Devotionals · 49 days

Daily Journey Through the Great Fast With the Early Church

A glimpse into the beauty of the Early Church’s perspective of the Holy Great Fast. Taste the depth and richness of this daily study by reading in God’s word during our journey through the Holy Great Fast. Dig up the treasures of the early church fathers and bring this ancient faith to your every day life.

First published on YouVersion by the Coptic Orthodox Church. Read this plan in the Bible App

Day 1
Scripture: John 1:29 NKJV; John 15:15 NKJV; Matthew 10:38 NKJV; Matthew 16:24 NKJV; Mark 8:34 NKJV; Luke 9:23 NKJV; Luke 14:27 NKJV; Mark 9:48 NKJV; Isaiah 1:2-18 LXX; Mark 9:33-50 NKJV
Reject evil
The Great Fast is the Church’s way of getting us back on track, leading us to our true goal in life: to live with God here on Earth. The Great Fast isn’t about giving up the one thing that we deserve the most; the Great Fast is about kenosis (a Greek word meaning emptying ourselves) of our desires and wills to be united with God. The Great Fast is not a period of time that comes and goes once a year, but rather a life that is to be lived daily.
We begin the Great Fast preoccupied and distracted, so that our significant other, family, work, children or life take place of God and become our god – anything that takes the totality of our time and focus in life – but the goal is, by the grace of God and this devotional, that we will walk together and with Him focused on Him, His way, His truth, His life, His death and Resurrection, whereby he completed His mission (life-giving salvific work) and gives to us new life freely to all those that believe in Him.
The walk with God during the Great Fast, as prescribed by the Coptic Orthodox Church, has weekly themes and daily readings that both tie in and expand on the weekly theme more. The first week’s theme is: Preparation for Procession – the Procession of the Lamb. St. John the Baptist proclaims, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” [John 1:29 NKJV]. The Lamb of God, Jesus the Christ, prepares us, His friends (John 15:15 NKJV) to proceed with Him to the Cross. We are told to pick up our cross and follow Him, daily dying to ourselves, desires and wills (Matthew 10:38 NKJV; Matthew 16:24 NKJV; Mark 8:34 NKJV; Luke 9:23 NKJV; Luke 14:27 NKJV). He takes us with Him to the Cross and when we get there, daily, we should nail those desires, wills and sins to the Cross and experience His life-giving Resurrection with Him – this is the meaning of the Great Fast, to be united with Him; this is our daily life as believers.
To begin down this path, we must turn our backs to our former ways, we must reject sin and evil. St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”, comments on Mark 9:48 NKJV saying, “Christ has killed and buried your former transgressions, like worms. How then is it that you have bred others? For sins that harm the soul are more deadly than worms which harm the body. And they make a more offensive stench. Yet we do not even perceive their rankness, and so we sense no urgency to purge them out. So the drunkard fails to recognize how disgusting stale wine is, while one who is sober perceives the difference easily. So with sins: one who lives soberly sees easily the mire and the stain, but one who gives himself up to wickedness, like one made drowsy with drunkenness, does not even realize that he is ill. This is the worst aspect of evil, that it does not allow those who fall into it even to see the seriousness of their own diseased state, but as they lie in the mire, they think they are enjoying perfumes. So they do not have the slightest inclination to free themselves. And when full of worms they act like those who pride themselves in precious stones, exulting in them. For this reason they not only have no will to kill them, but they even nourish them, and multiply them in themselves, until they send them on to the worms of the age to come.”
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 1:2-18 LXX
New Testament reading: Mark 9:33-50 NKJV
Day 2
Scripture: Ephesians 3:18-19 NKJV; Deuteronomy 10:20 LXX; Deuteronomy 4:4 LXX; Deuteronomy 13:4 LXX; Romans 12:9-21 NKJV
Cleave to good
Sin tries to fill the void that only God can fill in our lives. It’s like the wooden shape blocks for children – you can’t force the circle shaped wooden block into the square shaped wooden cutout, no matter how hard you try. The lie Satan tells us about sin is that it can fill the void, and that’s the illusion, it only creates a void in our lives that will never be satisfied even by sin, you will keep wanting more and more.
Rejecting evil, as was yesterday’s theme, is only half the solution to getting back on track with God. Rejecting evil is important but without replacing it with good will result in our efforts and struggles being fruitless. God earnestly desires that we stop trying to force the circle shaped wood block into the square shaped wooden cutout. To reject evil and not hold on to good will result in us reverting back to our evil ways - stopping any bad or sinful habit and is not replaced with a good one will always, sooner or later, result in us relapsing, but to reject evil and fill our minds with God’s word, goodness and love is to be “squared away” with God; it is to know by the “width and length and depth and height – to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” [Ephesians 3:18-19 NKJV]
“But how does Christ dwell in the hearts? Hear what Christ Himself says, ‘I and my Father will come unto him and make our abode with him.’ He dwells in those hearts that are faithful, in those that are rooted in His love, those that remain firm and unshaken.” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Deuteronomy 10:20 LXX; Deuteronomy 4:4 LXX; Deuteronomy 13:4 LXX
New Testament reading: Romans 12:9-21 NKJV
Day 3
Scripture: Leviticus 11:44-45 LXX; Leviticus 19:2 LXX; Leviticus 20:7 LXX; Matthew 10:8 NKJV; John 8:12 NKJV; Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV; 1 John 4:19 NKJV; Deuteronomy 10:19 LXX; Leviticus 19:18 LXX; Proverbs 25:21 LXX; Luke 6:35-38 NKJV; 1 Peter 4:3-11 NKJV
Love and give
When we reject evil, fill our minds with God’s word and hold on to Him, we become more like Him, more in His likeness; we become holy, as He is holy (Leviticus 11:44-45 LXX, Leviticus 19:2 LXX, Leviticus 20:7 LXX). It is then, unsurprisingly, that Christians are called to love and to give freely, as God does. We should note that, unlike the world and society we live in, loving and giving isn’t to be done based on certain metrics, those that are “worthy” or even for those that meet minimum requirements deserving of our love and charity. Everyone, those that love us and those that wish us dead, is deserving of God’s love and charity, much like we, although unworthy sinners, do not deserve the grace of God, His love and His charity. As we have freely received, we should also freely give (Matthew 10:8 NKJV).
Does a candle lose anything of itself by sharing its light with another candle? By sharing what it was freely given it is able to bring a change - it is able to bring more light to a dark room. The same is true of Jesus and His followers - He says, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” [John 8:12 NKJV] and He also says in Matthew 5:14-16 NKJV, “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” The moon has no light in it of itself, but merely reflects the light from the sun, we Christians ought to do the same – as the Son has given grace freely and showed us love, we ought to love and give freely because “He first loved us” [1 John 4:19 NKJV].
“Love is commanded when it is said, ‘Love your enemies,’ so that the saying which was uttered already before the church may be fulfilled: ‘Set in order love in me.’ For love is set in order when the precepts of love are formed. See how it began from the heights and cast the law underneath the backs of the gospel’s blessing. The law commands the revenge of punishment. The gospel bestows love for hostility, benevolence for hatred, prayer for curses, help for the persecuted, patience for the hungry and grace of reward. How much more perfect the athlete who does not feel injury!” [St. Ambrose, 4th century Bishop of Milan]
Old Testament reading: Deuteronomy 10:19 LXX; Leviticus 19:18 LXX; Proverbs 25:21 LXX
New Testament reading: Luke 6:35-38 NKJV; 1 Peter 4:3-11 NKJV
Day 4
Scripture: James 1:14-15 NKJV; John 15:5 NKJV; John 15:4 NKJV; Zechariah 8:12 LXX; Leviticus 26:3-4 LXX; 1 John 1:8 NKJV
Grow in Spirit
There are two types of growth that the Bible speaks of: growth of sin and growth of righteousness. In the former, James 1:14-15 NKJV says, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.” We can begin our good work and efforts in the Great fast and after a few days, are tempted to slack. Life is busy, work is non-stop, family obligations never seem to end - all of those need my attention, we make the excuse, so it’s ok to slip a little in my Bible readings or quiet time with God, what harm can come from that? When you go to the beach, you may start out straight ahead of where you left your belongings on the sand, but over time, little by little, the waves carry you further and further away from your belongings. The same with sin; little by little, sins of no consequence, in our minds, present the opportunities for bigger sinful opportunities.
The other type of growth the Bible speaks of us the pruning of branches. Jesus declares “I am the vine, you are the branches” [John 15:5 NKJV] and “As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” [John 15:4 NKJV] Abiding in Jesus is to draw our life source from the vine, from Him. When we plant carnal seeds, expect carnal fruit. Likewise, planting spiritual seeds will lead to sowing and reaping of spiritual fruits. When we choose to remain attached to God, as a branch is to the vine, and make God's word the food of our spiritual life, then He sustains us. As a branch gets its nutrients from the vine, we can only continue to grow more spiritually when we are firmly secured to God.
“The devil presents to us little sins, that may seem to be of no importance before our eyes; as he otherwise, would not be able to lead us to the greater sins.” [St. Mark the Hermit, 5th century ascetic and theologian]
Old Testament reading: Zechariah 8:12 LXX; Leviticus 26:3-4 LXX
New Testament reading: 1 John 1:8-2:11
Day 5
Scripture: Exodus 1:14 LXX; Exodus 10:3 LXX; Job 22:21 LXX; Galatians 5:1 NKJV; John 8:31-36 NKJV
Pray and submit
The world we live in teaches us that we are nothing, our lives are meaningless and if we want to be something, then do so by any means necessary - if we want to get ahead in life then we need to scheme to achieve. The Bible tells a different story; it tells us that our lives have a purpose and we mean everything to God. We can use our time here on Earth to submit to the world, which tells us to lie, steal and cheat to “make it” or we can use our time here to submit our wills to God, to have Him make us part of a bigger heavenly plan. We have the free will to submit to the world, which in turn will keep us in bitter bondage, never wishing to free us from her evil grasp, or we can, by our free will, submit to God, Who in turn liberates us from that bitter bondage. God provides, to those that freely submit to Him, a protective authority, whereas, the world provides, grief, pain and troubles to those that choose her. When we submit to the world we find ourselves depressed and never having enough, but if we submit and allow God to free us, He will indeed free us from our worldly lusts - we need only to pray to Him asking Him to free us and to submit to Him.
“Do you see how many reasons he employs to lead them away from the error of the Jews? He shows first that it is the utmost foolishness, having become free instead of slaves, to desire slavery again instead of freedom. Second, he reveals them to be unmindful of and ungrateful to their benefactor, despising the one who frees them and preferring that which enslaves them. Third, he shows that this is absurd, since [as Paul says] “the law has no power over you, since another has purchased you once for all from it.” [St. John Chrysostom, 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Exodus 1:14 LXX; Exodus 10:3 LXX; Job 22:21 LXX
New Testament reading: Galatians 5:1 NKJV; John 8:31-36 NKJV
Day 6
Scripture: Matthew 5:48 NKJV; Ephesians 3:20 NKJV; John 3:30 NKJV; 1 Kings 8:57-61 LXX; Matthew 5:38-48 NKJV
Be perfect
Growing up we aspired to be astronauts, President of the United States, doctors, teachers, firemen, and the list goes on and on. What became of those dreams? Why is it at a young age those things seemed to be attainable and within our grasp? We believed it was possible and so we spoke and acted like it. When God tells us, “you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” [Matthew 5:48 NKJV] do we believe that perfection is attainable? Yes, we should!
If we are told something is impossible, most of us would believe it, never having tried, simply because we are told it is impossible, yet why is it that if we are told that perfection is possible that we treat it as if it were an impossible feat, only for God or saints? We are told, and must believe, that to live in perfection like God is achievable – we must sacrifice and strive to attain it – yet if we are told perfection is impossible then we will never try, let alone get out of bed to try.
When we were younger, blowing out the candle, we would always wish for something that would make our lives “perfect” - God wishes for us to live in a perfect relationship with Him. He is waiting to give us “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think” [Ephesians 3:20 NKJV], but Christian spiritual perfection is attainable, if we choose and strive for it. Striving for spiritual perfection should not be done to “earn” God’s love – He gives that freely to all – but because He loves us, what should be our natural response to His love? For us to love Him back, to be the best possible Christians we can be - that He would increase and I would decrease (John 3:30 NKJV).
“Many measuring the commandments of God by their own weakness, not by the strength of the saints, hold these commands for impossible, and say that it is virtue enough not to hate our enemies; but to love them is a command beyond human nature to obey. But it must be understood that Christ enjoins not impossibilities but perfection. Such was the temper of David towards Saul and Absalom; the Martyr Stephen also prayed for his enemies while they stoned him, and Paul wished himself anathema for the sake of his persecutors. For whoso keeps the commandments of God is thereby made the son of God; he then of whom he here speaks is not by nature His son, but by his own will.” [St. Jerome, 4th century theologian and historian]
Old Testament reading: 1 Kings 8:57-61 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 5:38-48 NKJV
Day 7
Scripture: Matthew 6:20 NKJV; Matthew 6:22 NKJV; Isaiah 55:6 LXX; Matthew 6:19-33 NKJV
Seek the kingdom
Our spiritual life is like a bank – we get paid money from work and we deposit that money into the bank. When we choose to participate in good deeds, we build up for ourselves a treasure in heaven where “neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.” [Matthew 6:20 NKJV]. When we choose to participate in evil deeds (sin), we build up for ourselves an appearance of a treasure, but is not the same…it’s more like not having money in our bank account, then overdrafting and the overdraft fees won’t be waived. Where we deposit our money, our minds and hearts will constantly be thinking about it.
If we fill ourselves with spiritual things, then we will grow in spirit, but if we fill ourselves with wicked desires and sins, then we will become a twisted version of what we were created to be. Our eyes, Jesus says, are the lamp of the body (Matthew 6:22 NKJV) - fill our eyes with good, then our bodies will be full of light and the opposite holds equally true...fill our eyes with sin, then our bodies will be full of darkness! When we fill our eyes and minds with evil things, then our eyes and minds become dark and we cannot see the light of the God, nor His kingdom. God is trying to open our hearts and minds to see all the wonderful things that He has in store for us, we only need to seek His kingdom first above all things and in all things.
