Lent & Spiritual Excercise

When I was in seminary I had the great blessing of becoming the spiritual son of a Greek bishop, Bishop Kallistos of Xelon. He ended his life as the bishop of Denver of the Greek Archdiocese. It was he who taught me the Jesus Prayer. The whole spiritual vision of Bishop Kallistos had three very simple points.

• Do not resent.
• Do not react.
• Keep inner stillness.

These three spiritual principles, or disciplines, are really a summation of the Philokalia, the collection of Orthodox Christian spiritual wisdom. And they are disciplines every single one of us can practice, no matter where we are in life – whether we’re in the monastery or in school; whether we’re housewives or retired; whether we’ve got a job or we’ve got little kids to run after. If we can hold on to and exercise these three principles, we will be able to go deeper and deeper in our spiritual life.  more...

Metropolitan Jonah- OCA

For video of lecture  click  here.

Last Judgment Sunday

The historic church, the undivided church, the Orthodox Church has always clung to the teachings of Christ, the apostles, & church fathers, & thus has always taught that “faith and faithfulness” are inseparable.  And, it is “faith & faithfulness” being one and the same thing that is addressed by St. Matthew’s gospel, ch 25: vss 31-46.  There we are presented with “the parable of the Last Judgment.”

Our Lord tells this parable on the very last day before he was arrested and put to death, and He does this not only to inform us, but also warn us that our time just like His earthly time will one day end. It is a parable that reminds us that while trusting in Christ's love and mercy is absolutely imperative, it is equally imperative to be sure that we will experience His righteous judgment based on our faithfulness to Him when He comes again in glory.

Consequently, if our hearts remain hardened and unaffected by the Love of God in Christ, we should not expect the Lord to overlook our transgressions on the day of judgment simply because He is a good and loving God. & although God does not desire the death of a sinner, He also expects us to turn from our wickedness and live.

Let me say this in a more plain way: God does not repent for us, nor does he believe for us, nor does he act for us. We must of our own volition, repent, believe, and act according to the truth, anything short of that is self-deception.

As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? "And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness when he sins. Eze 3: 11-12

Excerpt from the Homily of the Sunday of the Last judgment. Fr.. Carlos Miranda

In Preparation for Lent

'If a king wanted to take possession of his enemy's city, he would begin by cutting off the water and the food and so his enemies, dying of hunger, would submit to him. It is the same with the passions of the flesh: if a man goes about fasting and hungry the enemies of his soul grow weak.'

John the Short

Peace

Always look at your own sins and do not judge another’s. Do not be self-confident. Control your tongue, your appetite, and your drink. If anyone speaks to you on a controversial matter, do not argue with him. If he speaks well, say, “yes”, if he speaks ill, say, “I don’t know anything about that.” Don’t argue, and your mind will be at peace.

      An unknown hermit