The Conception of Saint John
the Forerunner and Baptist
of our Lord
Jesus said, "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist".
whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.
God had an especially great intention for John: namely, that he be the Prophet and Forerunner of Christ the Lord, the Savior of the world. Through His angels, God announced the births of Isaac to the childless Sarah, Samson to the childless wife of Manoah, and John the Forerunner to the childless Zacharias and Elizabeth. All of these were those for whom He had special intentions, and he foretold their birth through his angels.
How could children be born of aged parents? If someone desires to understand this, he should not ask men about it, for men do not know; nor should he study natural law, for this is beyond natural law. Rather, he should turn his gaze upon the power of the Almighty God, Who created the whole world from nothing, and Who needed no parents-old or young-for the creation of the first man, Adam. Instead of being curious, let us give thanks to God, Who often reveals His power, mercy and wisdom to us in ways that are beyond natural law-in which we would be imprisoned without these special miracles of God, and would fall into despair and forgetfulness of God.
CHRISTIAN! While he was still in his mother Elizabeth's womb, John recognized Christ growing in the Virgin and he leapt with joy. BELIEVER! Christ knew John before He created him. Glory to God! Glory to God! Glory to God!
Saint Luke 24:1-12 KJV
24 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,
9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.
12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
Galatians 4:22-27 KJV
22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.
24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.
Saint Luke 5:1-11 KJV
5 And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,
2 And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.
4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5 And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.
6 And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.
7 And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.
8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:
10 And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11 And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.
DISCOURSES
OF
SAINT DOROTHEOS OF GAZA
Once again......
H U M I L I T Y
There are some types of trees which never produce any fruit as long as their branches are upright, but if stones are hung on the branches they bend down and begin to produce fruit*. It is the same with the soul. When it is humbled it starts to produce fruit, and the more fruit it produces the lower it becomes. So too with the saints. The closer they get to God, the more they reckon themselves to be sinners.
I recall once we were conversing about humility and one of the great lights of Gaza, hearing us declare, "The closer a man is to God, the more he reckoned himself to be a sinner," was awestruck, and said, "how can this be?" He did not know, and desired to hear the answer. I said to him, "Lord of the First Rank, tell me, how do you consider yourself with regard to the other laymen here?" And he told me, "I consider myself as great, and the first among the men of this city." I said then, "If you should travel to Caesarea, how would you consider yourself then?" "I would think somewhat less of my greatness." Then I said, "If you were to travel to Antioch, what then?" And he answered, "I would consider myself as a member of the common folk." I said, "And if you went from Caesarea to stand before the Emperor, what would consider yourself then?" He answered, "I should consider myself as just one of the poor people." Then I told him, in the same manner, the saints, the closer they draw near to God, the more they regard themselves as sinners."
Abraham, when he beheld God, referred to himself as "dust and ashes." And Isaiah declared, "Woe to me, for my lips are polluted." Just the same when Daniel was in the den of the lion, and Habakkuk came to him with a meal and said to him, "Receive the food, which the Lord has sent to you." And Daniel answered, "For the Lord has remembered me." He had a very humble heart when he was in the lion's cave for they did not consume him once and for all, not even after that, and so with wonder he cried, "the Lord has remembered me."
I recall once we were conversing about humility and one of the great lights of Gaza, hearing us declare, "The closer a man is to God, the more he reckoned himself to be a sinner," was awestruck, and said, "how can this be?" He did not know, and desired to hear the answer. I said to him, "Lord of the First Rank, tell me, how do you consider yourself with regard to the other laymen here?" And he told me, "I consider myself as great, and the first among the men of this city." I said then, "If you should travel to Caesarea, how would you consider yourself then?" "I would think somewhat less of my greatness." Then I said, "If you were to travel to Antioch, what then?" And he answered, "I would consider myself as a member of the common folk." I said, "And if you went from Caesarea to stand before the Emperor, what would consider yourself then?" He answered, "I should consider myself as just one of the poor people." Then I told him, in the same manner, the saints, the closer they draw near to God, the more they regard themselves as sinners."
Abraham, when he beheld God, referred to himself as "dust and ashes." And Isaiah declared, "Woe to me, for my lips are polluted." Just the same when Daniel was in the den of the lion, and Habakkuk came to him with a meal and said to him, "Receive the food, which the Lord has sent to you." And Daniel answered, "For the Lord has remembered me." He had a very humble heart when he was in the lion's cave for they did not consume him once and for all, not even after that, and so with wonder he cried, "the Lord has remembered me."
* Training Tree Branches Can Be a Fruitful Endeavor June 12, 1999|ASSOCIATED PRESS
Bending and tying branches are good ways to balance shoot growth and fruiting, especially in apple and pear trees. Both types of growth are needed: the fruit for us to eat, and the leafy shoots to nurture the fruit.
Young apple and pear trees commonly put too much energy into shoots. Coax such trees into bearing by tying down the branches. Once fruiting begins, the weight of the fruit will keep them down.
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