“This must be understood not of money only, but of all our possessions. The god of a glutton is his belly; of a lover his lust; and so every man serves that to which he is in bondage; and has his heart there where his treasure is.” [St. Jerome, 4th century theologian and historian]
“The kingdom and righteousness of God is the bread that we are seeking and the intention of all our deeds. But, since we serve in this world as recruiters who are eager for the kingdom of heaven, we need the essential necessities for our life. Therefore, the Lord said: all these things shall be added to you.” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
Old Testament reading: Psalm 33 LXX (34:10 MT); Isaiah 55:6 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 6:19-33 NKJV
Day 8
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 7:14 LXX; Luke 18:1-8 NKJV; Ephesians 6:18 NKJV
Pray always
Have you ever found yourself in a position of being entirely at the mercy of another person? Have you ever found yourself to be in a situation that you are utterly defenseless against an enemy or someone who is being unjust towards you? No, really…have you ever had to resort to getting down on your knees and begging for help because you have no clue what to do? What relief would we feel when we are helped?! What then if the person that is able to help us is a callous hearted person, what would you do? Would you quietly retreat and give up?
As Christians, we must struggle to pray without ceasing but our prayers must be firmly rooted in faith, with the quality of humility and fully dependent on God - and that is what the second week’s theme is: Struggle - Nature of the Procession is to Struggle.
In the parable of the persistent widow, the judge does not fear God, therefore not submitting himself to a higher power or authority; also, the judge does not care about others, therefore putting no value on human life – he is a callous hearted judge. The persistent widow, we are told, is poor, defenseless and desires justice against her adversary. In the end, because of the persistence in her struggle and because the judge fears his image in front of the people, he gives the widow the justice she desperately desired. We have a Just Judge in God - He is neither callous hearted nor indifferent, He always hears our cries, His judgments are always perfect and His judgments come in the perfect time. The unjust judge continually ignored the poor widow, his judgment was not based on whether the widow’s desire for justice was justified or not, nor did his judgment come swiftly. God brings judgment to come in His perfect timing, where to us it seems as a delay, He does so to allow time to strengthen His faithful servants.
“The present parable assures us God will bend his ear to those who offer him their prayers, not carelessly nor negligently but with earnestness and constancy. The constant coming of the oppressed widow conquered the unjust judge that did not fear God or have any shame. Even against his will, he granted her request. How will not he who loves mercy and hates iniquity, and who always gives his helping hand to those that love him, accept those who draw near to him day and night and avenge them as his elect?” [St. Cyril of Alexandria, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria, theologian known as the “Pillar of Faith” and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Psalm 33 LXX (34:15-22 MT); 2 Chronicles 7:14 LXX
New Testament reading: Luke 18:1-8 NKJV; Ephesians 6:18 NKJV
Day 9
Scripture: Luke 23:27 NKJV; Luke 23:28 NKJV; 1 Peter 4:13 NKJV; Exodus 3:7 LXX; Exodus 3:9 LXX; Exodus 3:16 LXX; 1 Peter 2:21 NKJV; Mark 10:17-27 NKJV
Follow Christ
When Jesus carried His Cross along the “Way of Suffering” (Via Dolorosa) to Golgotha, a “great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him” [Luke 23:27 NKJV] but Jesus, looks to these women who are mourning and says to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.” [Luke 23:28 NKJV] Jesus teaches us in His response the difference between empathy and sympathy - sympathy is to feel compassion or the hardship that a person is encountering, but empathy is to put yourself in their shoes, as if you were the one going through the hardship they are encountering.
When Jesus commands us to “take up the cross, and follow Me”, He is not asking for our sympathy - He is asking for us to empathize with Him, to follow in His footsteps, to put ourselves into the hardship He is going through. To sympathize Christ in His sufferings will leave us feeling shallow and empty, barely scratching the surface of a deeper relationship that could be, but to empathize with Christ in His sufferings…that will lead us to the power of His Resurrection.
If we share in His sufferings, we will be glorified with Him, as St. Peter says, “but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” [1 Peter 4:13 NKJV]. To follow with Him to death, death of our will, our desires, to die to the world, to die to sin, to lust, to addiction, is to find the power of His Resurrection, which gives us everlasting victory over the former things and an everlasting joy both here in this life and in the next life to come.
“It is a great glory for the believer to bow and carry with his Master His passion, in order that he can get an experimental knowledge with the resurrection power, and its joy into him.” [St. Cyril of Alexandria, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria, theologian known as the “Pillar of Faith” and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Exodus 3:7 LXX; Exodus 3:9 LXX; Exodus 3:16 LXX
New Testament reading: 1 Peter 2:21 NKJV; Mark 10:17-27 NKJV
Day 10
Scripture: Matthew 14:15 NKJV; Matthew 15:33 NKJV; Isaiah 12:2 LXX; Job 19:25 LXX; Hebrews 10:22 NKJV; Philippians 1:6 NKJV; Matthew 15:32-38 NKJV
Assurance
We know that the God we believe in is compassionate and willing to give abundantly, if it is for our good. Why then do we not ask of Him knowing that He is willing and wanting to give freely to us, His children? It is not written that the multitude that followed Jesus for three days, with nothing to eat, asked of Him for food. We do not ask for the same reason, just like this multitude of four thousand men, not including women and children, that followed Jesus did not ask: because we believe there isn’t an assurance of His goodness.
We are afraid to ask out of fear of rejection, that He will say “no” or of not believing that He can or will. The last time Jesus fed the multitude, in the previous chapter, the disciples told Him to “Send the multitudes away” [Matthew 14:15 NKJV] but this time He says that’s not an option, and yet again, the disciples, as if they forget this type of miracle happened once before, speak without assurance. The previous time Jesus did this same miracle, they were in a “deserted place” (Matthew 14:15 NKJV) and this time the disciples find themselves in “the wilderness” (Matthew 15:33 NKJV) but they acted as if they were unassured of Jesus’ abilities. Just like in the previous time, Jesus tells the disciples to gather the leftovers and the disciples would be required to carry the leftovers, as if to continue to remind them of the miracle after it occurred.
When we find ourselves in a difficult place in life, we must be assured in who our God is. He assures us that He will bless what little we have to be sufficient enough for us. Be assured that your Redeemer lives, that He is your strength, that He is fully aware of our situations in life, that He is in charge, that He will give grace for your insufficiencies to make you sufficient, He will give you the power to overcome – you must simply believe and ask.
“Let us not doubt that with a rich hand He will give His grace to those who love Him. He will not permit us to fall into temptation. If, by His wise purpose He permits us to be taken in the snare in order that we may gain glory by suffering, He will most assuredly grant us the power to bear it.” [St. Cyril of Alexandria, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria, theologian known as the “Pillar of Faith” and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 12:2 LXX; Job 19:25 LXX
New Testament reading: Hebrews 10:22 NKJV; Philippians 1:6 NKJV; Matthew 15:32-38 NKJV
Day 11
Scripture: Galatians 5:16-18 NKJV; Deuteronomy 5:33 LXX; Deuteronomy 13:4 LXX; Matthew 19:16-30 NKJV
Reject, give and follow
The life of a follower of Jesus is not easy and not all will choose to walk that narrow path that leads to life. In the parable of the rich young ruler, he tells Jesus that from his young age he has followed all the commandments to the letter, yet, Jesus tells him he lacks one thing: give your possessions away to the poor and your treasure will be in heaven, then I want you to take up your cross and follow Me. What a sad sight it must have been to see him turn away “sorrowfully” because he had a lot on Earth he couldn’t part from, that he could not reject his grip on the Earthly treasures, to give them up in order to receive heavenly treasures, which are far more precious and weightier.
The rich young ruler kept to the letter of the law; however, it was done with pride and we see that because of his pride in his “accomplishments” to hold to the letter of the law that he did not hold the laws in high regard out of his love for God but because of his pride; that’s why he turned away sad, because he was told he would have to do something contrary to following his way.
We must choose daily to follow Christ or to follow our desires. The rich young ruler was not able to allow the Spirit to lead him, but was led by his body’s desires. As followers of Jesus we must “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” [Galatians 5:16-18 NKJV]. Daily we need to choose what is good, to follow Christ, and not allow ourselves to be arrogant like this young man, assuming we are justified by our works, but we are justified by the work of the blood of Christ on the Holy Cross.
“The rich man followed his own counsel, having rejected the precept of dividing his resources with the needy. He was abandoned by the Lord to his own opinion. There is no justification for applying the term “harshness” on this account to describe Christ. For each individual free will is able to choose to defile itself. “Behold, I have set before you good and evil.” Choose that which is good. If you cannot because you will not (for he has shown that you can if you will, because he has proposed each to your free will) you ought to depart from him whose will you elect not to do.” [Tertullian of Carthage, 3rd century scholar]
“The young man became arrogant through the observance of the law. He did not recognize that the consummation of the law is Christ. He assumed he could be justified by works. He was not aware that Jesus had come for the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and that the law could not save except through justifying faith. He questioned the Lord of the law and the only begotten God as if he were an ordinary teacher of precepts that were written down in the law. Hence, the Lord rejected this declaration of a spurious faith, because the question was put to him as if he were merely a teacher of the law. He replied: “Why do you call me good?” In order to make known how much he was to be recognized and acknowledged as good, he declared: “No one is good but God only.” He would not have rejected the attribute of goodness if it had been attributed to him as God.” [St. Hilary of Poitiers, 4th century Bishop of Poitiers]
Old Testament reading: Deuteronomy 5:33 LXX; Deuteronomy 13:4 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 19:16-30 NKJV
Day 12
Scripture: Proverbs 10:25 LXX; Ephesians 4:5 NKJV; Exodus 14:13 LXX; Isaiah 7:9 LXX; Luke 21:19 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 16:13 NKJV; 2 Corinthians 1:21 NKJV; Mark 6:3 NKJV; Matthew 13:55 NKJV; Isaiah 28:16 LXX; Deuteronomy 32:4 LXX; Deuteronomy 32:30-33 LXX; Luke 6:39-49 NKJV
Build on rock
For far too long we have stood on flimsy foundations, built by our own doing, whether it be our trust in money, drugs, another person or our own intellect or talents, and we don’t realize until it’s too late that the flimsy wooden bridge we are standing on is about to give way. Not only will it break down but we will find ourselves stuck in the pit below the bridge. What good did those flimsy foundations do for us?
In times of tribulations, what do we put our trust in? It’s like the story of the big bad wolf and the three little pigs; the house of straw and the house of sticks were, with such ease, blown away, but the house of bricks the wolf couldn’t bring it down no matter how hard he huffed and puffed. Proverbs 10:25 LXX says, “When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.” Why is it that the righteous will stand firm forever? What makes them so special? It’s not because of anything they have done but because of the fact that their foundation is built firmly on the rock - the rock is the Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. The thing with foundations is not only they need to be built on a firm foundation but they must be singular - to have a structure built on two foundations would be disastrous. There is “one Lord, one faith, one baptism” as St. Paul says in Ephesians 4:5 NKJV, to build our foundation on anything other than the Lord Jesus Christ is to build on something doomed from the start, something poisonous to our spiritual lives and relationship with God.
“Be of good courage: stand and see the salvation which is from the Lord”...“the righteous turns aside and escapes for ever”...“if you believe not, neither will you at all understand”...“By your patience possess your souls”...“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable”...“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong”...“Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God” [Exodus 14:13 LXX; Proverbs 10:25 LXX; Isaiah 7:9 LXX; Luke 21:19 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 15:58 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 16:13 NKJV; 2 Corinthians 1:21 NKJV].
Trust in Him, build your firm foundation on Him…after all, He was a “carpenter” [Mark 6:3 NKJV] and a “carpenter’s son” [Matthew 13:55 NKJV] and look what He did - He built a bridge between God and man by using two pieces of wood that has been unshakably in place for thousands of years.
“If therefore we call Christ, the Savior of us all, Lord, let us do the things which He says. For He teaches us Himself what the benefit is of our being willing to do that which is commanded: and what the loss of our refusing to obey: for He says, ‘Every one that hears My words and does them, is like a man who builds a house, and firmly places its foundations upon the rock:’ while he who does not obey, he also is like a man building a house, but who has taken no care for its stability. For he who is obedient holds a thoroughly firm position in everything that is honorable and good, by reason of his being not so much a hearer of the law, as a doer of its works: he resembles therefore a house firmly settled, and having a foundation that cannot be shaken, so that even though temptations press upon him, and the savageness of the passions that dwell within us assail him like some winter torrent, or a waterflood, he will sustain no serious loss. But he who merely inclines his ear to what Christ says, but stores nothing up in his mind, nor performs anything that is commanded, he, on the other hand, is like a house just ready to fall. For he will be led away at once into things unseemly whenever pleasure allures him and leads him into the pitfalls of sin.” [St. Cyril of Alexandria, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria, theologian known as the “Pillar of Faith” and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 28:16 LXX; Deuteronomy 32:4 LXX; Deuteronomy 32:30-33 LXX
New Testament reading: Luke 6:39-49 NKJV
Day 13
Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:19-20 LXX; Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV; John 16:33 NKJV; Jeremiah 6:16 LXX; Isaiah 43:1-3 LXX; Matthew 7:13-21 NKJV
Difficulties on the road
Right before Moses handed over the reins to Joshua, he gave an inspiring speech to the people of Israel. In part of his speech, as recorded in Deuteronomy 30:19-20 LXX he says, “I call both heaven and earth to witness this day against you, I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse: choose you life, that you and your seed may live; to love the Lord your God, to listen to his voice, and cleave to him; for this is your life, and the length of your days” - further expanding on this concept, Jesus instructs the people to, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV) When we choose the way of life, we must struggle to continue following it, because it won’t be easy but the reward will be beyond our wildest imagination - nothing can compare to the reward!
