.jpg)
Apology: Google offers a free blog, which is used here. As such it has its shortcomings such as randomly changing font, font size etc. Remedies offered by other users have failed to be permanently effective. At this point, rather than pay for another blogger, I will continue to experiment with Google. Today's post is use a "default font", which to me is either "TIMES" or "TIME ROMAN" and displays as such on my PC but on my Android phone, it display as "Arial". At this point, I simply hope that whatever the display, that it is readable.
Friday July 27
August 9 ns 2024
† Holy Great Martyr Panteleimon;
Saint Clement, Bishop of Ohrid,
and his companions,
Sts. Angelar, Gorazd, Nahum, and Sabbas
Saint Clement, Bishop of Ohrid,
and his companions,
Sts. Angelar, Gorazd, Nahum, and Sabbas
2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.
3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
7 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things.
8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Saint Luke 21:12-19 KJV
12 But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
13 And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16 And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
Featured Quote
From Adam until Christ: 5508 years?
A disciple once asked an elder,
“From the time of Adam until Christ
have there been exactly 5508 years?"
There are plenty of difficult questions and mysteries in the Holy Bible (and in other spiritual works) that would be interesting to research. While this kind of study is not forbidden, the highest Christian endeavor has always focused on what is most important: our deification (Theosis) through God’s grace. This requires great labor in order to cleanse our sin-laden souls, thus purifying our spiritual intellect and vision. Only after this are we able to tackle such mysteries.
READ THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH CAREFULLY
Moreover, if a humble person reaches, by God’s grace, a state of illumination, then Grace itself reveals the key to such mysteries to him, though he is unable to express in words what he is experiencing.
What cannot be uttered, can be revealed! (Pub.)
In Anticipation
As a preparation for the Great Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord, Aug. 6/19 ns, before attending read
A portion from
On the Transfiguration of our Lord
by Saint Ephraem the Syrian
this post terminates on the eve of the Feast
{Pub.} The Great Transfiguration of our Lord was a gift to
the Holy Apostles Peter, James and John
and to all the apostles and to you!
Just as our Lord revealed only a portion
of His Divinity on Mt. Tabor,
which sent them to the ground on their faces,
its fullness will be revealed to each of us
one day, when we meet Him face to face.
We should be afraid. Why?
the Holy Apostles Peter, James and John
and to all the apostles and to you!
Just as our Lord revealed only a portion
of His Divinity on Mt. Tabor,
which sent them to the ground on their faces,
its fullness will be revealed to each of us
one day, when we meet Him face to face.
We should be afraid. Why?
of San Francisco and Shanghai
warns, if we have not loved Him
with all, yes all, our being, while in this life -
when we meet him we will
be filled with indignation with ourselves and it will
prevent us from approaching Him
and receiving the fullness of
His Love that is Eternal!
Let us then draw near to this land and enjoy its life-giving furrows; and let us harvest from it grapes of life, the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said to his Disciples, ‘There are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of man coming in his glory’. ‘And after six days He took Simon Peter and James and John his brother to a very high mountain and he was transfigured before them, and His face shone like the sun, and his garments became white like light’. Men whom He said would not taste death until they saw the image of his coming, are those whom He took and led up the mountain and showed them how he was going to come on the last day in the glory of his divinity and in the body of His humanity.
He led them up the mountain to show them who the Son is and whose He is. Because when He asked them, ‘Whom do men say the Son of man is?’ They said to him, some Elias, others Jeremias, or one of the Prophets. This is why he leads them up the mountain and shows them that He is not Elias, but the God of Elias; again, that He is not Jeremias, but the one who sanctified Jeremias in His mother’s womb; not one of the Prophets, but the Lord of the Prophets, who also sent them.
And he shows them that He is the maker of heaven and earth, and that he is Lord of living and dead. For He gave orders to heaven and brought down Elias, and made a sign to the earth and raised up Moses.
He led them up the mountain to show them that He is the Son of God, born from the Father before the ages and in the last times incarnate from the Virgin, born ineffably and without seed, preserving her virginity incorrupt; for wherever God wills it, the order of nature is overcome. For God the Word dwelt in the Virgin’s womb, and the fire of his divinity did not consume the members of the Virgin’s body, but protected them carefully by its nine month presence. He dwelt in the Virgin’s womb, not abhorring the unpleasant smell of nature, and God incarnate came forth from her to save us.
