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

+ + +

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 NEED TO REFINE OUR HEART FROM
INFIRMITIES

In order for a miner or prospector to locate gold or other precious metals under the earth, he must be willing to invest both time and substantial funds to acquire it. It is an enormous challenge and of course, many a time, a gamble.

For thousands of years, the word gold has connoted something of beauty and great value. However, it takes sacrifice and laborious effort to discover gold, to excavate it from the earth, and then extract it. Sometimes, even with modern technology, in order to locate it and to extract it, miners must plunge deep in the earth for miles placing their very lives at risk. To refine the gold ore is a very expensive and complicated process. A characteristic that allows gold to be refined from less valuable metals by oxidizing the other metals and then separating them from the molten gold as a dross.

Over the many centuries, as man has been fascinated with gold, many lives have been lost. With the exception of coinage, virtually all uses of this precious metal were decorative e.g., for weapons, goblets, jewelry, and other ornaments.

Mankind is willing, as we can see, to sacrifice so much in order to obtain this precious metal mostly for vain and extravagant reasons. If one is willing to make such enormous efforts to extract and refine this precious metal, then what must we do as Orthodox Christian believers, to find the most precious image of God deep within us? As Orthodox Christians, you know that man was created in the image and likeness of God. Nothing has a greater value than this fact.

What are we willing to do in order to discover His Image in us? What are we willing to do in order to strive to be like Him? What kind of effort must we be willing to make and what kind of sacrifice?

Just like the gold ore is located deep in the earth, the image of God is found deep in the heart of man. It is up to man to seek it, to invest heavily to discover it, and then, to bring it to the surface. The image of God within us is much more valuable and more precious than gold ore or other precious metals or diamonds.

We must look from within our hearts and very souls to see it glowing and alight. However, due to our spiritual ignorance, and through our many human infirmities such as faithlessness, evil passions, sins, disobedience, rebelliousness, arrogance, pride, hate, jealousy, anger, stubbornness, resistance, etc. the image of God is buried so deep within us that we have lost sight of it. It is possible that we have forgotten that the image of God is there ready to be discovered by us. Once it is extracted we need to clean it, purify it, restore it, remove all the above infirmities from it, and let it shine brightly once again.

If we truly understand how precious and necessary it is to our salvation to discover the image of God within us, we must spend the rest of our lives to unearth it from where it is hidden for so many years. To bring it to the surface and to reclaim it as our own. Most of all, to allow the grace of God to envelop our whole being in the divine ray of God’s Light.

We must strive then to become like God as we were intended to be. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (Ephesians 1:3-4). The image of God within us must never become distorted or marred by our lifestyles, sinfulness, and lack of faith. The greatest threat to the image of God within us is pride.

We are taught, as Orthodox Christian believers, to venerate the holy icons of our Lord Christ, our Theotokos, our Saints, and other venerable righteous men and women of God. To show reverence and respect to them and to place them in places of honor. What are we to do to the ‘eikona’ (holy icon or image) of God within us? Are we not to offer reverence to this most precious holy icon of God within us?

Saint Paul asks, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were brought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit which are God’s" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Everything that has been revealed to man by our Creator indicates that He made man to be holy as He is Holy. "Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our Image, according to Our likeness" (Genesis 1:1). Everything God made, especially man, is "VERY GOOD" because God is good. Nothing He made is evil in itself. As the "temple of the Holy Spirit" and since too we were created in" His Image" it is very clear that we were created to be holy. Therefore we are a living temple of God and nothing less.

Our infirmities, our sinful actions, and our behavior should be constantly refined through the Mysteries of the Church. Through the sacraments, we are purged and sanctified from all sinful actions. We are restored and cleansed through repentance and by the mercy of God. Our goal should be to retain our souls pure and undefiled and to remain faithful to God’s word. To spiritually avoid polluting our souls and burying them under our own sinful debris and dust.

Spiritual ascesis never ends until our earthly life is terminated. By the grace of God, as we see in the lives of the Saints, we can attain holiness. This is our true goal. How else can we enter the Kingdom of God? If our garment is ‘a wedding garment’ we will be expelled by the Angels of God. If our lamps are not trimmed and ready, as it happened to the five foolish virgins in the Gospel of Saint Matthew 25:10-12, the door to the Kingdom will be shut. The Lord’s voice, "the bridegroom" will be heard saying, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you" (vs. 12).

LORD JESUS CHRIST SON OF GOD AND SAVIOR 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.

HOW TO PRAY ACCORDING TO OUR LORD AND SAVIOR
JESUS CHRIST

"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they
love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the
streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you,
they have their reward. But you, when you pray go into your room,
and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father Who is in
the secret place and your Father Who sees in secret will reward
you openly. And when pray, do not use vain repetitions as the
heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many
words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows
the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner,
therefore pray:

Our Father… (Matthew 6:5-13)

Saint John Chrysostom in his homily on prayer says: For as the sun illumines the body so also does prayer illumine the soul. If then the blind person is deprived because he cannot see the sun, how much more is the Christian diminished and harmed who does not pray constantly, and who, consequently, does not gather into his or her soul, through prayer, the Light of Christ.

