Mar 17, 2010

There was a monk from Rome who lived at Scetis near the church. Having lived twenty five years at Scetis, he had acquired the gift of insight and became famous. One of the great Egyptians heard about him and came to see him...

Mar 15, 2010

Repentance is the state of the heart when it is in communion with God.

Mar 2, 2010

Sloth... is not merely idleness of mind and laziness of body: it is that whole poisoning of the will which, beginning with indifference and an attitude “I couldn't care less,” extends to the deliberate refusal of joy and culminates in morbid introspection and despair. One form of it which appeals very much to some modern minds is that acquiescence in evil and error which readily disguises itself as “Tolerance.”

Nov 6, 2009

The parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31) has a long history of teasing Christians into dangerous territory. I suspect that many if not most Christians have more than a little curiosity about life after death. We want to know what happens. We want to know “how things work.” And this parable – at least on its surface – seems to give more indication of “how things work” than almost any other passage in Scripture.

Sep 28, 2009

...There is much more to this than the mere act of seeing. To see an icon requires that we also be in relationship with that which it represents. To read the Scriptures rightly is to encounter the Truth and, in some measure, to be changed in the encounter.

Jul 28, 2009

A Greek word for self-discipline is the root of the Christian idea of "asceticism." Behavioral people call it "delayed gratification." Scripture calls it denying oneself and taking up the cross. Nobody ever became an Olympic athlete, a musician, or even an effective professional or a good spouse, without practicing the skills and habits they mean to embody.

May 27, 2009

At the time of acute self-consciousness at the birth of adulthood, when the soul is still innocent and open, has not been hardened, everything is poured out freely, sometimes too freely, and there is no attempt to guard one's inner world from being trampled on. The child who has never been hit by a car, if he is not told of the dangers, will have no fear of walking into a busy street.

Mar 12, 2009

A couple of nights ago, the Vespers readings included the account of Cain from Genesis 4. The SAAS (Septuagint) translation in the Orthodox Study Bible reads: The Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his sacrifices. So Cain was extremely sorrowful, and his countenance fell. So the Lord said to Cain, "Why are you extremely sorrowful? And why has your face fallen? Did you not sin, even though you brought it rightly, but did not divide it rightly? Be still; his recourse shall be to you; and you shall rule over him...

Mar 1, 2009

Contrary to what many think or feel, Lent is a time of joy. Unless we understand this quality of joy in Lent, we will make of it a monstrous caricature, a time when in God’s own name we make our life a misery. This notion of joy connected with effort, with ascetical endeavour, with strenuous effort may indeed seem strange, and yet it runs through the whole of our spiritual life, through the life of the Church and the life of the Gospel...

Nov 19, 2008

The Way, through tests, introspection, and suffering, is hard and has many pitfalls. There is a strong temptation to look for happiness and consolation right from the beginning. If we experience disillusionment or disappointment, then we might start fearing that our journey to God might turn into torment and punishment...