My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

On the Precious and Life-Giving Cross

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(To be continued)

_____________

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

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE ARK OF SALVATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

______________

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



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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

___________

“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”

– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

The world is afflicted by poverty, both material
and spiritual.

Poverty and those inflicted by it have existed for centuries. The poor have suffered not only from the deprivation of the most essential goods needed to live but also from exploitation, abuse, cruelty, slavery, and injustice. Poverty is a lack of food, shelter, and everything good. Poverty is being sick and unable to see a doctor. Poverty is never having an opportunity to go to school. Poverty is ns not knowing how to read or write. Poverty is clothes that don’t fit or having to dress in rags. Poverty is a person not having a job and a family without a home. Poverty is not having freedom or basic human rights and opportunities. Poverty is not having a future. Poverty marginalizes, suffocates, and eventually kills. Poverty is a person without hope. Poverty is a suffering soul. Poverty is seeing your child dying and not having the means to save him or her. Poverty is hearing your children crying from hunger, cold, or thirst and not being able to provide them with the necessities of life. Poverty is for you and your family to be homeless…

There may be as many as a billion people throughout the world who fall into this category. Governments of various counties have made some efforts to curtail poverty but have not been successful to eradicate it. One can find poor in every country throughout the world. It is perplexing, however, that in the 21st century and with all the modern means that the world possesses that poverty is still one of the major issues for every country to confront. The U.S. has established the welfare system to deal with the poor and there may be as many as seventy million people who receive this aid.

Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ is very forthright when it comes to aiding the poor. In the Gospel of Saint Matthew 25: 31-46, He speaks about “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy Angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides the sheep from the goats…Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: FOR I WAS HUNGRY AND YOU GAVE ME FOOD; I WAS THIRSTY AND YOU GAVE ME DRINK; I WAS A STRANGER AND YOU TOOK ME IN,’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in or naked and clothe You? O when did we see You seek, or in prison, and come to You? And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, INASMUCH AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YOU DID IT TO ME.” According to Saint Theophylact “by “the least brethren” He means all the poor. For every poor man is Christ’s brother for the very reason that Christ, too, spent His life in poverty…he who does not give alms is a robber, doing injustice to all those whom he could have helped but did not, they were without compassion, and for this reason, he and those like him shall go away into eternal punishment which never ends, but the righteous shall enter into eternal life.” Therefore, Our Lord states that those who are without compassion or mercy for their fellow man who is poor and suffers will not be saved.

But there is also another kind of poverty, the spiritual poverty which inflicts humanity. Spiritual poverty begins with those who lack faith and do not believe that there is God. Those who lack virtue but are engaged in evil. Those who are possessed by greed, power, and pride. Those who live in filthiness and refuse to repent. People who are filled with hatred, anger, and malice. Whose only goal in life is to possess wealth and whose only love is money. Men and women are entrenched in patterns of sin that become habitual. Often, darkness becomes imprinted in their souls and bodies, so that even their wills are bypassed and they sin automatically. People who reject any spiritual cleansing, genuine sorrow for their sins, and refuse confession and repentance. Human beings who have lost their true humanity, are cruel, selfish, arrogant, and vicious. They are devoid of love and therefore, they are not capable of either giving love or receiving it.

Spiritual poverty creates an environment of hostility and a world at war with itself. There is an absence of hope and the death of the soul. The answer to those who suffer due to their spiritual poverty is none other than to believe in the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ. Saint Paul says it very plainly, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). “I have been crucified with Christ” means out sinful “passions and desires” have been crucified. This kind of crucifixion must be willingly and freely accepted, just as Christ freely accepted His death on the Cross. Just as living in the flesh involves the whole person, body, and soul, so living “in the faith” involves the whole person.

The holy Apostle James writes, “Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2:5). Saint Paul exhorts us, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). The spiritually rich are those who live according to Christ and are obedient to His commandments. The “new man” (Col. 3:10) in Christ grows from one state of perfection to another, becoming “the image” of Christ and throughout remaining the image of “Him Who created him” (3:10). The objective of every genuine Christian is to strive to be rich in Christ, in virtue, in humility, in love, in compassion, in truth, and in holiness, in the grace of the Holy Spirit.

