the beauty of change

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It happens without fail every year.  I think I only notice it for having lived in this area my whole life.  This past week, the faintest scent of the coming Fall has hung in the early morning dewy air.   You only smell it in the morning.   I don’t know why.

A few weeks ago, a little golden angel leaf is the first fallen leaf on the deck.  None of the other leaves have changed color… yet.

When I was a young girl, that faint aroma of moldering leaves always reminded me of the beginning of school, but now it brings the recollection of the approaching end and beginning of the Liturgical Calendar just beyond the Dormition of the Theotokos.

Another years journey through complete cycle of Christ’s birth to His glorification.. the mystery of Christ and the salvation of mankind.   A new school year approaches… in the school of repentance.

falling and rising within you

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“True self discover occurs only within the consciousness of the Church. Becoming one with the Body of the Church, and living within its assurance and certitude enables you to be free from changes, anxiety and sadness.

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Troubles simply come come and go, passing by like waves, but they will never be able to drown you.  You have become like the shore, unmoved by the pounding of the sea.  The waves will come and crash all around but you no longer fear them.   Instead they remind you  of the endless waves of the Holy Spirit rising and falling within you.”

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

the Way of the Spirit

(p. 137-138)

nourishing grace

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What food is for the body, the Spirit is for my life. The Spirit is the foundation of my very existence, He gives life to all flesh. “By the Holy Spirit every soul is given life”

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

the Way of the Spirit (p. 122)

wholesale Grace

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“The trumpet shall sound” – in the Costco.
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Someone came in with a trumpet, and from where you are standing in the back of the warehouse a beautiful majestic sweet music, wafts through the air and emanates from somewhere in the front of store.  Notes made even fuller as they echo off the metal walls.  A trumpet plays “amazing grace”.  It permeates the air.

You are drawn to it and follow the notes “amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see” and as you move toward the front of the store the melody ends and people are clapping.  But you never see who is the one with the trumpet.

A certain peace fills the air of the warehouse and everyone returns to shopping.  The Pentecostal life : the sweet melody of that trumpet is something like the grace which pursues each of us, every day.  Most abundantly we find this grace within the walls of the Orthodox Church.  The grace of thanksgiving, the Liturgy, and especially in partaking of the Eucharist, when we receive Christ Himself.

But like a hen gathering her chicks, God continually pursues all of His children – perhaps even breaking through the noise and bustle of the everyday ordinary.  May the ears of the world hear.

“They will be my people, and I will be their God.” (Jeremiah 32:38)

monastics in our midst

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Monastics in our midst…  A few weeks ago, from the choir loft, I caught a glimpse of monk (who I later learned was from Mount Athos), as he entered the altar, at the start of Liturgy.  I never saw him leave, and that is a wonderful thing and quite symbolic too.

Every now and again we have monastic visitors at our parish and it is always a tremendous blessing.  Our holy monastics pray for all of the souls in the world.  They keep a daily rhythm of worship and prayer and inner silence that, although with encouragement we seek, we can scarcely capture.

All our lives are greatly enriched by their prayers and we, the faithful, should pray for them too.  While they may not often join our parishes physically – having withdrawn from the world – they are always with the faithful spiritually.   They are the vanguard of Orthodoxy, and a source of salt and light for the Church.

Saint Nilus of Sinai says of monastics that although they have “withdrawn from all men, they are united with all men“.

Saint John Chrysostom says that the health of the Church is directly related to the presence of monasteries.

I am most grateful that we are finally realizing such an increase in the formation of so many monasteries in this country.

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O Lord save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance!

the comforter

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This past Sunday Orthodox Christians celebrated Great and Holy Pentecost :

This is the gift of the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth – everywhere present and filling all things.

May we the faithful, be always guided by the Spirit of Truth, speaking with one voice, seeing the face of Christ in all people and most especially uplifting and encouraging one another – for we are all Knit together in love by Love and where one is uplifted all around are uplifted!

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anaphora of love

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“Love isn’t something that comes from our hearts,

but rather from the heart of God.

And this love penetrates our hearts and minds,

from where it flows out to others,

ultimately returning to God”

Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra Monastery

the way of the spirit (p.90)

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Thine own of Thine own.

make a rule

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Make yourself a rule always to be with the Lord, keeping your mind in your heart, and do not let your thoughts wander; as often as they stray, turn them back again and keep them at home in the closet of your heart, and delight in converse with the Lord.

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Saint Theophan the Recluse

rainbow of the soul

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“Just as the earth in the Spring is washed by the rain, warmed by the sun, and becomes warmed by greenery and flowers, so you beloved, wash your soul with tears of repentance, and warm it with the rays of God’s grace and feelings and intentions, which will indeed bring forth in you the fruit of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, long-suffering, meekness and faith (Gal. 5:22-23).”

Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

from the book

Instructions and Teachings for the American Orthodox Faithful (1898-1907)

p. 81

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The dispersion of the light of Christ illumines and refracts the water droplets of the tears of repentance resulting in a rainbow of light in the soul – the colors of love, joy, peace, long-suffering, meekness and Faith – the fruits of the spirit – a rainbow of repentance.