Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit The Divine Liturgy begins with the words, “Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages”. This kingdom
Our thoughts determine our lives “Our life depends on the kind of thoughts we nurture. If our thoughts are peaceful, calm, meek, and kind, then that is what our life is like. If our attention is turned to the circumstances in which we live, we are drawn into a whirlpool
Encountering the holiness and peace of the Ancient Faith The very first time I entered an Orthodox church I felt drawn to Her. There was a tangible, inner tug, and an overwhelming sense of peace, holiness, and awe, emanating from the very walls of the temple. The serving clergy were
Know who you really are We are all surrounded by fictional characters, persons who are the invention of filmmakers, promoters, and even self-inventors. The original meaning of the word “hypocrite” was “actor”, and it is ignorance of our true nature as children of God that keeps us living as fictional
Being receptive to the differences within the human family We humans are an odd species. We are capable of great sensitivity and compassion, yet can also be capable of much cruelty. The outpouring of aid and support directed to Japanese citizens a number of years ago, following the terrible earthquake
Changing the world one person at a time The Elder Sophroni of Essex said he believed in changing the world, one person at a time. These words are in agreement with those of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, who said acquiring inner peace causes a thousand around us to be saved.
Keeping guard over our behavior There are certain sins that have become habitual, and behavior that we would like to change, but seem to repeat, even against our will. Saint Isaac the Syrian suggested that we confront these struggles head on. “If you bear your weakness constantly in mind, you
When we come face to face with the Uncreated One During the services, it is good to stand before God with an awareness that we are a sinner, but, at the same time, how can we not feel joy and happiness, knowing that our God loves us, and is quick
The battleship that is the Church We must not see the Church as a kind of cruise ship, where friendly exchanges take place, social gatherings are all important, and a place that is comfortable. When the Church preaches repentance, do we become angry, not wanting to be corrected? Do we
World peace begins when Christ reigns in my heart The Islamic fundamentalists now showcasing their demonic intentions, all the while claiming to have established an Islamic caliphate, has struck fear in the hearts of good people everywhere. These terrorists have demonstrated they are incapable of mercy, killing innocent people, be