Why do we Fast on a Feast Day?

Throughout the year the Church commemorates events in the life of Christ, the Mother of God, the Saints and Church History with a series of Feasts. Some Feasts are as short as one day, such as the Feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos on September 8^th or as long as the Feast of Pascha which lasts for days. Throughout the year the Church also asks us to fast as a spiritual discipline on Wednesdays and Fridays and during fasting periods we refer to as Lenten periods. The practice of fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays was a commandment of the Holy Apostles. On certain Major Feasts, such as the Feast of Saint Demetrios on October 26^th, when fasting is less strict but not eliminated to remain faithful to the commands of the Holy Apostles who were guided into all truth by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

There are some Feasts of the Church however, when fasting in fact is increased rather than decreased. These days, such as the Feast of the Universal Exaltation of the Holy and Precious Cross on September 14^th, are days of STRICT FASTING and require those who are able to abstain from as much food as possible limiting the diet to fruits and vegetables if possible. This practice of strict fasting on a Feast Day is often, I may even say always, accompanied by confusion. So why does the Church fast on a Feast?

The answer rests first in the understanding of what fasting “is” in the first place. Fasting is NOT self-denial or punishment from the foods we enjoy. Rather it is an offering to God as Saint Paul encourages us, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12.1) Nothing is associated with living more than food. We cannot live without food; we cannot live without God. Fasting is a spiritual tool that joins these two realities in our personal actions.

The second part of understanding a strict fast during a Feast is to understand the Feast itself. On September 14^th we commemorate the Cross by commemorating the Crucifixion of Our Lord. In fact the Scripture readings for September 14^th are taken from Holy Friday when our Lord was hung on a cross. There is no better way to align ourselves with Christ on the day of His crucifixion than with strict fasting. In this way we can obey Christ’s words to us, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” (Matthew 16.24)

On September 14^th we literally pick up the cross and carry it throughout the Church as we proclaim the source of Life, the Lord Himself. We sing, “Save, O Lord Your people and bless your inheritance. Grant victory to the faithful against the adversaries of the faith, and protect Your people by Your Holy Cross.” And when we strict fast we deny our own desires for our favorite foods in exchange for simple, basic foods. We begin to see food for what it is – nourishment – rather than what it has become in our society – gluttony.

The Lord teaches that prayer and fasting are required to combat the evils of life. When the Church fasts for a feast we move one step closer to eliminating evil from our life and joining ourselves to God.

A Student's Prayer

This is a nice and breif prayer that EVERY student can offer as he/she sits down to begin homework...

Christ my Lord, the Giver of light and wisdom, Who opened the eyes of the blind man and made the fishermen into wise teachers of the Gospel through the coming of the Holy Spirit;

Shine also in my mind the light of the grace of the Holy Spirit. Grant me discernment so I can make good choices, understanding and wisdom in learning.

Make me able to complete my assignments and to by my best work, for to You I give honor and glory;
Amen.

Are you struggling to understand God's will in your life? Do you wonder when the suffering will end? Do you believe in God but wonder why He doesn't spare your suffering? Then read these words from St. John Chrysostom and make them your new goal...

"He that fasts is light, and winged, and prays with wakefulness, and quenches his wicked lusts, and propitiates God, and humbles the soul when lifted up." St John Chrysostom on Matthew 17.21

An Evening Prayer

O Lord, compassionate and merciful, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy: hear our prayer, and attend to the voice of our supplication. Work among us a sign for good; lead us in Your way, that we may walk in Your truth; gladden our hearts, that we may fear Your holy name: for You are great, and You work wonders; You alone are God, and there is no other like You among the gods, O Lord; You are powerful in mercy and You are gracious in strength, to assist, and to comfort, and to save all who place their hope in Your holy name. For to You belong all glory, honor, and worship: to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

This prayer is taken from the "Lamp-lighting Prayers" recited by the Clergy in the Evening Prayer Service of the Orthodox Christian Church. I pray that the basic faith and dependency upon God that is revealed in this prayer will inspire you to make these words your own.

