Troubles and Trials
“… when we deal with suffering it can be difficult to understand and convey why things are happening. St. Paul writes of suffering (and remember, he suffered a lot), “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18). This can be difficult to remember or to find consolation from when we are in the midst of trials.” (Melissa Tsongranis) “It is, of course, one thing to say that our
Visible/Invisible
“The world is a production of God's free will, goodness, wisdom, love and omnipotence. God did not create the world in order to satisfy some need of His. Rather He created it without compulsion and without force in order that it might enjoy His blessings and share in His goodness. God then brought all things into being out of nothing, creating both the visible and the invisible.” (Greek Orthodox Archdiocese) “Things hoped for and not seen, a vision of the future, have encoura
Grace
“We may be a grandmother, a doctor, a student, a prisoner, a parish Priest, a childcare worker, an attorney; but we all receive God’s grace in the circumstances in which He calls. How much patience is needed where we serve! Seek energy from God! Since God’s grace comes “by the Holy Spirit,” it is totally open-ended and vast, being ready to increase purity, knowledge, longsuffering, kindness, and sincere love within us (2 Cor 6:6). But we must draw on grace “by the word of tru
Willingness
“If you would enter into the mystery, then, like Christ Himself, you must become small, weak, poor, misunderstood, and willing to be broken. You cannot know Him if you refuse to be like Him. This is the only path that is truly Christian. Outside the mystery, there is nothing to be known, nothing that will save.” (Father Stephen Freeman) "While expressions about God in words and technical phrases may help us to attain a rational assent to faith in God, we must remember that ou