the goal of human life

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The goal of human life is not spirituality or religion, liturgical or ascetically regimes, but the living God Himself.  It tells us that life is communion with God: personal, direct, immediate, real, painful, peaceful and joyful.  It tells us that ceaseless prayer in pursuit of God and communion with Him is not simply life’s meaning or goal, the one thing worth living for, but it is life itself.  It tells us that Jesus Christ is this life, and that constant, continual, ceaseless prayer in His name opens the door to Divine reality and puts us in immediate contact with the One who is the source, substance and goal of our life and our very life itself.

Father Thomas Hopko

from The Way of the Pilgrim : Introduction

yesterday gone

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That which we ask of You, O Lord, is that our years be bound up together with You, that we live for You.  Our days pass. We see that we all fall down and die.  We ask nothing than to reach the land that spreads out before us.

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

come receive the light

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When I reject the way of repentance, I reject God.

When I chose to remain in sin, I expel God from my heart.

But as soon as I turn from my sin, God enters my heart.

And when He does, I discover my place in the Church,

which is His body and His bride.

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra

 

The Sacrament of Confession, is for an Orthodox Christian, the turning from sin and coming to one’s senses.  One is conscious of their unworthiness, yet joyfully receives the longed for, heartwarming embrace from the Father.

It is the lost sheep returning to the flock, borne on the shoulders of the Good Shepherd.

The Church Fathers tell us that gift of repentance is the work of divine grace, which we, then, wholeheartedly offer and return to God.  Saint John Chrysostom says that “repentance opens up heaven“.

While the Sacrament of Confession is the same for Orthodox world-wide, different localities may offer their own customs.

Over the summer, at a monastery retreat, Confession was available during the Divine Liturgy, in a side nave of the Church.  The nave was dark except for a candle stand with one lit candle and a monk priest.

“The light of Christ illumines.” (1)

Only a few partook of Confession, but as each communicant received the prayer of absolution, she lit a new candle from the flame of the Confesson before her, so that with each new flame, the blaze and glow of each Confession literally overcame the darkness of that little chapel.

A powerfully striking impression that says more than words ever could.  What a joy to behold – that as each woman left, heart lightened and unburdened – the tiny chapel became lighter and brighter.  Repentance overcoming darkness and returning to the light of Christ, which illumines the faithful.

Like the Resurrection service of Pascha, Confession invites us again and again, to “discover our place within the Church” and continue on this journey redeeming the time.

“Come take ye light, that is never overtaken by night, and come glorify Christ, Who is risen from the dead“.(2)

 

 

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(1) Orthodox Service of the Presanctified Liturgy

(2) Orthodox Christian service of Pascha

 

He gave us the Holy Spirit

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Some there are who spend their whole lives trying to find out about the sun,  or the moon, or in seeking like knowledge; yet this is of no profit to the soul.

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The Merciful Lord gave the Holy Spirit on earth, and by the Holy Spirit was the Holy Church established.  The Holy Spirit unfolded to us not only the things of the earth, but those too which are of heaven.

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Both in heaven and earth, the Lord is made known only by the Holy Spirit and not through ordinary learning.

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Even children who have no learning at all, come to know the Lord by the Holy Spirit… There are some who spend their whole lives in trying to find out about the sun, or the moon or in seeking like knowledge; yet this is no profit to the soul.

Saint Silouan the Athonite

all who love Nicholas the Holy

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Saint Nicholas grew up in the land of Lycia and as a young boy he was always cheerful and content.   He had a great love of learning – especially for God and His world.   Over the years he grew into a kind and gentle man and became an Orthodox priest.

He was a man of prayer and helped the poor and sick.   Often he would offer assistance  those who needed him, in secret.

In one instance, very late at night, he threw sacks of gold through the window of a man whose family was in great distress and poverty.  But one night the man saw Saint Nicholas and told the others in the village of the sweet charity from the Saint.

It is from this charity,  that today we preserve the tradition to give gold chocolate coins in the shoes of our children.

Saint Nicholas lived in love, kindness and prayer.  Over the years he became a Bishop and a great defender of the Orthodox Faith.

As a Saint, he is near to God’s love – and his wonderworking miracles continue to this day.

O Most Holy Father Nicholas pray for all of the families and children of the world, that the light of Christ illumine and warm our hearts during this time of preparation for Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

 

Troparion — Tone 4

In truth you were revealed to your flock as a rule of faith,

an image of humility and a teacher of abstinence;

your humility exalted you;

your poverty enriched you.

Hierarch Father Nicholas,

entreat Christ our God

that our souls may be saved.

Kontakion — Tone 3

You revealed yourself, O saint, in Myra as a priest,

For you fulfilled the Gospel of Christ

By giving up your soul for your people,

And saving the innocent from death.

Therefore you are blessed as one become wise in the grace of God.

prepare the heart

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When you love someone, you like to think about what you’re going to do when you see him;  how you are going to approach him,  and give him the gift that you have brought and wrapped especially for him.

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The same thing is happening here both on the part of the pilgrim and on the part of God.  The heart of the pilgrim is not occupied by a single ascent or a single highway, but by the entire country, the whole of the Temple, all of Mount Sion.

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God prepares things for the heart, the heart prepares itself for God.

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Elder Aemilianos of Simonopetra