Readings: Revelation 1:1–5; Saint Matthew 18:1–10 The readings for today confront us at our centre, making us examine our complacency. They are not light words to be admired and then forgotten; they are thunderous proclamations of the Lord’s will and demands upon His people. From the beginning of the Apocalypse, Saint John shows us that […]
The Hiddenness of Prayer and Humility of the Heart
“Do not trumpet your achievements, and be not hopeless when you sin.” (St. Ephraim the Syrian) In these few words, he points out two dangers that ensnare the Christian soul, 1) pride in outward show and 2) despair in inward weakness. Both are contrary to the way of our Lord Jesus Christ, who bids His […]
Addressing Priests as “Father”
Question: Why is it that Protestant have such a problem with priests being called “Father”? Response: It is often objected by certain Protestants that the words of Christ in Matthew 23:9 forbid the use of the title “Father” for clergy. “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which […]
Reading and Comments for 19 Sept. 2025
Reading: Wisdom of Sirach 19–20; Psalm 70:1–13; Proverbs 14:21–25; 2 Corinthians 11:1–15 Wisdom of Sirach 19–20 In today’s passage we are warned against superficiality and foolishness in speech. They teach that the tongue can lift up or destroy, and that discretion is a mark of wisdom. (compare Ep. St. James 3) In daily life, we […]
Reading and Comments for 18 Sept. 2025
Reading: Wisdom of Sirach 17, 18; Psalm 69; Proverbs 14:16·20; 2 Corinthians 10 (text and audio from the Orthodox Study Bible) Wisdom of Sirach 17–18 God created humanity with both reason and responsibility. He calls us to repent, to recognise our weakness, and to return to Him. In daily life, this means being mindful of […]
The Necessity of Condemning Sin
“He had no mercy on a nation destined for destruction, who were taken away because of their sins.” — Sirach 16:9 The words of the Holy Scriptures are not written to flatter us, nor to soothe the guilty conscience with empty comforts. They are written to declare the truth of God’s justice as well as […]
Living a Life of Holiness and Piety
To live a life of holiness and piety, according to the mind of the Church, is nothing less than to set the whole of one’s existence upon the path of deification—the process by which human beings, created in the image of God, are brought by grace into His likeness. Holiness is not an abstract notion, […]
Why Petition the Saints?
Question: I don’t deny that the saints exist in heaven, but why do you petition them? Isn’t Jesus enough? Without going into a full theological article, I will simply say that we confess that our Lord Jesus Christ alone is our Redeemer and Mediator, yet in our weakness and spiritual frailty we often feel unworthy […]
Respect in the Church
The Holy Church confesses that in the Divine Liturgy the Holy Gifts truly become the Body and Blood of Christ, and that, in every consecrated temple, the Lord abides among His people in a manner at once mysterious and real. His presence is a living reality that summons the faithful to reverence of mind, word, […]
Living with Hope
Living with hope is at the heart of the Christian life as the Church understands it. In our tradition, hope is a theological virtue given by God and received in freedom, binding the soul to the promises already inaugurated in Christ and yet to be fully revealed in the age to come. It is inseparable […]