Mt 10: 7-15 “As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or tunics, or sandals,… Read More To Minister and Heal
“Once upon a time there was a peasant woman and a very wicked woman she was. And she died and did not leave a single good deed behind. The devils caught her and plunged her into the lake of fire. So her guardian angel stood and wondered what good deed of hers he could remember… Read More From the Brothers Karamazov
Fr. Milovan Katanic has an excellent post on understanding the spirit of the fast during Lent: Let there be no mistake, God will be pleased if we fast with humility and sincerity. The Pharisees once asked the Disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus overheard them and replied simply, “Go… Read More Understanding the Spirit of the Fast
From “Orthodox on Purpose”: Today, hear from St. Peter: “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness…” 2 Peter 3:11 What we believe, truly believe, shapes our daily practice and behavior. In fact, regardless of your words, your actions reveal… Read More Our actions form us…
the desert of human history, and even here, into the modern deserts we shape and inhabit, at a time when the poor and needy—their tongues parched with thirst—desperately seek life-sustaining waters, the Holy One pours out rivers and fountains. He places the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive along their banks, and he… Read More An excerpt from God with Us, by Scott Cairns
Today He who hung the earth upon the waters is hung on the tree, The King of the angels is decked with a crown of thorns. He who wraps the heavens in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery. He who freed Adam in the Jordan is slapped on the face. The Bridegroom of… Read More We worship Thy passion, O Christ. Show us also Thy glorious resurrection.
Originally posted on AGAIN AND AGAIN:
H/T: Salt of the Earth (here) “Fire and water do not mix, neither can you mix judgment of others with the desire to repent. If a man commits a sin before you at the very moment of his death, pass no judgment, because the judgment of God is hidden…
You cannot be too gentle, too kind. Shun even to appear harsh in your treatment of each other. Joy, radiant joy, streams from the face of him who gives and kindles joy in the heart of him who receives. All condemnation is from the devil. Never condemn each other. We condemn others only because we… Read More You cannot be t…
Those familiar with Lenten liturgy will recognize the title as part of the Lenten “Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian”, which reads in part, “O Lord and Master of my life…grant me to see my own transgressions, and not to judge my brother, for You are blessed unto ages of ages.” This prayer is not… Read More “Grant Me Not to Judge My Brother”
It is not enough to give. We must have a heart that gives. In order to give, we must have a compassion deep enough for our gift to be forgiven, because if we give dutifully, if we are charitable only in our actions, the recipient receives humiliation and sorrow and pain together with our gift.… Read More a heart that gives..
moving towards existence ... 