be completed "in this life. For after death, THERE IS NO REPENTANCE." This therapeautic TREATMENT is the essence and primary content of Orthodox Tradition, as well as being the principal concern of the Orthodox Church. It is composed of the following THREE STAGES OF SPIRITUAL ASCENT: PURIFICATION from passions, ILLUMINATION by the Grace of the Holy Spirit, and DEIFICATION (THEOSIS), again by the Grace of the Holy Spirit.

It is also the case that "if someone does not at least arrive at the state of partial illumination in this life, he is unable to see God as Light either in this life or in the next." It is, therefore, clear that the Holy Fathers of the Church concern themselves with man as he is today, at this MOMENT…Christ said: "I AM THE WAY." The Way towards what? Not only towards the next life. Christ is primarily the Way in this life. Christ is the Way to His Father and to our Father. Christ is revealed to man first in this life, and He shows him the path to His Father. This path is Christ Himself." ("Orthodoxy and Religion,")

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy seravant 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 LIVES OF THE SAINTS ARE OUR
INSPIRATION AND EDIFICATION

"Glorify God in His Saints" (Psalm 150:1)

"Who could number the "cloud of witnesses’ (Hebrew 12:1) that surrounds us? Who could name each one of the "living" who with Christ, through Christ, and in Christ have triumphed over death and have access to the Throne of God, the Saints in whom the Lord rejoices (Isaiah 41:16) and takes his rest (Isaiah 57:15)

They have become fellow-citizens with the Angels and brethren of Christ. Like diamonds and all precious stones, they refract the light, sending forth everywhere in many-colored beams the peerless light of the Threefold Sun… The Saints who shine the divine light have become gods by the grace of the Holy Spirit, to the extent that "baptized into Christ they put on Christ" (Galatians 3:27). To the extent that they have taken up their cross with Christ (Matthew 16:24), so as to crucify in themselves the "old man" (Romans 6:6), full of passions, sins, and all uncleanness, they have been able to share also in the glory fo Christ’s Resurrection. By partaking in Christ’s Passion through martyrdom, ascesis, tears, and practice of all the evangelic virtues, the Saints have overcome death with Him. They are henceforth "alive to God" (Romans 6:11), for Christ has made His abode with them. "I have been crucified with Christ," they cry; "it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). Christ has ascended into Heaven, yet He has not abandoned the Church on earth; Christ has ascended into Heaven, but He has sent us the Holy Spirit Who makes all the Saints "christs," gods by Grace. "The work of our Lord Jesus Christ and even His Person, at once Divine and human, are recapitulated and extended in the Church by the Lives of the Saints through the action of the Holy Spirit."

Some people, whose minds and hearts are insensible to the spiritual life, are bored by the lives of the Saints.’It’s always the same story’, they say. Indeed, it is always the same story of Martyrs, Confessors, Ascetics, Virgins, and holy lay people in centuries past. All of them have had a heart on fire with love for the Lord and have partaken in His Sacrifice by the freewill offering of themselves so as to have a share in His Resurrection. All of them have been baptized into His death by the baptism of water, by the baptism of blood, by the baptism of tears, to make a way within themselves for the new life of the Spirit that "the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2 Corinthians 4:6) may dwell in their hearts and overspread their bodies.

The Saints live in Christ Jesus, and Christ lives in them. He repeats without ceasing, in the Saints, even to the end of the world., the unique mystery of His death and of His Resurrection, of the Incarnation of God and of the deification (theosis) of man.

The Saints do the work of Christ because by faith and grace they are united to Him. It is Christ Himself, dwelling in them by the Holy Spirit (cf. John 14:10), who works miracles, converts, idolaters, reveals the hidden wisdom of spiritual knowledge, reconciles enemies, and fortifies the bodies of His Saints to meet the most dreadful torments with joy; so that the Gospel continues to be written, even to this day through the evangelic labors of the Saints. Thus, whether near at hand or far away, whether ancient or modern, the Saints are trustworthy guides to Christ Who dwells in them. "Be ye, imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1 Corinthians 11:1), the Saints say to us with Saint Paul. If we want to make the image of Christ shine within us, we must often cast our eyes upon the Saints to find real, practical examples of how to live. We ought to look on the lives of the Saints in a similar way. By reading and comparing them, we will learn how to move forward in the life in Christ.

If we live "with the Saints" (Ephesians 3:18) by attentively reading their lives each day as we walk in the spiritual garden of the Synaxarion, we shall discover little by little those whom our heart especially goes out to. They weill become our close friends in whom we love to confide our joys and sorrows, whose lives we love to read time and again, as well as to chant their hymns and to venerate their holy icons.