Who is there that is not surprised and does not marvel at the love of God, which He demonstrates by rendering such a great honor to human beings in making them worthy TO PRAY AND TO CONVERSE WITH God Himself! When we converse with God at the time of prayer we become similar TO THE ANGELS and dissimilar to the irrational beings. For the work par excellence of the Angels IS PRAYER AND WORSHIP… We must pray both WITH FEAR OF BEING FOUND UNWORTHY OF THE PRAYER WHICH CONNECTS US WITH GOD, BUT ALSO WITH FULNESS OF JOY FOR THE MAGNITUDE OF HONOR WHICH IS BESTOWED UPON THE HUMAN RACE THROUGH THE VERY POSSIBILITY OF PRAYER. Divine Providence has made us capable of enjoying constant COMMUNION WITH GOD, through which we appear not to be mortal and transient. Even though by nature WE ARE MORTAL, it is through our conversation with God that WE ARE TRANSFERRED INTO IMMORTAL LIFE. For the one who holds a conversation with God must be necessity above death and every moral and spiritual corruption… It is impossible for those who pray and speak to God to have mortal souls. The death of the soul IS PRECISELY IMPIETY AND A SINFUL LIFE, WHILE THE LIFE OF THE SOUL IS THE WORSHIP OF GOD AND A WAY OF LIFE IN THE BELIEVER THAT IS BECOMING TO SUCH WORSHIP."

SAINT NEILOS THE ASCETIC ON PRAYER
(The Philokalia, vol. A page 177)

3. Prayer is the conversation of the mind with God.

4. Moses, who attempted to approach the burning bush on earth, was prevented until he had removed the sandals from his
feet; how do you expect to see and to become conversant with the One Who is above every perception and every thought,
if you do not remove yourself every passionate thought?

5. First of all pray for the reception of tears, for through contrition and grief the wildness which co-exists in your soul maybe
softened, and, having confessed to the Lord your transgressions, you may receive forgiveness from Him.

6. Your Lord rejoices greatly when you pray with tears.

10.. When the demons see you truly willing to pray ardently, they will present you with certain thoughts about things that are
presumably important and then, after a short while will remove them from your memory. But the mind moved to pursue
these thoughts and unable to find them, becomes greatly despondent and saddened. When at such a time you stand in
prayer, they will remind you of thse thoughts again so that the mind may be again distracted by them and then being
about the loss of fruitful prayer.

11. During the time of prayer, struggle to make your mind, deaf and dumb, and then you will be able to pray.

SAINT JOHN OF THE LADDER
HOILY 28
ON SACRED AND BLESSED PRAYER,
THE MOTHER OF VIRTUES

The quality and the grace of prayer which is done, as it should, with fervent love and desire for God, has so much great power, that it unites human beings with their Creator and raises their mind to be inseparably bound with Him. The energy of such prayer, moreover, can hold the world together and keep it from being annihilated by the many sins done each day.

This prayer is remissions and forgiveness of sins, a bridge that separates and frees man from temptations and dangers and transports him to freedom and rest; it is a wall of separation which obstructs the grief of the passions both of men and of demons, and does not permit them (the demons) to enter into us and to torment us; it is a celestial activity that nourishes all the Angels and the Saints; it is the endless joy and delight of the righteous; it is the virtue which must never cease, it is a source from which spring all good things; it is a mediator for all the gifts; an invisible progress in the heart; a table of noble souls that is unfailing in providing spiritual food; a perpetual illumination of the mind, a heavenly Light; an ax that cuts off and dispels despondency; it is the proof of the hope, the soul has in God and for this reason, it prays; it is the antidote to and the relase from sorrow; it is the wealth of the moastics who practice it with contrition…"

SAINT ISAAC THE SYRIAN
ON PRAYER

When man becomes humble, he is at once encircled by the mercy of God and it is then that the heart becomes aware of the Divine intervention, and discovers a certain power of faith and reassurance moving within itself… From this point, man moves forward with faith and is nourished by prayer, while his heart rejoices in its delights in the assurance it has in God, and no longer remains in the former blindness and simple speech of the tongue. When man comes to understand all of these things rightly, he then acquires the gift of prayer in his soul and considers it to be such a great treasure that, of such joy and gladness, his prayer is transformed into shouts of thanksgiving.

SAINT SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN

First of all, then, its a beginning, it is necessary to struggle to reduce and illuminate (the sinful) passions. Second, one must be devoted to psalmody, that is, extended prayer with the mouth. For when the passions are reduced, then naturally prayer creates a certain sweetness to the tongue and delights in being accepted by and pleased to God. Third, one must pray mentally (with the mind in the heart). Fourth, one must finally ascend to the state of vision (θεωρία) beyond prayer. The first level is for the beginners, the second is for thosse ho are making progress in the prayer life, the third is for those who have attained the highest degree of progress, and the fourth is for those who attain perfection.

First of all we lay down the foundation, then we begin to build the house, and then finally we place upon it the roof. We must follow the same pattern in the siritual matters. First we lay the foundation, and this is the guarding of the heart adn reduction of the passions. Then we build our spiritual house, that is, we banish the agitation of the evil spirits which attack us through the senses. And we must leave off from this war, the sooner the better, so that we can finally put on the roof, which means to remove ourselves completely from all things and to be at peace as we should be, so that we can complete our spiritual home in our Lord Jesus Christ, to Whom be Glory unto the ages of ages. Amen. (Source: A Prayer Book. An Anthology of Orthodox Prayers)

"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.

CONFRONTING THE PASSIONS

"…But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produces in me all manner
of evil desire… For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, for
I do not practice; but what I hate I do…But now, it is no longer I who do it, but
sin that dwells in me" (Romans 7: 8-17). "…For the good that I will to do, I DO NOT
DO; BUT THE EVIL I WILL NOT TO DO, THAT I PRACTICE" (Romans 7:19).