Questions of Faith

What does it mean to have faith in Jesus Christ? Most people would answer by saying they believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came into the world to save sinners. And they would be correct, but is it enough to offer these few words about belief? The difficult answer unfortunately is, “NO!” It is not enough to just believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He came into the world to save sinners. After all…..even the devil believes in Jesus Christ.

When faced with the hard realities of struggle and sickness the disciples of Jesus were unable to heal a boy sick with epilepsy. When they asked Jesus why they were unable to heal him Jesus said, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17.20) About the sick boy Jesus said, “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17.21)

There will be times in our life when “mental faith” in Jesus is not sufficient. By this I mean that we must use that faith by offering ourselves to Jesus as a sacrifice of prayer and fasting and be willing to embrace whatever answer God offers for our prayer….and sometime the answer is going to be ‘NO.” It will take great faith to accept this answer from God, since as fallen human beings we have been trained to think we should receive everything we want when we want it. It takes a deep faith, the sort of faith expressed in the self-sacrifice of fasting and prayer, to accept that it’s not always about getting what we want. It’s about what God wants.

A Morning Prayer

O Lord our God, Who grants the remission of sins to mankind through repentance, and Who shows us an example of forgiveness through the acknowledgment and confession of sin by Your prophet David’s repentance: despite our falling into many great sins, have mercy on us according to Your great mercy, O Master, and wipe out our offenses in the abundance of Your compassion; for we have sinned against You, O Lord, Who know the hidden and secret things of man’s heart, and Who alone have the power to remit sins. Create in us a clean heart, and establish us with Your governing Spirit; and make us know the joy of Your salvation; do not cast us away from Your presence; but, in Your goodness and love for mankind, allow us, even until our final breath, to offer a righteous sacrifice to You at Your Holy Altars. Through the mercy, compassion, and love for mankind of Your only-begotten Son, with Whom You are blessed, together with Your all-holy, and good, and life-creating Spirit, now and ever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.
This prayer is taken from the Orthros Service (morning prayer service) of the Orthodox Christian Church. I think it speaks beautifully to the absolute love of God and the power of repentance.

The Service of Blessing of the Children for the New School Year

Since our children will be going back to school this week, we will call upon our Lord this Sunday to bless them.

Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen. Holy God. Holy Mighty. Holy Immortal, have mercy on us (3).

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

All‑holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, forgive our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for your name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come,

thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

Priest: For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Psalm 34 (read)

I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make its boast in the LORD; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together. I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him. The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. He guards all his bones; Not one of them is broken. Evil shall slay the wicked, And those who hate the righteous shall be condemned. The LORD redeems the soul of His servants, And none of those who trust in Him shall be condemned.

Completion of Psalm…

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, glory to You, O God (3), Our Hope O Lord, glory to you.

Great Litany

Priest: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For the peace of God and the salvation of our souls, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For peace in the whole world, for the stability of the holy churches of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For this holy house and for those who enter it with faith, reverence, and the fear of God, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For our Archbishop (Name), the honorable presbyters, the deacons in the service of Christ, and all the clergy and laity, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For our country, the president, and all those in public service, and for our armed forces everywhere, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For this parish and city, for every city and town, and for the faithful who live in them, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For favorable weather, an abundance of the fruits of earth, and peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: For travelers by land, sea, and air, for the sick, the suffering, the captives, and for their salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: That He will send down upon these children the spirit of wisdom and understanding, and will open their minds and their lips, and enlighten their hearts, for the receiving of precepts of good instruction, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: That He will implant in their hearts His Godly fear, which is the beginning of wisdom, and will thereby expel from their hearts the turbulence of youth, and enlighten their minds, that they may turn aside from evil and do that which is good, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: That He will open their minds to receive, and to understand, and to remember all instruction which is good and profitable for the soul, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: That He will grant them the wisdom which abides with His Throne, and will implant it in their hearts, so that He may teach them that which is well-pleasing in His sight, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: That He will prosper them in wisdom and in stature, to the glory of God, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: That they may have a wise a virtuous life, and prosperity in the Orthodox Faith, and may be a joy and consolation to their parents, and pillars of the Orthodox Christian Church, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: That they and we may be delivered from all affliction, wrath, danger, and distress, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Help us, save us, have mercy upon us, and protect us, O God, by your grace.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: Remembering our most holy, pure, blessed, and glorious Lady, the Theotokos and ever‑virgin Mary, with all the saints, let us commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our God.