The way of the world is broad and easy, not hidden, in plain sight, for everyone to see…do what everyone else is doing, run with the crowd mentality – our wildest imaginations fall utterly short of what the world actually offers and to make it worse, that way leads to destruction - you don’t get what you hoped for and it’s even worse than what you’ve imagined. The way of life, is not apparent to all, not all are able to find it, not because it is hidden so well like in a treasure hunt, but it is not easily found to those that are not looking for it. To those that seek this road, this narrow path, they will find it. Jesus tells us, “in the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” [John 16:33 NKJV] - yes, we will face difficulties on the road of life, but we shouldn’t be worried, nor be saddened, nor be troubled - He is with us, every step of the way, and we should be overjoyed because He has already overcome the world and its problems – in Him you will “have peace” [John 16:33 NKJV]
This reminds me of those “hidden driveway” signs on the side of the road - blink and you’ll miss the hidden driveway, speed too quickly and you’ll miss the hidden driveway, but look for it and you will find the hidden driveway - so too when we look and are diligent in our search for the narrow path then we will find it.
“Attend to the words, for they have a special force, ‘many walk’ in the broadway - ‘few find’ the narrow way. For the broad way needs no search, and is not found, but presents itself readily; it is the way of all who go astray. Whereas the narrow way neither do all find, nor when they have found, do they straightway walk therein. Many, after they have found the way of truth, caught by the pleasures of the world, desert midway.” [St. Jerome, 4th century theologian and historian]
Old Testament reading: Jeremiah 6:16 LXX; Isaiah 43:1-3 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 7:13-21 NKJV
Day 14
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 20:15 LXX; Deuteronomy 20:1-4 LXX; Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV; Ephesians 6:13 NKJV; 1 John 5:4 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV
Victory in temptations
Any new lifestyle change is always hardest on the first day and a few days into the change, but it takes two weeks to form a habit and thankfully we have reached two weeks today. At times we have been tempted during the plan to hold off and read later, only to find we are beyond tired and ultimately tempted to just skip one day. Much like us when we started on a spiritual high and we committed ourselves to reading God’s word daily, Jesus also starts His good work, His mission, with a spiritual high – His baptism.
Right after He started, He goes into the wilderness and...is tempted. Does that sound familiar? A few days into a good spiritual work, service, habit, we found ourselves tempted to skip, stop, and to succumb to the temptations, but He lays the roadmap for our victory by His victory in those temptations. The core of the three temptations of the devil all dealt with worshipping anyone or anything other than God, to put on a pedestal something or someone “more important” than God or the time we ought to commit to God - maybe we even find ourselves committing the time, the “first fruits”, the first minutes when we wake up that we have set aside for God, to another god...ourselves. We hit the snooze button and just like that, the temptation to replace the time I have for God with my god is long gone and the deed done.
The solution to temptation is to put God above all things, hold on to Him and to have a plan beforehand to achieve this; equip ourselves with Scripture, to flee the devil when we are tempted, do not try to rationalize the temptations and thoughts and as important, to fast and pray. The devil will not stop and as a matter of fact, he needs no rest because he is a spiritual creation not in need of sleep, so he will not stop tempting us until our last breath, whether we are alone at home or praying in the Divine Liturgy. As His Holiness Pope Shenouda III, the 117th Patriarch of Alexandria, of blessed memory said once, “You cannot stop a bird from flying over your head, but you can stop it from making a nest there.” We cannot stop the thoughts from the devil, but we can prevent the thoughts from taking root in our minds. Hold on to Jesus’ victory and He will support you in times of temptation, for the battle is not ours but His to fight (2 Chronicles 20:15 LXX).
“Not only Christ was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, but also all sons of God who have the Spirit in them. Because they don’t accept to stay at rest, but the Holy Spirit moves them to achieve great deeds. Then they go out into the wilderness to fight against the devil and resist all deeds of oppression inspired by him. So, all godly persons are getting out into the wilderness to be tempted like that, as they have neither worldly nor bodily desires”. [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
“Whenever there are excessive attacks from the tempter, we have to fast. Because fasting enables the body to carry on the Christian duty of fighting against the lusts of the world, as well as it inspires the soul to overcome temptation with humility”. [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
Old Testament reading: Deuteronomy 20:1-4 LXX; 2 Chronicles 20:15 LXX; Psalm 19 LXX (20:7-8 MT)
New Testament reading: Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV; Ephesians 6:13 NKJV; 1 John 5:4 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV
Day 15
Scripture: Matthew 25:41 NKJV; Matthew 25:34 NKJV; John 5:1-9 NKJV; Ezekiel 18:21-22 LXX; 1 John 1:9 NKJV; Romans 2:5 NKJV
Confession of repentance
This past week we read how when we decide to put our mind to a good service, work or habit that we often get tempted but our victory over these temptations is holding on to God and His word, to defend ourselves by Scripture and to flee from the devil. What happens if we slip, do we just call it a day and throw in the towel? “I did the best I could and I fell short.”
Yes, we are human and that’s part of our nature to fall short, but how we respond to our shortcomings and sins determines what we receive. We can continue to fill our eyes with sin or we can, by the Sacraments of Repentance and Confession (they go hand in hand), be cleansed of our sins and start fresh again. If we continue in sin, we continue to fill ourselves with darkness, we will, in the end, receive a place in “everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels (followers)” [Matthew 25:41 NKJV] but if we choose daily, even though we may sin many times in the day, to repent and confess our sins to God in the presence of the priest, we will, in the end, “inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” [Matthew 25:34 NKJV].
The word for “repentance” in the New Testament is “metanoia” - a change of mind…it means to reorient my vision of the world and myself into a way of God and His love. Repentance is not merely to regret my sins but to recognize that sin separates me from the love of God, that we “divide” ourselves from Him and deprive ourselves of His grace and freedom.
The Greek root word “diavallo” is the basis for the word “devil” meaning to “tear asunder” - the devil wants to “tear” and “divide” you from God and His love. Repentance therefore cannot, and is not, a one time regretting of sins and does not come from our mind but it is from our hearts, daily, ongoing, for the rest of our lives. When we repent daily and confess our sins we do not give room for the devil to tear us away from God and His love.
Repentance and confession, in the life of the Christian believer, will cause us to come face to face with our sins, take responsibility for them, humble us because we refuse to keep anything hidden from Him, it allows for us to be healed by the Great Physician (John 5:1-9 NKJV) and shows that we are not relying on ourselves for change but rather we are asking for and relying on God’s help to save us.
“Repentance is salvation, but lack of understanding is the death of repentance.” [St. Basil the Great, 4th century Bishop of Caesarea, Confessor and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Psalms 30 LXX (31:5 MT); Ezekiel 18:21-22 LXX
New Testament reading: 1 John 1:9 NKJV; Romans 2:5 NKJV
Day 16
Scripture: 2 Chronicles 33:12-13 LXX; John 8:31-36 NKJV; Luke 24:46-48 NKJV
Righteousness of repentance
After the United Kingdom was split into Judah and Israel, there were a total of 39 Kings between the two - 20 Kings of Judah and 19 Kings of Israel, with 8 Kings (all from Judah) that were good...everyone else was bad. There was one king that started out bad and then at the end repented - King Manasseh.
His dad, King Hezekiah, was a good king, but Manasseh, when he became king, reverted Judah back to the ways of his grandfather, King Ahaz. Don’t take my word for it that he was bad, go back and read 2 Chronicles 33, but in short: King Manasseh (which means “forgetting” or “to let go”) let go of the ways of his father and rebuilt temples to the Baals (devil), made altars for them, made idols for them, and worshipped them - worst of all he did these also in the house of the Lord, in His holy temple. He practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery, he consulted mediums and spiritists, sacrificed his sons to the Baals and made the people of Judah and Jerusalem (the capital of Judah) to follow him in his evil ways. He was really really bad.
The Lord spoke to him and the people but they wouldn’t listen, so God allowed the Assyrians to take King Manasseh and the people captive and dragged them away in chains. “And when he (King Manasseh) was afflicted, he sought the face of the Lord his God, and was greatly humbled before the face of the God of his fathers; and he prayed to him: and he listened to him, and listened to his cry, and brought him back to Jerusalem to his kingdom: and Manasses knew that the Lord he is God.” [2 Chronicles 33:12-13 LXX].
Who knows if this affliction would have taken place had he listened to God when He spoke to him, however, he eventually did listen - he eventually did turn away from his evil ways and he took away the foreign gods, the idols and altars from the house of the Lord he threw them out of the city, repaired the altar of the Lord, sacrificed peace and thanks offerings and commanded the people to serve the Lord.
His prayer below, which is a book in the Orthodox canon, is one of the most sincere prayers of repentance recorded in the Bible - imagine, if God can accept back an evil man, not just a man, a king, such as Manasseh, then what about us? If God freed Manasseh, who forgot and let go of Him, from the literal and spiritual chains of sin, then God is not only able but waiting and willing to free us from sins - we need only to repent, confess and abide in Him, then He will forget and let go of our sins.
The Prayer of Manasseh
“(1) O Lord Almighty, God of our ancestors, of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and of their righteous offspring; (2) you who made heaven and earth with all their order; (3) who shackled the sea by your word of command, who confined the deep and sealed it with your terrible and glorious name; (4) at whom all things shudder, and tremble before your power, (5) for your glorious splendor cannot be borne, and the wrath of your threat to sinners is unendurable; (6) yet immeasurable and unsearchable is your promised mercy, (7) for you are the Lord Most High, of great compassion, long-suffering, and very merciful, and you relent at human suffering. O Lord, according to your great goodness you have promised repentance and forgiveness to those who have sinned against you, and in the multitude of your mercies you have appointed repentance for sinners, so that they may be saved. (8) Therefore you, O Lord, God of the righteous, have not appointed repentance for the righteous, for Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, who did not sin against you,but you have appointed repentance for me, who am a sinner. (9) For the sins I have committed are more in number than the sand of the sea; my transgressions are multiplied, O Lord, they are multiplied! I am not worthy to look up and see the height of heaven because of the multitude of my iniquities. (10) I am weighted down with many an iron fetter, so that I am rejected because of my sins, and I have no relief; for I have provoked your wrath and have done what is evil in your sight, setting up abominations and multiplying offenses. (11) And now I bend the knee of my heart, imploring you for your kindness. (12) I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my transgressions. (13) I earnestly implore you, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me! Do not destroy me with my transgressions! Do not be angry with me forever or store up evil for me; do not condemn me to the depths of the earth. For you, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, (14) and in me you will manifest your goodness; for, unworthy as I am, you will save me according to your great mercy, (15) and I will praise you continually all the days of my life. For all the host of heaven sings your praise, and yours is the glory forever. Amen.”
Old Testament reading: The Prayer of Manasseh
New Testament reading: John 8:31-36 NKJV; Luke 24:46-48 NKJV
Day 17
Scripture: Matthew 12:31 NKJV; John 16:8 NKJV; James 1:14-15 NKJV; John 8:44 NKJV; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-17 NKJV
Temptation of repentance
There is no sin without forgiveness except the one without repentance. Our Lord said, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men” [Matthew 12:31 NKJV]. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin (John 16:8 NKJV) and if we refuse the work of the Spirit within us, we will not repent and this is considered blasphemy against the Spirit and consequently it is not forgiven.
Temptation is not the same as sin. When we have a debt or trespass (sin), we need to be forgiven, but when we are tempted we are in need of being delivered. James 1:14-15 NKJV says that the spiritual progression of our heart is desire to temptation leading to sin to death. When we are being tempted we are told to flee, not because we have sinned, but because we are in a very dangerous position to sin.
The devil will try to convince us that the temptations are sinful, but that is the furthest thing from the truth...after all, “he [the devil] speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.” [John 8:44 NKJV]. As an example: a person who is addicted to drugs, alcohol or pornography, is sinning but when a person is offered drugs, alcohol or are alone and easy access to look at pornography, that person is being tempted but did not sin. It is not unnatural these days to see someone walk down the street wearing very little for the imagination, but when we see this person and avert our gaze, we have not sinned...the long gaze or double-take are the sin. King David didn’t avert his gaze but his desire for what he saw led to his inquiring - desire leading to temptation to sin to death (James 1:14-15 NKJV). Temptation isn’t a sin, but giving into it is.
We may be tempted to not repent but let us take example of King David - his repentance, written for us as Psalm 50 (Psalm 51 in Orthodox Canon), led to his restoration and shows us that there is forgiveness of sins and comfort from our guilt, if we do so with repentance. If we choose not repent then we choose to close ourselves off from the grace of God and He will not force Himself on to someone that doesn’t want Him in their lives.
“Pay attention carefully. After the sin comes the shame; courage follows repentance. Did you pay attention to what I said? Satan upsets the order; he gives the courage to sin and the shame to repentance.” [St. John Chrysostom, 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
“[Regarding confession, some] flee from this work as being an exposure of themselves, or they put it off from day to day. I presume they are more mindful of modesty than of salvation, like those who contract a disease in the more shameful parts of the body and shun making themselves known to the physicians; and thus they perish along with their own bashfulness” [Tertullian of Carthage, 3rd century scholar]
Old Testament reading: Psalm 50
New Testament reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:9-17 NKJV
Day 18
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV; Exodus 12:23 LXX; Exodus 12:8 LXX; Exodus 13:6-7 LXX; Exodus 12:15 LXX; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 NKJV; Luke 13:3 NKJV; 2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV; Matthew 5:4 NKJV; Ezekiel 18:32 LXX; Luke 19:1-10 NKJV
Judgment of repentance
Salvation in the Orthodox Church is available only through the precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Passover lamb was a symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ, “...For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us” [1 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV]. Through the blood of the lamb, the children of Israel were saved from the fatal plague, “And the Lord shall pass by to strike the Egyptians, and shall see the blood upon the lintel, and upon both the door-posts; and the Lord shall pass by the door, and shall not suffer the destroyer to enter into your houses to strike you.” [Exodus 12:23 LXX].
In this example of the Passover lamb and the doors stricken with blood, we notice a very significant symbolism that highlights the role of repentance in salvation. The Passover lamb must be eaten with unleavened bread (Exodus 12:8 LXX) and no leaven would be kept in all the quarters for seven days (Exodus 13:6-7 LXX); the Lord emphasized strongly the removal of leaven from the houses and set a severe punishment of cutting off anyone who would dare to eat leavened bread (Exodus 12:15 LXX, 18, 20)
Leaven is a symbol of evil and sin, while unleavened bread is a symbol of righteousness and purity. St. Paul said, “Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” [1 Corinthians 5:7-8 NKJV].
