The Comforter, the Holy Spirit, who fills the whole universe, passes through all believing, meek, humble, good, and simple human souls, dwelling in them, vivifying and strengthening them. He becomes one spirit with them and everything to them – light, strength, peace, joy, success in their undertakings, especially in a pious life, and everything good – “going through all understanding, pure and most subtle spirits” (Wisdom of Solomon 7: 23). “We have been all made to drink into one Spirit” (I Cor. 12:13). All pious people are filled with the Spirit of God similarly as a sponge is filled with water. ~ St. John of Kronstadt
Tag: Light
Happy Family Day!
Rear view of family housing in Bari, Italy – 2017. This is near St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Basilica, which houses his myrrh-streaming relics. They were moved in the 11th century from his original shrine in Myra, Turkey, to Bari, Italy- for protection, when Myra came under Saracen rule.
This year, secular Family Day also falls on the ancient and beautiful Feast of the Meeting of the Lord in the Temple.
Happy Feast Day and Family Day to my family, near and far… Related by blood or Spirit. May God grant all your petitions according to your salvation!
Honour your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. ~ Exodus 20:12
Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brethren dwell in unity! ~Psalm 133:1
My son, keep your father’s commandment, and forsake not your mother’s teaching. ~ Proverbs 6:20
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged, and the glory of children is their fathers. ~ Proverbs 17:6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. ~ Proverbs 22:6
Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her… ~ Proverbs 31:28
As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem. ~ Isaiah 66:13
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother. ~ St. Matthew 12:50.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named… ~Ephesians 3:14-15
Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. ~ Colossians 3:20
Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father, younger men as brothers… ~ 1 Timothy 5:1
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. ~ 1 Timothy 5:8
Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation… ~ 1 Peter 2:2
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ~ 1 Peter 4:8
How Can I Hold Thee?
Detail from Icon in the Benaki Museum – Greece 2017
St. Luke 2: 22-40 describes the Feast of the Presentation of the Infant Jesus Into the Temple. (February 15/2)
When Jesus was forty days old, the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph the Betrothed brought Christ to the temple, in order to fulfill the law and dedicate Him to God.
The Orthodox Christian tradition of Churching a mother on her return to church with her child for a blessing, 40 days after the birth of the baby, comes from the Jewish rite observed in this feast.
One of the many beautiful hymns written by 9th Century female saint, St. Kassiani:
“How can I hold Thee as a Child,
Thou, who holdest everything together?
How do I bring Thee to the temple,
Thou, who art beyond goodness?
How do I deliver Thee into the arms of the elder,
Thou, who sitteth in the bosom of the Father?
How dost Thou endure purification,
Thou, who purifieth the whole corrupt nature?”
So sayeth the Virgin, the temple, who containeth God –
Marvelling at Thy great condescension, O Christ.
Since 450 AD, church candles are also blessed on this day, because of elder St. Simeon’s reference to Christ as a Light of revelation to the Gentiles. (Candlemas)
Shine
What a beautiful day God has provided for us!
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. ~ Isaiah 60:1
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant: save me for thy mercies’ sake. ~ Psalm 31:16
God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. ~ Psalm 67:1
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. ~ Psalm 80:1
Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. ~ Psalm 80:3
Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes. ~ Psalm 119:135
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. ~Proverbs 4:18
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. ~ James 1:17
Before the dawn, Mary and the women came and found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They heard the angelic voice: “Why do you seek among the dead as a man the One who is Everlasting Light? Behold the clothes in the grave! Go and proclaim to the world: The Lord is risen!” He has slain death, as He is the Son of God, saving the race of men. ~ Paschal Hypakoe
Shine! Shine! O New Jerusalem! The Glory of the Lord has shone on you! Exalt now and be glad, O Zion! Be radiant, O Pure Theotokos, in the Resurrection of your Son! ~ Paschal Hymn to the Theotokos
Theophany Greetings!
The Feast of the Theophany of Our Lord Jesus Christ is celebrated January 19/6. After Pascha and Pentecost, this is the next greatest Feast Day of the Orthodox Church.
Theophany means Manifestation of God, as Jesus Christ is God the Word, Incarnate.
When our Lord Jesus Christ is baptized by John in the River Jordan, Christ comes up from the water, the heavens open, and the Spirit of God descends like a dove upon Him. God’s voice from heaven proclaims, “This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased.” The Holy Trinity is revealed. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit shine forth...
In the Gospel of St. Matthew, chapter 3, verses 1-6, and 11; and verses 13-17, we stand on the banks of the River Jordan and watch this miracle occur.
In the Gospel of St. John, chapter 1: verses 32-34, we see St. John the Baptist bearing witness that Christ is the Son of God.
Theophany reminds us of our own Baptism, for “As many as have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, Alleluia!” In the waters of Baptism, we are washed clean from our old life, and we put on the new life in Jesus Christ.
Today is also the Blessing of the Waters.
