Tag Archives: Jesus

Hymn 1 This is the day that gladdened them, the Prophets, Kings, and Priests, for in it were their words fulfilled, and thus were the whole of them indeed performed! For the Virgin this day brought forth Immanuel in Bethlehem. The voice that of old Isaiah spoke,[1] today became reality. He was born there who in writing should tell the Gentiles’ number! The Psalm that David once sang, by its fulfilment came today! The word that Micah once spoke,[2]  today had …

Perfect God and Perfect Man: Christ Is Born! Glorify Him! God is born on earth, and moreover He is born as a man: perfect God and perfect man—the unique God-man. And He has forever remained as the God-man both on earth and in heaven. Indeed, the God-man is the first perfect man on earth. Perfect man? Yes, because only in …

St. Ireaneus, Against Heresies, Book 4, Chapters 7, 10, 11, 23 Therefore Abraham also, knowing the Father through the Word, who made heaven and earth, confessed Him to be God; and having learned, by an announcement [made to him], that the Son of God would be a man among men, by whose advent his seed should be as the stars …

How can we acquire the grace of God in our hearts? St Isaac the Syrian said: ‘truly pure in heart are those who regard everyone as clean and who consider no one who exists as unrighteous or corrupt. They see everyone as a saint and all-holy, and they do not discern the righteous    from the sinner’. Therefore, if we …

Life is a gift of God. No amount of possessions, however abundant, can make it greater or give it security. The notion that life consists in possessions, in ‘having’ (the constant requirement of more), is cut in this pericope by the understanding that life cannot be secured by possessions, that existence is a gift outside human control. Humans have an …

‘’God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise’’ (1Cor 1:27) Today the whole world is suffering, however only those living in the Orthodox Church are liberated. Those suffering in the Orthodox Church are blessed because there exists the possibility for them to find peace. Those that are thirsty are blessed because they can …

The Lord’s entry into the country of the Gadarenes was a testimony that He came into this world, to seek and save the darkened and fallen nature of humanity, because the situation cannot remain like this. Humans should not live with a fearful and darkened heart, but in joy, in love and in the light. The light is to know, …

Are our hearts interested in knowing who we are and where we are going? Through the parable of the Sower, Jesus is trying to show us that there are four human reactions to God’s word, but only one path to salvation. The parable is about sowing seeds and how their growth depends on where they land. They can land on …

Author: Fr James Bernstein Published by Conciliar Press, 2009 (Source: http://thechristianactivist.com)   Light and fire are interconnected. Light radiates heat, and when focused produces fire; fire emanates light. Both also have a wide spectrum of electromagnetic rays and energy, such as radiate from stars. Light illumines, is life-giving, but also burns. Orthodoxy teaches that on a supernatural level, uncreated light, …

The large crowd in today’s gospel were inspired to say: “God has visited his people!”(Lk 7:16). Now, we can say that there is only One who exists within us and around us, who exercises a different authority over the mystery of life, because “God has visited his people!” An insightful person will say: we are dying. But we can say, “God …