The removal of leaven (sin) was a symbol of repentance and the seven days represent the whole life because the number “7” is a symbol of perfection, thus another confirmation that repentance is to be a daily work in the life of the believer. Therefore, though a person may escape the death of the plague through the blood of the lamb, this person will be cut off the congregation if they eat leaven, “...unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” [Luke 13:3 NKJV]. Also, the Passover lamb was to be eaten with bitter herbs (Exodus 12:8 LXX) that represent the role of regret and sorrow associated with repentance, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation” [2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV]. So even though the Passover lamb reminded the Israelites with the joy of salvation, it had to be eaten with bitter herbs and indeed we are reminded that “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” [Matthew 5:4 NKJV].
“The old leaven is not just fornication but sin of every kind, which must be rooted out if the lump is to be pure.” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Ezekiel 18:32 LXX
New Testament reading: Luke 19:1-10 NKJV
Day 19
Scripture: Psalm 50:3 LXX; 2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV; Matthew 3:8 NKJV; Luke 3:8 NKJV; Micah 7:8 LXX; Proverbs 28:13 LXX; Acts 2:38 NKJV; Acts 17:30-31 NKJV; Revelation 2:5 NKJV
Faithfulness of repentance
God is faithful to forgive, He is faithful when we ask Him to “turn away Your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities” [Psalm 49 LXX (50:9 MT)] that He will - but in order for Him to turn away His face from our sins we must first tell Him “I am conscious of my iniquity; and my sin is continually before me.” [Psalm 50:3 LXX (51:3 MT)].
Keeping my sins “continually before me” (Psalm 50:3 LXX (51:3 MT)) is not to be depressed because of my sins but to always keep aware that I have fallen short and yet, through repentance in my heart and confession to God in the presence of the priest, I am given the strength to rise again and am cleansed of my sins. St. Paul says, “For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death.” [2 Corinthians 7:10 NKJV] - meaning that when we repent, the sorrow of committing our sins, while holding on to God’s goodness in His forgiveness, will lead us to salvation...to live a life of repentance is to take the sins that I committed, that I repented and confessed of, and to allow them to “bear fruits worthy of repentance” [Matthew 3:8 NKJV, Luke 3:8 NKJV]. St. John Chrysostom says, “Worldly sorrow, in contrast to this, is regret for the loss of money, reputation and friends. That kind of sorrow merely leads to greater harm, because the regret is often a prelude to a thirst for revenge. Only sorrow for sin is really profitable.”
When a farmer wants to grow crops, they plant the seeds they use fertilizer (animal manure) in order to allow the soil to hold more nutrients and water, and when they do so the soil becomes more fertile and is more able to produce crops. Where the animal manure (sin) is used for a good use to help produce crops (fruits worthy of repentance), if put in your bedroom, a bad use, will nauseate you, cause you to be sick from the smell, and will attract flies, insects and so on. We should never be ashamed to repent because God is faithful to forgive us our sins when we acknowledge and repent.
“Do not be ashamed to enter again into the Church. Be ashamed when you sin. Do not be ashamed when you repent. Pay attention to what the devil did to you. These are two things: sin and repentance. Sin is a wound; repentance is a medicine. Just as there are for the body wounds and medicines, so for the soul are sins and repentance. However, sin has the shame and repentance possesses the courage.” [St. John Chrysostom, 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Micah 7:8 LXX; Proverbs 28:13 LXX
New Testament reading: Acts 2:38 NKJV; Acts 17:30-31 NKJV; Revelation 2:5 NKJV
Day 20
Scripture: Nahum 3:19 LXX; 2 Chronicles 7:14 LXX; Matthew 12:41 NKJV; Revelation 3:3 NKJV
Forgiveness of repentance
Although God is quick and merciful to forgive us of our sins, we should not delay in our repentance. St. John Chrysostom says, “You who do not believe in eternal punishment, tell me who drowned with the flood - all the people of Noah's time did; Who burnt all the people in Sodom and Gomorrah? Who drowned all the Egyptians in the Red Sea including Pharaoh? Who killed the six hundred thousand Jews in the wilderness? Who ordered the earth to open its mouth and swallow Korah, Dathan and Abiram? Who killed seventy thousands in King David's time? Who killed eighty-five thousands of the Assyrians in one night? How do you answer that? Therefore NEVER take advantage of God's mercy.”
God's grace saves the obedient, the willing to be faithful and the repentant; but those who are not living in this manner will not be saved. During the Holy Great fast it is important to examine what happens to those who are warned and admonished to turn from their evil ways. Seeking to establish their own importance and form of righteousness, the Ninevites continued in evil, although warned specifically of the atrocities of their evil ways of life. The Ninevites were wealthy and were strong, some might even consider them smart to have attained the riches they had accumulated but they definitely were not wise.
The Book of Nahum calls for the Ninevites to assume their repentant nature and specifically states that they did not. Instead, they preferred to embrace a radical yet modern character consistent with that of everyone else in the city. Riches and affability, the desire to fit in, with other Ninevites would bring doom and despair.
Ultimately, the prophet Nahum gives the city of Nineveh this epitaph, “There is no healing for your bruise; your wound has rankled: all that hear the report of you shall clap their hands against you; for upon whom has not your wickedness passed continually?” [Nahum 3:19 LXX].
Sadly, it took less than 150 years for Nineveh to return to idolatry, accompanied with violent and arrogant behaviors. Once again, the Lord God sends another prophet to Nineveh to preach and warn them of the city's certain doom and destruction. This time they were not receptive, not even a little. By not heeding the warning of the prophet Nahum sent by God, Nineveh fell to Babylon in total destruction. Nineveh was the capital city of Assyria thought to be incapable of falling.
Repentance and reconciliation are themes of the Holy Great Fast. The prophet Nahum plainly tells the Ninevites with certainty due to their great wickedness and deference to change or they will be destroyed. The prophet Nahum, unlike the prophet Jonah, did not speak to mercy and to repentance but rather adamantly declared the doom of Nineveh. God is not mocked, is not repetitive, and is not ambivalent.
God does not waiver. God is slow to anger, tries to forewarn to making the right choice, and is merciful to those who seek His mercy through repentance, but if someone turns away from God to serve his own desires, he engulfs judgment.
“God has promised forgiveness to your repentance, but He has not promised tomorrow to your procrastination.” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
Old Testament reading: Psalm 31 LXX (32:5 MT); 2 Chronicles 7:14 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 12:41 NKJV; Revelation 3:3 NKJV
Day 21
Scripture: Luke 15:17 NKJV; Luke 15:24 NKJV; Isaiah 30:9 LXX; Psalm 138:7-8 LXX; Luke 15:10 NKJV; Isaiah 30:1-5 LXX; Proverbs 6:10-11 LXX; Jeremiah 31:18 LXX; Luke 15:11-32 NKJV
Acceptance of repentance
God illustrates for us in the Parable of the Prodigal Son that He loves everyone - those that love Him and even, yes, those that don’t love Him and want absolutely nothing to do with Him. Actually, the Parable should be called the Parable of the Prodigal Sons, because the younger son who squandered his father’s inheritance, repented and returned; however, the older son, was equally lost. The younger son, asking for the inheritance of his father, was to tell the father, “I want nothing to do with you and I wish you were dead” - how else does anyone get an inheritance except for when someone dies? In some parts of the world, that kind of disrespect would get you a strong slap across the face or worse, but not with God - the father respects the wishes of his younger son. The older son held to the letter of the law and, like the Pharisees who would have memorized more than 300 prophecies concerning the Messiah, had all “knowledge” about the father but knew no love for him - never had a real relationship with him, never cared for his father and only did what he did so he would be in his good favor, but not because he actually loved his father.
How could the younger son, who had no love and no real knowledge of the father repent and be accepted back? Because his repentance was simple...he “came to himself” [Luke 15:17 NKJV], simple as that...no long complicated formula, he came back to his senses, meaning he was 100% wholly, simply and brutally honest with himself first and his father afterwards. However, the older son we are left with a cliffhanger...we never find out if he enters the party or stays outside when his father invites him into the party, perhaps for that is we can reflect ourselves on to the older son and say, “what would I do in this situation?”
The younger son followed his desires and, as a result, made many unwise choices...choices that tried to numb the pain rather than to seek his father’s grace, healing and restoration but when he repented, he was in his father’s grace again, healed of the burden of his sins, and restored again, not as a servant but again as a son! “for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” [Luke 15:24 NKJV] Where sin is death and alienation, repentance is the renewal of life and to be found once again.
The father, like God, initiates His love for each of His sons...he stands outside waiting for the younger son to come home and when his older son doesn’t want to come into the party he goes out to bring him in. God’s love isn’t because of the repentance, it’s the opposite. He loves us and therefore, we repent.
Like the younger son, the kingdom of Judah were “stubborn children”, they rebelled against God and “would not hear the law of God” (Isaiah 30:9 LXX). As the younger son, the kingdom of Judah wanted nothing with God and He gives them what they want, like the father does with the younger son. When the younger son, like the kingdom of Judah, sought safety elsewhere, God brought discipline. How ironic it was for them to think that they could outrun and distance themselves from God, as we are reminded in Psalm 138:7-8 LXX (139:7-8 MT), “Whither shall I go from your Spirit? and whither shall I flee from your presence? If I should go up to heaven, you are there: if I should go down to hell, you are present.”
For us, He is still here with us, no matter how far we believe we have run away from Him. If we find refuge in our wealth, family, health, or anything other than God, or find ourselves suffering God's discipline, this is the call to return back to Him...do not delay in your repentance. He is waiting for you with open arms to come back to Him. Do not let the devil try to steal from you this divine zeal of repentance, get up now and repent, for the joy you will have will be reflected in heaven - “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” [Luke 15:10 NKJV].
“Let your prayer be completely simple. For both the publican and the prodigal son were reconciled to God by a single phrase.” [St. John Climacus, a 7th century monk and author of “Ladder of Divine Ascent”]
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 30:1-5 LXX, 9-11
Proverbs 6:10-11 LXX
“A little sleep, a little slumber, A little folding of the hands to sleep - So shall your poverty come on you like a prowler, And your need like an armed man.”
Jeremiah 31:18 LXX
“I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself:‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained bull; Restore me, and I will return, For You are the Lord my God”
New Testament reading: Luke 15:11-32 NKJV
Day 22
Scripture: 2 Peter 1:10-11 NKJV; Deuteronomy 15:10-11 LXX; Luke 16:1-9 NKJV
Spirit of the Gospel
The news station had been reporting on the approaching hurricane for some days now and we lived in an area where hurricanes would come and go, like distant relatives visiting from out of town. A scene of a town, a few hours away, swept away by the hurricane, appeared on the television screen and I was completely breathless. It was horrific. How does one recover from that? That’s what moved me to accept that I needed to get supplies before this storm hit. I drove to the nearest WalMart, passing gas stations with cars lined up out into the street blocking the entire right lane. As I walked to the back to get water jugs I realized it wasn’t as chaotic as I expected, until I got to the aisle and saw all the water was completely gone. No wonder there was no panic - everyone was already prepared! No water, no problem. In a day of using “amazon” as a verb, my brother suggested that I do just that: amazon bottles of water to my home. Crisis averted! But what if I didn’t have a brother who was quick to think on his feet? I hadn’t thought quickly and would have wallowed in my own self-pity.
What’s even scarier than not having enough supplies for the approaching hurricane, was I started to wonder if I was doing this with my spiritual life. Was I neglecting preparation because I was staring at a screen or walking nonchalantly through the empty aisles of resources without a real plan?
The shrewd man’s story in Luke 16 has always been confusing to me. He was clearly guilty of up-charging his master’s vendors so he could skim off the top - he didn’t argue his guilt; he accepted his consequences and yet continued to look out for himself, it seemed. There’s no way that I could ever be like him. Yet, he was much better than me. In his shrewdness, he prepared and resolved.
Through grace, he climbed his way out of his situation and he was accepted. Even PRAISED by his old master, proving that even in our wrongdoings and through His mysterious love, we are somehow accepted. In God’s eyes, we are seen worthy of His love, even when the rest of the world may not kindly afford us the same judgment.
Don’t allow yourself to sulk or give up in the midst of your storm. Resolve and be proactive so that you can proceed through the remainder of your Lenten days to do right and prepare for the greater “eternal dwellings”.
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” [2 Peter 1:10-11 NKJV]
“we should understand that if the steward who acted deceitfully, could be praised by his lord, how much more they please God who do their works according to His commandment.” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
Old Testament reading: Deuteronomy 15:10-11 LXX
New Testament reading: Luke 16:1-9 NKJV
Day 23
Scripture: Luke 9:62 NKJV; 1 Samuel 3:10 LXX; Luke 14:33 NKJV; Luke 9:57-62 NKJV
Spreading the Gospel (The Cost of Following Jesus)
Have you ever met someone who was a natural at making excuses for things? - why work wasn’t getting done, why their homework wasn’t completed, why it wasn’t their fault for (fill in the blank)? Again, I was sitting across from my father of confession making excuses for all the reasons why I hadn’t fully committed to my spiritual canons - spiritual exercises that I should practice (prayers, prostrations, fasting until a certain time, etc). I had tried to soften the blow by highlighting the very few tasks I had down pat. I explained how great I was at getting to church before the Gospel, reading the Bible every day, almost fasting the whole morning - I was trying to divert his attention to the “good things” I was doing. Wow, what a spiritual athlete I was! Really though, who was I kidding? God saw it all. What was I really holding on to, what was my excuse? Why couldn’t I just get it together? My excuses were trying to cover for the fact that I needed to stop being lazy and even then, my father of confession, with compassion, suggested we remove one or two tasks if it was getting to be too much, then quietly and confidently, like a calm General, my father of confession tasked me, “Continue in the struggle.”
It wasn’t about the things I may or may not be doing - it was my commitment to leave my pride, fear, and doubt behind. My problem, as yours may be, was my excuses caused this inability to be obedient to the commitment I made to God, which in turn made it hard to hear God speaking to me clearly.
That’s a hard one to admit - that the cost is great to follow Jesus, you know, to stop making excuses, to fully commit yourself to Him, to leave all our comforts and loved ones behind and put Him first so we can be “fit for service” [cf. Luke 9:62 NKJV].