Confronting the passions, my brothers and sisters in Christ God are never easy. Understanding them and their purpose and controlling them, is even harder. Holy men and women, ascetics, hermits, apostles, righteous, and confessors, faced them too. Theodore of Mopsuesstia wrote: "We often covet the things of this life, not merely food and drink and sex but fame and fortune as well. We have these desires inside us and would never know there was anything wrong with them unless the law told us so."

Saint John Chrysostom states, "…For when we desire something but are prevented from obtaining it, all that happens is that the flame of our desires increased. It was not the law’s fault, because the law hindered us and did what it could to keep us away from desire. It was sin, i.e., our own laziness and bad disposition, which used what was good for the opposite. It was not the fault of the physician but rather of the patient who used the medicine wrongly."

One of the great desert Fathers of the Church, Saint Anthony the Great says, "Learn to love humility, for it covers all of your sins. All sins are repulsive before God, but the most repulsive of all IS PRIDE OF THE HEART. Do not consider yourself learned and wise, otherwise, all your efforts will be destroyed, and your boat will reach the harbor empty. If you have great authority, do not threaten anyone with death. Know that according to nature, you too are susceptible to death, and every soul sheds its body as its final garment."

It is very true that "Pride is the passion that can lead each of us TO SPIRITUAL DEATH. It introduces strife between me and my neighbor, as well as SEPERATION BETWEEN THE LOVE OF GOD AND ME. We, therefore, should acquire HUMILITY and be like the Lord Christ Himself, so that we may eradicate all traces of pride from our souls."

Saint Theophan the Recluse advises the following: "If you want to attain salvation, learn and keep all that the Holy Church teaches and receiving heavenly power from the Mysteries of the Church, walk the path of Christ’s Commandments under the direction of lawful pastors, and you will undoubtedly attain the Heavenly Kingdom and be saved. All of this is naturally necessary in the matter of salvation, necessary in it and for all. Whoever rejects any part of it has no salvation."

The Holy Fathers of the Church teach that we conquer another powerful passion, the passion of lust by prayer and fasting. You won’t purify yourself right away, you won’t become an angel after one fast, but you have to purify yourself gradually. Saint Mary of Egypt came to the desert, suffered, and struggled there for seventeen years. The passions attacked her like wild beasts. She endured patiently and prayerfully and warred with them, and the Lord cleansed her. By the end of her ascetic labors, Saint Mary had already found peace in her soul, tranquility, and she rejoiced in her life in the desert. It is the same with a person who, gradually, from fast to fast, from fast day to fast day, strives to restrain himself, to keep himself within the framework of Divine Law, and finally reaches the measure of perfection."

Saint Maximos the Confessor states: "Passion is an impulse of the soul contrary to nature, as in the case of mindless love or midless hatred for someone or for some thing."

The more familiar passions are seven: Gluttony, lust, avarice, anger, dejection, listlessness and pride. All of these passions lead us to sin, but with proper spiritual discipline and prayer is offset by virtues.

On the other hand there are the virtues. Virtuous acts are the fruit of ascetic discipline and they only come by grace (1 Cor. 3:6). "According to the grace of God, which was given to me as a wise master builder, I have laid the foundation and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it" (1 Corinthians 3:10).

The Virtues are: Temperance, chastity, generosity, mildness, happiness, diligence and humility. Those of you who study the lives of the Saints, who are people who lived virtuous lives, we find that they fast, engage in vigils, read the writings of the Church Fathers, attend divine services and participate in the Mysteries frequently.

After having attempted to inform you all of the spiritual challenges facing all of us regarding the passions, I still feel somehow that I need to explain them more clearly to you and in a more familiar manner. When my family and I lived in Florida I was exposed to fishing vessels or boats owned by my parishioners. I was taught by them that the owner of a boat bears a great responsibility to maintain and to keep his boat always in good condition. That every owner needs to keep it clean and free of any barnacles so as to function properly in a consistent way. Barnacles are a serious and one of the most pressing problems facing a boat owner. When barnacles attach themselves on one’s boat, they present a real danger and are tough to scrape off. However, all boat owners need to be aware, because removing them can be a labor-intensive process that could cause further damage to the boat. If you are experienced in keeping your boat clean it may not be as burdensome. The more often one cleans and clears the barnacles from the boat, the less difficult the job will be. It takes a great deal of effort, time, strength, and patience, to remove all the barnacles from his fishing vessel. There is a lot of scraping and power washing. It takes a grat deal of care not to damage one’s boat in the process and one must be cautious while working in small areas and corners in the attempt to remove all of them.

Well, there are many similarities between removing and cleaning one’s passions from one’s soul and heart, and the removal of the hard barnacles under the boat, which if not removed, threatens and obstructs its operation. People who truly love their souls must be as diligent as these boat owners , if not more. Of course, we cannot equate the value of the soul with that of a boat. Our soul is priceless and more precious, but just like the barnacles under the boat, sins do attach themselves to it and can eventually kill it. We all know that there is nothing more precious in the world than one’s soul. Jesus Christ Himself says to us: "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matthew 16:26). Nevertheless, if we are to save and protect anything of value, there is need to work hard, to protect, to keep clean, and to make the needed sacrifices.

The spiritual barnacles of the soul are the passions and sins that attack and attach themselves to it. One very successful way of cleaning and removing our spiritual barnacles, our sins, is to first acknowledge that we indeed have committed them, and to repent of them through our participation in the sacrament of reconciliation and confession. Secondly, we wash away our sins, which cling to our souls, by the grace of God and through our obedience to our Savior, by our adherence to His Divine commandments, by our willingness to resist repeating them over and over again, by self-denial, and through the cleansing that comes from tears, sincere humility, and love.

