Through the Holy Spirit comes our restoration to paradise, our ascension into the kingdom of heaven, our return to the adoption of sons, our liberty to call God our Father, our being made partakers of the grace of Christ, our being called children of light, our sharing in eternal glory, and, in a word, our being brought into a state of al “fullness of blessing,” both in this world and in the world to come, of all good gifts that are in store for us, by promise hereof, through faith, beholding the reflection of their grace as though they were already present, we await the full enjoyment. ~ St. Basil the Great, on the Holy Spirit
Tag: Promise
Because of Our Intentions
Christ is Risen!
In the spiritual life we can do nothing worthy without repentance, but the Lord has much mercy on us because of our intentions. He who compels himself and holds on to repentance until the end, even if he sins, is saved because he compelled himself, for the Lord promised this in the Gospel. ~ St. Mark the Ascetic
Truly He is Risen!
From Earth to Heaven!
Christ has Ascended! From earth to heaven with glory! Happy Ascension Day!
Thou wast taken up on a cloud of light and saved the world… ~ Troparia Ode 7, Ascension
…And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. ~ Acts 1:10-11
Dazzling rainbow-coloured clouds appeared in the sunny sky today- keeping with the situation. There were pinks, golds, and greens. One of the clouds seemed to resemble the Greek letter “Omega.”
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. ~ Revelation 1:8
Thank you Irena for sharing the pictures.
Troparion:
Thou hast ascended in glory, O Christ our God,
and gladdened Thy disciples with the promise of the Holy Spirit;
and they were assured by the blessing that Thou art the Son of God and Redeemer of the world.
Kontakion:
When Thou hadst fulfilled Thy dispensation for our sakes, uniting things on earth with the Heavens,
Thou didst ascend in glory, O Christ our God,
departing not hence but remaining inseparable from us, and crying until them that love Thee:
I am with you and no one can be against you.
God’s Beautiful Promise in the Sky
After a sudden tropical shower, this rainbow embraced each side of the golden-sand bay with its shining arms.
Like life, dark clouds had unexpectedly blown in, dumping torrential rain. Running to shore we sheltered beneath an ancient mango tree and waited patiently for the storm to play out. When the clouds scattered, the sun shone brighter than before. All was renewed and vibrant.
The rainbow is a covenant which means a promise from God, “This is the sign of My promise that never again shall there be a flood great enough to destroy all living things on the earth.”
Like Great Lent, each new rainbow reveals itself differently. If we reach out, look up, and hold fast in faith, they both bestow blessings of renewed hope and a vibrant Promise of life.