We have three ways of bringing the Saints daily into our spiritual lives, by chanting the hymns and church services dedicated to them, by venerating their holy icons and by reading their lives in the Synaxarion. Christians who live in the world may not be able to go to church every day to chant the praises of the Saints but, whether alone or in the family, everyone can chant the troparion (hymn) of the Saint of the day, everyone can venerate the holy icon, everyone can devote a few minutes to reading the life of the Saint. Blessed is he who is able, every day, to read the Life of the Saint whom the Church commemorates.

Saint Symeon the Metraphrastes stated: "The lives and praises of the Saint are like the stars in brilliance. Because of their number, we do not know the names of all the Saints; still, they amaze us by their radiant majesty, as do the stars, which while fixed in their position in the heavens, illumine all that is below, being seen by the Indians, yet not concealed from the Scythians, shining upon the land and guiding by their light those at sea. Similarly, the radiance of the Saints, though their holy relics be entombed in sepulchers, is not bounded by the ends of this earth here below. Therefore, we marvel of their lives and are amazed at how God has glorified them that please Him."

It is imperative that the Orthodox Christian study and contemplate the Lives of the Saints. Today more than ever before Christians need spiritual role models to imitate and be inspired by their exemplary holy life. The Saints of the Church are comprised of devout men, women, and children who made the ultimate sacrifice for our Savior Jesus Christ.

Now, more then ever before, Christian believers, need to follow the good example of the Saints by emulating their godly, righteous, virtuous, pious, and humble lives. When we stumble through sin, they will raise us up again, when we are tempted to give up hope, they will remind us that they have suffered for Christ before us, and more than us; and that they are now the possessors of unending joy. The Saints never considered themselves as exraordinary or holy. They understood themselves to be ordinary believers, and followers of Christ, in other words, people like you, and me, who are willing to die for Christ.

Christian persecution has continued for centuries, and it seems, quite certain, that it will ever cease. The pressing question is however, wll we be strong enough to suffer the horific tortures suffered by them? Will we have the faith and the courage to sacrifice everything for Christ’s sake? We won’t know this of course until the hour of our martyrdom is at hand. (Source: The Synaxarion. The Lives of the Saints of the Orthodox Church)

THROUGH THE PRAYERS OF THE HOLY THEOTOKOS, THE HOLY APOSTLES, OUR HOLY FATHERS, OUR HOLY MOTHERS, HOLY MARTYRS, AND HOLY CONFESSORS, O LORD JESUS CHRIST, HAVE MERCY ON US, AND SAVE US. AMEN.

"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.

LIVING CHRIST IN THE ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN HOME

The home, in Greek, ο οίκος, is more than a dwelling, or a place of residence. A home, a safe place, a sacred space, is a spiritual nursery where seedlings are raised with the rays of the sun, soil, and water in a pure environment. It is an environment that is conducive to growth and development. It is a place where Christian families are guided and strengthen by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who transforms them into the e-kat’ oikon ekklesia or home church.

Christian families are Christ-centered and adhere to the Divine Teachings and values taught by the Lord. The fidelity was always to our Savior, Who provided the individual Christian and Christian family with divine inspiration to live a righteous, dignified, honorable, and virtuous life. The whole life of the Christian revolved around the commandments of God. Furthermore, they lived in preparation and ancticipation of the Second Coming of our Savior.

Christian parents adhering to the teachings of our Lord are enjoined to take care of the way in which their children develop as they grow; not only intelectually, but morally and spiritually. There is never any doubt that it is a Christian family. Christian parents should maintain a discipline based on love, always mindful not to create confusion in the innocent hearts of their children, nor to lead them to question the motivation of their parents and rebel. The parents set the example of piety, virtue, respect, honesty, integrity, and devotion at home.

Unlike the pagans whose goal was to produce and develop "good citizens" to strengthen and ensure the future of the contemporary society, the Christian household’s focus is the Kingdom of God. Christians have always considered this earthly life as temporary, and therefore, strive to attain the heavenly life. For this reason, the goal of Christian parenthood is not only the development of healthy children, but also the leading them to our Savior Jesus Christ. Christian parents teach their children to become disciples and followers of Christ so that later, when a Christian child lives an independent life from their parents, there is no dichotomy of purpose, nor confusion about who they are.

Christian children are called upon to honor their father and mother. Saint John Chrysostom portrays the act of honor as "filial obedience coupled with respect for one’s parents." He concludes by saying: "If a man have not this honor for parents he will never be gentle toward those unconnected with him."

