The Comfort of God’s Presence

Just when we think we are all alone and have no place to turn, God is there for our comfort and peace. As revealed in the raising of the widow’s son (see Luke 7.11-16) God is always able to comfort our heart when no other comfort is possible. Through His physical touch and presence, His power is enough to defeat death and any other pain that troubles our heart. He has promised to be with us in His Church through Holy Communion. Do you need comfort? Come into the Church and find God’s presence.

Are you alive?

Each of us likes to think we are alive. As a population we spend trillions of dollars in fact to stay alive. Most of us try our best to eat healthy food and to live active healthy lives in order to be alive longer. Many of us even have memberships to fitness centers. Some of us actually use those memberships. We are consumed with being alive and being alive as long as possible. And yet....most of us are dead.

Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” (John 6.53-54) We spend so much time and energy feeding and nurturing our bodies, we forget our soul may be dead.

The call of Christ is quite clear. If we do not receive Holy Communion (the body and blood of Christ) we HAVE NO LIFE. We may think we are alive. Our bodies may be walking and talking and earning lots of money, but we are nothing more than spiritual zombies. I often hear people confess, “My faith in very important to me,” but can’t remember the last time they received Holy Communion. We pride ourselves in knowing the Scriptures (some even attend non Orthodox Christian Bible studies which is VERY dangerous) but never receive Holy Communion. Need I remind you that Cleopas was face to face with Christ but could not recognize Him until they had Communion? (see Luke 24.18-35)

The Orthodox Christian way of life is not about memorizing facts and historical dates. Nor is it about learning which of the Apostles lived in which cites, although it is all helpful. The Orthodox Christian way of life is a life IN COMMUNION with God, which at its core is celebrated in the Holy Eucharist-Holy Communion-the Divine Liturgy.

Next time you consider how important your faith is, ask yourself, “When was the last time I received Holy Communion in Church?” Then turn to the Church and begin to live the life given to us by Christ and His Church. It is the way of life. If it has been a long time since you received Holy Communion, I invite you to contact your local Orthodox Christian priest and schedule Holy Confession and a discussion about returning to a life in communion with God. 

Only Some will be Saved

When Ten Lepers (Luke 17.12-19) approached Christ and begged for help, they were told to return to the priests and show themselves. As they turned, they were instantly healed, but only one returned to Christ to thank Him and worship Him. All nine were healed, but only was saved when Christ said, “Your faith has saved you.” (Luke 17.19) When we ask for God’s blessings and then do not return to Him to properly give thanks, we turn our back on Him and go about our day, we are no better than the nine. They should have known better. We should know better. There is a proper way to thank God, through proper preparation and participation in the Divine Liturgy which includes receiving Holy Communion every Sunday. If we come to Church and return home without receiving Holy Communion, then we are no better than the other nine. When Jesus asks “where are the others,” He is speaking about us!

Have an encounter with God

God could have called from heaven, “Your sins are forgiven! You’re good to go,” but He didn’t.

God could have waved His hands from heaven, “Death no longer has dominion over you,” but He didn’t.

God could have breathed His grace upon the world from heaven, but He didn’t.

Today’s Gospel Reading: Luke 6:17-23 (RSV) - At that time, Jesus stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.  And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came forth from him and healed them all.  And he lifted up his eyes on His disciples, and said: "Blessed are you poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God.  Blessed are you that hunger now, for you shall be satisfied.  Blessed are you that weep now, for you shall laugh.  Blessed are you when men hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Son of man!  Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven."

 God could have been a distant all-powerful God casting judgment down from His Throne in heaven, but instead chose to enter into creation so we could have a true and physical encounter with God. His desire for our healing, sometimes expressed in physical miracles, ultimately requires our willingness to approach Him and touch Him to be healed from everything.

Orthodoxy is about having an encounter with God. Just as the crowd “sough to touch Him,” we can touch Him through the Eucharist. We can enter His House (the Church) and set our eyes upon His Glorious Altar of Sacrifice and call upon His Name. Orthodoxy is about being healed by God, in God. 

SERVICE OF PREPARATION FOR HOLY COMMUNION

Some desire to offer special prayers for the preparation, reception, and thanksgiving for Holy Communion. A special service exists in the Orthodox Tradition that I have included below. The translation is from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese...

Glory to you, our God, glory to you. Heavenly King, Comforter, the Spirit of truth, who are present everywhere filling things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us. Cleanse us of every stain, and save our souls, gracious Lord.

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 are in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your 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. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory, of the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. 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.

Psalm 50 (51)

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your great mercy; and according to the multitude of your compassion, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done evil in your sight, that you may be found just when you speak, and victorious when you are judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin my mother bore me. For behold, you have loved truth; you have made known to me the secret and hidden things of your wisdom. You shall sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; you shall wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness, that the afflicted bones may rejoice. Turn your face away from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and establish me with your governing Spirit. I shall teach transgressors your ways, and the ungodly shall turn back to you. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation, my tongue shall joyfully declare your righteousness. Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise. For if you had desired sacrifice, I would give it; you do not delight in burnt offerings. A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a broken and a humbled heart. Do good in your good pleasure to Sion; and let the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then you shall be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole burnt offerings. Then they shall offer bulls on your altar.

Psalm 69 (70)

O God, be attentive to help me. Lord, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded who seek my life. Let them be turned back and be ashamed who desire evil against me. Let them be turned back because of their shame, who say to me, Well done! Well done! Let all those who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; and let those who love your salvation say continually, Let God be magnified! But as for me, I am poor and needy; O God, help me! You are my help and my deliverer; Lord, do not delay.

Psalm 142 (143)

Lord, hear my prayer. In your truth, give ear to my supplications; in your righteousness, hear me. And enter not into judgment with your servant, for no one living is justified in your sight. For the enemy has pursued my soul; he has crushed my life to the ground; he has made me dwell in darkness, like those who have long been dead, and my spirit is overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is distressed. I remembered the days of old; I meditated on all your works; I pondered on the work of your hands. I spread out my hands to you; my soul longs for you like a thirsty land. Lord, hear me quickly; my spirit fails. Turn not your face away from me, lest I be like those who go down into the pit. Let me to hear your mercy in the morning, for in you I have put my trust. Lord, teach me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you. Rescue me, Lord, from my enemies; to you have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your good Spirit shall lead me on a level path; Lord, for your name’s sake, you shall preserve my life. In your righteousness, you shall bring my soul out of trouble, and in your mercy, you shall utterly destroy my enemies. And you shall destroy all those who afflict my soul, for I am your servant.

Doxology

Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will to all people. We praise you, we bless you, we worship you, we glorify you, we give thanks to you for your great glory. Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father, almighty Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father who take away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us, you who take away the sins of the world. Receive our prayer, you who sit at the right hand of the Father, and have mercy upon us. For you only are holy, only you are Lord, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Each evening we bless you, and we praise your name forever and to the ages of ages. Lord, you have been our refuge from generation to generation. I said: Lord, have mercy upon me; heal my soul, for I have sinned against you. Lord, to you have I fled; teach me to do your will, for you are my God. For you are the source of life, and in your light we shall see light. Conti­nue your mercy to those who know you. Lord, grant to keep us this night without sin. Blessed are you, Lord, God of our fathers. Your name is praised and glorified from all ages. Amen.

