"So let us too not be angry rashly. Anger, you see, has been instilled in us for a reason, not for sinning but for checking others in their sin, not for it to become a passion and an affliction but for it to prove a remedy for passions. Accordingly consider the anomaly of vice, when... Continue Reading →
God has made us for Virtue
"I wish, above all things, that you understand that no one has the power to do harm to the soul of the faithful Christian, not even the devil himself. Not only is it a wonderful thing that God has made us impervious to all treachery, but that He has fitted us for the practice of... Continue Reading →
Prayer is not only in the mouth – Chrysostom
"By prayer I mean not that which is only in the mouth, but that which springs up from the bottom of the heart. In fact, just as trees with deep roots are not shattered or uprooted by storms... In the same way prayers that come from the bottom of the heart, having their roots there,... Continue Reading →
Trading the Transitory for The Immortal?
"Pleasure is only a fleeting delight. Yea, pleasure quickly takes flight, and we cannot tie it down even for a few moments. For such is the destiny of human and sensible things: hardly do we possess them, and they escape us...They offer nothing solid or assured, nothing fixed or permanent. They flow away more rapidly... Continue Reading →
The Genealogy of Christ in My Life
If this was the story of a mere man, it would be right and pious to hide the ‘gory details’, but if of God come to descend to our weakness (cf. Phil 2.7) then this is to be glorified. Because it is Christ’s entry into all the brokenness of humanity we should not be surprised to read of his entry through this broken, but very human line of individuals.
The Justice of God
Sometimes as we read the Scriptures, we may not realize that we have operative assumptions and thoughts which may guide our reading and interpretations. We are, presumably, well intentioned and therefore believe that we are approaching Scripture and reading it ‘the way it was meant to be read’. Even more so, we believe ourselves to... Continue Reading →
Genesis: The Book of Love
We have previously discussed the book of Genesis and how it is we can come to read this book (Genesis: The Book of Life). Here let us consider together what Genesis teaches about human relationships and about love, again, as rooted in the revelation of The Lord Jesus Christ. In the last century the champions... Continue Reading →
Love Melts all Negativity
"He that loves (agapon) his neighbor as he ought, does not decline to be a servant to him more humbly than any slave. Just as fire, when brought into contact with wax, easily softens it, so does the warmth of love (agapes) dissolve all arrogance and presumption more powerfully than fire." St. John Chrysostom, Homily... Continue Reading →
Genesis: The Book of Life
Let us contemplate together the first book of the Scriptures, a book we are likely all familiar with. However, the text of Genesis is also the source of much debate amongst Christians and even amongst those seeking to dialogue with Christians. Unfortunately, there exists much disagreement on how to read this text. One thing is... Continue Reading →
Christ’s Ascension and Our Ascension
“Today [Christ] our first-fruits has ascended into Heaven. He who assumed our flesh is risen to the Father’s throne, so as to consummate the slaves’ reconciliation, abolish the old enmity and grant the earthly humankind peace with the Heavenly host. Today, we have won victory over demons, we have won the prize... Let us all... Continue Reading →
Anger: That Which Torments Us
St. John Chrysostom when speaking about the anger we have towards others and the anger we continue to harbour or hold against them says, "For you suppose that you are paying him [the one who angered you] back the injury; but you are first tormenting yourself, and setting up your rage as an executioner within... Continue Reading →
Despair Not
"Do not then despair of the most perfect change [repentance]. For if the devil had such great power as to cast you down from that pinnacle and height of virtue into the extremity of evil doing, much more will God be able to draw you up again to your former confidence; and not only indeed... Continue Reading →
An Ancient Faith For a Modern World 