Nothing has changed within the Christian Church over the many centuries. The same faith is taught, the same Gospel, the same morality, the same values and virtues, the same devotion and piety. The goal of the individual Christian is to live Christ daily. Christians are also always mindful that "all who desire to live in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12).

What non-Christians marvel at is the solidarity, the stability, and the love within the Christian family. Christian marriage is compared to Christ and the Church. Saint Paul’s writing to the Ephesians regarding the mystery of marriage says, "Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the Church; and He is the Savior of the body. Therefore, just as the Church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the Chuch and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle or any any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the Church. For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church. Nevertheless, let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife seethat she respects her husbdand" (Ephesians 5:22-33).;

The sanctity of the Christian home must be preserved and protected from outside forces that threaten it. The unity of the Christian couple, their devotion to their children, their common Christian faith, their love, their mutual respect, and their commitment to Christ, must remain unbroken and true. There are many temptations and distractions in life, but no Christian should succum to them. The parents ought to live their spiritual lives openly in front of their children, so that their children can grow up in Christ and develop a faith of their own. Each Christian household should be sacramentally strong, participate in Holy Communion frequently, consistently pray and worship, always reach out to their fellow men and women who need help, and keep their Christian identity intact. In addition, good Christians pray unceasingly for the protection and salvation of the world.

"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.

ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN ASCETICISM

ASCETICISM is an integral part of the Orthodox Christian spiritual life. Orthodox Christian believers have different ascetical practices such as FASTING, VIGILS, MORNING and EVENING prayers, charity (almsgiving), obedience to a pneumatikos (spiritual) Father Confessor, frequent participation in the Mysterion of Repentance/Confession, controlling of wicked thoughts (logismous), and restricting and restraining the PASSIONS. Prayerfully, this spiritual discipline will lead to greater and deeper communion with our Savior Jesus Christ.

In this very secular society, living an authentic Christian life is surmountable and challenging for the ordinary believer. It is possible that the average Orthodox Christian is not equipped with the necessary weaponry to confront and to war against the forces of evil. The Christian must always be ready for combat through alertness, diligent prayer, and watchfulness and always in submission to God the Holy Spirit. No one should ever take this for granted and fall into slumber.

We speak constantly of the unseen spiritual warfare and the invisible enemy of mankind, the devil. How can we not be constantly vigilant and ready for combat? We are at war! Look what is taking place, not only in the world, but also within and among those who claim to be Christians. Just as in the first three hundred years of Christianity, the Church continues to be persecuted by evil forces, heresies, and false prophets. Since all the Christians are united as one, the room is left for the evil one to divide and conquer, to dismantle and destroy, to create confusion to the point that the average Christian finds it difficult to discern right from wrong, Orthodoxy from heresy.

We find security, safety, and refuge ONLY within the Holy Orthodox Church. You will not find any kind of consistency, continuity, and stability anywhere else. You will NOT find the authentic Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ any place other than the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. God the Holy Trinity established only ONE Church! There is ONLY One Bridegroom, Jesus Christ! However, the question is: are we "ready" to "go in with Him to the wedding" before the door is shut? Will you be among those, the foolish virgins in the Gospel who arrive late and cried out, "Lord, Lord, open to us!" "But he answered and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, I DO NOT KNOW YOU." (Matthew 25:1-12). And His final admonition, "WATCH therefore, FOR YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR IN WHICH THE Son of Man IS COMING." (Matt. 25:13).

ASCETICISM prepares the believer for what is coming. The Christian needs to be ready and willing "to fight the good fight." What is "fight the good fight?" This is how Saint Paul explains it to Saint Timothy the holy Apostle: "Fight the good fight OF FAITH, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed THE GOOD CONFESSION in the presence of many witnesses." And furthermore, "I urge you in the sight of God Who GIVES LIFE to all things, and before Christ Jesus Who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate, that you keep THE COMMANDMENTS WITHOUT SPOT, BLAMELESS UNTIL OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST’S APPEARANCE which will manifest in His OWN TIME, He Who is the Blessed and ONLY Potentate, the King of kings and Lord of lords, Who alone has IMMORTALITY, dwelling in unapproachable Light, Whom NO MAN has seen or CAN SEE, to Whom BE HONOR AND EVERLASTING POWER. AMEN" (1 Timothy 6: 12-16).

There are those today who make every effort to dilute or water-down Christianity to the point that this kind of "Christianity" is NOT recognized even by Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Founder, and Head of the Church. There is this warning by Saint Paul, "Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but IN THE LIVING GOD, Who gives us richly all things to enjoy. Let them do good, that they be RICH IN GOOD WORKS, READY TO GIVE, WILLING TO SHARE, storing up for themselves A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR THE TIME TO COME THAT THEY MAY LAY HOLD ON ETERNAL LIFE" (1 Timothy 6:17-19).