It is expected for people to believe that life in Christ is too difficult and perhaps impossible. However, in the Orthodox Church we have a plethora of men, women, and children, who were successful in their spiritual quest and, by the grace of God, became holy and revered as saints by the Church. We also need to remember the Divine words of our Lord Christ who said: "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). Everything must be done by prayer and fasting. So, please don’t be afraid or discouraged, but begin the effort and build up your spiritual life. Invite our Lord Jesus Christ into your life and seek His aid, strength, patience, enlightenment, courage, and most of all, faith.

"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.

FAITH, HOPE, AND LOVE

One cannot begin thinking of life, a life without faith, hope, and love. These great virtues are united together and act as one. Furthermore, they are connected to deliberate and specific actions: Faith works, love labors, hope produces patience. FAITH: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible" (Hebrews 11:1-3). Also, "..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 rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but WE ALSO GLORY IN TRIBULATIONS, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character hope" (Romans 5:1-4). HOPE; "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). LOVE (AGAPE): "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass o a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I AM NOTHING…LOVE suffers long and is kind love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up, does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks NO EVIL; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS…AND NOW ABIDE FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, THESE THREE, BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE (AGAPE) (1 Corinthians 13:1-13).

For the practicing Orthodox Christian faith, hope, and love, are not concepts and abstract ideas or theories. Rather, IT IS LIFE. The Christian faith cannot be marginalized and treated as simply traditions, rules, rituals, and events. As Orthodox Christian believers we have witnessed throughout the 2,000-year history of our Church, from Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ to the Holy Apostles, Holy Martyrs, Holy Confessors, Holy Fathers, and Mothers, and of all the Saints, Christianity IS LIFE! NOT THEORY! When did we cease to be WITNESSES AND MARTYRS?

The Synaxarestis of Our Holy Church reveals the countless men, women, and children who gave their life for the sake of Christ God. As we read and study their life, one thing is very clear, that living the faith means much more than simply confessing or claiming to be a Christian. "And what more shall I say? …Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens… Still, others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were STONED, THEY WERE SAWN IN TWO, WERE TEMPTED, WERE SLAIN WITH THE SWORD. THEY WONDERED ABOUT IN SHEEPSKINS AND GOATSKINS, BEING DESTITUTE, AFFLICTED, TORMENTED–OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY. THEY WANDERED IN DESERTS AND MOUNTAINS, IN DENS AND CAVES OF THE EARTH" (Hebrews 11:32-38).

The faith of the contemporary Christian believer was never meant to be a caricature of a Christian with lukewarm faith. In the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse) the Lord said to the Laodiceans: "I know your works, that you are neither COLD nor HOT. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because YOU ARE LUKEWARM AND NEITHER COLD NOR HOT, I WILL VOMIT OUUT OF My mouth" (Revelation 3:13-16). The Christian believers of Laodicea were lukewarm in spiritual fervor and works of mercy; their LACK OF COMMITMENT IS REVOLTING TO THE LORD. Is this what the modern Orthodox Christian strives for?

It is perfectly clear that the commitment to our Savior and to His Church today is lukewarm indeed. The attitude of the modern-day Christian proves that very fact by his actions or lack of. Along with Orthodoxia is what our Church calls for, Orthropraxia. In other words the RIGHT FAITH along with RIGHT LIVING. THE TWO ARE INSEPARABLE! It is absolutely necessary for the common or ordinary Orthodox Christian to have knowledge of his/her Christian faith. How else can anyone practice it? How can a parent teach his/her child the teaching and commandments and Gospel of Jesus Christ? How can have and live a virtuous life? How can we have a prayer and sacramental life? How can we be willing to die for the sake of Christ if we don’t know Who He is? How can we be willing to deny ourselves and be willing to take up our cross and follow Him? There can be no commitment for one who has no faith, no love, no hope, no commitment, no conviction, no fear of God.

The Greek Orthodox home today barely retains its Orthodox Christian identity. Why? because the Orthodox Christians do not treat it as "e-kat’ oikon ekklesia" "the home church." It seems to me, that many of the spiritual and religious traditions of our Orthodox Faith are NOT adhered to. Practicing our Faith is no longer a priority in the lives of our fellow-Christians, and all spiritual concerns are treated casually (lukewarm). Every religious tradition, including Sunday Divine Liturgy, has become ‘OPTIONAL’ not only by the parents but also for the children. When did this happen? Who decided?

Our Holy Orthodox Christian Church today, remains unchanged. The genuine Orthodox Christian remains faithful to the Divinity of Jesus Christ, to His virgin birth, to His Resurrection, to His Ascension into heaven, and to His Second Coming. The Church has and will never abandon the course that Christ Himself has set for her.

"And now abide faith, hope, and love, these three, but the greatest of these IS LOVE."

"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.

"Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
immovable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, knowing that your labor s not in vain
in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Persecution against Christ and the Church which He founded and is the Head of has never ceased. Faithful Christians with steadfast faith have been, tortured, imprisoned, and killed, by the millions, over the many centuries, by unbelievers, pagans, atheists, and heretics. "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers" (Acts 2:42).

