“We should follow the example of the birds. They are always joyful, whereas we are always bothered by something.”
let us lift up our hearts
“In order to hear the Lord’s Prayer and participate in it, it is first necessary to rid ourselves of that inner confusion, that fragmentation our attention, that spiritual sloppiness by which we constantly live… we regularly hide from everything that seems too exalted and spiritually meaningful… Indeed so much of our inner strength is directed at stifling this inner voice, which calls us to an encounter with the ultimate.” Father Alexander Schmemmann
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When we say “Our Father” … we find the meaning of love; and the answer to love; here lies the experience of intimacy and the joy of this experience; here faith opens into trust; and dependence yields to freedom; intimacy and ultimately unfolds as joy. This is no longer and idea about God, but already knowledge of God. This is already communion with Him in love, in unity and trust. This is already the beginning of knowing eternity. For Christ himself said to the Father: “For this is eternal life, that they would know you.” (Jn 17:3)
Our Father : Father Alexander Schmemmann
a thousand points of light
“This prayer has been said, and without interruption for two thousand years. At every moment somewhere on the globe, people are saying those very words which were once uttered by Christ himself. This is why we have no better path to the heart of Christianity than by this short, and on first observation, simple, prayer. ”
Father Alexander Schmemman
Such a parallel can be drawn with the Orthodox Liturgy, because every Sunday, at every moment in every time zone on the globe, the Orthodox Divine Liturgy, this holy and wonderful “work of the people,” is offered in one voice, the world round. It is a full twenty four hour cycle of thanksgiving and praise in thousands and thousands of Orthodox Monasteries and Churches. Each offering the “same” Liturgy in their own tongue and from their own geography.
The Divine Liturgy is Christ in our midst. It is an encounter with the resurrected Christ. And, in partaking of the eucharist — the “Bread of Life” — we who are many become one body… that is the body of Christ and the living Church.
Some call the richness of Orthodox Christian worship ritual, yet intertwined in this sublime Liturgical and spiritual tradition are the threads of living, personal and authentic Christian devotion.
“Blessed is the kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…” sets the Liturgy in motion. This is the timeless, honest, and simple fullness of eucharistic praise – in all languages and ethnicities – offered on behalf of all and for all.
simplicity
We do not need riches or learning in order to know the Lord, we must simply be obedient and sober, have a humble spirit and love our fellow-men. The Lord will love a soul that does this, and of His own accord make Himself manifest to her and instruct her in love and humility, and give her all things necessary to find rest in God.
Saint Silouan the Athonite
ever thankful
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
What a blessing to know that – though we may falter – God is faithful, steadfast, unwavering and unchanging. He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Heb 13:8). When we face challenges in our relationships with family or friends, grieving the death of a loved one, disease in our physical health, or any trauma or sadness imaginable, no matter what it is – God is forever with us. His word is true and unchanging, and where there are difficulties or misfortune, He ALWAYS offers a way of escape so that the trouble is bearable (1 Cor 10:13) – hope above and beyond the trial.
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Phil 4:13) The bearable means of enduring and facing hardship is turning to God. In this way, we get out of the stumbling block of our own selves; instead allowing Him to be a lamp to our feet (Psalm 118:105).
“Rejoice in the Lord always”…. this is not to be confused with cheerful jubilation or emotion. It is the prayer of the heart – “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me.”
In the Orthodox Church we are taught that the word mercy in Hebrew means “steadfast love” and that the Greek root for mercy has the same root as the old Greek word for olive oil, which biblically was used for healing wounds, bruises and ailments. To say, Lord have mercy is to ask the Lord to shroud our fallen selves in His steadfast healing love.
This is the way of thanksgiving; abiding and resting in His peace. Where there is suffering, there consolation also abounds.
May we all rejoice in the Lord, always.
Christ is joy
Christ is our Friend, our Brother; He is whatever is beautiful and good. He is everything. In Christ there is no gloom, melancholy or introversion, whereas man suffers from various temptations and situations that make him suffer. Christ is joy, life, light, the true light, which makes man glad, makes him fly, makes him see all things, see all people suffer for all people and want all people to be with him, close to him.
Saint Silouan
adorned with His Grace
Man is made of the dust of the earth, but God so loved him, that He adorned him with His grace and fashioned him in the likeness of the Lord.
Saint Silouan the Athonite
kindling Divine Love
The more wood you pile on a fire, the more heat you get, and thus it is with God – the more you think on Him, the more you are fired with love and fervour towards Him. He who loves the Lord is always mindful of Him and remembrance of God begets prayer.
Saint Silouan
intent on God
“We eat and drink every day, yet on the morrow our bodies need food and drink again. In like manner, the recollection of God’s bounties never wearies that soul, but disposes her still more to think on God.”
Saint Silouan
o taste and see that the Lord is Good
“I will bless the Lord at all times, His name shall be continually in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1)
“Man is a hungry being. But he is hungry for God.
Behind all of the hunger of our life is God.
All desire is finally a desire of our life for Him.
To be sure, man is not the only hungry being.
All that exists lives by “eating”.
The whole creation depends on food.
But the unique position of man in the universe is that he alone is to “bless” God for the food and the life he receives from Him.
He alone is to respond to God’s blessing with his blessing.”Father Alexander Schmemman
Friends, o taste and see that the Lord is good!
We nourish the very depth of our being when we praise God and give thanks for the day, our family and friends, our trials and every success and inviting Christ as the very foundation of our lives!
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