__________
“Glory Be To God
For
All Things!
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +



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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN 0UR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

The Second Sunday of the Holy and Great Lent: Saint GREGORY
PALAMAS, Archbishop of Thessaloniki.

The Holy Father, who was from Asia Minor, was from his childhood and reared in the royal court of Constantinople, where he was instructed in both religious ad secular wisdom. Later, while still a youth, he left the imperial court and struggled in asceticism on Mount Athos, and in the Skete at Veroia. He spent some time in Thessaloniki being treated for an illness that came from his harsh manner of life. He was present in Constantinople at the Synod that was convened in 1341 against Varlaam of Calabria, and at the Synod of 1347 against Acindynos, who was of like mind with Varlaam; Varlaam and Acindinos claimed that the grace of God is created. At both these Synods, the Saint contended courageously for the True Dogma of the Church of Christ, teaching in particular THAT DIVINE GRACE IS NOT CREATED, BUT IS THE UNCREATED ENERGIES OF GOD WHICH ARE POORED FORTH THROUGHOUT CREATION: OTHERWISE, IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE, IF GRACE WERE CREATED, FOR MAN TO HAVE GENUINE COMMUNION WITH THE UNCREATED GOD. In 1347 he was appointed Metropolitan of Thessaloniki. He tended his flock in an Apostolic manner for some twelve years and wrote many books and treatises on the most exalted Doctrines of our Orthodox Faith; and having lived for a total of sixty-three years, he reposed in the Lord in 1359. His holy relics are kept in the Cathedral of Thessaloniki. A full service was composed for his feast day by the Patriarch Philotheos in 1368 when it was established that his feast is celebrated on this day. Since works without right faith avail nothing, we set Orthodoxy of faith as the foundation of all that we accomplish during the Great Fast. Saint Gregory’s victory over Varlaam and Acindynos and THE OTHER HERETICS OF HIS TIME IS SEEN AS A RENEWED TRIUMPH OF ORTHODOXY. In the earlier period, there was on this day a commemoration of the Great Martyr Polykarpos of Smyrna (155 A.D.), whose feast was transferred from the fixed calendar (23 February). The commemoration, like that of Saint Theodore, underlined the connection BETWEEN LENTEN ASCETICISM AND THE MARTYR’S VOCATION. The Second Sunday also takes up the theme of the Prodigal Son AS A MODEL OF REPENTANCE, with the first of the two Cannons at Orthros (Matins) being devoted to this Parable. We set Orthodoxy of faith as the FOUNDATION OF ALL THAT WE ACCOMPLISH DURING THE GAST, BY CELEBRATING THE TRIUMPH OF ORTHODOXY THE SUNDAY BEFORE, AND THE GREAT DEFENDER OF THE TEACHINGS OF THE HOLY FATHERS ON THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT.

We cannot look at Saint Gregory Palamas apart from the hesychastic tradition of the Holy Mountain. The Holy Mountain is the home of virtue, as the place where the Evangelic life is lived and expressed, which is the essence of our Holy Tradition. It is a holy place where one discovers stillness (hesychia) and quietude. Ascetics, monks and nuns, hermits, and stylites. and countless Saints practiced stillness. Saint Gregory Palamas, truly a guiding light and a messenger of grace, as a teacher and defender of hesychasm, reminds all of us how to pay closer attention by drawing upon words spoken to our ancient ancestors: “Be still,” God told Cain (Genesis 4:7). The Lord God commanded Cain to still HIS HEART (“be still”) THROUGH REPENTANCE, for it was filled with turbulence because of the PASSIONS. Through prayerful stillness of the heart, we become more attentive to God’s word.

HESYCHIA, stillness, is essential for man’s purification and perfection, which means his salvation. Saint Gregory taught that “one must be still in order to have a clear conversation with God and to bring the nous a little away from those wandering in error.” Through hesychia (stillness) a person purifies his heart and nous from passions and thus attains COMMUNION and UNION with God. This communion with God, precisely because it is man’s union with God, also constitutes MAN’S SALVATION.