He led them up the mountain to show them the glory of the godhead and to make known to them that He is the redeemer of Israel (def. "those who see God"), as He had shown through the Prophets, and they should not be scandalized in Him when they saw His voluntary sufferings, which as man He was about to suffer for us. For they knew Him as a man, but did not know that He was God. They knew Him as son of Mary, going about with them in the world, and He made known to them on the mountain that He was Son of God and God. They saw that He ate and drank, toiled and rested, dozed and slept, things which did not accord with his divine nature, but only with His humanity, and so He took them to the mountain that the Father might call him Son and show that He is truly his Son and that He is God.
He led them up the mountain and showed them His kingship before his passion, and His power before His death, and His glory before His disgrace, and His honour before His dishonor, so that, when He was arrested and crucified by the Jews, they might know that He was not crucified through weakness, but willingly by His good pleasure for the salvation of the world.
He led them up the mountain and showed the glory of His divinity before the resurrection, so that when He rose from the dead in the glory of His divine nature, they might know that it was not because of His harsh toil that He accepted glory, as if He lacked it, but it was His before the ages with the Father and together with the Father, as He said as He was coming to His voluntary passion, ‘Father, glorify me with the glory which I had with you before the world existed’.
And so on the mountain He showed His Apostles the glory of His divinity, concealed and hidden by His humanity. For they saw His face bright as lightning and his garments white as light. They saw two suns; one in the sky, as usual, and one unusually; one visible in the firmament and lighting the world, and one, His face, visible to them alone. His garments white as light showed that the glory of his divinity flooded from His whole body, and his light shone from all his members. For His flesh did not shine with splendor from without, like Moses, but the glory of His divinity flooded from him.
His light dawned and was drawn together in Him. Nor did depart somewhere else and leave Him, because it didn't come from another place and adorn Him, nor was it for His use. And He did not display the whole depth of his glory, but only as much as the limits of their eyes could encompass. ‘And there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with Him’. And the words that they said to him were such as these: they were thanking him that their words and those of all their fellow Prophets had been fulfilled by His coming. They offered Him worship for the salvation which He had wrought for the world for the human race; and that He had fulfilled in reality the mystery they had only sketched. There was joy for the Prophets and the Apostles by this ascent of the mountain. The Prophets rejoiced when they saw his humanity, which they had not known. The Apostles also rejoiced when they saw the glory of His divinity, which they had not known, and heard the voice of the Father bearing witness to his Son; and through this they recognized His incarnation, which was concealed from them. And the witness of the three was sealed by the Father’s voice and by Moses and Elias, who stood by Him like servants, and they looked to one another: the Prophets to the Apostles and the Apostles to the Prophets. There the authors of the old covenant saw the authors of the new. Righteous Moses saw Simon the sanctified; the steward of the Father saw the administrator of the Son. The former divided the sea for the people to walk in the middle of the waves; the latter raised a tent for the building of the Church. The virgin of the old covenant saw the virgin of the new: [Elias and John;] the one who mounted on the chariot of fire and the one who leaned on the breast of the flame.
And the mountain became a type of the Church, and on it Jesus united the two covenants, which the Church received, and made known to us that he is the giver of the two. The one received his mysteries; the other revealed the glory of his works. Simon said, “It is good for us to be here, Lord”. “Simon, what are you saying? If we remain here, who fulfils the word of the Prophets? Who seals the sayings of the heralds? Who brings to perfection the mysteries of the just? If we remain here, in whom are the words, ‘They dug my hands and my feet’ fulfilled?
To whom do the words, ‘They parted my garments among them, and cast lots for my clothing’ apply? To whom does, ‘They gave me gall as my food, and with vinegar they quenched my thirst’ relate? Who confirms, ‘Free among the dead?’ If we remain here, who will tear up the record of Adam’s debt? And who will pay his debt in full? And who will restore to him the garment of glory?
And so on the mountain He showed His Apostles the glory of His divinity, concealed and hidden by His humanity. For they saw His face bright as lightning and his garments white as light. They saw two suns; one in the sky, as usual, and one unusually; one visible in the firmament and lighting the world, and one, His face, visible to them alone. His garments white as light showed that the glory of his divinity flooded from His whole body, and his light shone from all his members. For His flesh did not shine with splendor from without, like Moses, but the glory of His divinity flooded from him.