Contemporary world citizens stand in contrast to the self-restraint, ascetic Christian life. Our secular and Gentile type of life, has become one very materialistic and hedonistic world. Its only aim is to possess wealth and sensual pleasure. It seems that that is its only goal and purpose. Humanity’s goal has become the pursuit of and devotion to pleasure and the senses. This attitude, however, is contrary to the life in Christ, guiding us through the "narrow gate" and eternal life.

As Orthodox Christians, we turn to the Holy Fathers of the Church for guidance and clarity. They, the Holy Fathers, teach us that asceticism is not a negative force,but rather, a positive one.It is therapeutic if strengthens us against the spiritual illness which threatens our very core. As all of you know that the Holy Church is a hospital, a place of healing and recovery. We are there to be cured and be restored from illness of soul and body. But Who is our Doctor? Christ, the Physician of our souls and bodies! His Eminence Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos reminds us that "the True Church’s existence is demonstrated by its success in curing man."

According to Dimitru Staniloae, "Orthodox spirituality aims at the perfection of the faithful in Christ. This perfection is rather a mystical union with God through participation in His Divine-human life, and Christian perfection requiring a whole series of efforts until it is attained." Furthermore, "this is how solutions are understood in the tradition of the Orthodox Church – not merely moral or ethical terms – but as the attainment of Christ-like perfection. This is the purpose of our human existence to become by Divine grace what Christ is by nature."

We Orthodox Christian believe that salvation or theosis (deification), as taught by the Holy Fathers, is union with God. Saint Paul in 1 Corinthians 6:17 states, "But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him." We strive, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, to acquire union with God and to maintain it throughout our lives both here and in heaven.

It is perfectly clear that asceticism is the practice of self-denial, control of one’s passions, and base impulses and has, as its objective, the Kingdom of God. Ascesis takes place only within the Church and it requires a consistent and deliberate regimen of prayer, fasting and, most of all, true repentance. Continue uninterrupted this spiritual discipline if you wish to be spiritually fruitful and to attain your target.

I recall, as a young athlete, how hard I had to train, both in high school and college, for the various sports in which I participated. It required discipline, exercise, and serious training. A coach or trainer advised, guided, and encouraged the athlete. It took a real commitment from everyone to make sure that each teammate acted as one. This too is called ascesis. The ‘spiritual coach’ is your father confessor. Every Orthodox Christian needs a father confessor, a spiritual guide, to advise him, to train him, to support him spiritually, to be there for him when he falls, to pray for his forgiveness and salvation. No one can succeed on his own. The penitent and the father confessor has a unique and special relationship and no one should interfere. It is a loving relationship founded on trust and must be respected by all.

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + =

With love in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry0
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.

"…AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION…" (Matthew 6:13)

Saint Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians writes, "No temptation has overtaken you
except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be
tempted beyond what you able, but with the temptation will also make the way of
escape, that you be able to bear it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

According to Orthodox Christianity, "The Creator imparted to man three great gifts at his creation, FREEDOM, REASON, AND LOVE. These gifts are indispensable for the spiritual growth and blessedness of man. But where there is FREEDOM there is the possibility of wavering in one’s choice; thus, TEMPTATION IS POSSIBLE. The temptation for REASON is to grow proud in mind; instead of acknowledging the wisdom and goodness of God, to seek the knowledge of good and evil outside of God, to desire oneself to be a "god." The temptation for the feeling of LOVE is: in place of love for God and one’s neighbor, to love oneself and everything that satisfies the lower desires and given temporary enjoyment. This possibility of temptation and fall stood before mankind, and the first man did not stand firm against it.

Let us make note here of Saint John of Kronstadt’s reflection on this subject. He writes: "Why did God allow the fall of man, his beloved creation and the crown of all the earthly creatures? To this question one must reply thus: If a man is not to be allowed to fall, then he cannot be created in the image and likeness of God, he cannot be granted free will, which is an inseparable feature of the image of God; but he would have to be subject to the law of necessity, like the soulless creation–the sky, the sun, stars, the circle of the earth, and all the elements–or like the irrational animals. But then there would have been no king over the creatures of the earth, no rational hymn-singer of God’s goodness, wisdom, creative almightiness, and Providence. Then man would have had no way to show his faithfulness and devotion to the Creator, his self-sacrificing love. Then there would have been no exploits in battle, no merits, and no incorruptible crowns for victory; there would have been no eternal blessedness, which is the reward for faithfulness and devotion to God, and no eternal repose after the labors and struggles of our earthly pilgrimage." (Orthodox Dogmatic Theology p.155-156)

In the book of Unseen Warfare as edited by Saint Nicodemus of the Holy Mountain and revised by Saint Theophan the Recluse we read the following: "Thus, if all temptations are given us to teach us humility, it follows that every servant of God who tastes these bitter states of the heart–dryness, lack of spiritual savor, and the dearth of spiritual comforts." For whether a temptation comes from the devil, from other men or is caused by sin, it still depends on God and is sent by Him for our good and to turn some other great temptation away from us."