Let your mercy, Lord, lighten upon us, as our trust is in you. Blessed are you, Lord, teach me your commandments. Blessed are you, Master, teach me your com­mandments. Blessed are you, Holy One, enlighten me in your commandments. Your mercy, Lord, endures forever; turn not away from the works of your own hands. To you belongs praise, to you belongs worship, to you belongs glory, to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

The Symbol Of Faith

I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all ages. Light of Light, true God of true God, begotten not created, of one essence with the Father through whom all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and he suffered and was buried. On the third day he rose according to the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and dead. His kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, who together with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who spoke through the prophets. In one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I expect the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the ages to come. Amen.

First Ode Second Tone

May your sacred body and your precious blood, compassionate Lord, become for me the bread of eternal life and the guardian from manifold afflictions. Defiled as I am by disgusting deeds, O Christ, I am unworthy to receive your pure body and your divine blood. But make me worthy of this communion.

Theotokion

Blessed Theotokos, the good earth that grew the unsown wheat that saved the world, make me worthy to eat of it and be saved.

Third Ode

Grant me, O Christ, the tears to cleanse the uncleanliness of my heart, that I may in good conscience, faith, and fear approach, O Master, the communion of your divine gifts. May your pure body and sacred blood become for me, loving God, forgiveness of sins, communion with the Holy Spirit, eternal life, and estrangement from passion and affliction.

Theotokion

All holy one, you are the table of the bread of life, who out of mercy came down from above giving new life to the world. Make me also worthy, who am now unwor­thy, to eat from it with fear and live.

Fourth Ode

Most merciful One, you put on flesh for our sake and as a lamb you were willing to be slain for our sins. Therefore, I beseech you: also wipe out my sins. Heal the wounds of my soul, O Lord, wretched as I am; and Master, make me worthy, totally, to receive your mystical Supper.

Theotokion

Lady, propitiate on my behalf him who was born of you, and preserve me; your sup­plicant, pure and undefiled, so that by re­ceiving the intelligible pearl I may be sanc­tified.

Fifth Ode

As you foretold, O Christ, let it be to your un­worthy servant as you promised, and abide in me. For behold, I eat your divine body and drink your blood. God and Word of God, may the ember of your body light up my darkness, and may your blood cleanse my defiled soul.

Theotokion

Mary, Mother of God, honorable tabernacle of sweet ointments, make me through your prayers a chosen vessel that I may receive the sanctification of your son.

Sixth Ode

Savior, sanctify my mind, soul, heart, and body, and deem me worthy, Master, to approach your fearful Mysteries without condemnation. O Christ, grant, that I may be rid of my pas­sions, increase in your grace, and be con­firmed in my life by the communion of your holy Mysteries.

Theotokion

Holy, divine Word of God, sanctify me wholly as I now approach your holy Mysteries through the prayers of your holy Mother.

Kontakion Second Tone

As I now receive your awesome Mysteries, your pure body and your precious blood, O Christ, do not turn away from me, wretched as I am. Let my communion not be a judgment upon me but lead to ever­lasting and immortal life.

Seventh Ode

May the communion of your immortal Mysteries be for me light and life, freedom from passion, progress, and an increase in more spiritual virtues that I may glorify you, O Christ, for you alone are good. Approaching now your immortal and divine mysteries, trembling and longing for piety, grant, loving God, that I may be delivered from passions and enemies and every afflic­tion. Grant that I may sing to you: Blessed are you, O God of our fathers. 

Theotokion

I pray that you, the pure one, who are favored by God and who incomprehensively gave birth to Christ the Savior, cleanse me, your impure servant, from all defilement of flesh and spirit as I desire now to approach the most pure Mysteries.

Eighth Ode

O God my Savior, grant that I, your despair­ing servant, may now become a partaker of your heavenly, awesome and holy Mysteries, and of your divine and mystical Supper. Seeking refuge in your loving kindness, good Savior, I cry to you with fear; abide in me and, as you promised, let me also abide in you. For behold, trusting in your mercy, I eat your body and drink your blood. I tremble as I take this fire lest I be con­sumed as wax and grass. O fearful mystery! O divine love! How is it that I, an earthly creature, partake of the divine body and blood and am made incorruptible?

Ninth Ode

Taste and see that the Lord is good. For our sake he became like us and offered himself once for all to his Father to be forever slain, sanctifying those who partake. Master, let me be sanctified in body and soul. Let me be enlightened and saved, and let me become your dwelling place through the communion of your holy Mysteries by having you, most merciful Benefactor, live in me with the Father and the Spirit. May your body and your precious blood, Sa­vior, be like fire and light to me, consuming the substance of sins, burning the tares of my passions, and wholly enlightening me to wor­ship your divinity.

Theotokion

God took flesh from your pure blood. Therefore, all generations praise you, Lady, while the hosts of incorporal powers glorify you. For they clearly behold him who rules all things to be endowed with human nature through you. It is truly right to bless you, the Theotokos, ever blessed and most pure and mother of our God. More honorable than the Cheru­bim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, you incorruptibly you gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos.

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 are in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your 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. 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. Amen.

God of our fathers, you always treat us with leniency. Do not withdraw your mercy from us, but by the intercessions of our fathers, guide our life in peace. With the blood of your martyrs throughout the world, as if with purple and fine linen having been adorned, your Church through them cries out to you, Christ our God. Send down your mercies upon your people. Grant peace to your commonwealth, and to our souls your great compassion.

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

With your saints, O Christ, give rest to the souls of your servants where there is no pain nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life ever­lasting. Through the intercessions, of all your saints and the Theotokos, O Lord, grant us your peace and have mercy upon us, only mer­ciful One.

Lord, have mercy (40).

At all times and in every hour, you are wor­shiped and glorified in heaven and on earth, Christ our God. Long in patience, great in mercy and compassion, you love the righteous and show mercy to sinners. You call all to salvation through the promise of good things to come. Lord, receive our prayers at the present time. Direct our lives according to your commandments. Sanctify our souls. Purify our bodies. Set our minds aright. Cleanse our thoughts and deliver us from all sorrow, evil, and distress. Surround us with your holy angels that, guarded and guided by their host, we may arrive at the unity of faith and the understanding of your ineffable glory. For you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.

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.

More honorable than the Cherubim, and in­comparably more glorious than the Seraphim, you incorruptibly gave birth to God the Word. We magnify you, the true Theotokos. In the name of the Lord, Father bless. Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy and save us. Amen.

Prayer To The All Holy Theotokos

byPaul the Monk of the Monastery of Evergetis

Spotless, undefiled, immaculate, unstained, pure Virgin, Lady, and Bride of God, by your wondrous conceiving you united God the Word with human beings and joined the fallen nature of our race to heavenly things. You are the only hope of the hopeless, and the help of those oppressed. You are the ready protection of those who flee to you and the refuge of all Christians. Do not spurn me an accused sinner, though I have made myself completely useless by my shameful thoughts, words, and deeds and through indolence have become a slave to the pleasures of life. But as the Mother of God who loves all people, mercifully have compassion upon me a sinner and a prodigal and receive my prayer though it be offered to you by unclean lips. Entreat your Son and our Lord and Master, using your boldness as a mother, so that he may open to me the loving mercy of his goodness, overlook my numberless transgressions, turn me to repentance, and make me an acceptable doer of his commandments. Always be near me, for you are merciful, compassionate, and loving. Be my ardent help and protection in this present life, defending me from the assaults of adversaries, and lead me to salvation. At the hour of my death, care for my miserable soul and drive the dark visions of evil spirits far from it. On the awesome day of judgment, save me from eternal punishment and make me an inheritor of the ineffable glory of your Son, our God. May this be my lot, my Lady, all holy Theotokos, through your intercession and help, by the grace and love of your only begotten Son, our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ; to whom belong all glory, honor, and worship, with his eternal Father, and his all holy, righteous, and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer To Our Lord Jesus Christ

By the Monk Antiochos of Pandektes

Grant us, Master, as we depart for sleep, rest for body and soul. Protect us from the gloom of sinful sleep and from all dark pleasures of the night. Calm the impulses of passion, and quench the fiery darts of evil which are treacherously cast against us. Check the turbulence of our flesh and lull all our earthly and mundane thoughts. Grant us, O God, a watchful mind, prudent reason, a vigilant heart, and tranquil sleep, free from all evil dreams. Raise us up at the hour of prayer, strengthen us in your commandments, and keep unshaken within us the remembrance of your judgments. Grant us to glorify you all night long that we may praise and bless and glorify your all honorable and magnificent name, of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Most glorious, ever virgin, blessed Theotokos, present our prayers to your Son and our God, and plead with him, that through you he may save our souls. My hope is the Father; my refuge, the Son; my protection, the Holy Spirit. Holy Trinity, glory to you. My every hope I place in you, Mother of God, keep me under your protection.

