Let us now strive more, my children, and the benefits will be great. No one finds grace without toil. If the farmer does not farm his field, he will not see the results. When our fasting coexists, is strengthened, and is encompassed with prayer, with contemplation, with watchfulness, with church attendance, with Confession, with Holy Communion, with good works and almsgiving, then is fulfilled the beauty of the soul’s preparation for the reception of Holy Week. Then we feel the holy and ... [Read more]
Father's Corner
The Joy of Great and Holy Lent
My Dear Beloved in Christ, The blessed and arduous season of Great Lent is upon us. It is indeed a difficult time, one which we look to with trepidation (and maybe even dread). Our daily lives feel like swimming in a storm-tossed ocean of burdens and stresses, worries and anxieties, and at times we are drowning amidst the swirling waves. A brief moment on the top of a wave—where a broader view comes in sight—is followed by a return to the depths where we remain, struggling to keep our head ... [Read more]
The Beauty of God’s House
“Lord, sanctify those who love the beauty of Your house.” (Prayer of the Second Antiphon from the Divine Liturgy) A MOMENTOUS YEAR—BEHIND AND AHEAD This has been a remarkably challenging year. Never could we have imagined the events that took place these past twelve months—so much turmoil and uncertainty and change. Yet we must continue to hold firm to our trust in God’s providence. Just as He has carried us through these dark days, He will also guide us forward as we enter 2021. This ... [Read more]
The Fullness of Joy–The Transfiguration
Dear Beloved in Christ, Yesterday we celebrated the great feast of Transfiguration. What a joy to see so many of you there for the feast! We blessed the grapes, as is traditional on this feast, signifying our thankfulness to God for His providence in the bounty within our lives—especially the foods we eat. Transfiguration is a feast of light. The Son of God reveals Himself to His disciples (“as much as they could bear,” according to the Apolytikion hymn), and they are so swept away that ... [Read more]
Knowledge and Wisdom
Dear Beloved in Christ, Today is the feast of Mid-Pentecost, on which we commemorate two events in Christ’s life, both of which take place in the temple in Jerusalem. The first, when He was twelve years old, was when He went to Jerusalem with His parents for the Feast of Passover and He remained in the temple, speaking with teachers, after Joseph and Mary had left Jerusalem. (Luke 41-52) The second, during the time of His ministry, was when he taught in the temple, and the people were amazed ... [Read more]
Darkness and the Light of Christ
Christ is Risen! Truly He is risen! Хрїстóсъ воскрéсе! Воистинꙋ воскрéсе! (Slavonic) Kristós Voskrése! Vo-ístinou Voskrése! Христос васкрсе! Ваистину васкрсе! (Serbian) Kristós vaskŕse! Va-ístinu vaskŕse! Христос възкресе! Воистина възкресе! (Bulgarian) Krstós vozkrése! Vo-ístina vozkrése! Dear Beloved in Christ, Light and darkness. This is a prevalent theme within the Bible. From the beginning, Jesus Christ brought light to a darkened world... In the beginning was the Word, ... [Read more]
Pascha Traditions
Christ is Risen! Truly the Lord is risen! Χριστὸς ἀνέστη! Ἀληθῶς (ἀνέστη) ο Κύριος! (Greek) Christós anésti! Alithos (anésti) o Kyrios! Dear Beloved in Christ, If you look closely above, you'll notice that the Paschal greeting is a little longer. Often in Greece a person will respond to "Christos Anesti!" with "Alithos o Kyrios!" which means literally, "Truly the Lord!" This greeting is a shortening of "Alithos anesti o Kyrios!" ("Truly the Lord is risen!") and it comes from the end of ... [Read more]
Chrysostom and God’s Providence
Christ is Risen! Truly He is risen! ¡Cristo ha resucitado! ¡En verdad ha resucitado! (Spanish) Christó A Resusitádo! En Verdád A Resusitádo! Dear Beloved in Christ, In the homily yesterday, I quoted from On the Providence of God by St. John Chrysostom. He wrote this book while in exile from Constantinople, for having offended the empress by his God-inspired words. The faithful were in despair, wondering why God had allowed that St. John should be exiled. Thus he wrote his consoling--and ... [Read more]
The Plea of Joseph of Arimathea
Dear Beloved in Christ, Tomorrow we commemorate—along with the Holy Myrrh-Bearers—Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. These two faithful disciples of Christ took upon themselves the astounding task of burying God. Joseph boldly stood before Pontius Pilate, requesting the Body of Jesus. He and Nicodemus carried our Lord’s Body from Golgotha to the tomb and anointed it for burial. They were courageous, because their actions were a death sentence: They became the target of the Jewish ... [Read more]
Intentions Versus Outcomes
God shows mercy upon the last, and cares for the first; and to the one He gives, and upon the other He bestows gifts. And He both accepts the deeds, and welcomes the intention, and honors the acts and praises the offering. Wherefore, enter you all into the joy of your Lord. ~ Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom Dear Beloved in Christ, Christ is Risen! Truly He is risen! ክርስቶስ ተነስቷል! በእውነት ተነስቷል! (Amharic, from Ethiopia) Kristós Tanéstwal! Bergít Tanéstwal! In the Bible study this ... [Read more]
