What Does the Incarnation Mean For Us Today?
It is true that the Incarnation of Christ is a historic event; he actually appeared on earth as a man, and lived in a certain time period, but how are we to benefit from this appearance? How do we benefit today from our Lord’s Incarnation? Are we merely antique and history collectors in our church, or do these events have an actual meaning for us? When someone starts giving us information on a very high – …
The Divine Transforming Grace
The following article was published in The Ecumenical Review, vol. 56, No. 3, July 2004. The Ecumenical Review is the quarterly journal of the World Council of Churches. In Porto Alegre, Brazil, thousands of Christians will gather for ten days to pray in one voice and with one spirit: “God, in Your grace, transform the world.” This is the theme of the ninth assembly of the World Council of Churches, which will be held in – …
Practicing Christianity: Passages from the Letters of Saint Paul
The Letter to the Romans “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good, acceptable and perfect.” (12:2). “Let your love be without hypocrisy.” (12:9). “Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse them” (12:14). Live in harmony with one another. Do not be arrogant, but associate with those who are – …
The Holy Spirit in the Church of the Apostles
The Holy Spirit was the One who gave the necessary power for the work of preaching. The sending of the Holy Spirit was a promise from the Lord (John 14:26, 15:26, 16:7), however, despite this He said to them, “Behold, I send the Promise of My Fr. upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:29). Where will this power come from? He said – …
Treasures of the Fathers: Fifth Sunday of the Great Lent (The Paralytic Man)
Take Your Bed and Walk The passage of the holy gospel which speaks about the Pool of Siloam, beloved brethren, addresses us in particular, because owe are freed. From the listlessness of sin through the grace of Baptism. Just as the paralytic whom the Lord cured was weak in all his members that he could accomplish no good act, so before the coming of the Lord the entire human race was weakened interiorly in soul – …
Treasures of the Fathers: First Sunday of the Holy Fifty Days
The Confession of St. Thomas the Apostle And now let us see whether the confession of Thomas the Apostle, when he cried, "My Lord and My God," corresponds with this assertion of the Evangelist. We see that he speaks of Him, Whom he confesses to be God, as My God. Now Thomas was undoubtedly familiar with those words of the Lord, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord your God is One." How then could the faith – …