Dismissal

May Christ our true God have mercy upon us and save us through the intercessions of his most pure and holy Mother, and of all your Saints, for he is a good and loving God. Through the prayers of our holy fathers, Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us, and save us. Amen.

On The Next Day(After the usual morning prayers say:)

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 (3).

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

Our Father, who are in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your 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. 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. Amen.

Lord, have mercy (12).

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Come, let us worship and bow down to God, our king. Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ, our king and God. Come, let us worship and bow down to Christ himself, our king and God.

Psalm 22 (23)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Psalm 23 (24)

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell in it. For he has founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the waters. Who shall ascend to the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbor. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek the Lord, of those who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, you everlasting gates. And the King of glory shall enter. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in war. Lift up your gates, you princes, and be lifted up, you everlasting gates, and the King of glory shall enter. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.

Psalm 115

I believed and therefore I spoke. But I was humbled exceedingly. I said in my ecstasy, every man is a liar. What shall I render to the Lord for all that he has rendered to me? I will take the cup of salvation, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people. Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints. Lord, I am your servant, and the son of your handmaiden. You have broken my bonds. I will offer a sacrifice of praise to you, and I will call upon the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, in the courts of the house of the Lord, in the midst of you, Jerusalem. Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. (Then the following hymns).

Tone 6

Turn away from my transgressions Lord, born of the Virgin, and purify my heart, making it a temple for your most pure and precious body and blood. Do not cast me away from your presence, for your great mercy is boundless.

Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

How shall I, the unworthy, be not ashamed of your holy things? If I dare to approach you with the worthy, my garment will con­demn me, for it is not a supper garment, and I shall bring reproach upon my most sinful soul. Therefore, cleanse me Lord of the defilement of my soul and save me, for you are a loving God. Now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Because of the multitude of my trans­gressions, I come to you, pure Theotokos, asking for salvation. Visit my ailing soul, only blessed one, and beseech your Son, our God, to grant me remission of the evil I have done.

As you are about to eat the body of the Master, approach with fear lest you be burned, for it is fire. And before you drink in communion the blood, be first reconciled with all those you have offended; then you may take courage to eat the mystic Food. Before you take part in the awesome sacrifice of the life‑giving body of the Master, take care and pray with fear of God.

First Prayer: Saint Basil

Master, Lord Jesus Christ our God, the source of life and of immortality, creator of everything visible and invisible, coeternal and co‑everlasting Son of the Father without beginning; because of abundant goodness, you put on flesh and were crucified and buried for us unthankful and ungrateful people in these latter days, and have by your own blood renewed our nature corrupted by sin. Accept, immortal king, my repentance, that of a sinner, and turn towards me, and hear my words. I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned before heaven and before you, and I am not worthy to look upon the height of your glory, for I have provoked your goodness. I have transgressed your commandments. I have disobeyed your ordinances. But you, Lord, being long‑suffering, and of great mercy, do not remember evil, and have not given me over to destruction because of my lawlessness, but have ever awaited my con­version. You who love all people, said by your prophet, I do not desire the death of a sinner but that he should turn and live. For, Master, you do not wish that the work of your hands should perish, nor do you take pleasure in the destruction of human beings, but desire that everyone should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. There­fore, even I, although I am unworthy both of heaven and earth and of this temporary life, having wholly yielded myself to sin, and become the slave of pleasure and have de­filed your image, yet being your creature and of your shaping, I do not despair for my salvation in my wretchedness. But I am em­boldened by your infinite compassion and I draw near. Therefore, O Christ, you who love all people, receive even me as the harlot, as the thief, as the publican, as the prodigal. Take away the heavy burden of my sins, you who take away the sin of the world, who heal the infirmities of all people, who call to yourself the weary and burdened and give them rest, who came not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance. Do cleanse me from defilement of the flesh and spirit, and teach me to fulfill holiness in your fear, that in the pure testimony of my conscience, receiving my portion of your holy gifts, I may be united to your holy body and precious blood, and have you dwell and remain within me with the Father and your Holy Spirit. Yes, Lord Jesus Christ my God, grant that the communion of your holy and life giving mysteries may not be to my condemnation. Do not let me be afflicted in soul and body by partaking of them unworthily. But grant that to the last breath of my life I shall partake of my share uncondemned of your holy gifts, looking to the fellowship of the Holy Spirit for eternal life, and to a favorable answer at your awesome judgment seat, that even I may also become a partaker with your elect of your incorruptible blessings which you have prepared for those who love you and in whom, Lord, you are glorified to the ages of ages. Amen.

Second Prayer: Saint Basil

I know, Lord, that I partake unworthily of your pure body and precious blood, and that I am guilty, my Christ and my God, as I eat and drink condemnation to myself not discerning your body and blood. Yet, emboldened by your loving kindnesses, I come to you, who said, “he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood, abides in me and I in him.” Take pity, therefore, Lord, and do not rebuke me, a sinner, but deal with me mercifully. Let these holy gifts give me healing and cleansing, enlightenment and protection, salvation and sanctification of soul and body. May they avert every fantasy, evil practice, and operation of the devil enacted in my members by design. May they give me confidence in and love for you; amendment of life and perseverance, increase of virtue and perfection, fulfillment of your commandments, fellowship of the Holy Spirit, provisions for the journey of eternal life, and an acceptable answer at the awesome judgment seat. But let them not be for judgment or condemnation. Amen.

Third Prayer: John Chrysostom

Lord my God, I know that I am not worthy, nor sufficient, that you should come under the roof of the house of my soul, for it is entirely desolate and in ruins, and you do not have a worthy place in me to lay your head. But as you humbled yourself from on high for our sake, do likewise also for my unworthiness. And as you willed in the cave to lie in a manger of dumb animals, take it upon yourself now to enter the manger of my dumb soul and into my soiled body. And as you did not refuse to enter and eat with sinners in the house of Simon the leper, so also deign to enter into the house of my soul, leper and sinner that I am. And as you did not cast out the harlot, a sinner like me, who came and touched you, so have compassion on me the sinner who now comes to touch you. And as you did not abhor the kiss of her sinful and unclean mouth, do not abhor my mouth, more stained and unclean than hers, nor my sordid and unclean and shame­less lips, nor my more unclean tongue. But let the fiery coal of your most pure body and of your most precious blood bring sanctifica­tion, illumination, and strengthening of my lowly soul and body, relief of the burden of my many transgressions, protection against every operation of the devil, an averting and hindering of my mean and evil habits, mor­tification of my passions, fulfillment of your commandments, an increase of your divine grace, and inheritance of your kingdom. For it is not with a light heart, Christ my God, that I venture to approach you. But I trust in your ineffable goodness. May I not become prey to Satan by abstaining for long from your communion. Therefore, Lord, I pray to you who alone are holy that you sanctify my soul and body, my heart, and my mind, and renewing me wholly, implant in my members fear of you. Do not let your sanctification be taken from me, but be my help and protector, governing my life in peace. Make me worthy to obtain a place at your right hand with your saints, through the prayers and supplications of your most pure Mother, of your bodiless ministers and pure angelic powers, and of all your saints who from the ages have found favor in you. Amen.

