SACRAMENTAL LIVING

“ASCETICISM (from Gr. askesis, “athlete”) A spiritual struggle—the crucifixion of the desires of the flesh––through a life of prayer, fasting, and self-denial. Through asceticism the Christian fights temptation to sin and thereby grows in spiritual strength…asceticism is not only for monasteries, but also for the world…Regular reading, study, and reflection on God’s Word in the Bible is an essential part of Christian ascetic life.” (Orthodox Study Bible, St. Porphyrios the K

“Yet Michael the archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him a reviling accusation, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 1:9). The archangel Michael showed this restraint (Zec 3:2) even though he was dealing with the devil himself…St. Michael the Archangel would not dispute with the devil over the body of Moses, but said, “The Lord rebuke you” (Jude 9). Even more astoundingly, Jesus Christ (the Lord) says, “

“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… He comes even when His beloved are dislocated and in search of life’s truth…Troubles are usually the brooms and shovels that smooth the road to a good man’s fortune.” Dynamis 9/7/2019, St. Basil the Great) “James doesn’t say if trouble comes your way but when it does. He assumes that we will have troubles and that it is poss

“We can be sure that we also come in contact every day with many people who are carrying heavy burdens, facing trying situations, or worrying about the future. Oftentimes, they can unknowingly be the very people closest to us. They need and long for a kind word, a sympathetic ear, and a warm smile that reflects a caring heart.” (Rev. Andrew Demotses) “Sometimes it is easy to get so overwhelmed with all of the problems we see around us that we can slip into a mindset of what c

“What is prayer? Prayer is doxology, praise, thanksgiving, confession, supplication and intercession to God…Prayer is the way to renewal and spiritual life. Prayer is aliveness to God. Prayer is strength, refreshment, and joy. Through the grace of God and our disciplined efforts prayer lifts us up from our isolation to a conscious, loving communion with God in which everything is experienced in a new light. Prayer becomes a personal dialogue with God, a spiritual breathing of

“We should always be wary of applying linear notions of progress to our prayer life and asking ourselves: “What stage am I in?” “How far have I progressed?” Whatever “progress” in prayer is supposed to mean, it certainly doesn’t work like that.” (Martin Laird) “We think we know a lot, but what we know is very little. Even those who have striven all their lives to bring progress to mankind—learned scientists and highly educated people—all realize in the end that all their know

“Our dominant culture is driven to “fix” things. Everything must improve; all problems must be resolved.” (Father Stephen Freeman) “Active listening is being attentive to the basic meaning and the feelings in a statement made by another…Active listening is not judgmental or critical or patronizing or advice-giving. Active listening does not try to fix problems. It is simply being fully present to the other as the other speaks…Active listening absorbs the meanings and feelings

Michael Haldas's lecture at DoxaMoot 2019 at St. Paul Antiochian Orthodox Church in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, Seen and Unseen: Choice, Free Will, and the Guiding Hand of Providence in Tolkien, was recorded as podcast for Amon Sûl: Exploring the Tolkien Legendarium with the Christian Faith, and released today.

“Because God created all things through Christ, He will transform and reunite all things—material as well as spiritual—to Himself through Christ.” (Orthodox Study Bible, 2 Corinthians 5:16-17) “The reality that we see is “transient,” it “passes away.” There is, however, a Reality (the unseen) that is eternal. It is this that cannot be shaken. There is a relationship between the two. When we think of the Incarnation of Christ, we see not the change of the material world (Chris

“Christ's empathy with sinners rests on His being tempted in every way we are…In the case of men it is impossible that one should know the ill-treatment of the ill-treated who has not had experience, and gone through the actual sensations. Our High Priest endured all things. Therefore He endured first and then ascended, that He might be able to sympathize with us.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Hebrews 4:15, St. John Chrysostom) “Compassion differs from empathy. The critical element