People: To You, O Lord.

Priest: For to you belong all glory, honor, and worship to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen (read the following)

As You did come in the midst of Your Disciples, O Savior, bestowing upon them peace, so also come upon us and save us.

Your Holy Spirit made teachers of Your uneducated Disciples, O Christ God; and by the commingling of tongues He annulled idolatry for He is almighty.

(sing) Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit

O blessed are You O Christ our God, who by sending down the Holy Spirit upon them, made the fishermen wise and through them illumined the world. And to You the universe is ever drawn, all glory to You O Lord.

Now and forever and to the ages of ages, Amen

A protection of Christians unshamable,
Intercessor to our Holy Maker, unwavering,
Please reject not
The prayerful cries of those who are in sin.
Instead, come to us, for you are good;
Your loving help bring unto us,
Who are crying in faith to you: Hasten to intercede
And speed now to supplicate,
As a protection for all time,
Theotokos, for those who honor you.

THE EPISTLE

Priest: Let us be attentive.

(The Reader reads the verses from the Psalms.) Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings you have ordained praise; My heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

Priest: Wisdom.

Reader: The reading is from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians

Priest: Let us be attentive.

Brethren, I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. And that you know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Priest: Peace be with you.

People: Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

THE HOLY GOSPEL

Priest: Wisdom. Arise. Let us hear the holy Gospel. Peace be with all.

People: And with your spirit.

Priest: The reading is from the Holy Gospel according to Mark. Let us be attentive.

People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

At that time, they brought little children to Him, that He might touch them; but the disciples rebuked those who brought them. But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, "Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. "Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it." And He took them up in His arms, put His hands on them, and blessed them.

People: Glory to You, O Lord, glory to You.

Priest: Let us all say with our whole soul, and with our whole mind, let us say.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Lord Almighty, God of our fathers, we pray you, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Have mercy on us, O God, according to your great mercy; we pray you, hear us and have mercy.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Let us pray for pious and Orthodox Christians.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Let us pray for our Archbishop (Name).

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Let us pray for our brethren, priests, hieromonks, deacons, and monastics, and all our brotherhood in Christ.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Furthermore we pray to the Lord our God, that He will look graciously upon these children, and will send down into their hearts, their minds, and their lips the spirit of wisdom, and of understanding, and of piety, and of his fear; and that He will illumine them with the light of his knowledge, and will bestow upon them strength and steadfastness, that they may quickly apprehend and speedily become wonted to the instruction in His Divine Law, and to all good and profitable learning; furthermore, that He will prosper them in wisdom and understanding, and in all good works to the glory of His holy Name, and will give them health, and make them long-lived, unto the building up of the glory of His Church, hear us O Lord and have mercy on us.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Hear us, O God, our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth, and of those who are far off upon the sea; and show compassion on us, O Master, on our many sins, and have mercy upon us.

People: Lord, have mercy (3).