Fourth Prayer: John Chrysostom

I am not worthy, Sovereign Lord, for you to come under the roof of my soul. Yet because of your love for all people, you wish to dwell in me. I boldly come. Command that the gates open which you alone made and you will come in with love toward all people, as is your nature. You will come in and enlighten my darkened reasoning. I believe that you will do this, for you did not send away the harlot who came to you with tears, nor cast out the repenting publican, nor reject the thief who acknowledged your kingdom, nor forsake the repentant persecutor for what he was. But you counted as your friends all of those who came to you in repentance. You alone are blessed, always, now and to the endless ages. Amen.

Fifth Prayer: John Chrysostom

Lord Jesus Christ my God, absolve, remit, forgive, and pardon me, your sinful, unprofitable, and unworthy servant the errors, transgressions, and trespasses which I have committed from my youth to the present day and hour, whether in knowledge or in ignorance, in words, or deeds, or thoughts, or reasonings and pursuits, and in all my senses. And through the intercession of the all pure and ever virgin Mary, your Mother, who conceived you without sin, my only hope, protection, and salvation, count me worthy, uncondemned, to partake of your pure and immortal and life giving, awesome Mysteries, for the remission of sins, for eternal life, for sanctification and enlightenment, for strength, and healing and health of both soul and body, for the erasing and complete removal of my evil thoughts and recollections, superstitions and nocturnal phantasies brought by dark and evil spirits. For yours is the kingdom, the power, the honor, and worship, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever, and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Sixth Prayer: John Of Damascus

Master Lord Jesus Christ our God, you alone have the authority to forgive human beings their sins, for you are good and love everyone. Forgive all my transgressions com­mitted in knowledge or in ignorance. Make me worthy uncondemned to receive your divine and glorious, pure and life giving Mysteries; incurring thereby neither punish­ment, nor the increase of my sins, but receiv­ing cleansing, sanctification, and a pledge of the life to come and of the kingdom. Let them be for me a rampart, a help, and an overturning of my adversaries, and a wip­ing out of my many transgressions. For you are a God of mercy, compassion, and love of all human beings, and to you we give glory, with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Seventh Prayer: Symeon The New Theologian

From foul lips and impure heart, from unclean tongue and a defiled soul, receive my prayer, O my Christ. Take not into account my words, my ways, or my shamelessness. Grant me boldness, my Christ, to say all that I wish. But rather teach me all that I should do and say. I have sinned more than the harlot who, learning where you lived, boldly came forward to anoint your feet, O my Christ, my Master, and my God. And as you did not reject her to come with eagerness of heart, reject not me, O Word, but extend to me your feet that I may hold and kiss and with streams of tears, as with a precious myrrh, I may boldly anoint them. Wash me in my tears and purify me in them, O Word. Forgive my errors, and grant me pardon. You know the multitude of my sins, you also know my wounds and see my bruises. Yet you know my faith, you see my eagerness and hear my sighs. From you, my God, my Creator, and my Redeemer is hid not one tear, nor even a part of one. Your eyes know my imperfections; in your book already written down are all the acts yet not done. Behold my lowliness, behold how great is my weariness and all my sins. God of all, remit everything so that with a clean heart, a conscience filled with holy fear, and a contrite soul, I may partake of your most pure, and wholly spotless mysteries, that give life and divinity to all who eat and drink of you with a pure heart. For you have said, Master, that whoever eats my flesh and also drinks my blood, does indeed abide in me, and I in him. True indeed is the word of my Master and my God. For he who shares in these divine and deifying graces is in no way alone, but is with you, my Christ, the triple‑radiant light that enlightens the world. But so that I may never be alone without you, O Giver of life, my breath, my life, my joy, and the world’s salvation, I have, as you see, with tears and a contrite soul drawn near to you to ransom my errors, beseeching you to rescue me and uncondemned to share in your life giving Mysteries. So as you have said you might dwell with me, the most wretched one, that I not be found by the deceiver, without your grace, and be seized by deception and seducing me lead me away from your life giving words. Therefore, I fall before you and fervently cry out to you: as you received the prodigal and the harlot when she came to you, so receive me, the harlot and prodigal, compassionate One, as I come to you now, with a contrite heart. I know Savior that no one has offended you as I have, nor committed the deeds that I have done. But this again I know, that neither the greatness of my sins nor the multitude of my transgressions exceed my God’s great forbearance and his great love for all. But with the oil of forgiveness you cleanse and illumine those who fervently repent and make sharers of your light and partakers of your divinity. And although this is strange to the minds of angels and of men, you speak with them often as your true friends. These thoughts make me bold, these thoughts give me wings, my Christ, and seeing your rich kindness towards us, I rejoice and tremble too. I partake of fire, being grass, and behold, a strange wonder, I am unexpectedly refreshed as was the burning bush, burning but not consumed. Therefore, thankful in mind, thankful in heart, thankful in every member of my body and soul, I worship and magnify and glorify you, my God, as being blessed both now and to the ages.

Eighth Prayer: Symeon Metaphrastes

Jesus Christ, wisdom of God, peace and power, only pure and spotless Lord, moved by the ineffable pity in your love toward all people, you took upon yourself our whole frame from the chaste and virgin blood of her who wondrously conceived you at the coming of the Holy Spirit and by the favor of the eternal Father. In this assumed nature you underwent the life giving and saving passion: the cross, the nails, the spear‑death itself. Mortify in me the passions of the body that destroy the soul. You who destroyed the power of Hades by your burial, bury and destroy the devices of the evil spirits through pure thoughts. You who raised the fallen forefather by your resurrection, raise me up from the sin that I have fallen into and show me the way of repentance. By your glorious ascension you deified the assumed body and honored it at the right hand of the Father. Make me worthy, by partaking of your holy Mysteries, of a place at your right hand with the saved. You made your holy disciples precious vessels by the coming of the Com­forter, the Spirit. Declare me also a vessel of your coming. You promised to come again to judge the world in righteousness. Grant that I shall go to meet you, my Creator and Maker, in the clouds, with all the saints, and that I may glorify you forever and praise you, with your eternal Father, and your all holy, gracious and life giving Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Ninth Prayer: John Of Damascus

I stand before the doors of your temple, but I have not refrained from wicked thoughts. But you, O Christ, my God, justified the publican, and showed mercy to the Canaanite woman, and opened the gates of paradise to the thief. Open for me the depth of your love, and receive me as I draw near and touch you, as did the harlot and the woman with the issue of blood. The latter only touched the hem of your garment, and she immediately received healing, while the former, clinging to your pure feet, obtained forgiveness of her sins. But may I, the miserable one, be not consumed, by daring to receive your whole body. Receive me as you did them, and enlighten the perception of my soul, through the intercession of her who gave birth to you without sin, and of the heavenly powers. For you are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen. 

