True Love Love is to be directed first to God If we wish to understand love in its true scriptural foundations, we must set before us (and understand) the following truth:Love should be directed to God, before anyone or anything else This is what God revealed to us in the Book of Deutoronomy: "You shall …
Communal Fasting & Worship During these difficult days, we are increasingly called upon to worship as a community in the unity of Spirit, in one voice. What is communal worship, and how does it differ from individual worship? What is the Biblical basis for communal worship in the body of the Church? The Differences between …
The Ninevites and Us We may be shocked when we look at what happened in Nineveh. As soon as the king knew what had happened to Jonah, and heard his preaching, he rose from his throne, took off his royal clothes, laid aside his pomp, beauty, and vain pride, and put on sackcloth. All the …
The Nativity and Eternal Life Eternal life appeared incarnate when Christ was born in Bethlehem. Eternal life was revealed and seen and touched, after it had been concealed in the Father. But what is the value of this eternal life if it simply appeared once in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, and we look to …
The Nativity and Humility The Son has invited us to learn humility from Him and said: “Learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:29), and thus the most important thing that we learn from Him is humility. (1) The first thing we mention in His humility is His Incarnation In …
The Nativity of St John the Baptist The Church observes the birth of John as in some way sacred; and you will not find any other of the great men of old whose birth we celebrate officially. We celebrate John’s, as we celebrate Christ’s. This point cannot be passed over in silence, and if I …
In The Wilderness The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight the paths of our God [Isaiah 40:3]. The prophecy makes clear that it is to be fulfilled, not in Jerusalem but in the wilderness. It is there that the glory of the Lord is to appear, and God’s salvation …
THE DESERT FATHERS ON NOT JUDGING OTHERS ISAAC THE THEBAN One day Abba Isaac went to a monastery. He saw a brother committing a sin and he condemned him. When he returned to the desert, an angel of the Lord came and stood in front of the door of his cell, and said, ‘I will …
Judging If a person judges somebody he is willingly allowing himself to defame others and hurt them. If we know the reasons behind judging others, we will be able to find solutions to the problem. Train yourself to honor and love people in their presence as well as in their absence – if …
Repentance Would you like me to list also the paths of repentance? They are numerous and quite varied, and all lead to heaven. FIRST PATH OF REPENTANCE A first path of repentance is the condemnation of your own sins: Be the first to admit your sins and you will be justified. For this reason, too, …