So here I am, committing my ways and my heart to Him. Join me in committing to Him alone, leaving the world behind. Every day continuing in the struggle and accepting that He is the Love worth leaping towards. No matter the cost. Let us, when He calls out to us, respond saying, “Speak, for your servant hears.” [1 Samuel 3:10 LXX]. Take up your cross and follow Christ, but we can only do so if we have His Cross, which He carried in order to save us. Which Cross saves us? His or ours? It is His Cross that validates us, gives us the authority, the power and means to save us and others.
May the power of His Cross be your focus each day. His Cross gives power, His Cross gives life, His Cross gives freedom - when you realize the power of His Cross, you won’t ever want to keep it as a secret for yourself, you’ll want to shout it from the top of the mountain for the whole world to hear!
“Say not then, I will follow you wherever you go. But if you would be a disciple, cast off foolish things, for it is impossible for him who remains in foolishness to become a disciple of the Word.” [St. Athanasius the Apostolic, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: 1 Samuel 3:10 LXX; Psalm 36 LXX (37:5-6 MT)
New Testament reading: Luke 14:33 NKJV; Luke 9:57-62 NKJV
Day 24
Scripture: Mark 4:35 NKJV; Psalm 22:5 LXX; Genesis 12:1 LXX; Mark 4:35-41 NKJV
Peace of the Gospel
Have you ever gone through a stressful trial in your life where you felt like your world was in full chaos, everything was caving in all around you and you just didn’t know how you’ll get through in one piece? You may be in the thick of it, experiencing that trial this very moment, maybe even at the beginning of it or about to start, or possibly just got out of it.
Maybe you’ve had sleepless nights, endless prayers, tears, and questions that don’t seem to ever have answers. It’s something we tell ourselves that we are the only one to experience it like this and no one understands or can relate to our pain. You are probably right because your pain is your own but you do not have to be alone in this, and fact is, Jesus has experienced all types of suffering and pain to relate to your personal pains and mine. The Peace of the Gospel ensures that you are not alone…and you’re not the first. Just as you aren’t the first, you won’t be the last for God to help you through. He is with you, even when it feels like He is being silent.
In today’s Gospel reading, the disciples of Jesus were invited by Him to “cross over to the other side” [Mark 4:35 NKJV] through the Sea of Galilee, but during the short trip there was a sudden storm that compromised the safety of the boat and the passengers. However, and we all remember this part, Jesus was asleep on a pillow! Not only was He asleep, but was using a pillow - He purposefully slept! Now, I’ve been known to get some good sleep through almost anything, but I can’t quite imagine comfortably dreaming through a dangerous storm. When Jesus awoke to the disciples asking Him if He even cared that they were about to die, Jesus arose and quieted the storm - He was silent, much like we believe Him to be sometimes with us, and their faith failed in a moment, much like ours does, so they panicked, and God still came to their aid. Notice the order - first He quieted the storm then He asked them why they had such little faith. How compassionate He is that He does it in this order, than to scold, belittle and rebuke them while the storm was still raging!
I don’t know about you, but I feel like the disciples far too often when I feel like God is silent through my turmoil. I can’t say I remember as often that Jesus invited me to “cross over to the other side” with Him – meaning that there is a clearly defined destination, there is a specifically pinpointed end in sight.
Although we may fail countless times, Jesus, in our suffering, stands up to our worries, insecurities, heartbreaks, trials and quiets all our troubles. Our God is all powerful, completely able and willing!
In the Eucharist (Communion), He is inviting us to go to the other side with Him, far away from the noise and distractions of the world. In the Eucharist, we live in that moment of the same Eucharist that He celebrated with His disciples over 2,000 years ago. Let us willingly go where He leads us, like a Good Shepherd leads his sheep to green pastures and still waters [Psalm 22 LXX (23:2 MT)], as in the Eucharist we find a place of rest and stillness that only He can provide when we are united with Him. Even if we should find ourselves at a place where He prepares a table for us with our enemies, He gladdens our hearts like a “cup that runs over” [cf. Psalm 22:5 LXX (23:5 MT)]. Let us, like Abram when told to, “Go forth out of your land and out of your kindred, and out of the house of your father, and come into the land which I will show you” [Genesis 12:1 LXX] also be able to leave all worldly attachments behind to a heavenly place He shows us in the Eucharist.
“I beseech You to lead my mind with the laws of faith, and I will ask for You with all of my heart and all of my strength that You gave me. I am longing to understand what I believe. O Lord my God, my only hope, please hearken to me. Do not allow my worries to weaken my will in looking for You and eternally asking for Your countenance. You have created me to find You! Please give me power to look for You. My strength and my weakness are in Your hands. Please keep my strength and help my weakness. Where You open the door, allow me to enter; where it is closed, please open it for my passage. Please grant me to grow in remembrance of You, in recognition of You, and in my love to You until You reach me with perfection.” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
“Who is this whom the sea obeys? It is he to whom the sea belongs, for he made it; all things were made through him. Try, then, to be more like the wind and the sea; obey the God who made you. The sea obeys Christ's command, and are you going to turn a deaf ear to it? The sea obeys him, the wind is still; will you persist with your blustering? Words, actions, schemes, what are all these but a constant buffing and puffing, a refusal to be still at Christ's command? When your heart is in this troubled state, do not let the waves overwhelm you. If, since we are only human, the driving wind should stir up in us a tumult of emotions, let us not despair but awaken Christ, so that we may sail in quiet waters, and at last reach our heavenly homeland.” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
Old Testament reading:
New Testament reading: Mark 4:35-41 NKJV
Day 25
Scripture: 2 Kings 20:1-6 LXX; Luke 18:35-43 NKJV; 2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV
Light of the Gospel
My sister-in-law is one of the most persistent people I have ever known. I love it. Once, she had to return a dress she purchased (not within the return period and never worn), so she called up customer service and spent over an hour of being transferred from associate to associate. We ALL sat on the sidelines making fun of her - this was it, this was the time she wouldn’t get it done. By the end of her call, not only had she successfully returned the dress but also somehow managed to get a pair of free shoes! She showed us! She left us with our jaws dropped! It is still one of the funniest stories we tell, but one of the proudest stories. Her persistence brought to her what everyone else doubted - she persisted and believed what she wanted was possible.
Just like Syrophoenician Gentile woman who begged Jesus to exorcise demons from her daughter in Mark 7 and Matthew 15, like Job’s faith in God’s compassion and mercy, like the blind beggar receiving sight. Each of these heroes of faith were told by others “no”, doubted and ridiculed by others, marginalized, kept down, silenced, yet, they persisted because of their faith! They knew God was able to give to them what they ask in faith.
So often it is in the times we have the greatest faith there are people on the sidelines doubting us, hushing us, pitying us. We should be confident, loud and persist all the more to God, as the blind beggar, Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, who “cried out all the more.” We will seemingly be silly for believing Jesus will come through because this time is different, so just keep praying, but “don’t get your hopes up”. These are real things I have experienced, maybe you have too. If you haven’t, I can assure you that with God, you cannot ever be too loud, too confident, too persistent because His victory will be louder in His perfect time!
The Light of the Gospel is in His promise, His victory and He makes it ours as well.
Ask our sweet and generous God for what is on your heart. Speak to Him plainly. Speak to Him with simplicity of heart. Go ahead, ask! He is able. Be persistent. He is willing. He will give us what is good for us, according to His good will, far beyond what we thought we wanted or needed. Because of the persistence of the blind beggar, his prayer was answered and the lesson for us, is to persist but also, as he was once blind and now could see the Light and the Word of the Gospel, that is Jesus Himself, we should, as he did, glorify God for His provisions! Jesus taught us how to pray and it is the heart of the Christian life - every Liturgical work is done in prayer and all the prayers of the Church exist because of the Lord’s prayer, given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.
“Now that he was delivered from his blindness, did he neglect the duty of loving Christ? He certainly did not. It says, “He followed him, offering him glory like to God.” He was set free from double blindness. Not only did he escape from the blindness of the body but also from that of the mind and heart. He would not have glorified him as God, had he not possessed spiritual vision. He became the means of others giving Christ glory, for it says that all the people gave glory to God.” [St. Cyril of Alexandria, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria, theologian known as the “Pillar of Faith” and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: 2 Kings 20:1-6 LXX
New Testament reading: Luke 18:35-43 NKJV; 2 Corinthians 4:6 NKJV
Day 26
Scripture: 2 Samuel 22:31 LXX; Deuteronomy 32:4 LXX; Genesis 32:24-32 LXX; Psalm 67:19 LXX; Revelation 3:20 NKJV; Luke 15:4 NKJV; 2 Chronicles 31:18 LXX; 2 Chronicles 19:9 LXX; Matthew 15:21-31 NKJV
Faith in the Gospel
“...and there is set before us life upon our observance [of God's precepts], but death as the result of disobedience, and every one, according to the choice he makes, shall go to his own place, so let us flee from death, and make choice of life.” [St. Ignatius of Antioch, 2nd century writer and Bishop of Antioch, known as “Ignatius the God-bearer”]
“Every one, according to the choice he makes” - it is up to you to decide. Put so plainly and boldly, almost uncomfortably. How could I choose differently, why would I choose differently? How could I possibly choose to have faith in anything other than Him, other than His Gospel?
We should determine that our life belongs to Him and seek Him in everything. Brothers and sisters in Christ, the burdens we face in this world are heavy at times - whether you are worried about your child’s sickness, your parents’ health, your financial struggle, loss of a loved one, a broken heart, a promotion or program acceptance, the health of your marriage - should we not be comforted that these are all things completely out of our control, that they are in the hands of One more capable than us? Should you not be comforted that the One who can resolve and restore is not imperfect as we are, that all His ways and works are perfect? (Psalm 17 LXX (18:30 MT), 2 Samuel 22:31 LXX, Deuteronomy 32:4 LXX) Should you not be comforted that the solution to your worry is to lay your worry at His feet? Should you not wrestle with Him in prayer, as Jacob wrestled with Jesus until the morning if you are unable to let go? (Genesis 32:24-32 LXX)
Be comforted because with God you do not have to seek other solutions. Let this period of the Great Fast be the time you finally allow the worry you feel, to let it rest at His feet. Let this period of the Great Fast be the time to let go and let God, that is, let go of your worries and let God take control of the situation. Let this period of the Great Fast be the time that the anxiety that cripples us, that we carry as a burden, we give it to our sweet God who “daily bears our burdens” [cf. Psalm 67:19 LXX (68:19 MT)] - He will know what to do with our burdens. He has never failed and will not start with you. Do not be bold to think we can find relief from our burdens outside of Him, outside of His Church, out in the world. Do not think so! When you find Christ, truly find Him, then you are filled, you are satisfied, you do not need anything else because you are filled with Him completely, and yet, because He is sweet to the taste you, already being filled, want more and more of Him. You become a completely different person. He is in everything you do, everything you think, everything you say...He gives you His grace and by His grace you are able to endure anything, everything and all things for Him.
Be persistent for the One Who loves you, do not abandon Him for anything else. If you have felt His love before and have a seed of desire for God, stop at nothing to let Him into your heart through repentance, confession and the Eucharist, for He says “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” [Revelation 3:20 NKJV] Stop at nothing short of repenting, nothing short of letting His Divine love and His Divine word of the Gospel penetrate and purify your heart, because our mighty and humble God will stop at nothing for you - He will “go after the one which is lost until he finds it” [Luke 15:4 NKJV]
Remain in faith, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Endure and persist. Cry out to Him. Let Him do His work in you through His goodness. Pray plainly. Let your prayers be consistent. Let your prayers be free to fly from the depths of your heart. Be confident that our attentive God hears you.
“Whenever physical hunger turned cruel against me, I found my gratification in prayer. Whenever the biting cold of winter was unkind to me, I found my warmth in prayer. Whenever people were harsh to me (and their harshness was severe indeed) I found my comfort in prayer. In short, prayer became my food and my drink, my outfit and my armor, whether by night or by day.” [Fr. Matthew the Poor, a Coptic Orthodox monk who departed to the Lord in 2006]
“Virtues are formed by prayer. Prayer preserves temperance. Prayer suppresses anger. Prayer prevents emotions of pride and envy. Prayer draws into the soul the Holy Spirit, and raises man to Heaven.” [St. Ephrem of Syria, 4th century theologian and hymnographer]
“Do you see how this woman too contributed not a little to the healing of her daughter? For to this purpose neither did Christ say, ‘Let your little daughter be made whole’, but, ‘Great is your faith, be it unto you even as you will’; to teach you that the words were not used at random, nor were they flattering words, but great was the power of her faith...But notice, I pray you, how when the apostles had failed, and had not succeeded, this woman had success. So great a thing is consistency in prayer.” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: 2 Chronicles 31:18 LXX; Deuteronomy 32:4 LXX; 2 Chronicles 19:9 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 15:21-31 NKJV
Day 27
Scripture: Matthew 23:25-26 NKJV; Matthew 23:27-28 NKJV; Ezra 10:4 LXX; Isaiah 58:11 LXX; 1 Samuel 16:7 LXX; Matthew 21:33-46 NKJV
Works and fruit of the Gospel
A few days ago I heard the words “treat your body like it belongs to someone you love.” If how I treated my body was the litmus test for the love I have for my spouse and family then it turns out I am not doing a good job at loving them at all. I had completely neglected my duty to care for myself, neglected caring for what was given to me.
Damage to how you view yourself ruins how you treat yourself. The things we experience and the scenes we see on tv and social media truly hurt the expectations we set for ourselves. Sometimes we try to live up to these outlandishly ridiculous expectations and other times the thought of not being able to attain it beats us down - both are toxic.
The toxic things we put inside our bodies and the toxic things we tell ourselves will eventually catch up to our spiritual body. The Lord Jesus Christ told the Pharisees in Matthew 23:25-26 NKJV, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.” The Pharisees were not producing the proper works and fruit that was expected of them; on the contrary, their works were in vain and they were fruitless. They filled themselves with toxic behaviors like making long prayers to receive the glory of the people rather than to glorify God. They were barren deserts, “whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”[Matthew 23:27-28 NKJV] - how sad that they appeared to be perfect on the outside but God saw right through them and saw how dead they were inside.
We have been given “this treasure [the Light of Christ’s Gospel] in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” We must take great care of the vessels we have been given - a beautiful spirit needs a sturdy vessel.