Tenth Prayer: John Chrysostom

I believe and confess, Lord, that you are truly the Christ, the Son of the living God, who came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am first. I also believe that this is truly your pure body, and that this is truly your precious blood. Therefore, I pray to you, have mercy upon me, and forgive my transgressions, those voluntary and involuntary, in word and deed, known and unknown. And make me worthy without condemnation to partake of your pure Mysteries for the forgiveness of sins and life eternal. Amen.

When coming forward to receive communion, say these verses of Symeon Metaphrastes:

Behold, my Maker, I approach holy Com­munion. Burn me not as I partake, for you are fire which burns the unworthy. But cleanse me from every stain. Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of your mystical Supper. I will not reveal your Mystery to your adversaries. Nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief I confess to you: Lord, remember me in your kingdom.

And the following verses:

Seeing the divine blood, have fear, O man, for it is coal that burns the unworthy. It is God’s body that deifies and nourishes me; it deifies the spirit and nourishes the mind mystically.

And the following hymns:

You have smitten me with yearning, O Christ, and with your divine love you have changed me. Burn away my sins with spiritual fire and make me worthy to be filled with your joy, that rejoicing in your goodness, I may magnify your two Comings.

How shall I, who am unworthy, enter into the splendor of your saints? If I dare to enter into the bridal chamber, my clothing will ac­cuse me, since it is not a wedding garment; and being bound up, I shall be cast out by the angels. In your love, Lord, cleanse the vileness of my soul and save me.

Loving Master, Lord Jesus Christ, my God, do not let these Holy Things be to my con­demnation because of my unworthiness, but rather for purification and sanctification of my soul and body, and as a pledge of the life and kingdom to come. For it is good for me to cleave to God, and to place the hope of my salvation in the Lord.

Receive me today, Son of God, as a partaker of your mystical Supper. I will not reveal your mystery to your adversaries. Nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas. But as the thief I confess to you: Lord, remember me in your kingdom.

THANKSGIVING AFTER HOLY COMMUNION

When you have had your due and rightful part in these life giving and mysterious gifts, give immediate praise and great thanks to God, and say the following with fervent soul:

Glory to you, O God (3). (Then the following thanksgiving prayers:)

Anonymous

I thank you, Lord, my God, that you have not rejected me, a sinner, but have made me worthy to partake of your holy Mysteries. I thank you that you have permitted me, although I am unworthy, to receive your pure and heavenly gifts. O loving Master, who died and rose for our sake, and granted to us these awesome and life‑giving Mysteries for the well‑being and sanctification of our souls and bodies, let these gifts be for healing of my own soul and body, the averting of every evil, the illumination of the eyes of my heart, the peace of my spiritual powers, a faith unashamed, a love unfeigned, the fulfilling of wisdom, the observing of your commandments, the receiving of your divine grace, and the inheritance of your kingdom. Preserved by them in your holiness, may I always be mindful of your grace and no longer live for myself, but for you, our Master and Benefactor. May I pass from this life in the hope of eternal life, and attain to the everlasting rest, where the voices of your saints who feast are unceasing, and their joy, beholding the ineffable beauty of your countenance, is unending. For you, Christ our God, are the true joy and the inexpressible gladness of those who love you, and all creation praises you forever. Amen.

Prayer Of Saint Basil

I thank you, Christ and Master our God, King of the ages and Creator of all things, for all the good gifts you have given me, and especially for the participation in your pure and life-giving mysteries. I, therefore, pray to you, good and loving Lord: keep me under your protection and under the shadow of your wings. Grant that to my last breath I may with a pure conscience partake worthily of your gifts for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal life. For you are the bread of life, the source of holiness, the giver of all good things, and to you we give glory, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and forever and to the ages of ages. Amen.

Prayer Of Symeon Metaphrastes

You who have voluntarily given me your flesh as food, who are a burning fire to the unworthy, do not consume me. No, my Creator. Rather, penetrate into my members, all my joints, my organs, my heart and burn like thorns all my iniquities. Cleanse my soul, hallow my thoughts, make firm my knees and my bones as well. Illumine my five senses and make my entire being vigilant with the fear of you. Watch over me always, shield and protect me from every deed and word that corrupts the soul. Cleanse me, purify and put me in order. Adorn me, give me understanding, and illumine me. Mark me as your dwelling place, of the Spirit only and no longer a place of sin, so that when you enter as if into your own home of communion, every evil doer and every passion will flee from me as from fire. As advocates, I bring to you all the saints, the captains of the incorporeal hosts, your Forerunner, your wise Apostles, and more than these, your spotless, pure Mother, whose prayers accept, my compassionate Christ. Make your ser­vant a child of light. For in your goodness, you alone sanctify and enlighten our souls, and to you, our God and Master, do we give, as it is right, glory every day.

Anonymous

Let your sacred body, Lord Jesus Christ our God, lead me to eternal life, and your precious blood to remission of sins. Let this Eucharist be to me joy, health, and gladness. And at your fearful Coming deem me a sinner worthy to stand at the right hand of your glory, by the intercession of your most pure Mother, and of all your saints. Amen.

All holy Lady, Theotokos, light of my darkened soul, my hope, shelter, refuge, comfort, and joy, I thank you, for you have deemed me, the unworthy one, worthy to partake of the most pure body and of the precious blood of your Son. But you who gave birth to the true Light, enlighten the spiritual eyes of my heart. You conceived the source of immortality. Now give life to me who am dead in sin. You, the compassionate Mother of the merciful God, have mercy on me and give me penitence and contrition of heart and meekness in my thoughts and an awakening of my thoughts from captivity. And grant me, until my last breath, to re­ceive without condemnation the sanctifica­tion of your sacred Mysteries for the heal­ing of soul and body. Grant me tears of repentance and confession that I may praise ad glorify you all the days of my life. For you are blessed and glorified to the ages. Amen.

Lord, now let your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have pre­pared before the face of all people, a light to enlighten the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory Be To God

Is there ANYTHING to be Thankful for?

Life can be tough. In fact, it WILL be tough as God said to our ancestors in the Garden:

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 Till 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)

With a guarantee from God Himself of struggle and pain, it can be difficult to find something for which we are thankful. Day after day we go to work (not surprisingly called ‘the grindstone’) and we are faced with unrealistic challenges from management, self-serving competitiveness in our coworkers, and we all know at least one of the ‘can’t follow the rules’ type of customers who take their bad day out on us. Everywhere we turn, life continues to throw us a curve ball, so we ask ourselves, “Is there ANYTHING to be thankful for in this life?”

Tomorrow is Sunday, and the Church celebrates the Divine Liturgy, during which time we are invited to receive the Holy Eucharist (Holy Thanksgiving) and live in communion with God. Divine Liturgy is the ultimate expression of thanks we offer to God as Orthodox Christians. But when we can’t find something for which we are thankful, Divine Liturgy can become a thankless experience. And nobody enjoys a thankless experience. No wonder so many people are bored during the Divine Services of our Church. To help you be thankful tomorrow I have offered this VERY limited list of things for which you might be thankful. During the Divine Liturgy we give thanks for blessings seen and unseen, so I will list a few ideas (just to start you off) in both categories.