"Not only did the Church begin under the teaching of the Holy Apostles, but she was also instructed to "STAND FAST AND HOLD THE TRADITIONS WHICH YOU WERE TAUGHT, WHETHER BY WORD OR OUR EPISTLE" (2 Thessalonians 2:15). The Apostle Pual insisted that those matters delivered by I’m and his fellow Apostles, both in person and in writings that should come to be called the New Testament, be adhered to carefully. Thus followed such appropriate warnings as "in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ… withdrew from every brother who walks disorderly and according to the tradition which he received from us" (2 Thessalonians 3:6). The Doctrine taught by Christ and His Disciples ARE TO BE SAFEGUARDED BY "THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH" (1 Timothy 3:15) AND ARE NOT OPEN FOR RENEGOTIATION. And the Church was still young when a way had to be found for providing this safeguard." (Introducing the Orthodox Church -Orthodox Study Bible, p. 785).

The Christian is also persecuted by the evil "principalities" which pursue him day and night to destroy his soul and prevent him from salvation and eternal life in God’s Kingdom. Every Christian believer has to contend with the constant temptations from the evil one who needs no rest, food, or sleep. Our adversary, the evil one, stirs up the passions within us to undermine all effort and ascesis to prevent our communion with the Almighty God. According to Saint Macarius the Confessor, "Some passions are bodily, other spiritual. Bodily passions have their sources in the body, while spiritual ones come from external things. But love and temperance out of both the one and the other: love cuts our spiritual passions and temperance bodily ones."

Saint Isaac the Syrian says, "The passions (τό πάθος or τά πάθη) are UPROOTED and turned to flight by constant occupation of the mind with God. This is a sword that puts them to death. Whoever always thinks about God drives the demons away from himself and pulls up the seeds of their malice."

We are reminded by Saint Caesarius of Arles that "the worst kind of sin is not to acknowledge that you are sinful."

Saint Silouan the Athonite advice the following: "Understand two thoughts, and fear them. One says, "You are a saint," and the other, "You won’t be saved." Both of these thoughts are from the enemy (devil), and there is no truth in them. But think this way: I am a great sinner, but the Lord is merciful. He loves people very much, and He will forgive my sins."

Another great holy Father, Saint Mark the Ascetic writes: "The devil makes small sins seem smaller in our eyes, for otherwise, he can’t lead us to greater evil."

Spiritual warfare is very real and dangerous. Our enemy is real and employs all means of warfare to destroy us. The warfare is unseen and our enemy is in invisible. Our life both here and in heaven is at stake. We need God’s help, His guidance and mercy. It is very important not to rely on our own efforts in this unseen warfare but that we should feel the need, with our whole heart, that we have no one to rely on except God and that from Him and Him alone can we expect every manner of help.

"Orthodox Christians must steadfastly remain in Orthodoxy, preserve oneness of mind with one another and unhypocritical love, guard purity of soul and body, reject evil and unclean intententions, temeratly partake of food and drink, and above all adorn in themselves with humility, not neglect hospitality, refrain from conflicts and not give honor and glory in anything to earthly life, but instead await reward from God, the enjoyment of heavenly good" (Saint Sergius of Radonezh)

Prayer does not only bestows the blessing of the All-Merciful and All-Loving God but also, enlighens, inspires, protects, guides, strengthens, heals, unites, and renews the true believer and disciple. The Holy Fathers of the Church speak of "pure prayer" (καθαρά προσευχή) or "quitness" (ησυχία). "In the pure heart, such prayer becomes habitual, and so fuflfills the Apostolic command to "PRAY WITHOUT CEASING" (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Saint Mark the Asceitic states: "Guard your mind from self-praise and flee a high opinion of yourself, so that God does not allow you to fall into the opposite (passion to the virtue for which you boast), for man does not accomplish virtue alone, but with the help of God Who sees all." Conceit and pride are detrimental to one’s salvation. It is not enough to acknowledge our pride and ego but we must repent of it with tears.

Tears of repentance are a true indication of our genuine repentance and are necessary for our spiritual cleansing. Commiting sins, or, as our Church refers to them, ‘crimes’; we commit them against God and our neighbor. Therefore, true repentance (metanoia) is accompanied with "a broken and a contrite heart…" (Psalm 51). Repentance and contrition are expected of every believer, before, he too, can participate in the power of redemption of the sins committed.

A life in Christ requires a true commitment, sacrifice, faith and mos of all, agape In other words we should, with a complete renunciation of ourselves first, and freely, submit to the will of God. "Thy will be done on earth is it is in heaven.." In everything by prayer and entreaty. "…Illumine our hearts with the True Sun of righteousness, , enlighten our senses, that walking uprightly as in the day in the way of Your commandment, we may attain eternal life."

"There are four weapons required to overcome the enemies in unseen warfare, namely NON-RELIANCE ON ONESELF, AN UNSHAKEABLE HOPE IN GOD, RESISTING AND STRUGGLING WITH SIN, AND PRAYER." However, there is another great weapon in this warfare, namely, the most holy Mystery (Sacrament) of the Divine Eucharist. The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Sacraments, and is the most powerful and effective of all spiritual weapons.

With faith, our Lord Jesus Christ comes into our heart, and with Christ comes agape and thus we are grounded in agape. The beginning is faith and the end is love. Our relationship with God is a relationship of agape (love). Our Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is the God of Agape. The Three Persons, the Holy Trinity is united in Divine Love. Our communion with God therefore is a communion of love. It is God’s unconditional love for us and our unconditional love for Him that creates this perfect union and grants opens for us the Kingdgom of heaven, salvation. The faithful Christian believer, with tears of joy, communes with Christ in his heart with the prayer of the heart: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner," and the heart is imperceptibly filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Love. And, therefore, I can earnestly say, "For me, to live is Christ, and to die gain" (Philippians 1:23).