HESYCHIA is nothing other than “keeping one’s heart away from giving and taking and pleasing people, and the other activities. When a person frees his heart from thoughts (logismoi) and passions, when all the powers of his soul are transformed and turned away from earthly things and towards God, then he is experiencing true stillness (hesychia). Saint John of the Ladder writes that stillness of soul is “THE ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE OF ONE’S THOUGHTS AND IS AN UNASSAILABLE MIND.” Therefore hesychia IS AN INNER STATE; IT IS “DWELLING IN GOD.”

The Holy Fathers of the Church distinguish between EXTERNAL and INTERNAL stillness. External stillness is the liberation of the senses and the body from SIGHTS, particularly from the bondage that the world imposes, while INNER STILLNESS is the liberation of the heart FROM IMAGES, FANTASIES, AND WORRIES. HESYCHIA of the soul implies that the nous is able not to accept any temptations to stray. Thus a person acquires peace in his heart, and there God Himself IS REVEALED.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Plagal of Fourth Tone

LIGHT of Orthodoxy, pillar and teacher of the Church, adornment of
monastics, invincible champion of theologians. O Gregory thou
wonderworker, boast of Thessaloniki, herald of grace: ever pray that
our souls be saved.

Kontakion Hymn. Plagal of Fourth Tone

With one accord, we praise thee as the sacred and divine vessel of
wisdom and clear trumpet of theology, O our righteous Father
Gregory of divine speech. As a mind that standeth now before the
Primal Mind, do thou ever guide aright and lead our mind to Him,
that we all may cry: Rejoice, O herald of grace Divine.

[Sources: The Great Horologion and Saint Gregory Palamas as a Hagiorite]

___________

“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”

– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +



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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

The question posed to the holy Apostle Peter by our Lord also applies to every one of us two thousand years later. His question was, "Do you love Me?" This is asked of every Christian today and for always. The Greek word for LOVE that He used was "αγάπη." Αgape is not your typical imperfect human love, but rather Divine Love, Love which is UNCONDITIONAL. God’s love for the human race is unconditional. GOD IS AGAPE! All His actions reveal God’s, unconditional love, beginning with the creation, the fashioning of man with His own hands, sending us His Only-Begotten Son to save us, and the Son’s unconditional love for mankind. "He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death on the Cross" (Philippians 2:8). He emptied Himself by voluntarily taking on our human nature. By His obedience to the death which has enslaved humanity, He showed His absolute agape for all of mankind. His death and His Sacrifice on the Cross bring life to all who are joined to Him.

Are we able to answer Him as Saint Peter did? "Lord You know all things, You know that I love You" (John 21:17). Is our agape for Him unconditional? Or, do we offer Him empty and meaningless words? Are we willing to lay our lives down on account of it? According to Saint Theophylact, "When questioned the third time, Peter began to fear that perhaps he did not really love Christ, although he thought he did." Having, however, assured Peter that He also loved him, the Lord then foretells the Apostle’s martyrdom. By doing so, He shows that He had not asked Peter if he loved Him, because He doubted Peter’s love. On the contrary, He knew well that Peter loved Him, for his willingness to undergo martyrdom was the proof of the Apotle’s love for Him. In fact, the Lord questioned Peter in this manner to point out Peter’s love for Him, and to teach us all that if we say we love the Lord, we should prove this love by being the first in taking care of our brothers and sisters. Saint John the Evangelist says that Peter’s death is unto "the glory of God." In truth, steadfast endurance unto death for Christ’s sake does glorify God. Unless a man is certain that Christ is the True God, he will never embrace death for His sake. Therefore, the death of the saints IS A CONFIRMATION OF THE GLORY OF GOD." (St. Theophylact)

It is the most appropriate message of this Holy Lenten season for everyone to adhere to. Agape should be the basis of all of our words and actions, not only during Lent but also throughout our life. Christianity is an APOCALYPSE (REVELATION) OF GOD’S AGAPE FOR ALL OF HUMANITY and is not one of the thousands of man-made religions in the world. Christ’s earthly Ministry was, is, and ever shall be A MINISTRY OF AGAPE. His whole Life-Giving Diakonia on earth has revealed His Divine Mission: "The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them" (Matthew 11:5) all are acts of agape, mercy, and compassion.