Saint Paul says: "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but spiritual principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places" (Ephesians 6:12). At holy Baptism the believer vowes to renounce Satan and all his works, and all his anges, and all adoration of him and all his pride, that is, love of lust, love of glory, love of money and other passions. So, Saint Nicodemos says, "strive with all your might to turn him back, to put him to shame adn to overcome him with every perfection."

As Saint Theophylact says, "We human are weak and therefore we should not throw ourselves into temptations. But when we have fallen into temptation, we should pray that we are not swallowed up by it. For he who has been led into the very depth of temptation is the one who has been swalled up and defeated by temptation. But it is different for him who merely fell into temptation, and then conquered it. "But deliver us FROM THE EVIL ONE." He did not say, from evil men, for it is not they who do us harm, BUT THE DEVIL."

Saint John Chrysostom wrote: "And He here calls the devil "the wicked one," commanding us to WAGE WAR AGAINST HIM that knows no truce, and implying that he is not such by nature. For wickedness is not of those things that are from nature, but of them that are added by our own choice…where neither said He, "DELIVER US FROM THE WICKED ONES," BUT, "FROM THE WICKED ONE," "

And what are the rewards whcih await you in this victory? They are many and great. This is what our Lord Himself: "To him that overcomes will I give to eat of the tree of Life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God" (Rev. 2:7). "He that overcomes shall not be hurt of the second death" (Rev. 2:11). And he that overcomes, and keeps my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations… and I will give him the morning star" (Rev. 2:26, 28). See, what gifts! See, what rewards!

Temptations are but a tool of the evil one to ensnare or capture a soul. He is cunning, and will pursue us, as a hunter pursues a wild animal, without ever tiring or giving up. He cannot on his own accord compel anyone, however, he can use manipulation, deception, "defective reasoning and confusion of thought," thoughts (logismous), our own weaknesses, i.e., greed, gluttony, avarice, imagination, power, lust, vanity, jealousy, hatred, anger, pride, ego, arrogance, and many other human passions to hurt us, and to obstruct, corrupt, and making it most challenging for souls to acquire salvation. He has no power over us and he cannot prevent us from entering the Kingdom of God. We have been given free will by our Loving God to make that choice ourselves.

Satan is not bashful at all, and we see this when he dared to tempt our Lord Jesus Christ in the wilderness: "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be TEMTED BY THE DEVIL. And when He had FASTED FORTY DAYS AND FORTY NIGHTS, afterward He was hungry. Now when THE TEMPTER came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered , and said, "It is written, Man shall not live by breat alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Then the devil took Him up into the hly city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written, ‘He shall give His Angels charge over You.’ and, ‘In thier hands they shall bear You up. Let you dash your foot against a stone.’ Jesus said to him, "It is written again, You shall NOT TEMPT THE LORD YOUR GOD.’ Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him ALL THE KINGDOMS OF THE WORLD AND THERI GLORY. And again said to Him, "All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, "Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You SHALL WORSHIP THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND HIM ONLY YOU SHALL SERVE.’ Then THE DEVIL LEFT Him, and behold, Angels came and ministered to Him" (Matthew 4:1-10).

We, of course, are to learn how to deal with the devil from Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ. The devil can attempt to trap us or even to frighten us and he has no power to injure us or to force to do something evil. He attemted to tempt Christ our Savior but could not. When it comes to the devil we simply follow Jesus’ example and always make the sign of the Cross. To be tempted IS TO HAVE OUR FAITH AND LOYALTY OR COMMITMENT TO CHRIST TESTED. "You CANNOT serve two masters." We are to understand, as Orthodox Christians, that we who are baptized into Christ need not be defeated when evil temptations come along because, like Christ, we are protected by the Holy Spirit. If you were to recall the Mustery of Holy Baptism in our Orthodox Church as the priest chants while processing around the baptismal font, "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, HAVE PUT ON CHRIST, ALLELUIA (GLORY TO THEE O GOD). Also, at the Mystery of Holy Chrismation when the priest anoints the child or person following the baptism he says: "THE SEAL OF THE Gift of the Holy Spirit." Not only has the baptized person "PUT ON CHRIST" but also has received "THE SEAL OF THE GIFT OF THE HOLY SPIRIT". Therefore, there should be absolutely NO doubt that the newly baptized is PROTECTED BY THE ALMGITHY GOD FOR LIFE.

