Holy Prophet Samuel
~ Fast day
Even before birth, he was dedicated to God. Her song, My heart exults in the Lord, is the Third Ode of the Old Testament (1 Sam/1 Kings 2:1-10). When the boy reached the age of three, his mother went with him to Shiloh and in accord with her vow dedicated him to the worship of God. She gave him into the care of the High Priest Eli, who at this time was a judge over Israel. The prophet grew in the fear of God, and at twelve years of age he had a revelation that God would punish the house of the High Priest Eli, because he did not restrain the impiety of his sons.
Eli's whole family was wiped out in a single day. The prophecy was fulfilled when the Philistines, having slain in battle 30,000 Israelites (among them were also the sons of the High Priest, Hophni and Phinees), gaining victory and capturing the Ark of the Covenant. Hearing this, the High Priest Eli fell backwards from his seat at the gate, and breaking his back, he died. The wife of Phinees, upon hearing what had happened in this very hour, gave birth to a son (Ichabod) and died with the words:
The glory has departed from Israel, for the Ark of God is taken away (1 Sam/1 Kgs 4: 22). Upon the death of Eli, Samuel became the judge of the nation of Israel. The Ark of God was returned by the Philistines on their own initiative. After returning to God, the Israelites returned to all the cities that the Philistines had taken. In his old age, the Prophet Samuel made his sons Joel and Abiah judges over Israel, but they did not follow the integrity and righteous judgment of their father, since they were motivated by greed.
Then the elders of Israel, wanting the nation of God to be like other nations (1 Sam/1 Kgs 8: 20), demanded of the Prophet Samuel that they have a king. The Prophet Samuel anointed Saul as king, but saw in this a downfall of the people, whom God Himself had governed until this time, announcing His will through His chosen saints. Resigning the position of judge, the Prophet Samuel asked the people if they consented to his continued governance, but no one stepped forward for him.
After denouncing the first king, Saul, for his disobedience to God, the Prophet Samuel anointed David as king. He had offered David asylum, saving him from the pursuit of King Saul. The Prophet Samuel died in extreme old age. His life is recorded in the Bible (1 Sam/1 Kgs; Sirach 46:13-20). In the year 406 A.D. the relics of the Prophet Samuel were transferred from Judea to Constantinople.
II Corinthians 7:10-16 KJV
11 For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.
12 Wherefore, though I wrote unto you, I did it not for his cause that had done the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered wrong, but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear unto you.
13 Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all.
14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth.
15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.
16 I rejoice therefore that I have confidence in you in all things.
Saint Mark 2:18-22 KJV
19 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
20 But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
21 No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.
22 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles: else the new wine doth burst the bottles, and the wine is spilled, and the bottles will be marred: but new wine must be put into new bottles.
Borrowed from...
Eternal Mysteries Beyond the Grave
by Archimandrite Panteleimon
There will come a time when many mysteries will be fully revealed to us, but to achieve this state we must cover a long and very demanding journey of correct spiritual development.
The entire Gospel, this great foundation of Christianity, is a disproof of the monstrous idea that the meaning of man’s life lies only in science and reason. The divinely revealed teachings which are expressed in the Bible have endured centuries, although numerous enemies have struggled against them. The Bible was not composed by one author; it came into being gradually, over a period of approximately 1,400 years. It consists of 76 separate books. A great number of various authors have contributed to its growth: learned and unlearned, kings and workers, clergy and simple farmers, statesmen and shepherds.
The entire Gospel, this great foundation of Christianity, is a disproof of the monstrous idea that the meaning of man’s life lies only in science and reason. The divinely revealed teachings which are expressed in the Bible have endured centuries, although numerous enemies have struggled against them. The Bible was not composed by one author; it came into being gradually, over a period of approximately 1,400 years. It consists of 76 separate books. A great number of various authors have contributed to its growth: learned and unlearned, kings and workers, clergy and simple farmers, statesmen and shepherds.
For entrance into the Kingdom of God and into the Church which has been founded by the Lord on earth, for the fulfillment of Christ’s commandments, and for a recognition of the mysteries of His teaching—for all this, it is necessary to be blessedly reborn of the Holy Spirit. It is absolutely impossible to actuate Christ’s law in our life with the help of nothing but our weak strength, which is prone to sin. Only with the assistance of the Holy Spirit, when our being has been renovated by the force of a new life, full of grace, does the law of Christ become comprehensible.
Christianity has not yet been understood and properly valued by the world. But Christianity is precisely that “unperishing treasure” for which people search so avidly. This treasure is a real, inner communion with Christ, which develops into the limitless joy of eternity. Spiritual experience testifies to the closeness of our spirit to God’s Spirit, to the influence of God on our soul when it comes into a vivid closeness with Him. In this feeling of God’s presence or proximity lies the very essence of religious feeling or faith.
Arrogance doesn’t always claim to be more intelligent than everyone but only too often treats everyone else as stupid. ↠ PAGE
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