In our Lenten divine services we hear "O Lord and Master of my life! The spirit of love give to me, Thy servant! We petition for agape, which is the fulfilment of the law; "for if we do not have agape," then, as the holy Apostle Paul states, "we are as sounding brass, or tinkling cymbol" (1 Corinthians 13:1). We were created by our Creator God to be creatures of agape and not hate. The goal of all Christian believers is the aquisition of AGAPE, for only then are we able to be united with the God and Founder of agape. The only means of attaining "theosis," the perfection and the grace of God. Our example par excellence are: the Theotokos, Apostles, Fathers, Martyrs, Confessors, Physicians, and Prophets.

Mankind is seeking the Truth in the wrong places. Saint Ephraim the Syrian, whose prayer is recited at the divine services during Holy Lent, petitiones the Savior, "O Lord and Master of my life! Grant me to see my own faults and not condemn my borther, for blessed are You unto the ages of ages!" The holy Apostle Paul exhorts the Christians: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (Romans 12:9-10). Also, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8). Our Savior God exhorts His disciples and followers, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another, BY THIS (LOVE) ALL WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER" (John 13:34-35). In the Law of Moses, the command was to love your neighbor "as yourself." In Christ’s command, we LOVE ONE ANOTHER "AS I HAVE LOVED YOU." This means Christ’s love for us is the True Measure, for we are to love one another. Christ’s agape is ABSOLUTE and UNCONDITIONAL and transforms us ABSOLUTELY!

Salvation is NOT meritted by anyone. It cannot be earned or deserved, not even if one is a Saint. SALVATION IS A GIFT OF GOD, A GIFT OF AGAPE. Avoid judging anyone, condeming others, envying your neighbor, or even harboring hatred for your enemies. Why? Because our Lord commands: "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 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 SPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU…FOR IF YOU LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE YOU, WHAT REWARD HAVE YOU? DO NOT EVEN TAX COLLECTORS DO THE SAME?" (Matthew 5:43-46). Having freed us from hate, sadness and anger, our Lord Christ offers us the greatest gift of all–PERFECT AGAPE (LOVE).

____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

“Then the Kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins
who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.
Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those
who were foolish took THEIR LAMPS AND TOOK NO OIL
WITH THEM, but the WISE TOOK OIL IN THEIR VESSELS
WITH THEIR LAMPS. But while they all slumbered and slept.
And at midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, THE BRIDEGROOM
IS COMING GOOUT TO MEET HIM!’ Then all those virgins
arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the
wise, ‘GIVE US SOME OF YOUR OIL, FOR OUR LAMPS ARE
GOING OUT.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘NO LEST THERE
SHOULD NOT BE ENOUGH FOR US AND YOU BUT GO RATHER
TO THOSE WHO SELL, AND BUY FOR YOURSELVES.’ And while
they went to buy, THE GROOM CAME, AND THOSE WHO WERE
READY WENT IN WITH HIM TO THE WEDDING AND THE DOOR
WAS SHUT. Afterward, the other virgins came also, saying,
‘LORD, LORD, OPEN TO US! But he answered and said,
‘Assuredly, I say to you, I DO NOT KNOW YOU.’
WATCH THEREFORE, FOR YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR
THE HOUR IN WHICH THE Son of Man is coming.” (Matthew 25:1-13)

Holy and Great Lent is all about spiritual preparedness. It is not about following blindly certain fasting rules and offering a sporadic prayer and believing that one has met certain ritualistic requirements to ease or satisfy one’s conscience. Genuine spiritual preparedness is a life-long commitment. This is truly indicated in the lives of the ascetics who abandoned society and the secular world to concentrate and devote their whole life to a life of asceticism, a life of sacrifice, a life of struggle, a life free of comfort, a life combating passions of the flesh, a life of hardship and free of all material concerns. All their strength and attention are dedicated to communing with God through unceasing prayer and fasting. Needless to say, however, although the average Christian is very inspired by the life of the ascetic, it is a life beyond the strength of the common man or woman. For one, however, who is interested in improving his/her spiritual life while living in the world, there are guidelines that our Holy Church provides.