As I was reading today’s Gospel, I started to think of myself as the irresponsible tenants. The landowner prepared everything needed at the vineyard and rented it out to tenants, then some time passed, after the landowner moved away, he sent servants to bring back the fruit the vineyards yielded. Instead of giving what was needed, the tenants killed the servants. The landowner sent more servants, the tenants killed them as well. The landowner, loving his son very much, sent his son the third time as a sign of respect to receive the fruit, instead, the tenants killed him. The tenants did not care about the landowner, his investment, welfare or his family - they selfishly took what they wanted, forgetting that the landowner leased the land to them and it was not theirs to keep.
St. John Chrysostom puts into perspective the extreme negligence of the tenants simply by outlining the work of the great Landowner, “And observe also both His great care, and the excessive idleness of these men. For what pertained to the husbandmen, He Himself did, the hedging it round about, the planting the vineyard, and all the rest, and He left little for them to do; to take care of what was there, and to preserve what was given to them. For nothing was left undone, but all accomplished.”
When you find yourself in moments of forgetting the truth worth of the gift given to you and the purpose God has laid before you, meditate on the eternal life to come. Meditating on the eternal life to come will help you refocus on the works and fruit of the Gospel you have produced.
Be reminded in order to repent. Be reminded in order to uplift your soul. Be reminded in order to awaken your life of prayer. “Rise up, for the matter is upon you; and we are with you: be strong and do.” [Ezra 10:4 LXX] Be reminded that this body we were given, this Spirit we were given, belong to God and will be accounted for at the end of our lives, whether we used them to produce works and fruit of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Do not neglect this vessel that God has entrusted to you.
“You ought to begin here: you should with indelible memory, and ever mindful of giving it your unceasing attention, recollect for yourself all the things that God, in His love for humankind, has done for you, and all the special dispensations and benefits He is giving you now for the salvation of your soul. When the soul recalls the benefits it has received from birth from God because of His love for humankind – either how it has often been rescued from so many dangers or how, despite falling into so many evil ways and often willingly slipping into sin, it was not rightfully handed over to deceiving spirits for destruction and death, but instead the long-suffering and benevolent Master, overlooking its sins, protected it, awaiting its conversion – it recalls that, when it willingly enslaved itself to its enemies and to evil spirits on account of the passions, God continually supported it, watching over the soul and providing for it in every way.” [St. Mark the Hermit, 5th century ascetic and theologian]
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 58:11 LXX; 1 Samuel 16:7 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 21:33-46 NKJV
Day 28
Scripture: John 4:27 NKJV; Exodus 33:18-19 LXX; Exodus 34:5-7 LXX; John 4:1-42 NKJV
Glory of the Gospel
My father of confession opened up the door, smiled, and asked if I was ready. I walked in and soon I forgot all the fancy wordplay and excuses and spilled everything out - my mouth couldn’t move fast enough. The weight on my chest was starting to feel lighter. We spoke for a long time; he sat there listening when I needed it and related to me when necessary. By the end, my priest read the “Absolution of the Servants” and looked up with a smile to say “congratulations, white as snow”. The sweetness of that love! I felt at peace. I felt I belonged. I felt like I wanted to tell the world, share that same feeling, the joy and happiness, the good news with everyone!
There are moments in our lives that stick and this was one of them. I had been moved by the Holy Spirit to inch closer to God’s love; that’s what His love does to you. Come as you are, be prepared to be changed, for the Holy Spirit, Who is sweet and so gracious, will draw you closer to love the Lord, and how can we, tasting of that sweetness, still harbor fear of suffering?! We will have a sweetness in us that will take away all the bitterness of fear and suffering!
What a feeling it must have been to be in need of God and to have the God-Man, Jesus Christ, fully Divine and fully Human, waiting for her at the well. She would go to the well at the hottest time of the day to avoid the stares, comments, whispers and pointing - little did she know when she went to the well burdened she would leave there changed, accepted and unburdened - she ran to share that feeling, the good news of acceptance...she had even left her waterpot, the very burden and shame she carried because of her sins.
The Samaritan woman met her Messiah there and He saw her for everything she was and He accepted her as His own child. What I have found interesting was when the disciples came back to the well they found Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman – “and they marveled.” [John 4:27 NKJV] At what? Why are they all of a sudden surprised? Of course it was that she was a woman and a Samaritan. The fact was that the Jews and the Samaritans hated each other - centuries of opposing one another, we can understand why the disciples marveled but Jesus rose above the social and religious restrictions of a man speaking with a woman but also a Jew speaking with a Samaritan. Could it be that the joy of this story doesn’t just benefit one, but many? The will of God is to unite all people to Him, even those that have been separated by evil. This is why the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ suffered, so that he could gather together all the children of God who were scattered.
In the Orthodox tradition, this Samaritan woman was baptized by the disciples and given the name “Photini”, meaning “the enlightened one.” St. Photini became a missionary in her town, to the Samaritans and to Carthage in North Africa. She was known for her zealous and brave Christian teachings. She would ultimately give her life for the Lord Jesus Christ by refusing to deny Him and His teachings - she, as an enlightened one, gave that light she received to everyone and anyone that would listen, even standing before Emperor Nero and proclaiming to him, “O most impious of the blind, you profligate and stupid man! Do you think me so deluded that I would consent to renounce my Lord Christ and instead offer sacrifice to idols as blind as you?” That is the glory of the Gospel: that it transforms people from living a life of sin, a life of darkness to a life of joy, a life light. It transforms that most hardened sinner into a most zealous gracious saint.
How has His work in you been a work in others? Are you meeting Him at the well? Maybe you are running back to the town to tell the world about Jesus Christ. Maybe you are on the outside witnessing God’s divine plan bringing all His children together. Wherever you are, do not forget: do not lose your awe of the Gospel. Glory in the Gospel and share the Glory of the Gospel.
“I beg and beseech you, Lord: grant to all who have gone astray a true knowledge of you, so that each and every one may come to know your glory.” [St. Isaac the Syrian, 7th century Bishop of Nineveh and theologian]
Old Testament reading: Exodus 33:18-19 LXX; Exodus 34:5-7 LXX
New Testament reading: John 4:1-42 NKJV
Day 29
Scripture: Matthew 14:17 NKJV; Luke 9:11 NKJV; Luke 9:12-17 NKJV
Submission in faith
We all struggle in our faith. Maybe sometimes questions arise, maybe sometimes we are set like an unmovable concrete foundation. However, I think a common struggle we all face is struggling with horrendous thoughts of failure and not living up to some standard - the struggle with the idea of not being enough. We struggle letting go and we struggle submitting to the One who is able to resolve and Who is enough.
Even before writing this, just sitting and meditating on the Gospel reading, I struggled with how to express my lack of faith at times. Try this exercise: write down all the things you are struggling with - for me it was eight made up lies I tell myself that prohibit me from just letting go and trusting God. A somewhat lengthy list holds me back from trusting in God’s power and authority over these lies. How people view me, my inability to express myself, my success in work, my struggle to be the best spouse I can be, etc.
We have good intentions and want to do what’s good, but why are we unable to see all the miraculous things God has done before and can do again? Why do we always think “I am the exception to this”?
In Luke chapter 9, the disciples, who truly did care for the people asked to send them away so they may eat, but their solution was of their own – God’s way was greater. When Jesus heard His children needed to eat, He did not send them away, instead He kept them under His care - He had compassion on them.
The disciples, unsure of how the people will be fed, told Jesus “We have here only five loaves and two fish.” [Matthew 14:17 NKJV] - why were they doubting there could be a greater story here? It’s like when we sell ourselves short “I am only a [fill in profession]” - why do we do that? We don’t even realize we are being negative, but we are throwing doubt all over how great the work God is able to do in us! I mean, just that morning Jesus changed hearts and healed many who were sick (Luke 9:11 NKJV) - so where was the hesitation coming from? Because we have very little faith in God, very little trust. When we ask a friend or loved one to do something for us, we are trusting them to take care of whatever task we asked of them, in the same way, we must make our petitions to God and trust in Him that as a Loving Father, who wants what’s best for us, will supply our every need (Phillipians 4:19) - if we trusted Him as we trust a friend, family member or even as much as we trusted in ourselves, neither would we nor the entire world suffer so much!
Those five loaves and two fish were plenty for Jesus. He took what little they had and transformed it to feed THOUSANDS.
Read that again, Jesus took what little the disciples had and transformed it for the greater good and glory of His name.
There are so many lessons here, but one that always stuck out to me was the example of what Jesus did before He performed this miracle. Everything God does is intentional, nothing is careless. Jesus set for us the way to be transformed, presenting what we have and even how the change happens. Before Jesus performed the miracle, and in His beautifully organized way, He had the disciples sit the people down in groups of fifty. How often do we skip over this? We hear it over and over, but do we realize that He is organized, structured, intentional? The only people in life that I know to be organized, structured, intentional are people that are wise beyond years, they are the ones with the plan, have seen plenty enough to know what to do and how to face any challenge, and are people of great confidence - they know what they are doing. What more could be said about our Creator?
If we want to see change in us, if we truly want to submit in faith, with humility, let us give to Him what little we have. Trust in Him. Whatever is on your own list that makes you struggle, whatever it is that is making us feel like (insert dream) cannot get done. As you submit yourself to Him, in faith that His work will be great, we must also do our part. Not carelessly, sloppy and haphazardly but organized, with a clear mind, exact, precise and determined. He is able to take all the broken pieces of the messes we are in and make them into something more beautiful than we can imagine, but our part is to first give Him all the broken pieces - He won’t transform without us first submitting the pieces Him, but you must do it with trust!
Submit to Him in faith what little you have, trusting in Him; He is the One Who is greater than all your failures. May He do magnificent work in us all.
“For, as has been said, they sought to be healed of different diseases, and because the disciples saw that what they sought might be accomplished by His simple assent, they say, Send them away, that they be no more distressed. But mark the overflowing kindness of Him who is asked. He not only grants those things which the disciples seek, but to those who follow Him, He supplies the bounty of a munificent hand, commanding food to be set before them; as it follows, But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat.” [St. Cyril of Alexandria, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria, theologian known as the “Pillar of Faith” and a “doctor of the Church”]
“He erased the curse, he triumphed over death, he opened paradise. He struck down sin, he opened wide the vaults of the sky, he lifted our first fruits to heaven, he filled the whole world with godliness. He drove out error, he led back the truth, he made our firstfruits mount to the royal throne. He accomplished so many good deeds that neither I nor all humanity together could set them before your minds in words. Before he humbled himself, only the angels knew him. After he humbled himself, all human nature knew him. You see how his humbling of himself did not make him have less but produced countless benefits, countless deeds of virtue, and made his glory shine forth with greater brightness. God wants for nothing and has need of nothing. Yet, when he humbled himself, he produced such great good, increased his household, and extended his kingdom. Why, then, are you afraid that you will become less if you humble yourself?” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Psalm 33 LXX (34:18 MT); Psalm 146 LXX (147:3 MT)
New Testament reading: Luke 9:12-17 NKJV
Day 30
Scripture: John 1:14 NKJV; Hebrews 6:19-20 NKJV; Joshua 22:5 LXX; 1 Chronicles 28:9 LXX; Galatians 6:2 NKJV; Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV
Service in faith
I heard the following story from my parish priest who shared it with the congregation, which was originally submitted by Dr. J. Mark Platt:
“A Belgian Catholic priest named Fr. Joseph Damien De Veuster was sent to minister to lepers on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai. When he arrived, he immediately began to meet each one of the lepers in the colony in hopes of building a friendship. But wherever he turned, people shunned him. It seemed as though every door was closed. He poured his life into his work, erecting a Chapel, beginning worship services and pouring out his heart to the lepers. But it was to no avail! No one responded to his ministry. After 12 years Father Damien made the decision to leave.
Dejectedly, he made his way to the docks to board a ship to take him back to Belgium. As he stood on the dock he wrung his hands nervously as he recounted his futile ministry among the lepers. As he did he looked down at his hands, he noticed some mysterious white spots and felt some numbness. Almost immediately he knew what was happening to his body. He had contracted leprosy! It was then that he knew what he had to do. He returned to the leper colony and to his work.
Quickly the word about his disease spread through the colony. Within a matter of hours everyone knew. Hundreds of them gathered outside his hut, they understood his pain, fear, and uncertainty about the future. But what was the biggest surprise was the following Sunday, as Fr. Damien arrived at the Chapel, he found hundreds of worshippers all there. By the time the service began, there were many more with standing room only and many gathered outside the Chapel.
His ministry became enormously successful. The reason? He was one of them. He understood and empathized with them. This is the essence of sacrifice - that God came and became a man - ‘The Word became flesh.’ [John 1:14 NKJV]”
Service is not always pretty. In fact, service can feel, at times, like it is lonesome, quiet, frustrating, and mundane but true service allows God to lift these selfish feelings to the surface so we can see ourselves move out of the way for a deeper and more rich benefit….a benefit for the Kingdom and glory to His name.
Fr. Damien’s service was one of faith, putting in the work, not seeing immediate benefits, in it for the long haul. In service, we should emulate the goodness and sacrificial characteristics of God. The core of this story is that God chose to give humanity His only Son for our sake, to become like one of us in everything except for sin alone. His Son was sent for the lost sheep, for the sick, for the widows, the orphans, the strangers, those in prison and bitter bondage, those who had no one to care for them or care about them. Jesus Christ came to live in this desolate world among us, to take what was ours and to give us what was His, to show us Love. That is service.
