We Must Embrace Our Material Self, Together With Our Soul Unlike angels, who are entirely spiritual beings, God has made each of us as creatures dwelling in a material world. To be whole, we must worship God both in body and soul. This teaching is central to our Christian faith
Prayer should be the vehicle that takes us into the Heart of God Over the years, as strange as it may seem, we’ve had a number of people ask us if we’d pray they win the lottery, promising that if they did they’d donate a large portion to the brotherhood.
Living Our Lives in Total Commitment Christianity is a religion of asceticism, instructing us to store up our treasures in heaven, where the benefits have eternal value. Throughout the New Testament we read of the importance of struggle, where focus on the acquisition of a humble and contrite heart is
Sanctification Refers to Becoming Christ-like Through Theosis The Orthodox understanding of salvation, with its emphasis on the process of becoming united to God through deification, clearly departs from the view held by evangelicals, with their emphasis on change that begins with the moment they begin to believe. Whereas the evangelical
Without Suffering the Cross Cannot be Embraced In comparison to eternity, the trials we suffer in this life are but a blip on the meter. Many are suffering job loss, illnesses, mortgage foreclosures, and all kinds of strife and hardships. Yet if we look at all these difficulties in light
Do unto others as you would have done unto you (Luke 6:31) It is a terrible temptation to wish our enemies destruction. Our Lord instructs us to love our enemies and to do good to those who hate us or persecute us. To wish for their destruction is to ignore
In Orthodoxy Heaven Is Experienced In The Here And Now A recent visitor observed that the monastery was “overwhelmingly beautiful, and emanating a peace,” he’d not felt before. Upon entering the temple, he said he felt as though he’d just taken in a glimpse of heaven, and sensed the presence,
Seeking Healing In The Life Of The Church Orthodoxy offers a very precise way in which to enter into communion with God. It is a way that must be learned, for simply “becoming Orthodox” will not lead the seeker into an inner life that will transform, and enlighten. Membership in
The Ruling Power Inherent In Our Nature According to Saint Gregory Palamas, God has given us lordship over all the earth because of our capacity for sovereignty. With this sovereignty comes the responsibility to be good stewards of that which God has given us. “There is within our soul’s nature