In addition to prayer and fasting, there are other good deeds to aspire to. This Parable is about mercy and almsgiving (philanthropy), two very important spiritual practices. According to Saint Theophylaktos “In understanding the Parable the Lord uses the person of virgins to teach those who understand the greatness of the virtue of virginity NOT to strive to accomplish this one virtue alone and NEGLECT THE OTHERS. But learn that if you do NOT give alms (charity), though you may be a virgin, YOU WILL BE CAST OUT WITH THE FORNICATORS. It is only right that he who lacks COMPASSION and MERCY is CAST OUT, EVEN IF HE IS A VIRGIN. For a fornicator is overcome by a tyrannical and physical passion, but HE WHO LACKS MERCY IS OVERCOME ONLY BY MONEY. Of the two, the foe of the greedy one is the weaker, and therefore, he who remains vanquished by the passion of greed DOES NOT FIND FORGIVENESS. Such a person is foolish for the very reason that he/she prevailed against a physical firestorm, but has been overcome by the trivial passion for money. “Slumber” here means death, and the tarrying of the bridegroom means that the Second Coming does not occur immediately.

Jesus says that a cry was made in the middle of the night to show THAT THE LORD COMES WHEN LEAST EXPECTED, AS AT MIDNIGHT WHEN WE ALL HAVE FALLEN INTO A DEEP SLEEP. He also comes with a cry, for a trumpet will sound at the Second Coming. The lamps are OUR SOULS, and each one’s mind IS ALSO A LAMP; the LAMP IS LIT WHEN ONE HAS THE OIL OF THE VIRTUES AND OF ALMSGIVING. The virgins, according to Saint Theophylact, “were truly foolish in this regard also, that they went to look for oil when it was NOT THE TIME FOR WORK AND BUSINESS. The wise virgins say, ‘lest there be not enough for us and you.’ My neighbor’s virtue scarcely suffices for his own defense, and certainly not for me as well, FOR EACH ONE WILL BE DEEMED RIGHTEOUS BY HIS OWN DEEDS AND NOT BY THOSE OF HIS NEIGHBOR. But the foolish virgins went to “them that sell”, that is, TO THE POOR. What He is saying is this: THE FOOLISH VIRGINS REPENT OF NOT HAVING GIVEN ALMS AN DNOW FOR THE FIRST TIME THEY UNDERSTAND THAT IT WAS FROM THE POOR THAT WE SHOULD HAVE OBTAINED THE OIL. This is what He means when He says that they went to buy oil from those that sell, that is, their thoughts went to the poor and they pondered how good a thing IS ALMSGIVING (CHARITY), but now THE DOOR WAS SHUT FOR THEM. For there is NOT TIME FOR REPENTANCE AND DEDS AFTER OUR DEPARTURE FROM THIS LIFE. The Lord, therefore, says to them, “I KNOW YOU NOT.” For the Merciful God Who loves mankind does not know those WHO LACK MERCY, for how could He know those who are alien and DISSIMILAR TO HIM? Understand this, that EVERY SOUL POSSESSES A LAMP AND A LIGHT FROM GOD, AND THAT ALL ARISE TO MEET THE LORD, FOR ALL DESIRE TO MEE AND HAE COMMUNION WITH GOD. But after God HAS GIVEN THE LIGHT AND A LAMP, THE WISE, WITH THEIR GOOD DEEDS, ADD THE OIL. But the foolish, HAVING IN THEIR LAMPS RUN OUT OF OIL, ARE SHUT OUT, HAVING NO GOOD DEEDS WITH WHICH TO FUEL THE LIGHT IN THEIR LAMPS. FOR IF WE DO NOT LABOR AND TRADE WITH GOOD DEEDS, WE EXTINGUISH THE LIGHT OF GOD THAT IS IN US.”