Seen Blessings

• New Job you’ve been waiting for
• Good health report
• Healed from a sickness or disease
• A family member or friend was ‘saved’ from a tragedy
• A long-term argument/feud with a family member or friend was healed
• The birth of a new child in your family
• The engagement or marriage of a family member or friend
• You got engaged or married
• You discovered you’re pregnant and you and your husband are happy

 
Unseen blessings (these can be difficult to find)

• You survived another week in a dead end job – at least you still have a job
• You don't have a job - at least there is still food in your pantry 
• You have a job interview next week 
• You received a poor health report, but the prognosis is good
• You survived another week of chemotherapy
• You were delayed leaving the house on errands – when you passed that dangerous intersection you realize you would have been ‘that car’ if you left on time
• Your home burned down – your entire family is safe and staying with friends
• You discovered you’re pregnant and you’re not married – your decide the give birth and your boyfriend is willing and able to help with raising the child 

In a world so preoccupied with physical and emotional comfort it can be really difficult to be thankful for struggle, but struggle reminds us that we are sinful and in need of repentance. What I pray you understand more than anything else with today’s post is that we should be thankful for the chance to repent before it is too late. No matter what the struggle, at least we are still alive and can repent from our sins, even though our sins may not have caused the exact suffering we endure. Every day God allows us to live is a day He allows us to repent, and THAT day is worth giving thanks for during the Divine Liturgy.

Maybe this list can give you an idea about how you can be thankful to God. So find the closest Orthodox Church and make plans from now to be in Church Sunday morning. You can give thanks to God in person for the blessings seen AND unseen in your life.

A Judas Kiss

Today the Church commemorates the first Eucharist Jesus Christ celebrated with His Disciples prior to going to the Cross. As we’ve discussing this week, our Holy Week journey has been about the choice between living a life in communion with God, and living a life focused upon our desires and wants. One leads to life; the other does not.

During every Divine Liturgy we pray:

When He had come and fulfilled for our sake the entire plan of salvation, on the night in which He was delivered up, or rather when He delivered Himself up for the life of the world, He took bread in His holy, pure, and blameless hands, and, giving thanks and blessing, He hallowed and broke it, and gave it to His holy disciples and apostles, saying: Take, eat, this is My Body, which is broken for you for the remission of sins. Likewise, after partaking of the supper, He took the cup, saying, Drink of this, all of you; this is My Blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the remission of sins.

With these words our Lord established what we now call Holy Communion, the Holy Eucharist. With these words our Lord calls us to take action to join Him in Holy Communion, but that call comes with a price. He also called His Disciples to join Him, but one of the Twelve betrayed Him. One of the Twelve chose His agenda rather than follow Christ. The betrayal of Judas was not just that he sold Jesus to the Jewish elite leaders, but that he was unable to see past his agenda to see that Christ had a different plan of salvation.

The Fathers teach that even if Adam and Eve had not disobeyed God and brought sin, and therefore death, into the world, Jesus still would have become incarnate to join humanity to the divinity of God. That much of God’s plan has always been in play. The clues to understanding this are in this prayer from the Liturgy. “Plan of salvation” “He delivered Himself up” “Giving thanks” “for the remission of sins” are all terms that reveal what God had always intended to do for humanity. So what changed?

When Adam and Eve broke the initial communion we enjoyed with God, death entered into our existence. At that point, Jesus would have to die in order to be fully human. There was only one problem; sin is the wages of death. Since Jesus never sinned, He would never have died of natural causes. He had to be killed. And that brings us to Judas.

During what is known as the Last Supper, Jesus told Judas “What you do, do quickly.” (John 13.27) Jesus allowed Judas to misunderstand the plan. When Judas betrayed Jesus to the leaders, he thought he was helping begin the revolution to defeat the Romans. Judas believed he was helping Jesus’ plan, which he was. But Jesus’ plan was not Judas’ plan.

When Judas finally realized he had the plan all wrong, he couldn’t handle his failure and killed himself. We often get God’s plan wrong too, but we are blessed that God has given us the Church and Holy Week to bring us back to Him through Holy Confession and the various ancient services of the Church. Thankfully, today we can enter the Church with faith and receive the most precious Body and Blood of Christ, and live forever. We don’t have to make the same mistakes as Judas. We don’t have to betray God with a kiss to initiate His plan. We only need to go to Church.

What is ‘the blood’ of Jesus?

Today’s Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Ephesians 1:1-9 - PAUL, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are at Ephesus and faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace which he lavished upon us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose.

Living here in the Bible Belt, I often hear that we are saved by the blood of Jesus, about which I am in total agreement. But what does Saint Paul mean when he says “we have redemption through his blood?” For many Protestants, at least by the way they talk, means the very blood dripping down the bloody cross now that the vengeful God has been satisfied to taste blood on His Altar. At least that what it sounds like to me when I am told of the sacrifice and that blood had to be shed in order for God to forgive us. .... as if God was unable to simply forgive us..... He could and He did by the way.

As Orthodox Christians we are saved by the blood of Christ, but in a different way. In the Eucharist, the Body and BLOOD of Christ, in our unity with Christ, what we call Communion, through our Baptism and His Grace, we are saved from death. Just something to think about...

Were you in Church today?

Thousands of Orthodox Christians were unable to attend Divine Liturgy today due to a bad winter storm. Thousands were denied the ability to receive the Grace of God because they were unable to attend Divine Liturgy. At best they sat at home WATCHING on their computer screens one of the many Divine Liturgy LIVE STREAMs available throughout the Archdiocese. If you don’t live in the Central Atlantic States or the New York area where snow forced many Churches to close today, did you take the opportunity to attend Divine Liturgy?

When so many are unable to receive Holy Communion, it becomes imperative for those who are able to attend Divine Liturgy to make every effort to attend Divine Liturgy and receive Holy Communion. Where were you today? Did you take the opportunity to receive the grace of God in Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion, or did you choose to stay home? The early Church felt it was so disrespectful for people who were allowed to receive Holy Communion, but refuse to either properly prepare or simply reject the grace of God in the Eucharist, that they were penalized with a penance of temporary excommunication. The Church took seriously the order within the Church.

How could someone who COULD receive Holy Communion REFUSE Holy Communion when so many others, whether out of penance or because they were not members of the Church WANTED to receive but were FORBIDDEN? Where were YOU today?

The Holy Canons as Guide Posts

Today’s Gospel Reading: Mark 2:23-28; 3:1-5 - At that time, Jesus was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain.  And the Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?"  And he said to them, "Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?"  And he said to them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath." Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand.  And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him.  And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here."  And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?"  But they were silent.  And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch it out," and his hand was restored.

The religious elite were always out to trap Jesus in breaking the Law, but the Author of the Law can never break His own Law. The reason they were not successful was because they never fully understood the Law in the first place. For many of the elite the Law represented chains and oppression rather than freedom and grace.

I often find the same true of Orthodox Christians. The rules of the Church, what we call the Holy Canons, are meant to free us and bestow grace in and through our lives. They are meant to lead us to a Christ-filled life, and away from the fleshly life. Naturally if we prefer the flesh, we will consider the Holy Canons as limiting and oppressive, especially living in a so-called free society. HOWEVER...if we seek the Lord, we will appreciate the Holy Canons as guide posts (a better translation of Canon than rule) in our journey to Christ.

Whether the Holy Canons require fasting or forbid fasting, it is to guide our proper understanding of fasting and the proper place it has in our salvation journey. Whether the Holy Canons forbid or allow Holy Communion, it is to inspire our soul to desire communion with God rather than the world. The religious elite of Jesus’ time could not understand the difference, I pray we are able.

A Perfect Gift for God at Christmas

Today’s Epistle Reading: St. Paul's Letter to the Hebrews 10:1-18 -  BRETHREN, since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices which are continually offered year after year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered? If the worshipers had once been cleansed, they would no longer have any consciousness of sin. But in these sacrifices there is a reminder of sin year after year. For it is impossible that the blood of bulls and goats should take away sins. Consequently, when he came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body hast thou prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. Then I said, 'Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God,' as it is written of me in the roll of the book." When he said above, "Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), then he added, "Lo, I have come to do thy will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this one had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, then to wait until his enemies should be made a stool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their misdeeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.