His light dawned and was drawn together in Him. Nor did depart somewhere else and leave Him, because it didn't come from another place and adorn Him, nor was it for His use. And He did not display the whole depth of his glory, but only as much as the limits of their eyes could encompass. ‘And there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with Him’. And the words that they said to him were such as these: they were thanking him that their words and those of all their fellow Prophets had been fulfilled by His coming. They offered Him worship for the salvation which He had wrought for the world for the human race; and that He had fulfilled in reality the mystery they had only sketched. There was joy for the Prophets and the Apostles by this ascent of the mountain. The Prophets rejoiced when they saw his humanity, which they had not known. The Apostles also rejoiced when they saw the glory of His divinity, which they had not known, and heard the voice of the Father bearing witness to his Son; and through this they recognized His incarnation, which was concealed from them. And the witness of the three was sealed by the Father’s voice and by Moses and Elias, who stood by Him like servants, and they looked to one another: the Prophets to the Apostles and the Apostles to the Prophets. There the authors of the old covenant saw the authors of the new. Righteous Moses saw Simon the sanctified; the steward of the Father saw the administrator of the Son. The former divided the sea for the people to walk in the middle of the waves; the latter raised a tent for the building of the Church. The virgin of the old covenant saw the virgin of the new: [Elias and John;] the one who mounted on the chariot of fire and the one who leaned on the breast of the flame.
And the mountain became a type of the Church, and on it Jesus united the two covenants, which the Church received, and made known to us that he is the giver of the two. The one received his mysteries; the other revealed the glory of his works. Simon said, “It is good for us to be here, Lord”. “Simon, what are you saying? If we remain here, who fulfils the word of the Prophets? Who seals the sayings of the heralds? Who brings to perfection the mysteries of the just? If we remain here, in whom are the words, ‘They dug my hands and my feet’ fulfilled?
To whom do the words, ‘They parted my garments among them, and cast lots for my clothing’ apply? To whom does, ‘They gave me gall as my food, and with vinegar they quenched my thirst’ relate? Who confirms, ‘Free among the dead?’ If we remain here, who will tear up the record of Adam’s debt? And who will pay his debt in full? And who will restore to him the garment of glory?
Have you requested time from work
to attend the Feast of the Transfiguration Aug. 6/19 ns and also the Dormition of the Theotokos Aug. 15/28 ns?
Groveling in Matter
Carnal man, spiritually blind and deaf, grovels in transitory matter (materialism, money property, attachments, etc.) and thereby remains a stranger to the Self that dwells within; the true Self, who is not only capable of moving mountains but inhaling galaxies and exhaling universes.
A most pertinent quote from our holy father Basil, wouldn't you say?
Can anyone know the hour when
he or she is called from this life?
We are in the realm of "time"
so lets make good use of it.
Consider:
The more time we spend, in obedience to Christ's Commandments, attending services and preparation for the reception of the Precious Body and Blood of our Creator, the more time we spend with Him in prayer, in reading the holy scriptures, in reading the lives and writings of the holy fathers and mothers, etc., a surprising thing happens.
Everyone knows the gifts and grace that come with with obedience but there is something else: the distance we find ourselves away from our Lord by entertaining temptation, by attachments to and chasing after transitory things, become more and more apparent and as a result, if we love God, increases our desire to spend more "time" with Him.
A test:
The more time we spend, in obedience to Christ's Commandments, attending services and preparation for the reception of the Precious Body and Blood of our Creator, the more time we spend with Him in prayer, in reading the holy scriptures, in reading the lives and writings of the holy fathers and mothers, etc., a surprising thing happens.
Everyone knows the gifts and grace that come with with obedience but there is something else: the distance we find ourselves away from our Lord by entertaining temptation, by attachments to and chasing after transitory things, become more and more apparent and as a result, if we love God, increases our desire to spend more "time" with Him.
A test:
You may rise, say your morning prayers, eat breakfast and go to work. At some point, ask yourself, did you forget Christ, or, how often did you remember Him since your morning prayers? Having noted the possible number of hours, ask yourself if your God, Who is love, forgot you. Did He keep you breathing? Did He keep your heart beating? Did He close access sight, sound, smell, touch or taste? Did He stop loving you? After reflection on it, shamefully ask: How could I forget His love? Practice this and soon, your time away will grow shorter, you will be smitten with longing until you never thirst again because His love and joy will then be felt ceaselessly.