Priest: Let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Priest: O Lord our God and Creator, who has honored us men and women with Your own image; who has taught Your elect, so that most wise are they who give heed to Your teaching; who reveals wisdom unto babes; who has imparted Your teaching unto Solomon and unto all who have sought Your wisdom: Open the hearts, the minds, and the lips of these Your servants, that they may receive the power of the law, and successfully apprehend the useful precepts which shall be taught them, to the glory of Your All-Holy Name, to the profit and building up of Your Holy Church, and that they may understand Your good and perfect will. Deliver them from every hostile oppression; preserve them in Orthodoxy and the Faith, and in all uprightness and purity all the days of their life, that they may advance in wisdom, and in the fulfilling of Your commandments: that, being thus prepared, they may glorify Your All-Holy Name, and become heirs of Your Kingdom. For You are God mighty in mercy, and gracious in strength; and unto You is due glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and to the ages of ages.

People: Amen

Priest: Glory to You, Christ our God and our hope, glory to you. May Christ our true God, who rose from the dead as a good, loving and merciful God, have mercy upon us and save us, through the intercessions of his most pure and holy Mother; the power of the precious and life-giving Cross; the protection of the honorable, bodiless powers of heaven; the supplications of the honorable, glorious prophet and forerunner John the Baptist; the holy, glorious, and praise­worthy Apostles; the holy, glorious, and triumphant Martyrs; our holy God‑bearing Fathers; the holy, and righteous ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; of Saint (of the day) whose memory we com­memorate today, and all the saints.

Priest: Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, our God, have mercy on us and save us.

People:Amen.

Interesting.......Just Plain Interesting....

In today's reading from 1st Corinthians Saint Paul says,

Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shameful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. - 1 Corinthians 11.1-6

I occurred to me when I read this during Church this morning.  If so many Christians practice sola scriptura why don't I see veils on women in Church? In fact, I see many more veils on Orthodox Christians women. Interesting.......

How Effective is YOUR Youth Ministry?

There is a documentary out right now called Divided and it details the struggles of youth ministry and the objective failure in retaining youth within the Church. The movie is available for free viewing online until September sometime, so if you work with youth as a youth minister, pastor, parent, teacher, clergy or just care about youth in the Church, sit back and take an hour and watch this movie. It is worth your time.

We have been discussing this reality in Orthodoxy as well and the root causes are quite similar. When parents are not living and teaching the Orthodox Way of Life in their families no amount of youth ministry can overcome that drag on our Churches' youth. I would agree with much of what this movie has to say and I could suggest that the problem of departing from the Scripture Tradition of ministry has been directly related to the departure of the Holy Tradition of Orthodoxy! In cases where the Orthodox Church has adopted Protestant models for ministry, the result has been the same......youth departure. It's time for us to WAKE UP!

What this movie doesn't recognize is that the Scriputre Tradition they mention also mentions a deep Orthodox way of life and worship that Protestants have left behind in their anti-tradition mentality. In every case where Orthodox Christians have departed from the same way of life - fasting, prayer, confession, almsgiving, Eucharist, and the rest of the sacramental life - the results have been exactly the same. How can we continue to teach children in Sunday School about fasting when parents don't even attempt to fast? How can we preach about Confession and the Eucharist when parents don't event attempt to make these necessary elements of Christian life central to their way of thinking and living? We can't......

Now sit back and watch the movie...

Is Prostitution A Sin in Las Vegas?

Having just spent a week with teenagers at St. Stephen’s Summer Camp for the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Atlanta, I began to ponder this question this morning…..well not really but I thought it was a grabber for the title of today’s post. Of course I believe prostitution to be a sin anywhere, but do you?

The reason for this question is that our youth today are often confused by the difference between legality and morality. The devil has done his job pretty well convincing our society that so many behaviors should not be avoided that rather than address the morality of such behaviors as prostitution, hard moral questions are considered from the perspective of legality and freedom. True, we are all free to participate in any behavior whether or not the Lord desires it and I am in no position to force anyone to love God and live by His commandments. Thus: legality and freedom!

But with freedom comes responsibility. Just as anyone in our American society is “free” to take money from someone else’s cash register, there are consequences to that behavior – jail time. In working with teens especially I have found the line between legal and moral just as fuzzy as could be. Young people speak of smoking cigarettes with the same candor and gravity as they do drinking and sex. For a minor all three are illegal and, in the minds of many teenagers, therefore equal in gravity. You see now why I picked the title?

