For many people the impression they could get after reading the second half of this passage, might be ‘fear’. The words in verse forty-one, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt 25:41), are truly dreadful. Fear certainly becomes one of the motivators. However, as a picture of hell, is the …
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FOREWORD There are numerous works entitled “Treasury of Orthodoxy” within the Greek language, which have different authors, and as it seems belong to a specific genre of writing within the Byzantine and Post-Byzantine ecclesial tradition. The particular focus of this genre is to provide an anthology of essential items of faith, liturgical rites, Scripture and ecclesial teaching on morals and ethics …
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Today’s Gospel passage reveals to us the significance of one’s faith and humility in God. The story describes how our Lord went away from Galilee and withdrew to the north of Israel, to the borders of the ancient towns of Tyre and Sidon which are in modern day Lebanon. Christ hoped that here, away from Jewish cities, He could find …
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“Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house” You have heard, dear brothers and sisters, the story of Zacchaeus many times. Being so distinctive, it is known to all. Who was Zacchaeus? What did he do? Today’s Gospel tells us briefly: “He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought …
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“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned and with a loud voice glorified God” (Lk 17:15) Today’s gospel brings us the account of the cleansing of the ten lepers. We are taught just how great a sin ingratitude can be, but to be thankful is a profound virtue. These lepers lived with the fear of death …
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In today’s Gospel the Lord upon hearing of the imprisonment of John the Baptist, now comes to Capernaum, located north of Israel. This region, the heart of Galilee, was the starting place of our Lords public ministry. Galilee at this time had quite a mixed population, with many Gentiles (non-Jews) in the area; hence Isaiah called it “Galilee of the …
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Ηχος βʹ. Mode 2nd. Δόξα Τὰ σύμπαντα σήμερον ἀγαλλιά‐ σθω, Χριστὸς ἐφάνη ἐν Ἰορδάνῃ. Glory. Leap for joy today, O universe; for Christ has appeared in the Jordan. This feast day brings to us an epiphany of the true light, Jesus Christ (Isa 42:7; cf. Matt 4:16), and God’s mystery as Trinity, One God but Three Persons. Jesus does not …
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Every spring when it was Passover, according to Jewish custom Joseph and Mary made a habit of going up to Jerusalem. This story tells us that it was the time when Jesus was twelve years old. Since Jewish children were considered adult at thirteen, this was just before that. In this gospel account, the story of the childhood of Jesus …
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All over the world, Christmas trees are adorned and placed in people’s homes, shopping malls, and town centres. Also seen on TV are pictures of crowds of people cheering and so full of joy at the colourful lighting of the trees and the Christmas decorations. The word “joy” certainly matches with Christmas. Even in this Gospel passage text we find certain …
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You may be asking yourselves, what do all these names in the genealogy of Jesus signify? Well, the book of genealogy (vv1-17) reveals the history of God’s choice of His servants and the preparation of humanity for the Lord’s coming. It reveals the identity of Jesus Christ as: 1. True Israel: Son of Abraham and David; 2. True God: Immanuel, …
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ModeOfLife Become love as God exhorts us, for this is the true starting point for changing your life and the world. For it is love that will bring respect, justice and equity into the world, not our personal opinion of what justice or equity is.