O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary. Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name… ~Psalm 63
A dear subscriber has shared some brilliant reflections that I’ve found helpful.
Sometimes we feel like we’re digging channels, ever waiting for the Lord to fill them. (It takes faith to do that!)
We know God is with us, but sometimes we may struggle to feel His Presence and Love, or even pray.
Yet, there is consolation!
When we carry out our “religious duties” we are like people digging channels in a waterless land, in order that when at last water comes, it may find them ready. ~ C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms
Duringtimes of spiritual dryness, faithful perseverance in prayer is the sweetest of all our prayers to God. By clinging tenaciously to Christ’s love with prayer, regardless of circumstances, we are truly blessed.
May we persevere in ploughing our personal furrows and be ready when the Lord fills them… in God’s Good Time.
Over the years I’ve noticed thatTrinity Sunday may seem breezier than usual! The trees, flowers and grasses sway and dance in the gentle winds. The Breath of the Holy Spirit encompasses all. Today the sun shines brighter. More golden. Birdsong is sweeter. Beauty is everywhere, rejoicing vibrantly.
Pentecost Traditions Today green vestments are worn by the clergy. Parishioners also wear a bit of white or green if they wish. Churches are decorated with greenery and flowers reflecting the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of Life. People bring small floral bouquets to church with them and hold them during the Divine Liturgy, to be later placed in their icon corners, or on a loved one’s grave.
Long grasses strewn on the floor may be collected after Liturgy, taken home and braided into a Grass Cross for one’s icon corner. (Loosely form two individual braided pieces and wrap/tie them together with a long grass blade.) Kids love to do this.
How to Make a Simple Floral Pentecost Bouquet (to bring and hold at church) Materials Needed: Tin Foil, Plastic Wrap, Paper Towel, Elastic Band
1
To make a small floral bouquet that won’t wilt, have at least 3 flowers with some greenery (herbs or leaves).
2
Remove extra leaves from bottom of stems. Tie a thin elastic band up towards the top of the bouquet. Cut the bottom of stems so they are even at bottom, and they can be held easily in your hand.
3
Lightly dampen (shouldn’t drip) 1 or 2 squares of paper towel and wrap around the bottom, and up the stems.
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Next, wrap the paper towel and stems tightly in an approximate 11 x 14 inch piece of plastic wrap. It can go up as high as you wish, but make sure it’s enclosed securely under the stems, so as not to leak.
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Now tear an approximately 11 x 14 inch piece of tin foil and lay the paper-towelled/plastic wrapped bouquet on top of it. Doesn’t matter if it’s on the shiny or dull side of the foil.
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Fold up the foiled bottom, making sure to enclose the the stems.
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Roll the foil tightly over and over, keeping the bottom sealed. Once completely closed, scrunch the foil to tighten more if needed.
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My husband holds this finished garden bouquet of foxglove, nepeta catmint, valerian, hosta leaf, lemon balm, and maiden’s hair fern. The foil looks too loose for my liking, and will be scrunched and gently twisted more tightly.
Now you have a fresh Pentecost Bouquet for church. If you make two bouquets, you can share one with someone who may not have access to garden flowers.
Just as the blessings of God are unutterably great, so their acquisition requires much hardship and toil undertaken with hope and faith. ~ St. Macarius the Great
The spiritual life is very simple and quite easy. We make it difficult by not struggling properly. ~ Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ~Romans 12:12
Much effort and labour is needed, for a man to be changed and to be the good tree that brings forth fruit. Strive then, for nothing else but to change, renew, and correct yourself. And pray for this… ~ St. Tikhon of Zadonsk
An unfulfilled promise is like a tree without fruit. ~ St. Ambrose of Optina
A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship; and he who sows kindness, gathers love. ~ St. Basil the Great
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. ~ St. John 12:24
Cave Monastery in Bulgaria – Image by falco from Pixabay
If we always see God in our minds, and always remember Him, everything will appear tolerable to us. ~ St. John Chrysostom
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~ Philippians 4:6
In preparing for an upcoming parish fundraiser, some plans had changed. Feeling a bit apprehensive, I sent off revisions with (what I hoped to be) an encouraging response to the flurry of emails, and with a heavy sigh, signed off, “Love in Christ, m Barbara.”
