SACRAMENTAL LIVING

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again” (John 12:27-28). The Father's name is an extension of His Person. The Son's death completes the purpose of the Father and shows His love for all, thus glorifying Him. Christ is in effect saying, “Father, lead Me to the Cross.” This is t

“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment (James 3:1)”. Teachers are often leaders and leaders are often teachers. Leaders should live what they teach. God will hold both leaders and teachers to a higher standard and in stricter judgement when they are hypocritical. Christ demonstrates this in His castigation and evisceration of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:1-39 when He points out how they repeatedly teach one thing an

“The vast majority of Christians through the ages probably knew less “theology” than today’s catechumenal converts. The Church has not thrived or survived through its mastery of such things. It is, instead, the character of Christ, acquired through the sacraments and the patient keeping of the Commandments that has preserved the faith. Such a foundation can fathom mysteries. Only the character of Christ can understand the mysteries of the faith. The words of books, often the

“We often lose hope in the face of worldly troubles. However, it is precisely while on such tough journeys that God calls us to move forward confidently…Faith is a principle of questioning and struggle before it becomes a principle of certitude and peace…our faith journey is a movement from seeing our faith as an “interesting uncertainty” to an “incomprehensible certainty.” (Dynamis 9/7/13, Thomas Merton, Gerald Manly Hopkins) “To step out brings us nearer God and to true joy

“God often permits the wicked to carry out their evil plans in order to fulfill some larger purpose He has for the objects of their violence and cruelty. Since it is not possible for us to see the whole picture from God’s perspective, we must exercise faith and believe that the God of all the earth will do right and that all things do work together for good to those who love God, who are called according to His purpose.” (Foundation Study Bible, Genesis 45:5) “Joseph's brothe

“Whereas the Old Covenant was carved on tablets of stone, the New Covenant is personal – the Son comes as a man to other men, to enlighten all nations and peoples… In becoming man, the Lord fully involved Himself in our human condition…He has destroyed the geographic barriers that used to separate us from God, and now leads our blind human race by “a way they did not know” (vs. 16). That way is Christ, the true and living Way (Jn 14:6)…The generosity of God exceeds every huma

“Events may throw us into a frenzy and threaten to overwhelm us, but God is with us. We have a God who can carry us through anything in this life, even death. Our worst enemies are our own fears and the whisperings of the evil one who coaxes us to tremble, to give up faith, and to trust every appealing solution – except God.” (Dynamis 4/9/2019) “Problems and heartaches can overwhelm us and cause us to feel that God has rejected us. But God our Creator is eternally with us...e

“The eyes of the LORD. That they are in every place watching everything chills those who do evil and comforts those who submit to Him…The eyes of the Lord are in every place, because He fills all things. He observes both the evil and the good. The evil are good by nature but evil by choice, and He sees these choices. The good are good by nature and by choice, and He also sees this.” (Foundation Study Bible, Proverbs 15:3, Orthodox Study Bible, Proverbs 15:3) "Our perception i

Summary: Article exploring how Frodo, Gollum, Harry, and Voldemort are all orphans and how the love they receive or did not receive plays a decisive role or non-role in their character and development. It also juxtaposes the very different fates of Frodo and Harry and people around them. Originally published in Fellowship and Fairydust's Tolkien Theme-based Issue Tolkien, Man of Masterpieces. Article begins on page 89. It is also reproduced below. I first read and finished T

Woundedness and Transformation: Encountering Christ as the Wounded Healer Join the conversation LIVE or in person at 7:45pm EST on Orthodox Christian Network Wednesday, April 3, 2019 ~7:45 pm EST, after Pre-sanctified Liturgy service. You can view and download slides. Sponsored by The Greek Orthodox Church of Saint George, Bethesda, Maryland & Sacramental Living Ministries with Michael Haldas. • Spiritual reality of woundedness • Embracing or avoiding – how we face and deal w