In the Old Testament, when someone wanted to thank God for a blessing they had received, they went to the temple and made an offering. There were many sorts of offerings which you can read about in the Old Testament. But with the coming of Christ, all these offerings were replaced with one perfect offering. The Eucharist, the Body of Blood of Christ, has replaced any and all offerings made in the Old Testament as the perfect offering, the perfect way to say thank you to God, the perfect way to seek His blessings, the perfect way to be in Communion with Him, the perfect way to Live A New Life In Christ. Do you have a reason to be thankful this year at Christmas? Attend Divine Liturgy, the sacrifice of all sacrifices, the Precious Body and Blood of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the perfect gift for God at Christmas.

Holy and Great Thursday – The Eucharist

Just before Jesus offered Himself for His creation, He made a new covenant with us. We call it the Eucharist, which means Thanksgiving, since it is modeled after the Thanksgiving Offering of the Old Testament. I have discovered that many people don't realize that there were SEVERAL covenants which made up the Old Testament. Take a few moments this afternoon and read Genesis, which we have been reading throughout Great Lent. Pay attention for the practice of offering God a sacrifice AFTER He had rescued His people from danger. You will find something quite interesting....It may just bring a new appreciation for the Eucharist.

Holy Week: Day by Day

Many of us have been attending Holy Week services since we were very young, and while we continue the blessed Tradition of attending Church services during the “holiest week of the year” many of us are unaware of the meaning of each day, and why the Church has called us to gather (sometimes) in the darkness of night to pray what seem like long and tedious prayers. To help us this year, I have attempted to summarize the “themes” for each day of Holy Week. It is my prayer that this will assist each of us to experience the fullness of the Resurrection of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. You can read more about Holy Week in a wonderful resource, “Great Week and Pascha in the Greek Orthodox Church” byFr Alkiviadis Calivas.

The Saturday of Lazarus and Palm Sunday is a two-day festival commemorating the raising of Lazarus from the dead Christ’s Triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. “By causing the final eruption of the unrelenting hostility of His enemies, who had been plotting to kill Him, these two events precipitate Christ’s death. At the very same time, however, these same events emphasize His divine authority.”

Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday feature stories from events in the final days in the earthly life of Jesus Christ prior to His Passion. The Service of the Bridegroom, which is celebrated each evening beginning with Palm Sunday evening, focuses our attention by remaining vigilant on the coming of the Lord’s Judgment at His Second Coming. It should be remembered the earliest Christians believed Christ would return in THEIR immediate lifetime. Themes such as conflict, judgment, authority, mourning, and repentance are meant to draw our hearts to long for Christ and prepare for His return.

The Mystery (or Sacrament) of Holy Unction is celebrated on Holy Wednesday evening almost like a bridge between the preparatory themes of early Holy Week and the Coming Passion of Christ. The Mystery of Holy Unction, founded upon the actions of Christ, “serves to remind the faithful of Chris’s power to forgive and liberate the conscience from the blight of personal and collective sin.”

Holy Thursday focuses on the events in the Upper Room and the Garden of Gethsemane. Within the context of “The Mystical Supper” we witness the institution of the Eucharist by Christ with the words, “Take, eat; this is My Body...Drink of it all of you; for this is My Blood of the New Covenant.” This is the final Liturgy before the Crucifixion, and includes the consecration of the “reserve communion” which is used throughout the year for hospital calls etc. While praying in the Garden, Jesus is betrayed by Judas with a kiss. On this day, light and darkness, joy and sorrow, life and death, are strangely mixed converging in one moment in the Church, reminding us of the inevitable struggle of life.

Holy Friday the Church remembers the mystery of Christ’s death on the Cross. The moving service known as “The Twelve Gospels” focuses upon the passion of Christ in which we, “commemorate the holy, saving and awesome sufferings of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ: the spitting, the striking, the scourging, the cursing, the mockery, the crown of thorns, the purple cloak, the rod, the sponge, the vinegar and gall, the nails, the spear.”

Holy Saturday contemplates the mystery of the Lord’s descent into Hades, where death is finally defeated by Life. Standing around the Tomb of Christ, we sing hymns of joyous lamentations as we behold Life in the Tomb. “The day embodies the fullest possible sense of the meaning of joyful-sadness, which has dominated the entire week. Holy Saturday is a day of strictest fast.

Courting Jesus

Each year for 48 days every Orthodox Christian experiences Great Lent and Holy Week, but most do not know what it is, let alone how to make the most of it. For many Orthodox Christians, Great Lent and Holy Week is nothing more than several weeks of longer (and more) Church services and a special diet. In fact, for most Orthodox Christians, other than Divine Liturgy being longer on Sundays and the Priest constantly droning on and on about Great Lent in his sermons and the announcements after Church, we would hardly ever notice a difference between Great Lent and the rest of the year. But I am convinced that much of this would change if we had a better understanding of what Great Lent and Holy Week actually was all about, so I wanted to take a few moments to answer this very important question, “What is Great Lent and Holy Week”?

Historically, Great Lent and Holy Week developed in the early centuries of the Church for two main purposes; a few days to prepare for the celebration of Holy and Great Pascha with intense prayer and fasting, and 40 days to prepare for baptism with intense prayer, fasting, and learning. Eventually the two merged together to form a longer period of 48 days we now know as Great Lent and Holy Week. But almost everyone in the Church is already baptized, so why does the Church continue this practice of such a long period of intense fasting and prayer? What are WE preparing for?

The answer rests in the prayers of the services for this period. In the ancient Church, Christians believed that Christ would return immediately, so the few days before Pascha, is a period to prepare to welcome Him back, and therefore prepare for the final judgment and paradise. You will notice in the hymns especially during Holy Week, this idea of being vigilant waiting for the return of Christ is written throughout the services. So Great Lent and Holy Week is a period during which time we prepare ourselves to greet Christ and be forever in paradise with Him.

I might compare it to a courting relationship. We spend several weeks getting to know more about Jesus Christ by praying, fasting, and helping the poor (all things He commanded us to do in life), so that when He returns for us, we will be ready for our marriage to Him. We will know Him, and we will be comfortable in His presence. Can you imagine marrying a person you have never met? Even in past centuries when arranged marriages were common, a bride and groom would spend time courting, to learn about each other.

So this year, during our Great Lent and Holy Week experience, I invite you to spend time “courting Jesus” and getting to know more about Him. You can learn “everything there is to know” about Jesus in His Church – reading His Word, fasting, serving others, attending Church services – otherwise spending time with Him, lest we forget that He has promised to be present in the Church for us to encounter Him.

You may have already been baptized, but do you know everything there is to know about Jesus? Are you prepared to spend all eternity married to Him? Great Lent and Holy Week are for you to get to know Jesus; don’t waste another opportunity!

What Christmas IS and ISN'T About

Christmas isn’t about gathering family together, although many families do gather at Christmas...

Christmas isn’t about giving and receiving gifts, although many give and receive gifts at Christmas...

Christmas isn’t about decorating, although many decorate with lights and ribbons at Christmas...

Christmas isn’t about enjoying a banquet, although many will enjoy a great banquet at Christmas...

Christmas IS about celebrating, IN CHURCH, with Divine Liturgy, the coming in the flesh of the eternal Word of God for our salvation. As Orthodox Christians we PREPARE for the celebration with prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and Holy Confession. As Orthodox Christians we honor God’s Nativity by living a holy life, free from the passions of wealth-building and power-grabbing.

