Tue Aug 12, 2008
Repentance in the Context of the Divine Liturgy
“Repentance in the context of the Eucharistic Assembly is another important topic discussed by St. John Chrysostom. Repentance safeguards the Church from all her adversaries and grants her members complete courage and freedom. For example, if Christians do not repent of their sins and transgressions and then receive the Mysteries, these Mysteries will destroy their souls. The unfortunate event will occur not because of the nature of the Mysteries, but because the recipients are spiritually diseased. The foreshadowing of this has occurred in the Old Testament during the assembly in the wilderness under Moses’ leadership when certain Israelites did not cleanse themselves and then partook of the manna and drink unworthily. In the New Testament, however, the Church’s members must repent of their transgressions even more so, or else face the awesome Judgment Seat of Christ and receive the punishment outlined by St. Paul in his gospel.”
[The Church’s Identity Established through Images according to Saint John Chrysostom, by Protopresbyter Gus George Christo, Ph.D., Patristic Theological Library 2, Orthodox Research Institute, Rollinsford, NH, 2006; pg. 417.]
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The True Meaning and Function of the Church Community
“In Homily 2 on the Statues, St. John Chrysostom portrays the Church as the image of the Ecclesial Community that is set apart from others because her members gather together in order to bear one another’s burdens and correct each other’s sins. The Ecclesial Community assembles in order to receive spiritual instruction and great gain and learn how to obey God; she is not a theater where people go for amusement. It is simply vain and irrational if Christians meet in Church and depart empty, void of any improvement from what they hear. The Ecclesial Community gathers in order to shed tears, and offer thanksgiving, prayers and supplication to God. She listens to the teaching of sound wisdom and, with one united voice, she calls upon God with much earnestness for aid and guidance.”
[The Church’s Identity Established through Images according to Saint John Chrysostom, by Protopresbyter Gus George Christo, Ph.D., Patristic Theological Library 2, Orthodox Research Institute, Rollinsford, NH, 2006; pg. 130.]
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Tue Aug 05, 2008
The Steadfastness of the Kingdom of the Heavens
“Only the Kingdom of the Lord shall exist unto eternity, because this mighty kingdom shall supercede and replace the kingdoms of men, and it will bring all the nations of the world under its dominion. This one Kingdom will embrace all the nations of the world and grant to them its abundant peace; a peace that is different from that of other kingdoms. All these things will be fulfilled, because ‘the governments of many’ (probably a reference to the democracies) and the monarchies will be abolished in the cities by Christ the Lord and God. The great peace and sovereignty of the Kingdom of the Lord has been prophesied by Isaiah (2:4) as follows: ‘And they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into sickles; and nation shall not take up sword against nation, neither shall they learn to war any more.’”
[The Church’s Identity Established through Images according to Saint John Chrysostom, by Protopresbyter Gus George Christo, Ph.D., Patristic Theological Library 2, Orthodox Research Institute, Rollinsford, NH, 2006; pg. 237.]
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Thu Jul 24, 2008
We Need God !
“Therefore, beware, my brethren. When someone dishonors us, let us not immediately become full of hate and indignant. Rather, let us seek wisdom and show forth gratitude, awaiting the help of the Lord. Perhaps God could not give us blessings before we ask for them? Perhaps He was unable to grant us a painless life and a life free from all affliction? However, He gives them both out of paternal affection. In other words, why does He step aside for us to be oppressed, and not provide a speedy deliverance? So that we may always remain at His side, cling to His aid, and flee to Him for refuge and continuously invite Him to succor us.”
[St. John Chrysostom on Repentance and Almsgiving, translated by Fr. Gus George Christo, Fathers of the Church series, vol. 96, The Catholic University of America Press, Washington, D.C., 1998; pg. 53.]
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Tue Jul 22, 2008
Stand Ready!
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:13-15).
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Thu Jul 10, 2008
Rejoice in the Newness of Life in Christ
“All creation, let it rejoice, let the heavens be glad, let the nations clap their hands with gladness; for Christ our Savior has nailed our sins to the Cross and by slaying death has granted us life, raising all Adam’s fallen race, as He loves mankind.”
[Resurrectional Hymn, Tone 1 of the Orthodox Church]
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Tue Jul 08, 2008
How are we to be Saved?
“How are we to receive God’s mercy? How are we to be saved? I say, let us always take prayer and its fruits into our hearts, namely, humility and meekness. ‘Learn,’ He says, ‘of me, for I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest unto your souls’ (Matthew 11:29). Likewise, David says, ‘Sacrifice to God is a broken spirit: a broken and humbled heart God will not despise’ (Psalm 50:17, LXX). God accepts and loves nothing so much as a meek, humble, and grateful soul. Therefore, you be careful too, my brother; when you see anything unexpected assaulting and disturbing you, do not look to human beings for refuge and do not seek mortal help; rather, disregard all of them, and run quickly with your thoughts toward the physician of souls. For, only He can cure our hearts, He who alone created our hearts and perceives all our deeds (cf. Psalm 32:15, LXX). He alone has the power to enter into our conscience, touch our thoughts, and comfort our soul. And if He does not console our hearts, all that men may do is superfluous and unprofitable. Just as when God comforts and pacifies us again, even if men greatly disturb us with myriad troubles, they will be unable to injure us in anything, for when He strengthens our heart, no one is able to shake it.”
[St. John Chrysostom on Repentance and Almsgiving, translated by Gus George Christo, Fathers of the Church series, The Catholic University of America Press, Washington, D.C., 1998; pg. 51.]
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Thu Jun 26, 2008
Prepare Spiritually Before Coming to Church to Receive Christ in the Divine and Sacred Eucharist
“Tell me, would you choose to come to the sacrifice with unwashed hands? I should think not. No, you would rather choose not to come at all than with dirty hands. And then, as scrupulous as you are in this little matter, do you come with soiled soul and dare to grasp? And yet the hands hold it only for a time, whereas into the soul it is dissolved entirely. Do you not see how the holy vessels are so thoroughly cleansed, so shining? Our souls ought to be cleaner than they, more holy, more brilliant. And why? Because those vessels are kept that way for our sakes. They do not partake of what is in them, they do not perceive Him. But we do, oh yes! Now then, you would not choose to make use of a soiled vessel, and do you come forward with a soiled soul? Note the inconsistency. At the other times you do not come forward even though you are often clean; but at Pascha, however outrageous an act you may have committed, you come. Oh, the force of custom and of presumption! In vain is the daily offering of the sacrifice, in vain do we stand before the altar. There is not one to partake. I am saying these things not to induce you to partake inconsiderately, but that you may make yourselves worthy.”
[St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople]
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Tue Jun 24, 2008
Serve the Lord Wholeheartedly
“The Lord has become everything for you; and you must become everything for the Lord.”
[St. John of Kronstadt]
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Tue Jun 17, 2008
Bear Witness to the Truth in your Lives
“We are called to go out from the confines of our closed, entrenched communities, to transcend our prejudices, misgivings, and fears and to bear witness together – to the best of our abilities – to the Risen Lord.”
[Archbishop Anastasios of Albania]
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Tue Jun 10, 2008
On the Incomprehensible Nature of God
“Let us invoke Him as the inexpressible God, incomprehensible, invisible and unknowable; let us avow that He surpasses all power of human speech, that He eludes the grasp of every mortal intelligence, that the angels cannot penetrate Him nor the seraphim see Him in full clarity, nor the cherubim fully understand Him, for He is invisible to the principalities and powers, the virtues and all creatures without exception. Only the Son and the Holy Spirit know Him.”
[St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople]
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