The harshest form of covetousness is not even to give things perishable to those who need them. “But whom do I treat unjustly,” you say, “by keeping what is my own?” Tell me, what is your own? What did you bring into this life? From where did you receive it? It is as if someone …
Why did the church choose the Psalms of David the Prophet and organise them into an Agbia? I do not want to answer this question with my own words but I want you to hear what St John Chrysostom says, “We read the Books of the Old Testament once a year with an effort; we …
No one wants to be hurt, no ones desires pain, no one desires to be broken. But maybe we should! What if I told you that God loves and is very close to the broken hearted. You may argue that it definitely doesn’t feel that way or that is not the case with you. However, …
Why is it, you ask, that one can pray for so many years with a prayer book, and still not have prayer in his heart? I think the reason is that people only spend a little time lifting themselves up to God when they complete their prayer rule, and in other times, they do not …
A chaste and pure person should be pure in body and soul, in his thoughts, senses, feelings, and even in his dreams and imagination. A man should give careful attention to the purity of his thoughts as his thought also belongs to God. As we take care of the purity of our hearts in order …
Firstly: the power of grace is extremely abundant The power grace has is a strong arm and is capable of changing anyone or anything; it isn’t concerned about an individual, a group or even a country, because grace is way more powerful than that. Let’s go back in history and remember Moses’ stick, which is …
This is the first experience in our encounter with the Lord; He was born in Bethlehem in order to give us the second birth through water and the Spirit. In baptism, the old is buried and everything becomes new. In this holy sacrament we receive salvation from Christ. He gives us the new man and …
Do you wish that I shall speak of the ways of repentance? They are many, and various, and different, and all lead to heaven. The first way of repentance is condemnation of sins. “You must declare your own sins first that you may be justified.” Wherefore also the prophet said “I said, I will speak …
We have already mentioned that a sinner in need of repentance is in the same position as a man who is submerged in deep sleep. Just as one who is in deep sleep cannot awaken by himself and cannot get up if some danger approaches-he needs someone else to come and awaken him-so also one …
“Love God, and do whatever you will” - St Augustine This brief quote from one of the most eloquent Christians in history is a profound description of the liberty of the spirit that has truly known God. Our Lord Jesus Himself described this person’s freedom of spirit poetically when He said: “The wind blows where …