"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.

OUR SPIRITUAL OBJECTIVE IS HOLINESS!

How well do we know ourselves? How often have we have thought of God our Creator? How often do we think of our neighbor? How often do we think of holiness and perfection?

There are many important questions that we have not asked as of now. Does anyone ever preoccupy himself with the future life, the life in His God’s Kingdom? Do we know how to begin the preparation for life in eternity? How does one begin preparing for this one-way journey?

The most prudent way is, by prayer. An authentic Christian, a humble Christian believer, one who seeks help and guidance. One who turns instantly to God the Holy Spirit, to show him the way to perfection and holiness.

The faithful one sets the holy life of Christ before his eyes, and by the grace of God the Holy Spirit, begins to imitate His example. There is no greater example to follow and imitate. And even though our heart is weak and may resist any change, if we truly seek to live the holy life of Christ, we must be determined to emulate the divine virtues of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

We ought to know if we desire the same things that He desires. When on earth, what did He do, and if we are resolute to do the same? If we are truly committed and if we are willing to be obedient to His Gospel. By attempting to imitate certain things of Christ’s life and works we will come to know our shortcomings, hypocrisy, and most of all our own transgressions.

Our Divine and Great Teacher, Jesus Christ our Savior, lived on earth in Holiness and Perfection. We believe Him to be a Perfect God and Perfect Man. If we are seeking perfection on earth, He is the Only One! Christ the Only-begotten Son of God has taught us to live in humility, to be loving, to be compassionate, to be forgiving, to be merciful,

Jesus distinctly pointed out to His listeners the following: "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spiritually use you and persecute you… For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what more do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore YOU SHALL BE PERFECT, JUST AS YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT" (Matthew 5:44-46).

To be a follower or a disciple of Christ a person must imitate His Divine Life on earth. Furthermore, for the faithful to believe all that He teaches and all that He does. Do obedient to the Holy Gospel, to be righteous and virtuous, to seek perfect love. Love surpasses all human intellect and wisdom. Love is not only a human emotion, it is the Divine grace that transcends all understanding. The Orthodox Christian grows into perfection (theosis).

"For the sake of our love of God, renunciation of all will of our own and perfect obedience to the will of God; and moreover desire for all this and its practice with a pure heart to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31)., from sheer desire to please God and only because He Himself wishes it and because we should so love Him and work for Him.

This is the law of love, inscribed by the finger of God Himself in the hearts of His true servants! This is the renunciation of ourselves that God demands of us! This is the submission to God’s will, which our Redeemer and Teacher demand from us both by His word and by His example!"

Therefore, let us compare our soul with that of the life of our Savior, and correct that which is in need of correction and transformation. "Whoever wishes to be like Christ in glory must be like in the present life". "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and thre are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-14). Knowing that people wrestle against human weaknesses, as well as the spiritual forces of evil, entering the Kingdom involves, sacrifice, difficulty, work and ascesis (struggle).

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk wrote: "Whoever wishes to follow Christ into eternal life must follow Him with faith and love, in this life, and whoever wishes to come into Christ’s eternal Kingdom must go by way of Christ–there is no other way there. Note what Christ says, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me: and I give unto them eternal life" (John 10:27-28)."

Christians believe that if one wishes to enter into eternal life, there is only one real way, they must remain faithful to our Savior, and to live here, and now, according to "the example of the life of Christ" which He left us. By living a life of holiness, righteousness, love, humility, faith, and patience, we too, will be saved. We cannot live a care free life here on earth and still anticipate to inherit the heavenly Kingdom and eternal life.

Use this earthly life carefully and prudently while you are still a resident of earth. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has fought the battle for you and won! He has already open the gates of Paradise for all who earnestly and sincerely follow Him. He has prepared a place for us for He said, "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you, I go to PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU" (John 14:2).

"Jesus said to him, ‘I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6).

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Thing!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved spiritual children in Crist God,

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

WHO IS A ‘SERVANT" OF GOD?