About joy:
Temporary, life can be pleasant, fun and joyful, but compared to what? You may say compared to the opposites. But, there is another joy - the inexpressible joy of Paradise and we know its opposite because we are experiencing it within "time". If you don't know it, then you haven't truly repented and felt the joy that God gives when He forgives. Because when it is given, the closest description we carnal people can comprehend is that it is like water from which we never thirst again, because it takes us into the realm infinitely beyond ecstasy - a realm that cannot be spoken of but can be given.
LOVE
Experienced but Undefined
Anyone who has fallen in love knows that once it happens, it needs no reminding, no prompting, no reasoning, no examination because it is unfathomably simple and constantly experienced/treasured and, without any doubt, inexplicable by anyone. You wake in it, you sleep in it, it never wavers. And in many cases, it is mutual.
Such it is with Christ. However, when we seek with all our heart to love Him, the mutual nature of love invites the ecstasy of worship.
T H E
P A R A G O N
What is the Paragon? It is a Signpost
As a signpost, what direction does it give? "This way to the Kingdom of Heaven".
How does one navigate the way? Read the Paragon and find out. Until then, navigation is through the Epistles, Prophecies and Gospels taken from the Holy Bible. It provides accounts of the lives and deeds of those, who through their renunciation of this temporal life for Christ, by breath or by blood, come to "know" the Father, who is revealed only by the Christ, and in turn become one with Him (Theosis).
I often don't understand the readings! If you believe God, then you know He is omniscient and you therefore trust Him. He knew we would disfigure His image in us before He created us, hence He instructs the soul directly according to its needs required for salvation. And when the soul responds with genuine love and sincere desire for healing, it is enlightened and brought out of the darkness of a disfigured mind. Reflect, contemplate and pray to know more clearly who you are so when He makes the command: "Physician, heal thyself", you can respond. After all, isn't the conscience the small Christ within us, directing our hearts?
Does the Paragon provide anything else? Yes, encouragement to trust that one can transcend from "belief" to "knowing" {Theosis}. Again, if one forsakes all loves for the one love which is God, denies his or her very self, takes up the Cross and follows, Christ may be pleased to reveal the Father, Who is Everlasting Life.
Be Still
and Know that I am God
A cashier, puzzled by Atheism and the existence of God,
says to an Orthodox priest who is at the register:
I don't really believe in God but may I ask you a question?
Priest: Certainly! responds the priest.
Why does God speak to you only ?
Priest: God speaks to everyone!
Aha! says the cashier! Then why can't I hear him?
Priest: If you cannot hear Him it's because you have
3 voices in your head. Two are loud but our Lord's voice is like Him,
meek and lowly.
St. Matthew 11:29 KJV Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find restunto your souls.
St. Matthew 11:29 KJV Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;
for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest
unto your souls.
So listen to the psalmist that you may hear and obey Christ.
"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10
Ha! And what are the other two?
Your self-centered voice and Satan's tempting you relentlessly.
Two Questions
Beloved of God, why is the second of commandments so great? And, what words can describe the experience of having love for all? The answer is simple and answers both questions.Saint Matthew 22:37-40 KJV
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
The response is simple and answers both questions. You may read it but to hear it, you must pray.
Answer: Because it is like the first.
BE CAREFUL WITH THE TONGUE
Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth;
and a door of enclosure round about my lips.
and a door of enclosure round about my lips.
Saint Luke 6:44-46 KJV
44 For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes.
45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
LET ME THINK ABOUT IT.
We should be ashamed to call them dumb animals.
Yes, the carnivores kill and eat but they don't make war.
All of creation fell along with man but not as far.
Isn't it obvious that they, even those who migrate across the entire planet,
like the stars and planets, are in order and show no chaos?
Again, we should be ashamed to call them dumb animals.
They teach, protect and instruct their offspring all without speaking a word.
Men, on the other hand, produce a tsunami of words, laws,
rules, orders, etc. none of which offer a reliable viable solution for the continued
Men, on the other hand, produce a tsunami of words, laws,
rules, orders, etc. none of which offer a reliable viable solution for the continued
disarray, mayhem and madness, relentlessly abusing and
killing each other since Cain killed Abel.
Man should be ashamed!
signed Bob the Bab
No comments:
Post a Comment