Let us sacrifice for one another. Let us serve one another. Let us love one another. Let us serve those that are in need. Let us serve others by carrying their burdens and if we do so then Christ will carry our burdens. A ship’s anchor provides stability and security, even in dangerous waters. When we anchor ourselves in Christ, then we will be helpful to others because we cannot serve others, unless we first allow ourselves to be served by Christ, who is the True Servant. We cannot serve others in the dangerous storm of life unless we are tied to an anchor that will support us, keep us stabilized and safe, like a ship’s anchor - that anchor of our souls is Christ! (Hebrews 6:19-20 NKJV)
“It is profitable to me to know that for my sake Christ bore my infirmities, submitted to the affections of my body, that for me and for all he was made sin and a curse, that for me and in me was he humbled and made subject, that for me he is the lamb, the vine, the rock, the servant, the Son of a handmaid, knowing not the day of judgment, for my sake ignorant of the day and the hour.” [St. Ambrose, 4th century Bishop of Milan]
“He is our sanctification, as himself being purity, that the pure may be encompassed by his purity. He is our redemption, because he sets us free who were held captive under sin, giving himself as a ransom for us, the sacrifice to make expiation for the world. He is our resurrection, because he raises up, and brings to life again, those who were slain by sin.” [St. Gregory of Nazianzus, a 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople, known as “Gregory the Theologian” and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Joshua 22:5 LXX; 1 Chronicles 28:9 LXX
New Testament reading: Galatians 6:2 NKJV; Hebrews 6:19-20 NKJV; Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV
Day 31
Scripture: John 8:3-11 NKJV; John 8:4 NKJV; John 8:6 NKJV; John 8:11 NKJV; John 8:12 NKJV; Isaiah 40:31 LXX; Psalm 3:2-6 LXX; Luke 13:6-9 NKJV; John 8:3-12 NKJV
Hope in faith
“Do not fall into despair because of stumbling. I do not mean that you should not feel contrition for them, but that you should not think them incurable. For it is more expedient to be bruised than dead. There is, indeed, a Healer for the man who has stumbled, even He Who on the Cross asked that mercy be shown to His crucifiers, He Who pardoned His murders while He hung on the Cross. ‘All manner of sin,’ He said, ‘and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men,’ that is, through repentance.” [St. Isaac the Syrian, 7th century Bishop of Nineveh and theologian]
There is a parable in the Gospel of Luke 13 of a certain man who came seeking fruit from his fig tree but for three years he came seeking and found nothing, so he tells the servant to cut it down. Why bother with the fig tree? It's useless, he says. The servant; however, says: give the tree another chance, let me dig around it, let me fertilize it, and if it bears fruit then problem solved, if not then do as you please and cut it down. The servant saw the potential of the fig tree, that with tender loving care he could save this tree.
The same is true, in John 8:3-11 NKJV, of the adulterous woman who was caught “in the very act” [John 8:4 NKJV]. This woman, per the Mosaic law, was to be stoned to death. She was the fig tree that was not producing fruit, if anything she was producing fruit that was rotten and poisonous. So the scribes and Pharisees bring her to Jesus and, although they are justified in their assessment, they have no compassion. In His compassion for this sinful woman, Jesus “stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger, as though He did not hear.” [John 8:6 NKJV] - some scholars meditate on this and say that Jesus was writing the sins of each of the scribes and Pharisees that were accusing this woman. Not only did they have no compassion but they were also hypocrites. They quickly would stone this woman, but hypocritically would not dare to look at themselves to judge themselves first.
This adulterous woman is the fig tree and both are us. We are deserving of death because of our sins, we are deserving to be cut down because of our lack of fruits; however, in Jesus we have hope - we have hope that He will, as Creator of the Garden of Eden and the Gardener that St. Mary Magdalene supposed Him to be in His Resurrection, will tend to the gardens of our hearts and that He will be our Protector against the accuser, Satan. He will give us opportunity after opportunity to repent and confess. He will, as the servant suggested to his master, “dig around it and fertilize it” - that is to dig, as a gardener would, out all of the weeds (sins) and uproot them from the soil (our hearts) and will till the soil in order to loosen it (humble us) to accept the fertilizer (His word, His nourishment for our hearts and spirits). The sinful woman is the tree that was not cut down, but gave her another opportunity to repent, as the servant suggested to his master. He tells both her and us, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” [John 8:11 NKJV]
Let us beg the LORD to reveal to us our sins, to encourage and support us to sin no more, to act quickly and see which parts of our hearts need to be uprooted, tilled and fertilized with His word. He says, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” [John 8:12 NKJV]. As the light reveals all that it touches, allow the Light of Christ to shine on every part of our hearts in order to find that which is hidden from Him, that which is rotting within us. Let us pray for His mercy and compassion, that He will protect us from all those that mean to stone us, cut us down and harm us. Let us pray that He transforms us in order for the Owner of the vineyard to pass by and find fruit within us.
A Prayer of Repentance:
“At the door of Your compassion do I knock, Lord; send aid to my scattered impulses which are intoxicated with the multitude of the passions and the power of darkness. You can see my sores hidden within me: stir up contrition—though not corresponding to the weight of my sins, for if I receive full awareness of the extent of my sins, Lord, my soul would be consumed by the bitter pain from them. Assist my feeble stirrings on the path to true repentance, and may I find alleviation from the vehemence of sins through the contrition that comes of Your gift, for without the power of Your grace I am quite unable to enter within myself, become aware of my stains, and so, at the sight of them be able to be still from great distraction.” [St. Isaac the Syrian, 7th century Bishop of Nineveh and theologian]
“God is loving to man, and loving in no small measure. For say not, I have committed fornication and adultery: I have done dreadful things, and not once only, but often: will He forgive? Will He grant pardon? Hear what the Psalmist says: How great is the multitude of Your goodness, O Lord! Your accumulated offenses surpass not the multitude of God’s mercies: your wounds surpass not the great Physician’s skill. Only give yourself up in faith: tell the Physician your ailment: say thou also, like David: I said, I will confess me my sin unto the Lord: and the same shall be done in your case, which he says immediately: And you forgave the wickedness of my heart” [St. Cyril of Jerusalem, 4th century Bishop of Jerusalem and theologian]
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 40:31 LXX; Psalm 3:2-6 LXX
New Testament reading: Luke 13:6-9 NKJV; John 8:3-12 NKJV
Day 32
Scripture: John 8:36 NKJV; Luke 13:16 NKJV; Luke 13:11 NKJV; Luke 13:12 NKJV; Luke 13:13 NKJV; Isaiah 26:3 LXX; Psalm 9:10 LXX; Luke 13:10-17 NKJV
Freedom through faith
In the world we look all around us and see so many people in the bondage of sins, yet so many of those same people claim to be “free”. Free exactly to do what? Free exactly how? They believe they are free to make their own choices, free to do what they please to do with their bodies, free to say whatever comes to their minds without thinking of the consequences, and so on.
When you are chained by the bonds of sin, you are not actually free. Satan has his hold on them and loosens the leash a little to let them think they’re freely roaming as they want, that they are the ones freely making their choices, all the while not realizing they are leashed by the collar as a dog to his master. However, the opposite is true with God - “if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.” [John 8:36 NKJV]. When we abide in Christ, He will abide in us and that will make us free. But be forewarned - when those people that are bitterly bound by sin, those that are not actually free, realize that you are free, well, they won’t be too happy with that.
Remember the crippled woman in Luke 13? If not, here’s a refresher. What we know about her: she was a Jew (Luke 13:16 NKJV), she had been crippled for eighteen years (18 years!) because of the spirit of infirmity (Luke 13:11 NKJV), which St. Cyril of Jerusalem explains to be a “suffering from the cruelty of the devil”. We also notice that she was faithful because we see her attending a sermon of Jesus without any other intention, but to attend. Jesus called the crippled woman to Him and He healed her, right then and there.
The crippled woman did not take any action to request Jesus’ healing. We do not see this woman shouting in the crowd, waving her hand asking to be healed, pushing through people, asking others to get Jesus’ attention on her behalf...we do not even see this woman engaged in conversation with Him. All she did was show up. She. Showed. Up.
Even through the hurt, the stares, the whispers – she showed up. Our Lord saw her (Luke 13:12 NKJV), even when no one else did. He saw her in her pain, He saw her in faithfulness, He saw her and attended to her silent prayers.
The Pharisees had an issue with Jesus healing her on the Sabbath and Jesus says to them “think of it” [Luke 13:16 NKJV] - they were upset that Jesus healed her, had set her free from the bondage of Satan, made her whole again, and the Pharisees, who thought they were free but really weren’t free, well they weren’t too happy with that, and Jesus tells them “think about this for a moment, she’s been in this condition and you want Me to wait one more day to heal her? Isn’t she a daughter of Abraham whom you follow, yet you on the Sabbath take your livestock to drink water? Where is your compassion?!” Yet, Jesus saw her faithfulness, heard her silent prayers, saw her pain, and freed her - really set her free indeed.
Do you ever feel like you are praying silently for so long and you remain faithful, simply waiting on Him, waiting on God to hear you? Brothers and sisters, please be assured and find hope through the story of the crippled woman, that even when we are in pain and keep showing up, He still sees us. He still hears us. He will never forget us.
How are you able to relate to the crippled woman? Are you in need of physical healing? Or maybe it’s a spiritual one? Are people gossiping about you, saying evil things against you? Are people trying to block you from receiving something for your good? Are you dealing with an addiction, betrayal, abandonment, or jealousy?
Whatever your hindrance, be encouraged that His eyes are searching for you in the crowd. He sees you even when you feel like you are not being seen. Do not turn away from Him. Remain in your longing for the day He calls you over and restores. There will be freedom through faith.
Whether you are waiting for an answer or whether Christ’s Hand has already healed you, let us glorify Him who is greater than sickness and greater than conflict. Let us look to each other and pray for one another. Let us be like the crippled woman who “strengthened up and praised God”! [Luke 13:13 NKJV]
Be encouraged that through your faith you can receive sincere freedom from our Lord. Be encouraged in your trials, in your successes, in your waiting. All glory be to the All-Holy Trinity.
“Faith is the unshaken stance of the soul and is unmoved by any adversity. The believing man is not one who thinks that God can do all things, but one who trusts that he will obtain everything.” [St. John Climacus, a 7th century monk and author of “Ladder of Divine Ascent”]
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 26:3 LXX; Psalm 9:10 LXX; Psalm 12 LXX (13:5 MT); Psalm 55 LXX (56:3 MT)
New Testament reading: Luke 13:10-17 NKJV
Day 33
Scripture: John 8:24 NKJV; Mark 9:24 NKJV; Mark 9:14-29 NKJV
Sentence of faith
When my spouse and I first started to get to know each other, we would spend hours on the phone talking with one another. We shared our fears and dreams, laying down the foundation of trust so we could believe the other person for who they say they are to be. We didn’t have to do much convincing though, I was who I said I was by my actions and my spouse was who they said they were, backed up by their actions.
Jesus did not have to convince anyone who He was, in fact, He said “for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins” [John 8:24 NKJV]. The authority! Yet, in His goodness, He came to us to reveal to us the Kingdom of Heaven, to heal those with sicknesses and infirmities, to save us from a grim and cold life without Him, to Reconcile us with the Father - it was up to us to accept this sentence of faith; if we did not choose it then we choose for ourselves the sentence of death, a life absent of God.
Think of the person that you most love in this world. Think of the person that most loves you in this world. Neither of those sentiments of love are ever always consistent, never with the same intensity at all times, nor at all times unconditional. That’s what makes God so wonderful - His love is always consistent, His love for us never decreases, His love is without conditions and is eternal. He really is who He says He is.
Sometimes our flesh wars against our spirit and it is hard to believe. Our mind tries to wrestle with thoughts of belief and yet, God is still always consistent. At times we are like the father of the child with the mute spirit in Mark 9. When we find ourselves unbelieving in His truths, we must proclaim as this father did and immediately say, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” [Mark 9:24 NKJV]. To proclaim this is both a proclamation of belief and a prayer - we believe He is Lord and we pray asking for help.
May the Lord who is consistent, in His promises and the fulfillment of them, His love, His mercy, His never ending compassions, Who is the unchanging God, help our unbelief and strengthen and confirm us in His faith, in order to wholeheartedly receive the sentence of faith.
“Where faith fails, prayer perishes. For who prays for that in which he does not believe? … So then in order that we may pray, let us believe, and let us pray that this same faith by which we pray may not falter.” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
“Seeing that his faith was being driven by the waves of unbelief on the rocks which would cause a fearful shipwreck, he asks of the Lord an aid to his faith, saying “Lord, help me in my unbelief.” So thoroughly did the apostles and those who live in the gospel realize that everything which is good is brought to completion by the aid of the Lord, and not imagine that they could preserve their faith unharmed by their own strength or free will, that they prayed that it might be helped and granted to them by the Lord.” [St. John Cassian, known as “John the Ascetic”, a 5th century monk and theologian]
Old Testament reading: Psalm 77 LXX (78:17-22 MT)
New Testament reading: Mark 9:14-29 NKJV
Day 34
Scripture: Matthew 23:25-26 NKJV; Matthew 23:23 NKJV; Proverbs 22:6 NKJV; Isaiah 30:21 LXX; Matthew 23:13-39 NKJV
Guidance by faith
Some people have a great sense of awareness of where they are at, cardinal directions, and where they are going - it’s like they are born with some kind of internal navigation GPS system. I am not one of those people - driving without directions is not my thing. What you may relate to: if I am in a new area or have not been to the destination several times, I am at a loss of where to go.
Even with directions we may get too confident and think “I know where I am headed”, take control of the car and go our own way. Whether we want to admit it or not, all of us need directions at some point or another in our life...all of us.
Anytime I think of guidance in my spiritual life, I think of two things: having a good teacher and humility. A good teacher to guide us properly and humility to listen to the teacher and apply the teaching. By His grace, we have the faith to trust in this structure, that there is wisdom beyond our own to lead us on the right path. The danger of leaving me to make my own decisions to attain salvation is like a person who goes to the gym to lift weights, not wanting a trainer to help, but only works out the muscles they can see when they look directly at the mirror - after some time, they may appear to be strong in the mirror but where the mirror cannot see, their back muscles, their leg muscles, will all be weak, vulnerable and deficient. The one who trains with someone who knows what they are doing will get the benefit of seeing what they cannot see, having someone who will push them hard enough but not hard enough to tear a muscle completely - they will be complete, not lacking, no vulnerabilities, and strong.
The Coptic Orthodox Church, as the other Orthodox Churches, has planted Herself firmly upon the rock of faith and the Traditions given to Her by the Lord to His Apostles and so on to us. If we remove the landmarks of the faith and the Holy Traditions and introduce new ideas that are contrary to these dogmas/teachings, we undermine the structure of God’s Holy Universal Apostolic Orthodox Church - little by little we will find ourselves to be like the gym-goer who does not want a teacher that can examine appropriately and we will be destroyed.
