Our spiritual struggle, our fight against our worst instincts and inclinations, cannot and will not be overcome by giving into them. Nor will they be overcome by mere appearances of holiness. We can try to look holy in front of others, doing various pious deeds, but for piety to be effective, it must be real and not done for show. Even then, we must not assume piety is enough. We need grace. We need to embrace the grace which is... Read more
Forgiveness is central to the Christian faith. Not only are we its recipients, we are expected to follow the example given to us by God and forgive others. With God, who is love, justice is bound with mercy. Forgiveness is available to all, but if we are to receive it, we must make ourselves vessels of mercy, offering the mercy we receive to others. Forgiveness is so important that the service which begins the Great Fast, Lent, in the Byzantine... Read more
War is always an evil. No matter who wins, humanity loses. “And let us not forget that war and terrorism are always a great loss for all humanity. They are the great defeat of humanity!”[1] Even the most just war is an evil which we should pray we never have to face, but when war comes to us, not everyone is equally guilty for the evil which follows. Those who intend to take what is not theirs and make it... Read more
Baptism is important. Through it, we begin our Christian life, regenerated by grace. It is also how we are incorporated into Christ, becoming a part of the church, the body of Christ. While grace can be said to be bound to baptism so that a valid baptism will always bring us grace, God is not bound by the ritual. God can offer that grace by other means. However one receives it, one is born again, regenerated by grace, incorporated into... Read more
Scripture is full of examples of those who were promised great things by God and yet found their lives to be full of struggles. Their difficulties, or the struggles of those around them, often had them wrestling with God. Some, like Job, felt as if God had abandoned them and so they wrestled with God in order to try to make sense of their experiences. Others wrestled with God so as to find God’s mercy, if not for themselves, than... Read more
Christ teaches that we are going to have our lives judged; everything about us will be revealed, and through it, who and what we have made of ourselves will be made known to everyone, including, and especially ourselves. We will not be able to hide from the truth anymore. Everyone, including the best of us, have things which we are ashamed about, things which we wish we had not done, but there is no getting away from what we have... Read more
All injustice requires satisfaction as a part of the process which reverses and heals the damage which it been done. This is true, not only on an individual basis, but communally as well Those who rightfully accuse society of wrongdoing, asking for and demanding reparations for injustices, have Jesus on their side, for Jesus was clear that all such debts must be paid in full: Make friends quickly with your accuser, while you are going with him to court, lest... Read more
One of the most interesting images Jesus used for himself was that of a mother hen seeking to protect her brood: O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! (Matt. 23:37 RSV). There are many elements which can be brought out of this text, each which could serve as a significant reflection... Read more
There are many teachings proclaimed by the Christian faith. While each have their value and significance, we must not presume they are all equally important. They are not. Nor should we think that all teachings hold the same level of inspiration. Many things which are taught are derivative in nature and in value; while they are connected to greater truths, they are derived more through human reason, with all the limitations and implications connected with it. This is why such... Read more
Paul speaks of Christian freedom, highlighting what differentiates it from other notions of freedom: Christians are to follow after the good, to seek after and engage what is helpful (to themselves as well as to others); they are not to be mere slaves to the passions, letting the passions dictate to them what they should do. This is because, though the passions can and do include various elements of the good, people get so attached to them that they ignore... Read more
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