To remain steadfast in our faith until the end cannot be accomplished by us alone. We must never be afraid of suffering, "For you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. Suffering not only bears witness to others, but also serve to increase our faith. My beloved friends and brothers and sisters in Christ, suffering is a gift from Christ as is faith: it is participation in His grace" (Philippians 1:29). "Finally, my brethren," writes Saint Paul to the Ephesians, "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might" (Ephesians 5:10).

"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,

CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD (Part II)

Just as sheep–those who are innocent, pure, guileless, meek, and helpless animals–are in need of guidance, and protection from wolves and other threats. Sheep that depend completely on the shepherd very much like the souls of the faithful which are subject to the evil snares of the Adversary and ruler of the age. We read in Ephesians 6:12 the following warning: "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." Also, "Be sober, be vigilant; because YOUR ADVERSARY the devil walks about like a roaring lion, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR" (1 Peter 5:8).

The evil ‘dragon’ (Revelation 20:2) will through deception, blasphemies, heresies, and the other wicked influences of the secular world, worldly enticements, and temptations will attempt to poison the human soul, obstruct salvation of those in need of a protector and a true protector, and above all, the One, True Divine Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

Saint Theophylact writes: "The Lord tells us that the devil CATCHETH his soul by CONFUSING HIM WITH SINFUL SUGGESTIONS. That NOETIC WOLF acts like a thief who "STEALS" his victim by instilling evil thoughts (logismoi) in him, "KILLS" by smothering his conscience in order to gain his assent, and "DESTROY" BY PROMPTINGS WICKED DEEDS. When an EVIL THOUGHT (LOGISMOS) assails a man, HIS SOUL HAS BEEN STOLEN; WHEN HE GIVES HIS ASSENT TO IT, HE HAS BEEN SLAIN; WHEN HE COMMITS THE EVIL DEED, HE HAS BEEN DESTROYED. This is the meaning of "The thief cometh not, but FOR TO STEAL, AND TO KILL AND TO DESTROY." The Lord does just the opposite: He GIVES US DIVINE LIFE; HE ILLUMINES OUR MINDS WITH GOOD THOUGHTS; HE SANCTIFIES OUR BODIES WITH GOOD DEEDS. AND HE BESTOWS SOMETHING ‘MORE’: THE POWER TO BENEFIT OTHERS BY THE GRACE OF TEACHING, AND AS THE REWARD FOR SO DOING–THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. Truly He is the Good Shepherd and NOT a hireling, as were the rulers of the Jews. They cared nothing for the people and sought only to steal their wages. Their one desire was to amass filthy lucre."

I am the Good Shepherd said our Savior and God Jesus Christ, and with that revealed the distinctive attribute of a True Shepherd, willing to sacrifice His life out of love for His sheep. Our Lord very clearly indicates indeed, that through His voluntary redemptive death will give His life on the Life-giving Cross for THE SALVATION OF ALL MANKIND": "Greater love has no one than this THAN TO LAY DOWN ONE’S LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS" (John 15:13).

Saint Theophylact states: "To show that BELIEVERS ALONE ARE WORTHY TO BE KNOWN BY GOD, and that UNBELIEVERS CANNOT BE HIS SHEEP, the Lord states clearly, "I KNOW MY OWN, AND AN KNOWN BY MINE." Confirming this, the Holy Apostle writes "The Lord knoweth Me, even so, know I the Father, I know the Father as clearly as He knows Me." Jesus states repeatedly, "I lay down My life for the sheep," to show that He is not a deceiver. When He said: I AM THE LIGHT AND LIFE," senseless men may well have imagined He was boasting. But His words, "I die willingly." are not those of a braggart. They reveal His solicitous care for His FOLLOWERS and His willingness to die even, for those who would stone Him."

(vs. 17-21) : "Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father."

Saint Theophylact says: "I , the Master of death, have authority over My Own death." This is what is meant by the statement, "I have power to lay… down My life." Of course, we also lay down our own lives, but not in the sense the Lord does. For as He says, "Unless I allow it, no one can take My life." We cannot claim the same thing, because we may be killed by others against our will. Unless Christ had first given His assent, He would never have suffered; therefore, He is not subject to death accept as He chooses."

"I know Mine and Mine know Me." To our Lord Christ, all are known and nothing is hidden. He knows He knows the inner man, the moral disposition of everyone, and the various threats and dangers of His "sheep," that is, of those who truly believe in Him, the faith in their hearts, their sincere convictions, and their genuine convictions in their souls for their Redeemer.

The faithful sheep hear the voice of the Shepherd and follow when He calls them by name and leads them out. And when He leads them out, He goes before them, and the obedient sheep follow Him because they know His voice.

"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.

CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Psalm 22 [23]

THE LORD is my shepherd I
shall not want.
He makes me lie down in
green pastures;
He leads me beside the
still waters.
He restores my soul,.."

In the Gospel of Saint John 10:11-16)

THE LORD SAID: "I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. I AM THE GOOD SHEPHERD and I know My sheep and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so, I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice, and there will be one flock, and ONE SHEPHERD."

The 23rd Psalm is one of 150 psalms taken from the Book of PSALMS. The psalms are the hymnbook of Israel, and now of the Christian Church. The Book of Psalms is used in the Orthodox Church in the daily cycle of prayers, i.e., morning prayers, evening prayers, and the prayers of the hours. Also, weekly at Orthros (matins) and Esperinos (Vespers) divine services. Furthermore, in the observance of the Church year, the liturgical tradition selects particular psalms or verses for special feasts.

