Humility of Heart

Greetings on the Afterfeast of The Ascension!

Christ Has Ascended! In Glory… From Earth to Heaven!

The heart gives life to the body, and humility gives life to the soul. ~ Elder Porphyrios

All my happiness and unhappiness are contained in the thoughts and inclinations of my heart. ~ St. John of Kronstadt

If you are a Christian, then you do not believe that your life is an accident, a meaningless, purposeless, random peak of a cosmic probability wave. You know that your purpose is to become the Body of Christ. You know that your life is a sacrament, not unlike the Eucharist.  Grains of wheat grow from the earth, shaped and fashioned through much labour to be offered to God and to become His Body. Likewise a human life: taken from the earth, shaped and fashioned through much labour to become an offering to God and His Body. And just as there are differences between different liturgical traditions, different people found different ways to live their lives as a sacred offering to God. Perhaps it is less important whether you sing psalms in the shower or not, recite the Lord’s Prayer three times a day or five – what is important is that you live your life as a sacrament, as an icon, and not as a caricature. ~ Fr. Sergei Sveshnikov

Admiring the bleeding hearts in our garden patio, and accompanied with joyful birdsong, an old and precious Childhood “Thank You” Prayer came to mind… attributed to Edith Rutter-Leatham from the late 1800’s. May God rest her soul! So many toddlers (myself included) have been inspired to learn how to pray simply, and with gratitude.

Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat,
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything.
Amen.

Thank YOU for visiting Blisswood!

Soon, we arrive at the wondrous Great Feast of Holy Pentecost!

With love in Christ.

Always, Now, & Ever!

Greetings on the (2nd) Day of the Holy Spirit!

Blessed Feast!

Yesterday’s beautiful Trinity Sunday Pentecost Vespers prayers were read aloud with an accompaniment of joyous birdsong, filtering through open church windows. Melodious cheeps and chirps of praise peppered the prayers delighting my heart and soul. Nature is indeed the Secret Gospel!

The Holy Spirit has always been, is now and ever shall be, having neither beginning nor end, but one with the Father and the Son: life and life giving; goodness itself and source of goodness, through Whom the Father is made known and the Son is glorified, and is known by all: one power, one unity, one worship, of the Holy Trinity. ~ Pentecost Vespers

I praise the Godhead, unity in three persons, for the Father is light, the Son is light, and the Spirit is light; but the light remains undivided, shining forth in oneness of nature; yet in the three rays of the persons! ~ Matins, Sunday of the Cross

Bless thou the Lord, and let thine song delight the world. ~ Holy Apostle St. Nathanial (Bartholomew)who, during the 9th century, appeared and spoke these words to a monk, St. Joseph the Melodist in a monastery altar... The Apostle Nathanial lifted the holy Gospel from the sacred altar, and placed it on the chest of the Saint, then blessed him. This was the beginning of the divine gift he desired. 

Today, we also celebrate the Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos “It is Truly Meet” (“Axion Estin”).

Parish Youth Choir sings It is Truly Meet to Bless Thee O Theotokos:

Congratulations on your Saint’s Day, godson Nathanial! May God grant you many years!

Kindling the Flame

Sunset on the Strait of Juan de Fuca

If but ten among us lead a holy life, we shall kindle a fire which shall light up the entire city. ~ St. John Chrysostom 

We must become enlightened bearers of the light within us, the Light of God, the very spark… of God’s divinity. ~ St. Gregory of Nyssa

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