The feature picture reminds me of a traditional festal family hike around some back lakes, many years ago after Liturgy, on Theophany. Music from the service remained with me… in particular… “The Voice of the Lord is upon the waters, the God of Glory thundered, the Lord is upon many waters. (Psalm 28:3)” Upon rounding a bend in the trail, we encountered the lake shrouded in a blanket of dense mist. A sudden shaft of sunlight pierced through illuminating everything. The swirling fog dissolved as if blown away by a great breath. This exquisite memory remains close to my heart. Each year when hearing said phrase at service, for a moment, I return to that peaceful place.
I believe all bodies of water are particularly blessed with a special beauty upon this feast day!
Troparion of the Feast (Tone 1)
When Thou, O Lord, wast baptised in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest! For the voice of the Father bare witness unto Thee, calling Thee His beloved Son! And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed His word as steadfast and sure. O Christ our God, Who hast appeared and enlightened the world, glory to Thee!
Kontakion of the Feast (Tone 4)
Thou hast appeared today to the inhabited earth, and Thy Light, O Lord, hath been signed upon us, who hymn Thee with understanding: Thou hast come, Thou hast appeared, O Light Unapproachable!
Believing IS Seeing
For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light. ~ Psalm 36:9
In a world where seeing is believing, it is through Faith we understand that believing is seeing.
Faith opens our spiritual eyes and ears. With awe and reverence, Faith is the beginning of wisdom, and it often comes before a miracle.
After the Resurrection of Christ, the (doubting) Apostle Thomas, absent at Christ’s previous visit to the other Apostles said, “Except I see in his hands the prints of the nails… I will not believe.” When Jesus came again, He invites Thomas to “reach hither and touch” and reproaches Thomas, “be not faithless, but believing.” (John 20:27)
My favourite part comes next. It’s powerful. It surpasses time. It’s a direct consolation from Christ to us, right here and right now… in today’s world, where seeing is believing.
Jesus blesses those who believe before they see: “blessed art they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)
“I believe in Christianity as I believe that the Sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” ~ C. S. Lewis
Heal Me, O Lord
A bouquet of church flowers… Bright, beautiful and full of Light.
Walk Carefully
Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true)… Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time… ~ Ephesians 5:9, 15, 16
Marble Floor Mosaic in the 4th Century Basilica of San Giovanni (St. John) in Laterano in Rome, Italy.
Choosing Joy
Silence can be a Blessing… and during quiet moments we may receive clarity. Nothing that we do is ever too small or pointless. Everything we do matters! Every moment, each decision affects not only us, but those around us.
No life is free from pain or heartache. With faith, it is through the struggle of troubles that we grow. When trusting in God’s plan for us, through His great goodness He helps us weather our weaknesses.
We can’t rely on our own strength to live life the way God has called us to.
We need to allow ourselves to depend on Him, to ask His help.
For “…the joy of the LORD is your strength.” ~ Nehemiah 8:10
In a recent chaotic situation when my Frustrameter Gage red-lined, I literally had to pause, take a breath and say (through clenched teeth), “Okay! I don’t want to, but I’ll accept this,” and I gave my problem back to God. This choice became an unexpected opportunity for joy… and the so-called difficult issue had actually been a superficial perception.
Christ Himself is Joy, Light and Happiness. He is our Hope. Our Everything. Our Heart. Our Mind.
When we can remember to let Him, He is the Joy that transforms us into different people… People who can truly love their neighbours even when they’re weed-eating dandelions on their lawn, before the crack of dawn – (bless their cotton socks). People who can truly love their brethren and everyone, including those who aren’t kind to them… this is part of loving of Christ.
When we consciously choose joy and acceptance in the midst of turmoil, when we find and celebrate joy in the smallest of things, the precious lamps of our souls begin to shine! We are not at the end of something – we are at the beginning of something else! Something greater. Something better!
…“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9
“Joy is thankfulness, and when we are joyful, that is the best expression of thanks we can offer the Lord, Who delivers us from sorrow and sin.” ~ Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica
When we receive the wonderful grace of God, we need nothing else.
Give Good Gifts
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.~ James 1:17
Wholehearted gratitude helps our spirits flourish, and it behooves (such a delightful word!) us to do good things with the good gifts we are given!
It’s a Christian privilege and duty to be generous and kind to others. Even if all we have for someone is a smile… besides prayer, it could well be the most important gift to someone at that particular moment. It can lift their soul up.
A smile says I care about you. It says I see you, I respect you, I see our Lord in you.
When we have sincere compassion for others, God notices and surprises us with many blessings, sometimes more than what we deserve.
…It is more blessed to give than to receive. ~ Acts 20:35
A beautiful 19th century hymn – Give Good Gifts comes to mind. Our youth choir has sung this “anytime” song throughout the year at different events.
Give good gifts, one to another,
Peace, joy and comfort, gladly bestow,
Harbour no ill ‘gainst sister or brother,
Smooth life’s journey as you onward go!
(Repeat)
♥
Broad as the sunshine, free as the showers,
So shed an influence, blessing to prove;
Give for the noblest of efforts your pow’rs;
Blest and be blest is the law of love.
(Repeat)
Mt. Lebanon N.Y.