That this Parable CONCERNS MERCY and ALMGSGIVING is more immediately apparent in Greek because of the word for “MERCY,” ELEOS, and the word ‘OF OLIVE OIL’. ELAION, though different words, sound nearly the same. Also, in the time of Noah, a dove announced the deliverance from the flood by bearing AN OLIVE TWIG, SO TOO, HERE, THE Holy Spirit reveals the deliverance from sins. There, THE TWIG OF OLIVE; HERE THE MERCY OF GOD. In Matthew 6:17-18 we read: “But you , when you fast anoint your head and wash your face, that you appear NOT unto men to fast, but unto your Father Who is in secret; and your Father Who sees in secret shall reward you openly.” Saint Theophylact writes, “Men of old would anoint themselves with OIL after bathing as a mark of their joy and well-being. The OIL USED TO ANOINT WE ALSO UNDERSTAND TO MEAN ALMSGIVING. Our Head IS CHRIST, Which we SHOULD ANOINT WITH DEEDS OF MERCY; AND OUR FACE, THAT IS OUR SENSES, WE SHOULD WASH WITH TEARS OF REPENTANCE.”

_______________

“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +

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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

THE DISTORTED IMAGE OF CHRIST

Church history reveals that from the earliest times of her existence, the Church dealt with various deviations from the truth and evoked a bitter battle within the Church. Just in the first three centuries, the heresies spread their influence among the people. By the 4th century, certain heresies had seized about half the Roman Empire and caused an immense effort of the Church’s strength to do battle with them. If the Church had remained indifferent to these heresies from the truth, the damage would be incalculable. However, the Church with the help of the epistles of bishops, the exhortations, and ex-communications of local and regional synods (and, beginning with the 4th century of Ecumenical Synods), brought "RULE OF FAITH" unshaken out of the battle and PRESERVED ORTHODOXY UNHARMED. Thus it was in the first thousand years of Christianity.

The Second Millennium has not changed this threat. Tragically during this second millennium, the deviations from the Orthodox truth increased greatly, and so have the divisions and introduction of numerous sects. The hostility against the Orthodox Church is immense and these sinister forces and formidable enemies seek its destruction. This means that it is imperative to be on the alert in preserving the truth and defending its integrity and unity. A special vigilance in defending dogmas is required now because of A FALSE PATH WHICH HAS COME FROM CHRISTIAN CIRCLES OUTSIDE THE CHURCH, this false path, while it seeks to attain a seemingly good aim, IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR THE ORTHODOX CHURCH. Its aim is to undermine, compromise, and render the dogmas of the Church useless so that it will realize a false union with the heterodox and globalists.

What the Orthodox Church needs today are passionate and zealous Apologists who are willing to fight and defend the truth. The term "Apologgetic" is derived from the Greek word (Απολογία) which means in defense of (also means "reply" or "answer." The Orthodox theology term Apologetics is used in regard TO DEFENDING THE TRUE FAITH AGAINST HERESIES, ATHEISTS, pagans, cults, and other enemies of Christianity. The earliest Apologists were the Holy Fathers of the Church. Their apologies covered a wide range of issues, including the Divine origin of the Church Christ’s Nature, Holy Scripture, the Theotokos, miracles, Christian social interaction, and the implementation of the divine doctrines. The method adopted by the Orthodox Church to deal with heresies was to convene Ecumenical Synods that were representative of the WHOLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH and FORM THE KEY "APOLOGETICS" FOR THE ORTHODOX FAITH.

The Holy Orthodox Church currently is confronted with many challenges and threats. As the Authentic Chuch of Christ and the ONLY one still remaining steadfast in her beliefs is under fierce attack from within and without. Orthodox Christians must answer the call to arms and sound the alarm. It is very possible that it has already been infiltrated by sinister forces that seek to divide it from within and bring about her demise. One of the means is to supposedly modernize the Church by making her "all-inclusive" as other heterodox ‘Christian" denominations are, by refusing to implement or enforce the dogmas, holy canons, and ‘rule of faith.’ Also, by simply refusing to defend the faith, its precepts, the Holy Scripture, Holy Tradition, spiritual discipline, ethics, and writings of the Holy Fathers of the Church. All under the guise of ‘tolerance’ or ‘good relations’. The current attitude is to sacrifice the Faith so as not to "offend" the opposition or create enmity. A much different position than the Holy Fathers of the Seven Ecumenical Synods.