Or – so I thought.
Actually, I’d signed off saying, “Live in Christ, m Barbara”.
A note to self. Yes! Live in Christ! Quitsighing!
Guardian Angel had gently reminded- Everything’sinGod’s Hands – not mine.
And those pesky, anxious, tummy butterflies?
Vamoosed!
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9
Towards the end of evening vigil services, and after the Anaphora at Divine Liturgy, we sing a short, compelling, ancient hymn. Its history is amazing, for it was revealed by the Archangel Gabriel himself, posing as a monk while visiting a monastery on Mt. Athos during the 10th century!
When he began to sing before the Panagia Eleousa (Merciful) Icon of the Virgin Mary, it shone brilliantly. He then was asked by the brethren to write down this unknown beautiful hymn, but there was no paper available. Taking a piece of slate, and inscribing the words on it with his finger, as if the rock was as soft as wax, he vanished. The phrase it it truly meet (meet is old English), meaning it is truly fitting, proper and suitable.
This miracle is celebrated on June 24/11.
Ancient Hymn to the Theotokos It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most pure, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without corruption gavest birth to God the Word. True Theotokos we magnify thee! ~ Axion Esti
There are many melodies to this hymn, and below are two English tunes from Youtube. The first part has women singing and the second part has men singing another melody of this hymn.
Listen time total – a short 2 minutes, 21 seconds.
Congratulations on your Saint’s Day, Helena and Eleanor! May God grant you many years!
…And on the third day He arose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into the Heavens, and sitteth at the right hand of the Father...~ The Creed
Today is the fulfillment of Pascha, and the joyful revelation of our destiny in Christ. On the fortieth day after His glorious Resurrection, our Lord Jesus Christascended into heaven to be glorified on the right hand of God ~ Acts 1:9-11; Mark 16:19
… and lifting his hands he blessed them. While blessing them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ~ Luke 24:51-52
A country jaunt after liturgy and lunch today, had us unexpectedly meandering through a beautiful, 150 year old church yard. The cemetery grounds literally burst with thousands of wild, starry blue Camas Lilies… which were my godmother’s favourite flower.
As we wandered knee-deep, through violet fields, accompanied by trills of birdsong, another melody with joyful words from the end of The Creed came to mind… “I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the age to come. Amen!” What a blessing!
A rocky plaque on site read:
This place Whereon thou standest is Holy Ground Act reverently – Cherish the flowers This is God’s Acre
A cemetery is not a place where corpses are laid, but a place where the Resurrection awaits! ~ Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh
like cells of an enormous, incomprehensible fabric
our eyes are slowly opened
to the miracle which binds us together
May the Lord continue to bless us
~ by an Anonymous Friend
I initially posted this with my friend’s permission and name, but he has since requested that “anon would do nicely” and gave me this humble reason…
The words that I write Are rarely my own But are more seeds of light That some Angel has sown They take root and flower And raising their heads By some mystical power They rise in their beds And sing the praise of their Sower.
Happiness is found within ourselves, and blessed is the man who has understood this. Happiness is a pure heart, for such a heart becomes the throne of God. Thus says Christ of those who have pure hearts: “I will visit them, and will walk in them, and I will be a God to them, and they will be my people.” (II Cor. 6:16) What can be lacking to them? Nothing, nothing at all! For they have the greatest good in their hearts: God Himself! ~ St. Nektarios of Aegina
… the human heart, along with the mind, is an organ of knowledge. And the knowledge of the heart is higher than the knowledge of the mind. ~ St. Luke of Crimea
