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The Patience of the Saints
Read more: The Patience of the SaintsChrist said, “In patience possess your souls” (Luke 21:19). Orthodoxy presumes patience on our parts. The services take patience – they last a good length of time and without patience your mind will never stop wandering. Catechumenates can take a while. Learning many of the things of an Orthodox way of life cannot be rushed. […]
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Hidden Saints
Read more: Hidden SaintsIt is surely the case that most saints are hidden. St. Paul says that “our true life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3). I believe that it is for our own sakes that these things are hidden. We’re told that the Theotokos “pondered these things in her heart” (Luke 2:19) which is a […]
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We’re All In This Together
Read more: We’re All In This TogetherSome further thoughts on our connectedness, particularly in the Spiritual Life: The ontological unity of humanity is such that every separate individual overcoming evil in himself inflicts such a defeat on cosmic evil that its consequences have a beneficial effect on the destinies of the whole world. On the other hand, the nature of cosmic […]
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Orthodoxy and the Family
Read more: Orthodoxy and the FamilyOne of the topics not discussed much (even among the Orthodox) is the phenomenon of “mixed families.” I’m not sure if that is the right term, but it’s one I’m using. Among converts to Orthodoxy, many are the only Orthodox in their extended family. Occasionally a husband or wife enters the Church without the other, even though […]
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Can the Middle Class be Saved?
Read more: Can the Middle Class be Saved?One of the hallmarks of Christ’s earthly ministry was the fact that harlots, publicans, “sinners” of various sorts, seemed to “get” his message a more easily than did the “righteous”: pharisees, sadducees, kings, scribes, etc. Indeed it is obvious that St. Paul, good rabbinical student that he was, had no idea that he was a […]
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My Thanks
Read more: My ThanksI made the trip to SC and back today, spending about half the day with family at hospital. My father’s pelvis seems to be fractured rather than broken, but will require him to be in a rehab situation for some weeks. My mother will move down to be with my older brother (who is truly […]
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Possible Hiatus
Read more: Possible HiatusMy father, James, fell and fractured his pelvis on Thursday. The long and short of it is the breakup of my parents’ household and moving them to other facilities, probably about 100 miles away from their home so they can be with my older brother and his family. I will be away, at least today, […]
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More on the Problem with God
Read more: More on the Problem with GodI thought I would add some reflections to my earlier thoughts on “the Problem with God.” Generally I noted there that “God is a problem,” because He is not me, He is free, and He is Lord. That’s more than having a bull loose in a china shop, that’s a God who is free in […]
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Beginning to Pray
Read more: Beginning to PrayI have always found the little classic Beginning to Pray, by Metropolitan Anthony of Sourozh, to be one of the best introductions to prayer. I first discovered the book in college and used it in a small study group. It has never ceased to be relevant to my situation in life. His opening paragraphs […]
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The Problem with having a God
Read more: The Problem with having a GodI offer a little personal observation today (there is usally some everyday even when I am writing about something else). But today I am thinking about the problem of having a God. The problem with God is not the same thing as the problem with religion. Many people have a religion but do not have […]
Family, Shared work as much as possible, Education, Parish, Monastery.