Would any teenager discuss the “sin” of smoking cigarettes fifty years ago or the sin of “just one drink” when they were working their daddy’s farm in the 19^th Century? Times have changed and so has the perspective of sin and morality in our American society but God’s laws and commandments have not and will not change. What was against the will of God “then” is still against the will of God! Of course I must state the Orthodox Church does NOT teach that a simple drink is sinful.

The manner in which we live is a direct reflection of the love we have for God. The more we love God, the more we love ourselves. Why else would Saint Paul give husbands the command to, “love their own wives as their own bodies?” (Ephesians 5.28) Saint Paul continues, “For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church.” (Ephesians 5.29)

But we do damage to our own bodies every day with such behaviors as prostitution and dangerous sexual acts. What makes things worse is that the devil has convinced us that legal means moral. I hear it too often, “But Father, it’s not illegal….” Time is crucial, before we lose more of our children and they leave the Church in search of happiness and fulfillment. The Prodigal Son did that once. (see Luke 15) and he found starvation and suffering and emptiness. That what awaits us too if we don’t take our moral arguments back away from the legal system and teach our children (and live it ourselves as adults) that God has a plan for us. He has a desire for us to live a certain way. He has saved us from the emptiness and pain of the world.

As school starts in a few weeks and our children are returned to the temptation of society from sunrise to sunset, bring them to the Church and invite them to spend time with the priest attend confession and get supplied with the spiritual tools they will need to remain focused upon Him this school year.

What’s All This Talk About Good Works Anyway?

In his letter to Titus Saint Paul writes, “This is a faithful saying, and these things I want you to affirm constantly, that those who have believed in God should be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable to men. And let our people also learn to maintain good works, to meet urgent needs, that they may not be unfruitful.” (Titus 3.8,14)

There has been a lot of talk about good works and charity in our Church because of words such as these from Saint Paul. Many often ask, “So what are good works?” The answer can be different for different people. Some suggest that good works is always being nice to strangers. Others teach that making sure the Church expenses are always paid is doing good works. Still others suggest that good works is helping the poor. Based upon these words by Saint Paul we could say they are all correct.

Saint John Chrysostom offers us this answer. To maintain good works “is both to succor the injured, not only by money, but by patronage and protection, and to defend the widows and orphans, and to afford a refuge to all that are afflicted.” In fact, this is the work of the Church if we are to live as Christians. Chrysostom continues, “What means, ‘that they be careful to maintain good works?’ That they wait not for those who are in want to come to them, but that they seek out those who need their assistance.”

Let us head the words of Saint John Chrysostom when he says, “For in doing good actions, it is not those who receive the kindness that are benefited, so much as those who do it that make gain and profit, for it gives them confidence towards God.” Now let’s get out there and get to work!

It's not all about us; it's about HIM

Two very famous commercial slogans have shaped our way of life in America. “You deserve a break today,” and “Have it your way,” may sell millions of hamburgers but is this message what we want to be teaching our children? Marketing giants have profited great amounts of money on the prevailing idea that human beings are inherently selfish. In fact studies have shown that our social structure, at least since the early 1970’s, has not only taken advantage of this fact but has encouraged it. We live in a society that doesn’t just tolerate selfishness, it pokes fun at anyone who doesn’t put their own comfort and needs ahead of others.

This is what makes the Gospel so difficult to hear. “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof.” (Matthew 8.8) Today there are few who argue that anyone is worthy of God’s special attention….except of course themselves. Many are quick to admit that “he” or “she” isn’t worthy of God’s love but, “WE sure are!” We would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would say they didn’t think themselves worthy of God’s love. NONE OF US ARE, at least if you believe what you read in Holy Scripture.