The holy psalms are not only religious literature but especially help make more steadfast the faith of the Orthodox Christian believer who uses them for his or her edification and inspiration.

Psalm 22 [23] relates clearly that our Beloved Lord and Creator is the Almighty and the Shepherd and loving Father. It reveals a personal connection, a personal relationship felt within the heart of the believer.

The devoted people at the era of David the King, the occupation of a shepherd was commonplace, felt that the life of the shepherd was a common human experience. One senses the tenderness, trust, and love between the shepherd and the sheep. Prophet Ezekiel described the covenant between God and man, a covenant in the person of a Messiah, saying "I will set over them one shepherd" (Ezekiel 34:23).

"Then Jesus said to them again, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I AM THE DOOR. IF ANYONE ENTERS BY ME, HE WILL BE SAVED AND WILL GO IN AND OUT AND FIND PASTURE. The thief does not come except TO STEAL, AND TO KILL, AND TO DESTROY. I have come that THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND THAT THEY MAY HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY." (John 10: 7-10),

This Parable of salvation (σωτηρία) uses the symbolism of the shepherd and his flock. Jesus Christ is the Divine Shepherd Who always is guarding the entrance. No one can enter except by way of Him. The "thief" is none other than the evil one the devil whose is aim is to steal, kill and destroy the souls of the gullible, naive, and trusting Christians who are easily deceived by this enemy of man.

Saint John Chrysostom in his commentary writes: "With good cause, he calls the Scriptures ‘A DOOR,’ for they bring us to God, and open to us the knowledge of God… For Scriptures, like some sure door, bars the passage against the heretics …NOT allowing us in, those who are not of the shepherd …When He brings us to the Father, He calls Himself ‘the Door,’ when He takes care of us, ‘the Shepherd’… to show that He will lead ALL MEN TO THE TRUTH …In that same way when He sent the sheep, He sent them, not out of the way of wolves, but ‘in the midst of wolves’ (Matthew 10:16) …The blind man …He ‘led out’ from the midst of the Jews, and the man heard ‘His voice’ and knew; it." (Homily LIX on John IX, 2, 3)

Saint Theophylact writes: "The thief does not enter in ‘BY THE DOOR" — meaning, by the Scriptures — for neither the Scriptures nor the Prophets support his actions. The Scriptures ARE INDEED A DOOR LEADING TO GOD: THEY DENY ENTRY TO WOLVES AND HERETICS; THEY KEEP US SAFE; THEY COMMUNICATE WHATEVER GOOD THING WE MAY DESIRE TO LEARN."

The Shepherd, according to Saint Theophylact, "entereth in by the door of the Scriptures, and "to him the porter openeth." The PORTER refers to Moses, to whom God entrusted His Divine Commandments. Moses OPENED the door for the Lord by prophesying about Him. Christ, Himself declares, "Had ye blessed Moses ye would have believed Me, for He wrote of Me" (John 5:46). The Porter also REPRESENTS THE Holy Spirit, the Spirit of WISDOM, AND UNDERSTANDING. Who likewise opens the doors of Scripture TO REVEAL CHRIST OUR Shepherd [Fulfillling the prophecies of the Old Testament] the Lord ENTERS THE SHEEPFOLD AND ASSUMES CARE OF US; "AND THE SHEEP HEAR HIS VOICE."

I love this sweet Parable of Our Lord. Especially when He speaks about the lost sheep in Matthew 18:12-13. "What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doe he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that IS ASTRAY? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, HE REJOICES MOREOVER THAT SHEEP THAN OVER THE NINETY-NINE THAT DID NOT GO ASTRAY."

What is revealed in this Parable are God’s unconditional love and His mercy for each SOUL who goes astray or loses his way. God’s love is infinite for His children and would seek even the "ONE THAT IS STRAYING." I love the holy icons that depict Our Lord Jesus Christ as The Good Shepherd and the lost lamb (soul) around His neck. The holy icon of The Good Shepherd to all Orthodox Christian believers of God’s determination and compassion TO SAVE ALL OF HIS CHILDREN EVEN WHEN THEY GO ASTRAY AND LOSE THEIR WAY.

The Orthodox Priest is not only a litourgos or someone who conducts the religious services and Mysteria of the Church but also a shepherd. A spiritual shepherd who constantly protects, guides, and nourishes the faithful, the sheep, the souls entrusted to his care by our Almighty God. He does it for no other reason than that of agape. The Orthodox Priest is responsible directly and only to Him, Our Savior Jesus Christ, for the souls of his flock. Symbolically, it is believed, the tassels or fringe at the bottom of his Stole or Epitrachelion, signifies, first, the yoke or burden of his Priestly Office as a shepherd and, second, the grace of the Holy Spirit which flows down upon the officiating Priest. While putting the Stole on recites these sublime words: "Blessed is God, Who pours His Grace upon His priests; it is as ointment on the head, that ran down to the beard, even the beard of Aaron; that rand down to THE FRINGE of his clothing" (Psalm 133:2).

(To be continued)

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostom

+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

OUR LIFE IN CHRIST AND OUR DUTY TO
GOD AND OUR FELLOW MAN

"Then God said, Let us make man in Our image, according to Our image likeness." (Genesis 1:26).

"Man is the highest creation of God on earth. Recognizing this, man would belittle himself if he would not think and be exalted in thought, about His Creator, glorifying Him, granting thanks to Him striving to be worthy of His mercy."

