[dropcap]In[/dropcap] the Gospel reading for the Third Sunday of Hatour, our Savior declared, “And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Lk 14:27). From these divine words, we learn that suffering and tribulations in this world are part of the cost of discipleship and requirements for those who […]
[dropcap]Any[/dropcap] period of fasting is a time for reflection and sincere self-examination. What kind of person have I become? What motivates me? Who am I? Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos, who was recently canonized as a saint in the Greek Orthodox Church, offers a thought-provoking meditation on the two categories of people in this world: […]
[dropcap]As[/dropcap] we continue our fast for the Feast of our Lord’s Nativity, we consider the following wisdom from St. John Chrysostomos whose feast we joyfully celebrated today. The Golden-Mouth counsels us to thank God for our enemies who actually help us in our journey to the eternal Kingdom. Enemies, he tells us, provide us with […]
Don’t hold a grievance against anybody, even if they’re wicked, because otherwise your prayer won’t be heard by God. Defeat evil with good! Remain a sheep, and with the power of Christ you’ll overcome the wolves.
Believe that the Son of God, the Word before the ages, begotten from the Father apart from time and without body, has in the last days also become for you Son of a human being, coming forth from the Virgin Mary ineffably and in an undefiled manner… He is a whole human being, and is […]
It befalls to the spiritual leader not to give way to self-pride by the fact of his leadership, or else he would shift himself from the blessing of the saints to the rule of Satan. He has to keep in mind that caring for the group comes up to enslave himself for them in the […]
The Creator of mankind prefers men to count over their sins to Him rather than their good works. For God is a physician, who comes up to the bed on which each one of us is lying, and asks: “Where is the pain?” The man who makes use of the physician’s presence to tell him […]
Live as members of one body, as children of God, in love, harmony, tranquility and above all in peace, esteeming one another, being indulgent to one another, as the Lord is indulgent to us. Do not be proud, do not envy, do not bear ill will, do not be slothful in prayer, begin and end […]
Speak well of those who speak evil of you. Pay good for evil. Pray for those who cause you various offenses, wrongs, temptations, persecutions. Whatever you do, on no account condemn anyone; do not even try to judge whether a person is good or bad, but keep your eyes on that one evil person for […]
For God commands us to be peacemakers, and in agreement, and of one mind in His house; and such as He makes us by a second birth, such He wishes us when newborn to continue, that we who have begun to be sons of God may abide in God’s peace, and that, having one spirit, […]