Sacred blood has been shed over two thousand years of Orthodox Christianity in defense of the truth. Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ have already spoken when He said, "I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE" (John 14:6). He is the "TRUTH" because He is the unique revelation of the Father, Who is the goal of our journey through life. "Christ IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH" (Ephesians 5:23), a reminder just in case there is someone confused about who is in charge of the Church. "Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for her that He might sanctify and cleanse he 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 such thing, but THAT SHE BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH" (Ephesians 5:25-27). Therefore, Christ’s legacy is for us to keep the Church "HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH" as He did. However, the question for us today is are the bishops, priests, deacons, and laity fulfilling this admonition? The holy Apostle Paul exhorts the Christians: "Therefore take heed to ourselves and toa ll the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you OVERSEERS, TO SHEPHERD THE CHURCH OF GOD WHICH HE PURCHASED WITH HIS OWN BLOOD. FOR I KNOW THIS, THAT AFTER MY DEPARTURE SAVAGE WOLVES WILL COME IN AMONG YOU, NOT SPARING THE FLOCK. AND FROM AMONG YOURSELVES, MEN WILL RISE UP SPEAKING PERVERSE THINGS, TO DRAW AWAY THE DISCIPLES AFTER THEMSELVES. THEREFORE WATCH AND REMEMBER…" (Acts 20:28-31). These are references to external and internal trials and persecutions in the future. Ephesus would be the scene of the Third Ecumenical Synod in A.D. 431, which PRESERVED THE DOCTRINE OF THE TWO NATURES OF CHRIST IN ONE DIVIINE PERSON AGAINST THE HERESY OF NESTORIUS, A HERESY THAT IS EMBRACED BY PROTESTANTS AND OTHERS TODAY.

What we witness and what is taught n the 21st century among Christians of other Christian traditions is THE DISTORTED IMAGE OF CHRIST. Heresy is the enemy of Truth. Foolishly, those outside the Orthodox Church, are attempting to change the Person of Christ and His Divine Gospel through the misinterpretation of the Holy Scripture so as to condone and approve every depravity in the contemporary world. Not only have they fallen into grave heresy but they have become the enemy of Christ and His Sacred Church and Holy Commandments. They can no longer be called Christian for they are not.

_________

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

+ + +



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

+ Father George

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

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

“Your Adversary the Devil…” (1 Peter 5:8)

The holy Apostle Peter exhorts us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because YOUR ADVERSARY (ENEMY)
the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR. RESIST HIM, steadfast
in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world”
(1 Peter 5:8-9).

Saint Paul in his letter to the Ephesians writes: “And you He made alive, who were dead in
trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world,
ACCORDING TO THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR, THE SPIRIT WHO NOW WORKS
in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the
lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children
of wrath, just as the others” (Ephesians 2:1-3).

What this reveals is the two unequal kingdoms ARE AT WAR. Each is spiritual in nature; each stamps its image on its subjects and requires strict obedience. Yet they are OPPOSITES. The king of the Lesser Realm IS A CREATED BEING, Satan. His domain is “OF THE AIR” (v. 2), NEITHER FULLY OF EARTH NOR OF HEAVEN. He is the author OF DISOBEDIENCE (v.2), REBELLION. The beginning OF HIS RULE IS SPIRITUAL DEATH (V.1). The “DESIRES” of his subjects are lustful of “THE FLESH AND OF THE MIND” (v.3). Their deeds are “TRESPASSES AND SIN” (v.1). The result of his rule is WRATH (ANGER) (v.3) and hence ETERNAL DEATH.

The King of the other Kingdom is UNCREATED GOD the Father (v.4) His realm is THE HEAVENLY PLACES (v. 6). He rules BY “MERCY and LOVE (AGAPE) (v. 4). The beginning of His Rule IS REDEMPTION TO ETERNAL LIFE. The desires of His subjects are THANKFULNESS AND GLORIFYING GOD. Their deeds ARE RIGHTEOUS, AS IS PROPER TO THOSE WHO REIGN WITH CHRIST. The result of His Rule is EXCEEDING RICHES AND KINDNESS, and hence ETERNAL LIFE.

The holy Apostle John writes: “Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is Righteous. He WHO SINS IS OF THE DEVIL, FOR THE DEVIL HAS SINNED FROM THE BEGINNING. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that He MIGHT DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL. Whoever has been BORN OF GOD DOES NOT SIN, FOR His SEED REMAINS IN HIM; AND HE CANNOT SIN, BECAUSE HE HAS BEEN BORN OF GOD.