And then again, ALL OF US ARE worthy of His love. Just as the centurion confessed his being unworthy of Jesus even walking into his house, the Lord said, “I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.” (Matthew 8.10) Our Lord makes the time for each of us in our need no matter who we are. We could all learn a lesson from the centurion: “A little less ME and a little more YOU.”

It was humility the Lord blessed in the centurion and it will be our humility He will bless when we learn that it’s not all about us; it’s about HIM.

The Forty Maxims

I don't remember where I got these, but Presbytera came across them the other day in our computer and I really liked them, so in case I haven't posted them before.....here are the "Forty Maxims"

1. Be always with Christ and trust God in everything.

2. Pray, fast and do acts of mercy.

3. Read the Scriptures regularly.

4. Read good books, a little at a time.

5. Practice silence, inner and outer.

6. Cultivate communion with the saints.

7. Be an ordinary person, one of the human race.

8. Live a day, even a part of a day, at a time.

9. Be honest, first of all with yourself.

10. Be faithful in little things.

11. Do your work, then forget it.

12. Do the most difficult and painful things first.

13. Face reality.

14. Be grateful.

15. Be cheerful.

16. Be simple, hidden, quiet and small.

17. Never bring unnecessary attention to yourself.

18. Listen when people talk to you.

19. Be awake and attentive, fully present where you are.

20. Think and talk about things no more than necessary.

21. Speak simply, clearly, firmly, directly.

22. Flee imagination, fantasy, analysis.

23. Flee carnal things at their first appearance.

24. Don’t complain, grumble, murmur or whine.

25. Don’t seek or expect pity or praise.

26. Don’t compare yourself with anyone.

27. Don’t judge anyone for anything.

28. Don’t try to convince anyone of anything.

29. Don’t defend or justify yourself.

30. Be defined and bound by God, not people.

31. Accept criticism gracefully and test it carefully.

32. Give advice only when asked or when it is your duty.

33. Be strict with yourself.

34. Be merciful with yourself and others.

35. Do nothing for people that they can do for themselves.

36. Have a healthy, wholesome hobby.

37. Have no expectations except to be fiercely tempted to your last breath.

38. Endure the trial of yourself and your faults serenely, under God’s mercy.

39. When you fall, get up immediately and start over.

40. Get help when you need it, without fear or shame.

Summer Activity Options

As I said last week summer can be a time filled with anxiety about the activities in which our children participate. Over the next few weeks I will try to offer new ideas for summer activities for our youth and any other adult who wishes to give them a try. This week my suggestion is about reading.

Many of our children spend time during the summer months trying to escape the summer heat by sitting in front of the computer or playing video games. While there are today many good resources for our children online that assist in character building and education, let’s face it…spending so many hours in front of the TV or computer isn’t the best place for our children.

Many of our children also need practice with their reading skills. It wasn’t too long ago when parents used the Bible to help their children learn to read. Early American history is filled with stories of young children practicing the reading skills by reading from the family bible. Why not begin a new tradition this summer by inviting your children to each take turns reading a few verses from the family bible? It will help their reading, bring them closer to Jesus Christ, AND serve as great family time during the heat of summer.

There are several wonderful children’s books offered in our bookstore about saints and the Bible. Stop by and pick up a book for this summer’s reading time. You won’t be disappointed!

Blessed reading!

Rejoicing After Final Exams

June marks the end of another school year and the beginning of summer fun and celebration for our children…well only if they don’t have to return to summer school. Most students have learned to fear the end-of-year exams that reveal whether or not they have been working carefully during the year. If they pass the exams, that means summer is for fun and celebrating at the beach. Lucky for children, there are review days before exams to help them prepare. In fact throughout the entire year, schools offer review periods to help students get back on track if they have fallen behind. These reviews are very important because they let students know where they need to improve BEFORE the exam. If they didn’t do their work, then summer is about summer school and making up for lost time – definitely NOT a celebration.