What about those “others things” we do during Christmas?

We gather as family at Christmas to worship God IN CHURCH. We give and receive gifts at Christmas to remember the Magi’s offering to God. We decorate our homes at Christmas to welcome the King into our lives. We enjoy a banquet to celebrate our new life in Christ.

Have a blessed Christmas

Putting all the Pieces Together

Now that cooler weather has settled in and leaves have begun to fall, many families are looking for activities to gather and enjoy fellowship now that it’s too cold for beach fun. Among the many long-time traditions for family fun is building puzzles. Puzzles come in all sizes and shapes, and made for all ages young and old alike. Puzzles highlight beautiful scenery and famous landmarks. After an evening of family fun, NOTHING is more frustrating than have a missing piece to the puzzle. A puzzle with just a single piece missing will inspire families to search for long periods of time, overlooking nothing, to find that single missing piece. Everyone cheers when the missing piece is found; much more than if the family had completed the puzzle quickly without any missing pieces. Puzzles are great family fun...

We often hear life being compared to a puzzle that needs to be solved, and our spiritual life and Church are no different. The Orthodox Christian way of life is like a carefully crafted puzzle in which every piece is perfectly interconnected. Without EVERY piece, the puzzle just isn’t complete. It always surprises me that many, unlike game puzzles, have no difficulty in leaving the pieces of the Orthodox Way of Life puzzle either missing or not connected.

The pieces of the Orthodox Christian Way of Life puzzle include:

1. Receiving Holy Communion
2. Prayer
3. Fasting
4. Caring for the poor
5. Reading and studying the Holy Scriptures
6. Reading and studying the Holy Fathers of the Church
7. Reading and studying books about the Faith and Church history
8. Tithing to the Church
9. Attending Sunday Divine Liturgy EVERY SUNDAY ON TIME
10. Regular Holy Confession
11. Regular attendance at special Church blessing services
12. Regular attendance at special Church prayer services
13. Serving others (inside and outside the Church Family)
14. Reaching out to others and inviting them into the Church
15. Enjoying fellowship with others inside the Church

Like every puzzle, the most important piece is THE MISSING PIECE, since without it, the puzzle is not complete. As we enter into the Advent Season, and the Christmas Fast, take a moment and look over the puzzle you’ve been working on. Is there a missing piece? Have you spent any time recently working on completing your puzzle?

Like any puzzle, the Orthodox Christian Way of Life puzzle is best worked on as a family, when each member searches for the next piece and then rejoicing when each piece is carefully put into place. As a family, we can only rejoice when the entire family is participating in building the puzzle. Take it one piece at a time and, with dedication and unity, the entire puzzle will be complete. Let’s complete the puzzle!

The Touch of God

Many people think they don’t need to walk into a Church to encounter God, but you can only touch God in His Church. God could have called down from Heaven and forgiven all sins and welcomed humanity back into Paradise, but He chose instead to take on flesh and touch humanity. There are many ways to call out to God, but only one way to touch Him. When the Precious Body and Blood of Christ touches your lips, your sins are forgiven and you are healed, because the touch of God heals and you live forever.

The Touch of Christ Heals All

So many times we struggle with whether or not we should attend Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning. I’ve heard so many explanations in the past twenty years about why people don’t need to be in Church to pray and experience God. The Gospel offers us a different answer with the story of the raising of the widow’s son in Nain. (Luke 7.11-17) In this story it was the physical touch of Christ, along with His command, that healed the young man. He touched the open coffin when He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” (Luke 7.14)

St Cyril of Alexandria said, “Why then did He not work the miracle by only a word but also touched the bier? It was, my beloved, that you might learn that the holy Body of Christ is productive for the salvation of man. The flesh of the Almighty Word is the body of life and was clothed with might.” Don’t you see? God could have called out from heaven and healed not only this young man, but all humanity. But He didn’t. He came and lived among us – in a real body, touching and blessing us.

THIS is why we must attend Divine Liturgy if we wish to be saved from death. Christ commanded that His Body and Blood be offered in the Eucharist, as life for the salvation of the world. You can’t receive Holy Communion on the golf course. If you can’t receive Holy Communion, then you cannot touch Christ. And the touch of Christ is life and heals all.

Rollercoasters and Incense

The other day, while discussing the painful reality that so many Orthodox Christians “just don’t enjoy being in Church” I was asked an interesting question. “Father, if you ask children which they would prefer, going to the amusement park or doing homework, which one do you think they would choose?” OF COURSE they would choose the amusement part, so would I. The problem with this question, all too common to the struggle of Church attendance, is a false option. Let me explain...

There is a campus (they don’t use the term perish) of New Spring Church in Florence that after only six years (the same tenure of my time in Florence) has grown to over 2,000 every Sunday. They are currently building a brand new multi-million dollar church complex that literally dwarfs the bank next door. The Worship experience of this particular Church has become quite popular in Evangelical Protestant circles, with rock music, light shows, no dress code expectations, and a sermon. BUT.....there is no preacher in Florence. That’s right; the “featured” sermon is ON SCREEN from the mother campus elsewhere in South Carolina. Others have characterized the Sunday worship as attending a concert. So, it should come as no surprise that youth (and adults who wish to pretend they’re still youth) flood in from all directions to attend a weekly “free” concert.

And there lies the false choice. Orthodox worship is NOT a rock concert. It is NOT a light show. It is NOT even a sermon, though we do preach. But the false choice is much more than just the style of worship. Orthodox worship is HEAVEN ON EARTH, where we are graced to physically become one with God through the Holy Eucharist. Orthodox worship is directionally opposite from this form of Protestant Worship. What do I mean by directionally opposite?

Where we as Orthodox direct our attention, characterized in the fact that the celebrant clergy FACE THE ALTAR, is toward God. Protestant worship is directed inward toward the self. We speak to God. We sing to God. We bow to God. We worship God with the proper understanding that we are in the presence of His glory. Protestant worship speaks to the heart and, by design, seeks the rush of adrenaline, which explains the “I just FEEL good when I leave that Church” emotion of Protestants. What examples do we have to follow?

Moses hid his face. Exodus 3.6

Isaiah cried out in fear. Isaiah 6.5

John the theologian fell to the floor as though he were dead. Revelation 1.17

Orthodox Christian worship is based upon this example of humility in the face of God. And YET, we are allowed to approach the chalice standing face-to-face with God to receive His most precious Body and Blood into our very bodies. Orthodox Christian worship is a foretaste of how God is being worshiped in Heaven as witnessed by Prophet Isaiah and Saint John.

They didn’t see rock bands. They didn’t see light shows. Of course this should be obvious, but they DID see an Altar, golden candles sticks, smoldering incense, majestic robes, pious processions, praiseful singing, and bowing....lots of bowing. These are the characteristics of Orthodox Christian worship, as they were Jewish worship before us, SO THAT we can prepare to spend eternity doing the same thing in heaven.

Life isn’t about feeling the rush of adrenaline storming down the hill of a rollercoaster. Life IS about preparing to worship God in Heaven. Worship isn’t about feeling the rush of adrenaline during a rock concert. Worship is about offering God incense and bowing at His glory before the His Altar.

Rather than asking our children if they would prefer the adrenaline of an amusement park to homework, maybe a better question would be, “Do you want to be with God?” If so.....forget the rock concert and go to Divine Liturgy. The real problem is that most Orthodox Christians are still comparing the “fun factor” of our worship to the excitement of Protestant worship. And that’s just a false choice.

It’s time to exchange rollercoasters for incense.