In this THE CHILDREN OF GOD and the children of the devil are manifested: Whoever does NOT PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS is NOT of God, nor is he who DOES NOT love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning that WE SHOULD LOVE ONE ANOTHER, not as Cain who eas OF THE WICKED ONE and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works WERE EVIL and his brother’s RIGHTEOUS” (1 John 3: 7-12).

The Christian, though SINFUL, “does not sin” (v. 9; literally, “DOES NOT KEEP ON SINNING.”) as the world does. Our Holy Church lives under God’s influence; THE WORLD UNDER SATAN’S “LAWLESSNESS, is living without law IN A HARDENED ENMITY TO GOD. The devil (literally, “SLANDERER” or “OPPOSER”} IS A CREATURE, A FALLEN ARCHANGEL. “From the beginning” refers to Satan’s CEASELESS SINNING SINCE HSI FALL.

“If then we wish to receive the Lord’s blessings we should restrain not only THE OUTWARD expression of anger but also angry thoughts. More beneficial than controlling our tongues in a moment of anger and refraining from angry words is PURIFYING OUR FROM HOSTILITY AND HARBORING MALICIOUS AGAINST OUR BROTHER OR SISTER. The Holy Gospel teaches us to cut off the roots of our sins and merely their fruits. When we have dug out the root of anger and of our heart we will no longer act with hatred or envy. “WHOEVER HATES HIS BROTHER IS A MURDER” (1 John 3:15), for he kills him with hatred in his mind. The blood of a man who has been killed by the sword is seen by men, but the blood shed by hatred in the mind CAN BE SEEN BY GOD, Who rewards with PUNISHMENT or A CROWN not only for his acts but for his thoughts and intentions as well.

Knowing all the above, a good Christian, a true follower of Christ, is constantly vigilant and alert. The Christian is always obedient to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Who has given us all the spiritual weapons needed to fight the battle against evil and triumph. We are all combatants and warriors and we must be ready to confront our Adversary, the devil who wars against and seeks our eternal death. The devil and his demons watch us individually, looking to find our weaknesses. He uses our own bodily members against us, i.e., eyes, ears, senses, r tongues, hands, and minds. For example, the devil will use our eyes to lust for some appealing vision, our ears to hear obscene words or slander, our tongues to speak evil, our hands to injure others or steal from others, to fill our minds with indecent fantasies and thoughts. The devil’s attacks are multi-faceted and, therefore, we must be careful and ready to resist him and his temptations at every turn.

It is a grave mistake for a Christian to deny his existence and the threat to our souls. I have read and also heard of leaders of heterodox Christian communities openly rejecting and even denying that there is a Satan, that there is hell, that there is sin, that there is a day of Judgment, that it is right or wrong, that the Christians will be accountable to God for acts of disobedience, and immoral behavior. Their stand is that everything is acceptable and, therefore, they condone all evil and unnatural acts and behavior. This of course is wrong and heresy and an abomination for those who possess this mindset and philosophy. It is nothing else than a perversion and distortion of what Christ teaches and His Holy Church. We need only to turn to the Christian Holy Scripture, the Holy Canons, Holy Dogmas, and decisions of the Ecumenical Synods to see the authentic truth taught by our Savior. What is professed by these heretics is demonic and creates confusion among the faithful and also division. It also hinders and interferes with the spreading of the Gospel of Christ to the world. It is an outright attack on the Founder of Christianity, Christ God. Among all the numerous heresies which they teach is the outright denial of the DIVINITY OF JESUS CHRIST, THAT HE IS GOD. This is an old heresy repeated.

Discern between what is the Truth and what is heresy! Do not be blind and gullible. Scrutinize everything you hear and see and do not become a victim of the evil one. Be a good and faithful servant and soldier of Christ and appreciate our Holy Orthodox Christian Church which remains steadfast to the Truth and to the Head of the Church, Christ. The Truth always remains the Truth, no matter what the world does. Our obedience and loyalty are only to Him and Him alone. Those who rebel and deviate from the Truth are expelled from the Church and the Kingdom of God. THE TRUTH ALWAYS PREVAILS as shown over the many centuries. “To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen” (1 Peter 5:11).

_______________

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

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

+ Father George