Faith and Choice
“As we tend to center our world (and ourselves) in the question of our choices, we are constantly tempted to justify those we feel were wrong. By the same token, we bring an anxiety about the choices that are yet to come. The power of goodness is not within our choice. We do not create the good – it is given to us. The impossible reality that surrounds our choices is seen when we examine the limits of our existence. We cannot see the consequences of our actions (beyond the mo
Teaching
“The idea that one might teach anyone about the Lord seems absurd if we look at the task soberly. However, the teaching of the faith remains an essential ministry within the Church (Eph 4:11), even if the endeavor borders on the preposterous. We must keep in mind that the Christian teacher is not asked to conduct an academic course about Christ in the abstract. Understanding the limitations of the human mind – his own as well as that of others – the true teacher of the faith
Conduct
“People are called by God not according to former conduct —good or bad—but by God's grace…everybody is equally a priest before God, everybody is equally called…‘And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear…, (1 Peter 1:17). Why should we pray in fear? Because the Father we serve will judge us according to each one's work. While being certain of God's mercy, we conduc
Preach
“…but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent”…Christ’s primary mission was to preach the kingdom…It is the mission He gave the Church and therefore to all of us.” (Orthodox Study Bible, Luke 4:43, Sacramental Living Blog) “…we must do continual inner work on ourselves first before we are ready to preach and teach the truth of God…we should always be continually working on ourselves spiritually to