Our spiritual life is no different. We are children of God and throughout life we are given a chance to review where we may have fallen behind so we can get back on track before its too late….before our final exam. Just like school, if we don’t get back on track and “fail” the final exam, heaven won’t be about joy and celebrations, but suffering.

 This is why I am offering the “Spiritual Self-Assessment”. Each year in June, the Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit was given to the Church and “guided the Apostles into all truth.” (John 16.13) It is the Church that has guided us for over 2,000 years to live a life according to Christ’s commandments. Just like a school that guides young people into knowledge, it is the Church that guides her children to knowledge of God.

 Take a few moments and complete the “SpiritualSelf-Assessment” included in this month’s newsletter and consider it a chance to review before final exams. None of us will score perfect a perfect “1” rating, but at least we will know where more work is needed to prepare to meet the Lord.

 Go ahead…….complete it now and come back to finish reading this…..I’ll be waiting.

 I pray this exercise was helpful in preparing each of you to meet the Lord. After you have completed the assessment and come to terms with where you need a bit of extra work to get back on track, make a commitment to the Lord to improve and start improving today!

 If you find your answers were mostly in the 4-5 rating, don’t feel lost. There is always hope because the Lord gives us each a fresh start when we need it. If you find your answers were mostly 2-3, please don’t feel too confident because there is always room for improvement. Identify a few items on the assessment that need work and call your priest. Together, using the tools of the Church, you can create an “Individual Education Plan – IEP” to get you back on track.

 I close with encouragement from Saint Paul. “Therefore do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4.16) Take advantage of this chance to review so in heaven together we can all celebrate and rejoice!

 Glory to God for all things!

We are all Blinded by Something; What is it that Blinds You?

In the Gospel of John 9.1-41 Jesus heals a man who had been born blind. His Disciples asked, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” (John 9.2) In ancient Jewish understanding of suffering, since Adam and Eve brought death into the world by sin, it was presumed that all suffering and illness was a result of sin. Technically speaking they were correct.  

To the woman He said: "I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you." Then to Adam He said, "Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it': "Cursed is the ground for your sake; In toil you shall eat of it All the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return." (Genesis 3.16-19)

But the Lord also said, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.” (John 9.3) Following these words the Lord, using clay just as He used clay to create Adam and Eve, healed the man of his blindness. Turning to the Jews He said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.” (John 9.39)

Do the words of Jesus and His Church cause you to see clearly? We were all born in spiritual blindness. Just as so many Jews could not recognize Jesus Christ as God, many of us are blind to His word and live in darkness. Take the opportunity that God has given you today and wash away the dirt of life and open your eyes to Christ and worship Him just as the man born blind. “Lord, I believe!” (John 9.39)

Spiritual Self-Assessment

Rate the following topics from 1 to 5

I read the Bible

1)Daily

2)3x per week

3)1x per week

4)<1x per month

5)Been a long time

I fast at least from meat

                1)Wednesdays and Fridays and every day the Church teaches to fast

                2) Only Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the year

                3) Only Wednesdays and Fridays during each of the Lenten Periods

                4) Only Wednesdays and Fridays during Great Lent

                5) Been a long time

I say my prayers

1)      Morning and evening every day

2)      Morning and evening when I remember

3)      When I get a chance or when something is bothering me

4)      When I or a member of family is in crisis

5)      Been a long time

I receive Holy Communion

1)      Every Sunday and on other Religious Holidays

2)      2x per month

3)      1x per month

4)      3x per year

5)      Been a long time

I attend Holy Confession

1)      4x per year

2)      2x per year

3)      1x per year

4)      When my conscience is really bothering me

5)      Been a long time

I attend Divine Liturgy

1)      At least every Sunday

2)      2x per month

3)      1x per month

4)      4x per year

5)      Been a long time

I have attended Church services OTHER THAN Sunday Liturgy (not including Holy Week)

1)      More than 10x in the last year

2)      5x – 9x in the last year

3)      2x in the past year

4)      1x in the past year

5)      Been longer than a year

When it comes to making my family calendar

1)      I always consider the Church calendar to avoid conflicts

2)      1 try to consider the Church calendar to avoid conflicts

3)      I look at the Church calendar in the Sunday bulletin and discover a conflict

4)      The Priest tells me he missed me and I discover there was a conflict

5)      You mean the Church has a calendar?

