Search results for: “church as cross”
-
The Ladder of Divine Ascent and Moral Improvement
Read more: The Ladder of Divine Ascent and Moral ImprovementThe Fourth Sunday of Great Lent in the Orthodox Church, is dedicated to St. John Climacus, the author of the ancient work, The Ladder of Divine Ascent. It is a classic work describing “steps” within the life of the struggling ascetic. There is an icon associated with this work, picturing monastics climbing the rungs of […]
-
Do We Believe in God?
Read more: Do We Believe in God?Belief is a strange thing. It rests like an idea in our mind. We can examine it, walk around it, argue it, and change it or reject it. But as an idea, belief really isn’t such a big thing. It is probably quite correct to say that most of the things we “believe” make no […]
-
You Are Not Your Sin
Read more: You Are Not Your SinShame is powerful. Having begun writing on the topic, it is important to say more. The Tradition, particularly in the texts that discuss the spiritual life, contains many references to shame. In recent times, it has become a topic within the field of psychology and in the community surrounding recovery from drugs and alcohol. Strangely, […]
-
Justice, Forgiveness and Bearing a Little Shame
Read more: Justice, Forgiveness and Bearing a Little ShameThis morning I read a headline in the newspaper: “We will get justice.” In the relentless cycle of the daily news, the report was of the discovery of a young woman who had been murdered. It seemed a completely appropriate response by the law officer in charge of the investigation. His words doubtless echoed the […]
-
Forgiveness for All the Sundays to Come
Read more: Forgiveness for All the Sundays to ComeI do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; (John17:20-21) The Elder Sophrony, together with St. Silouan, wrote about the “whole Adam.” By this, they meant all the human beings who have ever existed and those yet to come. They were, for them, something known […]
-
It’s A Crying Shame
Read more: It’s A Crying ShameOrthodox Christians make a beginning of their Lenten discipline with the forgiving of everyone for everything (theoretically). This is expressed in the rite of forgiveness which is part of Vespers on the Sunday of Cheesefare. The ritual expression of forgiveness can easily and often be little more than a ritual. It reminds us of the […]
-
Self-Emptying Prayer
Read more: Self-Emptying PrayerWe are told that Christ “emptied Himself” in His death on the Cross (Philippians 2:5-11). Further, we are told that this self-emptying is to be the “mind” that we ourselves have. It is possible to grasp that such self-emptying can be practiced in our dealings with others when we place them above ourselves – when […]
-
When Words Fail – The End of Morality
Read more: When Words Fail – The End of MoralityI can think of two experiences where words fail: before the presence of God and in the presence of deep shame. The first is too great and too wondrous for words, the second too bitter and painful. Both are essential for our humanity if it is to be lived to the fullest. They represent not […]
-
The One Thing Progress Cannot Do
Read more: The One Thing Progress Cannot DoIt is common among Orthodox teachers to identify prayer with the “one thing necessary” that Christ speaks of in John 11. This emphasizes prayer as communion with God – for communion with God is the very source of our life. I will expand this meaning of the “one thing necessary” to include the very “mind” […]
Esmee, Thank you!