"His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and
faithful servant, you were faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things.
ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD."
(Matthew 25:21)

Our Most-Infinite and All-Compassionate Lord Jesus Christ demonstrate and illustrate the use of gifts given by Our Creator and All-Ruling God. A talent was a substantial gift of money and came to mean a special gift to someone, ‘a servant’, to him to invest. The Lord came after a time hoping that his servant would have had it invested and that he would have had multiplied his investment. What is clear here is that the servant did not understand that he was held accountable for the talent that he was entrusted by his Master. The "wicked and lazy servant" could not evade responsibility for ignoring the talent given him. We are all servants or stewards of every gift or talent of God and we are expected to use these gifts not only for ourselves but for the good of our fellow man. We are expected by Our Master and Lord, to be gracious, merciful, kind, and compassionate to our brethren in the world, and to know, that when we do not share this love or God’s gifts with others, we will be held accountable to God. It proves, once again, how very selfish people we are, and that we are glutens of prosperity. However, nothing that we possess is ours but given to us by Our Merciful Lord.

Our Loving God reminds us: "For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has WILL BE TAKEN AWAY" (Matthew 25:29). Jesus Christ, Our Savior, identifies Himself with the poor and the outcasts and expects all who follow Him to do the same.

Saint Theophylact says, "Good" we understand here to mean "loving all mankind" and "without spite", he who imparts his own goodness to his fellowmen (neighbors). Those who have shown themselves to be faithful over a few things are made rulers over many things. But even if we are deemed worthy of gifts in this life, that is nothing in comparison to the good things that are to come. "The joy of the Lord" IS THE UNENDING GLADNESS WHICH GOD HAS, REJOICING IN His work, as David says (Psalm 103:31). With such a joy do the Saints also rejoice in their works, just as the sinners grieve over their own deeds and regret them. The Saints have the Lord AS THEIR WEALTH AND REJOICE IN Him. See that he who received the five talents and he who received two were deemed worthy of the same good things. Though a man may have received a few things, if he is A GOOD SERVANT OF STEWARD even of his small gift, he WILL ENJOY THE SAME HONOR AS HE WHO WAS DEEMED OF WORTHY OF AND ACCOMPLISHED, GREAT THINGS. Each one, according to what he has received, is seen to be perfect to the degree that he accomplishes what he has been given to do… To him who has the greater diligence, more grace will be given and in abundance. But from him who is not diligent, even the gift which he thinks he has will be taken away. For he who is NOT DILIGENT and DOES NOT WORK and TRADE with what he has received, DOES NOT HAE THE GIFT, but only appears to have it. For HE HAS BLOTTED IT OUT BY HIS NEGLECT.

The genuine Christian believer is ‘a willing servant’ or ‘slave’ (δούλος Κυρίου) of God. I was given to understand some time ago, that the chain holding our baptismal cross around our neck, is a ‘symbol’ of our willing slavery to Christ. Christianity, as everyone knows, condemns slavery, teaching that God is the Father of all people. Saint Paul reminds us: "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, A WORKER WHO DOES NOT NEED TO BE ASHAMED, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

Psalm 27 [26] is the hymn of the Newly Baptized in the Orthodox Church, chanted before the reading of the Epistle, Romans 6:3-11, at the Mystery of Baptism. It is also chanted on the Eve of Theophany, the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The Psalm itself is a confirmation of faith in the midst of adversity. Just as our Lord’s temptations followed His Baptism, so we who are joined to Christ in Holy Baptism are readied for the battle of UNSEEN WARFARE AHEAD.

Psalm 27

THE LORD is my Light and
my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the strength of my
life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked came against
me
To eat up my flesh,
My enemies and foes,
They stumbled and fell.
Though an army may encamp
against me,
My heart shall NOT fear;
Though war may rise against
me,
In this, I WILL BE CONFIDENT…"

The true servant of God is always obedient, humble, truthful, kind, loving, and emulates His Master’s generosity and love as much as humanly possible. He understands when one submits to the Divine Authority of God and that he truly surrenders to Him in everything. Saint Paul says, "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21). Our open confession of faith for Christ goes beyond the words of our mouths, to the way we live and the way we die: the totality of what we are and do. After all, we seek the Kingdom of God and eternal life. Just like the Angels of God unceasingly praise and serve Him throughout eternity, we too will do the same. There is no human way to explain the abundant joy and love which we will encounter in Paradise in this infinite spiritual world and in His presence.

We all have the potential to be ‘good servants’ because of what God has taught us. Most significant, however, is that Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us by His Divine example, how to be willing, not only to share our spiritual and material wealth with our brethren but to sacrifice Himself on the Cross to save mankind. Saint Paul writes: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good" (Romans 12:9). The holy Apostle says, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law" ( Romans 13:8). There are those who, like Cain, dismiss that we are brother’s keeper and responsible for his welfare. However, we are taught by Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you love one another. By this, all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34).