In his book, Orthodox Dogmatic Theology Father Michael Pomazansky writes: "In the ladder of the earthly creation, man is placed on the highest rung, and in relationship to all earthly beings he occupies the reigning position. Being earthly, according to his gifts, he approaches the heavenly beings, for he is "a little lower than the angels" (Psalm 8:5). And the Prophet Moses depicts, man’s origin in this way: After all the creatures of the earth had been created, "God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness; and let him have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air… and over all the earth… So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created He him" (Genesis 1:26-27).

Clearly, man was to be a special creation, distinct from the others, the highest, most perfect on earth, having also a higher purpose in the world. Furthermore, "God formed man of the dust of the earth, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became A LIVING SOUL" (Genesis 2:7). One of the great Holy Fathers of the Church, Saint John of Damascus wrote: "The body and the soul were formed at the same time–not one before and the other afterward.

Another great Holy Father of the Church Saint Gregory the Theologian states: "The soul is the breath of God, and while being heavenly, it endures being mixed with what is of the dust. It is a light enclosed in a cave, but still, it is divine and inextinguishable,… The Logos/Word spoke, and having taken a part of the newly created earth, with His immortal hands formed my image and imparted to it His life; because He sent into it the spirit, which is a ray of the invisible Divinity" (Homily 7, "One the Soul").

Our Lord God Jesus Christ frequently emphasized in His teachings the immortality of the soul as the foundation of a virtuous life. He clearly pointed to His disciples that He was going to prepare a place for them so that they might be where He Himself would be" (John 14:2-3).

Our Holy Orthodox Church’s belief in the immortality of the soul occupies a central place in the life of the Church.

"The first purpose of man is the glory of God. Man is called to remain faithful to his bond with God, to strive towards Him with his soul, to acknowledge Him as his Creator, to glorify Him, to rejoice in union with Him, to live in Him… he is called to perfect himself, to guard his likeness to God, to restore and strengthen it; he is called to develop and perfect his moral powers by means of good deeds. This requires that a man take care of his own good, and his true good lies in blessedness in God. Therefore one must say that BLESSEDNESS in God is the aim of man’s existence."

We should always be willing to live in the blessedness of God, our Creator. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Jesus died for the forgiveness of our offenses. His death and Resurrection was our salvation. What more can we ask of God?

Our Creator had endowed us with everything that we need to be imitators of His Son Jesus Christ. It is imperative that we discover now our own spiritual potential as we progress spiritually in Christ. We must begin by looking within ourselves as though by looking in a mirror. We need to be truthful about what or whom we see within us. To be willing to change, to abide by His commandments, by our total obedience to His teachings, to be willing to be transformed by the grace of the Holy Spirit.

Following the Mystery (Sacrament of Baptism there is a most beautiful Troparion that is chanted: "Grant to me a garment of illumination, O Most Merciful Christ our God, Who wrappest Thyself with Light as with a cloak." We too are to share in the Light of Christ God, to be children of light and children of the day. At the Orthodox sacrament of Baptism the following hymn is chanted as the priest processes around the baptismal font with the sponsor and the child: "As many of you as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ."

Like our Lord Jesus Christ we have the ability and the potential to be gentle, to be forgiving, to be compassionate, to be meek, to be humble, to be loving, to be righteous, to be truthful, to love our neighbor, to be kind, to avoid judging our fellow man, to seek peace, justice, seek reconciliation with our enemies, abide by His commandments, live in holiness and virtue, value all life, be willing to deny oneself, be willing to carry our cross and to follow Him.

By practicing our Christian faith daily, we can then use our talents to make a difference in the world. We should be willing to use our God-given gifts to help our fellow citizens in their struggle to find relief from pain and sorrow which they desperately need. We understand, of course, that the best way we teach others is by example. We have a duty to share the divine talent or talents that God has bestowed upon us for the good of all. It is necessary that we are patient, prayerful, truthful, humble, loving, and always place the one who is needful above ourselves.

The Saints of our Holy Church believed themselves to be the worst of all sinners.. They never placed themselves on a pedestal. They knew not what pride or arrogance is. They were the epitome of humility,virtue, and piety. They fought and overcame all passions and logismoi (evil thoughts). Their life was devoid of any anger, hatred, and malice of any kind. Their life was only one of prayer and piety.

Like our monastics, we too, can use our time on earth to live the same ‘angelic life’ which they practice. A life of asceticism, of prayer, and of worship. A life of chastity, holiness, and obedience. They sought communion with God and so must we. "If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 1:4).

Made in God’s image and likeness, we are fulfilled by becoming "like Him," a process called sanctification or theosis (deification). Being "partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4) we are transformed in the same image, from glory to glory" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

At Orthros (Matins) on Friday of the week before Great Lent, Orthodox Christians chant: "God has shown mercy to us. Let us in our turn show mercy : let us feed the poor, and with the divine water of fasting let us wash the defilement from our souls." Then we add, "O heavenly Angels, entreat the Giver of good to accept in His infinite mercy our poor repentance," for we know the weakness of our hearts.

The faith that saves is a complete faith: not just the mind believing and the tongue confessing, but the whole man trusting int he Living God. Saint James (Iakovos) states: "’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 a sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 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" (James 2:14-17).

Finally, "God is Light" and also "God is Love" (1 John 4:8). Throughout our life’s journey, our Loving Savior, and God, asks us, as He did the Holy Apostle Peter: "Do you love Me?" How do we answer Him? What do we reply? One thing we know that we cannot lie. He, as God, knows the truth. He says to us "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in Me LOVE (AGAPE) [John 15:10]. Also, He says to us: "You are My friends IF YOU do whatever I command you" (John 15:14).

"Glory 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