When discussing our family finances

1)      We have a goal to tithe our income to the Church as thanksgiving to God

2)      We try to increase our giving each year because we know the Church as expenses

3)      We give our fair share of the Church budget

4)      We give what we think is appropriate considering our personal finances

5)      We give when we have spare funds

SECTION 2 – Please answer Yes or No

We have a dedicated prayer corner in our home

I say my personal prayers where my children can see me

I teach my children how to say their personal prayers each night

I often miss Divine Liturgy for reasons other than being sick

I think it is important for my children to learn the Orthodox Christian Faith

I take time during each week to discuss the Faith with my children

I read the articles and letters in the Monthly and Sunday Bulletins regularly

I subscribe to the Church email distribution list

I am a “fan” of the Church Facebook Page

I often read the Church’s FB page for inspiration

I visit other Orthodox Christian websites for spiritual inspiration

I visit other Christian websites for spiritual inspiration

I visit other non-Christian websites for encouragement and guidance

I think the Greek Orthodox Church has information and guidance that can help me in my personal life

I feel a bit guilty answering these questions

I feel judged answering these questions

I don’t think the Church should bother to ask me these questions

Following Christ is a Step-by-Step Process

When Jesus encountered the Samaritan Woman, whom we know as Saint Photini, she immediately questioned His actions. “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (John 4.9) Saint Photini couldn’t bring herself to accept that someone would break with years’ worth of tradition as the Gospel points out, “For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.” (John 4.9)

 Sometimes we get stuck between seeing the world as we have always seen it and seeing it through Christ’s perspective. Sometimes we are confused by what makes sense to us and what makes sense to God, just as Saint Photini struggled with understanding God when she said, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well?” (John 4.11-12)

 Whether we recognize Him or not, God never stops reaching out to us. He continues to offer us, step-by-step, opportunities to embrace Him and welcome Him into our daily lives. He walks with us from confusion to perception to understanding. Finally Saint Photini recognized who Jesus was after He revealed her inner secrets and she said to her friends, “Come, see a Man who told me all things I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4.29)

 It doesn’t matter where we might be, God is calling us today to follow Him and welcome Him into our daily lives. For some of us that might mean putting aside “how it used to be” and embrace how God desires us to live now; for others it might mean going out and boldly declaring the truth of Jesus Christ. Either way, step-by-step we will all have the chance to walk with Him.

 Christ is Risen!

We ALL Have a Friend in Jesus

The famous gospel song What a Friend We Have in Jesus touches deep in the hearts of many in the South. This song is not limited to so-called Gospel Churches, but is a long-time traditional hymn in many Western Christian Churches who share in the hope of Jesus Christ.

In the Gospel on the Fourth Sunday of Pascha the Church commemorates the Sunday of the Paralytic where we hear a man, paralyzed for 38 years meet Christ. Jesus ask, “’Do you want to be made well?’ The sick man answered Him, ‘Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool.’” (John 5.6-7) Jesus had compassion on the man and healed him immediately “on the spot” without hearing another word.

We also are in need of someone to help heal us. As the song goes, we have a friend in Jesus, and He has come that we may live forever. We sing “Christ is Risen!” not just because we celebrate Pascha, but because in His Resurrection death has been conquered and we are now blessed to live with God forever.

We also have a hymn about the help Jesus give us. In the Kontakion of the Paralytic we sing, “I am grievously paralyzed in a multitude of sins and wrongful deeds. As You raised up the paralytic of old, also raise up my soul by Your divine guidance, that I may cry out, "Glory to Your Power O Compassionate Christ."

Christ is Risen!