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Matthew 5:5).

"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.

"Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" (Matthew 6:17).

How naive it is for a Christian to worry or to become severely anxious for things that are beyond our control. "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" Jesus asks. This means to a Christian believer and disciple of Christ, even if you take the utmost care, you can do nothing if God does NOT WILL IT. Why then do you drive yourself to exhaustion with worries? Our Lord continues with another question and asks, "So why do you worry about clothing" Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory wan not arrayed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28).

We are to finally understand that we, as creatures of God, depend totally on the Providence of God as is all of His creation. Persistent anxiety over things of this earthly world demonstrates internal insecurity and weak or superficial faith. All struggle and at times, out of fear, lose trust in God and in His wisdom. As one matures spiritually he or she becomes more dependent, not less, on God.

Saint Theophylact in his commentary writes: "He shames us not only by the birds, which lack reason but also by the lilies, that wither. For if God adorned the lilies in such a manner, without any necessity to do so, how much more will He fulfill our own need for clothing? He shows that though you go to great lengths, you are not able to be adorned as beautifully as the lilies. Even Solomon the most wise and splendid, with all his kingdom at his disposal, could not array himself in such a manner."

A Christian believer, however, is not one that does not care about making a living, or that he is lazy and does not work. Saint Paul writes, "If anyone will NOT work, neither shall he eat" (2 Thessalonians 3:10). One needs to be responsible, industrious, and be willing not only to provide for himself but for family. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has given us a reason, logic, common sense, and the intelligence to invest the talents that our Creator has given him to increase that which God has given him. It is not enough to provide for his family but also to be able to provide for the poor and unable to work for themselves, i.e., the homeless, the infirmed, the widow, the orphans, the disabled, and those who are paralyzed. Saint James the holy Apostle and brother of the Lord says, "… 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 a profit" (James 2:15-16).

Self-pity is a negative and self-defeating attitude. It cripples, undermines, and drains all energy and initiative from a person. He or she loses all interest, ambition is debilitating. It becomes our worst foe in life. Instead, we need in faith to turn to our Most-Loving God and seek His wisdom and illumination. We turn to Him for He knows what we need:: " Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him" (Matthew 6:8).

Trust God and do not doubt Him. Let up pray to the Lord! Kyrie eleison.

Psalm 32

In You, O Lord I put my trust;
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me to Your
righteousness.
Bow down Your ear to me,
Deliver me speedily;
Be my rock of refuge,
A fortress of defense to
save me.

For You are my rock and my
fortress;
Therefore, for Your name’s
sake,
Lead me and guide me.
Pull me out of the net which
they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my strength.
Into Your hand, I commit my
spirit;
You have redeemed me, O Lord
God of truth…"

God casts out fear. "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:18). Redirect once attention to faith and the power of faith. Faith conveys confidence and courage. Historicly, our Holy Orthodox Church, provides myriads of examples of courage and heroism. Countless of men, women, and children became martyrs of the Faith. Holy Martyrs who were tortures, crucified, dismembered, swon in two, burned alive, tremple by horses, beheaded, thrown in the arena with wild beasts, thrown inside wells with serpents, thrown inside furnesses, boild in oil, and many other horific and barbaric torments. And yet they all suffered while they were singing hymns, psalms and glorifying God.

Our Lord is always present throughout our life. He never leaves or abandons us to the cruelty of the world. A world with many chalenges, suffering, agony and uncertainty. A world perhaps no different then the unpridictable and stormy sea of Galilee. Storms, whether those of nature, or of life frighthen us. We read in the Gospel of Saint John 6:18-21 about such a storm. "Then the sea arose because great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, "IT IS I DO NOT BE AFRAID. Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going." In the Gospel of Saint Luke 8:25, Jesus asks them, "Where is your faith? "…Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him". In the most difficult moments of life, FAITH unites us with Our Lord Christ, and gives us the strength necessary to confront our fears, storms, and problems in life.

Our Savior draws near to us to help us and it is up to us to receive Him humbly with an open heart. Love Him and surrender all your heart to Him, without restraint or fear. And God will find the means to help you find solutions to your perplexities and obstacles. If you love God, you will receive every blessing from Him. So, dear friend, offer your whole of yourself as a sacrifice to Him and you will find assurance, peace, strength, and courage.

To warry is a waste of time and unfruitful. If faith is your faith is weak listen to Jesus who says, "If you believe, ALL things are possible for him who believes." And, "immediately the father of the child cried out and said WITH TEARS, ‘I BELIEVE, HELP MY UNBELIEF" (Mark 9:23-24).

"G;lory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– SAint John Chrysostom

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

+ Father George