When Jesus addressed the scribes and Pharisees, He exposed them as hypocrites, revealing the things that they took upon themselves to contradict their commitment to God (Matthew 23:25-26 NKJV). Jesus was giving them an opportunity to see their ways and to fix them, like any good trainer. I am pretty sure it must have been tough for the scribes and Pharisees to hear their sins finally exposed - they were living a false life and Jesus was showing them the Way. The Way that did not overcomplicate, the Way that gave a clear expectation of the importance in living a life for God. (Matthew 23:23 NKJV)
God is with you and His compassion for His children is endless. There is hope! Whatever it is that contradicts your love for Him, give it to God for Him to remove it. Whether it be pride, lust, addiction, or whatever it is that you have taken in your own hands, give it to God to guide you through. Whatever it is that makes your heart ache and makes you feel lost, give it to God to direct you. Let your faith be guided by Him and put into His hands. Let Him train you up, so that our faith muscles may be complete, lacking nothing, whole, well-defined, and strong!
“You have been counted worthy to become temples of God. But you have instead suddenly become more like sepulchers, having the same sort of smell. This is dreadful. It is extreme wretchedness that one in whom Christ dwells and in whom the Holy Spirit has worked such great works should turn out to be a sepulcher, a place for death. What wretchedness is this? What mourning and lamentation does this call for! The members of the body of Christ have become a tomb of uncleanness? Remember your sonship and how you were born. Consider of what things you have been counted worthy. Recall what sort of garment you received in baptism. You were intended to be a temple without fault, beautiful, not adorned with gold or pearls but with the spirit that is more precious than these. You are hardly ready to appear in the city above if you remain a sepulcher below. For if here this is forbidden, much more there. Even here you are an object of scorn. You carry around a dead soul. You are shunned. Be honest. If anyone were to go around carrying about a dead body, wouldn’t everyone else rush for cover! Wouldn’t they all flee? But this is what you are like. You go about carrying a corpse far more grievous than this. It is a soul deadened by sins, a soul paralyzed” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Proverbs 22:6 NKJV; Isaiah 30:21 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 23:13-39 NKJV
Day 35
Scripture: John 5:1-18 NKJV; 1 Peter 5:7 NKJV; James 1:2-4 NKJV; 2 Corinthians 1:5 NKJV; John 5:6 NKJV; John 5:14 NKJV; Exodus 14:14 LXX; Isaiah 40:29 LXX; Isaiah 40:31 LXX; Isaiah 41:10 LXX; Isaiah 41:13-14 LXX; Isaiah 43:2 LXX; Deuteronomy 31:8 LXX; Romans 8:28 NKJV
Strengthening the faith
When you got in the car yesterday, there may have been an accident, a roadblock or a detour that took a longer route to get you where you needed to go but you somehow managed to get to your destination in the end. You didn’t say, “there’s a detour that will take a little bit longer to get me to (destination) so I think I will just turn around and go back home” Clearly, you wanted or needed to get to your destination and there you were. That is prayer. When we face uncertainties and when our prayers aren’t answered immediately and require a little bit longer route to get to our destination, to get the end result, we shouldn’t just stop, pack up and go home.
We read in today’s Gospel about the paralytic man in John 5:1-18 NKJV, waiting to be healed for thirty-eight years - 38 years! That is an extremely long time, an extremely long detour to wait for healing, to be living in such pain, to be so helpless, for the situation to be so completely out of your hands and depending on others who do not even acknowledge you. The reality is that we are human and therefore weak but we are born of Spirit so we are made strong in Christ, when we are led by the Spirit and not the flesh. We lose sight of this sometimes and worry over things, things that have not happened that when we think of them bring tears to our eyes and make us want to beg for help, but we do that because we lose sight of His glory. We, in our weakness, allow our minds to wander and think of different scenarios that arise, trying to solve real and fictitious problems all the same. Our humanity is weak and forces us to be anxious over things of life, but the Spirit of God we received at Baptism allows us to cast those worries and cares aside, because God cares for us (1 Peter 5:7 NKJV).
Find comfort in Him, comfort in knowing that God knows your anxieties and He hears your cries - the Lord Jesus Christ became Incarnate and took our flesh, He lived as one of us, He knows the anxieties of life and knows the feeling of prayers with tears.
I find comfort in knowing that the only One able is the only One who truly sees me, who has been where I am now, who understands because He experienced these sorrows. When I think about that, I get a renewed sense of strength - if Jesus was able to endure this suffering and showed us what to do, then why am I worried? If I follow His lead and do as He did then what could possibly be so scary? He walked that path of sorrow and sufferings before we ever did and He will walk it again with each of us now. Sometimes it takes suffering and sorrow for God to give us a renewed strength in our faith.
Let your faith be strengthened during time of suffering so you cannot be swayed when doubt comes as an unwanted visitor. Let this suffering do a work in you so that you can persevere in His name (James 1:2-4 NKJV) - and never forget that “as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation (comfort) also abounds through Christ.” [2 Corinthians 1:5 NKJV]
The paralytic man sat by the pool of Bethesda for thirty-eight years suffering and waiting. By his own means, he would unsuccessfully attempt to get into the pool, nor did he have anyone to help him into the pool. Jesus saw the paralyzed man and did not wait for him to call out, Jesus went over to him (John 5:6 NKJV)
Even in our attempts to resolve our own suffering, God is there. Not only is He there, but He sees us, comes to us and heals us! Even when He heals us, God does not leave us where we are at, He tells us to get up and take our beds, then seeks us still (John 5:14 NKJV). The paralytic man did not forget the grace bestowed upon him; he went into the house of prayer and that is where Jesus met him again. When God strengthens you, do you remember to first thank Him before going on about your life?
Do not be discouraged or frightened of your suffering - our most blessed, wonderful and sweet Lord sees you, He hears you, He has been in the path you currently walk in. What happens after He sees us? He heals - it may not always be the physical healing but always will be the spiritual healing, if you, like the paralytic man, answer to His question of, “Do you want to be made well?” [John 5:6 NKJV] with a resounding “yes!” and He will make you upright. He is walking by your side and will bring you through your time of difficulty. Push through the struggle. Be reminded of God’s glory. Pray. Ask for His help and for strength. Be strong in faith. Be strengthened in knowing that you can cast “all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” [1 Peter 5:7 NKJV]. Praising God is the appropriate response of a faithful believer to suffering.
Be comforted to know that “The Lord shall fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” [Exodus 14:14 LXX], that He will give “strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak” [cf. Isaiah 40:29 LXX], that “they that wait on God shall renew their strength” [Isaiah 40:31 LXX], that He “strengthened you; and … helped you” [Isaiah 41:10 LXX] for He is “your God, who holds your right hand, who says to you, Fear not” [Isaiah 41:13-14 LXX]
“Just as the blessings of God are unutterably great, so their acquisition requires much hardship and toil undertaken with hope and faith.” [St. Macarius the Great, a 4th century monk and hermit, who is also known as “The Lamp of the Desert”]
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 43:2 LXX; Deuteronomy 31:8 LXX
New Testament reading: James 1:2-4 NKJV; Phillipians 4:19; Romans 8:28 NKJV
Day 36
Scripture: 1 Peter 3:20-21 NKJV; 1 Peter 3:21 NKJV; 2 Kings 5:1-14 LXX; Matthew 3:11 NKJV; Mark 1:7-8 NKJV; Luke 3:16 NKJV; Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV; Galatians 3:27-28 NKJV; Romans 6:3-4 NKJV; John 13:10 NKJV; Ezekiel 36:25 LXX; Leviticus 14:8 LXX; Acts 2:38-39 NKJV; Acts 22:16 NKJV
Repentance & baptism
Water purification was well documented in the Mosaic Law, necessary for coming in contact with a dead body, at childbirth, by a bride before the Wedding Ceremony, Aaron and his sons to cleanse themselves prior to consecration as priests. In the Old Testament, the deliverance of Noah and his family, as 1 Peter 3:20-21 NKJV says, is a reference to future salvation and antitype of baptism (“not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God” (1 Peter 3:21 NKJV)). The Israelites walking through the Red Sea is also understood as a reference to the deliverance we receive in baptism. When Naaman, a leper, was instructed by the prophet Elisha to wash himself by dipping himself in the Jordan River seven times and the leprosy was removed, symbolically similar to the washing away of original sin in baptism [2 Kings 5:1-14 LXX]. It is not strange then to see St. John the Baptist, the last of the Old Testament prophets, baptizing people in the Jordan River.
St. John the Baptist was in the Jordan River baptizing people as a symbol of repentance, to make the way for the True Baptizer, Jesus, who baptizes with “the Holy Spirit and fire” [Matthew 3:11 NKJV, Mark 1:7-8 NKJV, Luke 3:16 NKJV]. Baptism is the repentance from the original sin of Adam and Eve. Baptism is to die with Christ and to arise with Him. Baptism is to “put off...the old man...and put on the new man which was created according to God” [Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV].
The Scholar Tertullian said, “He desired that the baptism of repentance would lead the way. He did this with the view of first preparing those whom He was calling, by means of the sign and seal of repentance.”
Repentance is, as we have said before, needed throughout our life - it is a lifestyle, a daily intentional self-reflective action. We are human and to be human is to be weak, imperfect, but we are born of the Spirit and the same Holy Spirit that rose our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is the same Holy Spirit that lives in those that were Chrismated (when the believer receives the Holy Spirit). Yet, as humans, we fall and fall, sin and fall often. The call to repentance is to give up to answering the enticement and luring of sin, to resist the forces of darkness tempting us to sin. The power that is able to squash these dark powers is repentance.
There is a story, in the Paradise of the Fathers, of an old monk who was asked by one who toiled in repentance and sin, “Is the repentance of sinners accepted by God?” And the old man, after he had taught him with many words, said unto him, “Tell me, O my beloved one: if your cloak were to be torn in rags, would you throw it away?” And he said to him, “No, but I would sew up the torn pieces, and then I could use it again.” And the old man said unto him, “If you would show pity for your garment which has no feeling, do you not think that God shows pity on that which He has fashioned, and which is His work?”
Repentance is a requirement for the Sacrament of Baptism, the requirement during the Sacrament of Baptism, and a requirement after the Sacrament of Baptism - repentance is to be baptized.
Christian Baptism, according to the Orthodox faith, is our death, burial, and Resurrection, becoming united with the Lord Jesus Christ. “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ… you are all one in Christ Jesus” [Galatians 3:27-28 NKJV]. It is a Mystery, necessary for our salvation, given to the Church by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. When we sin after being baptized, we don't need to be rebaptized since the Lord died once on the Holy Cross and the baptism is fellowship in His death and His Resurrection (Romans 6:3-4 NKJV). Therefore, after Baptism we wash away our sins through the Mystery of Repentance and Confession. That is why the Lord Jesus Christ said to St. Peter, “he who has bathed (Mystery of Baptism) does not need to wash (be baptized again) except for his feet (Mystery of Repentance and Confession) but he is clean all over.” [John 13:10 NKJV] That is why the Mystery of Repentance and Confession is called the “Second Baptism.”
“Repentance is the renewal of baptism. Repentance is a contract with God for a second life. A penitent is a buyer of humility. Repentance is a constant distrust of bodily comfort. Repentance is self-condemning reflection, and carefree self-care. Repentance is the daughter of hope and the renunciation of despair. A penitent is an undisgraced convict. Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the practice of good deeds contrary to the sins. Repentance is purification of conscience.” [St. John Climacus, a 7th century monk and author of “Ladder of Divine Ascent”]
Old Testament reading: Ezekiel 36:25 LXX; Leviticus 14:8 LXX
New Testament reading: Acts 2:38-39 NKJV; Acts 22:16 NKJV
Day 37
Scripture: Matthew 28:19 NKJV; Ephesians 1:13 NKJV; 1 John 5:6 NKJV; Romans 6:3 NKJV; Exodus 30:20 LXX; Leviticus 8:6 LXX; Romans 6:3-4 NKJV; Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV; 1 John 5:6-13 NKJV
Witnessing in baptism
Baptism (a Greek term believed to be used to describe dipping cloth into dye) is more than just a profession of faith, something done outwardly to show you are a believer - in the Early Church, Baptism was a Sacrament you accepted and affirmed to become a child of Christ, a Sacrament you accepted and affirmed to be adopted into the family of Christ, a Sacrament you accepted and affirmed to become heirs of the kingdom of Heaven.
The Great Commission of the Lord Jesus Christ to His disciples (to all of us that follow Him and His teachings) is to “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” [Matthew 28:19 NKJV] - some denominations of Christianity focus more on the part of making disciples but forget that to be an actual disciple of Jesus you must be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. To be a disciple of someone you need to learn their ways, act and talk like them, learn their discipline - in that manner, the Holy Spirit is the seal you receive in the Chrismation at the Orthodox Baptism to show Whom you belong to (Ephesians 1:13 NKJV).
Philip the Deacon preached Jesus to the Ethiopian eunuch, the new believer's initial request was to be baptized in Acts 8. When the guard of the jail responded to St. Paul and St. Silas' preaching, he and his household were baptized in Acts 16. Also, in Acts 16, Lydia, then Cornelius and his household in Acts 10, the Corinthians in Acts 18 and many others were baptized.
The Didache (The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations), the Apostolic Traditions and the Early Church further expanded on the Tradition of the Sacrament of Baptism. It is by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Didache and the Apostolic Traditions that the Orthodox Church still practices this Sacrament of Baptism as it was handed to Her.
The Sacrament of Baptism is both an individual and corporate act of witnessing. We receive Baptism at the hand of the bishop or priest and not by our own hands; it is this way we witness the Baptism individually. Jesus reminds the disciples that this work of Baptism is empowered by the Holy Spirit - “it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.” [1 John 5:6 NKJV] This is then the witness of the corporate act: the priest, who has been given the authority via the bishop through the laying of the hands by the Apostles by the Lord Jesus Christ on them Himself a (a direct lineage), testifies to the message of the Gospel and the Great Commission and the Holy Spirit, Who empowers the Sacrament of Baptism, is the Witness, when He is bestowed upon the one who has been baptized, like on the Day of Pentecost.
Just like a cloth comes out of the dye looking different than what it looked like going in, being a new creature in the Lord Jesus Christ through Baptism means that our lives have changed. Disciples of Jesus become more like Him, through their baptism, in dying with Him and rising with Him - that change becomes noticeable to others and becomes a witness to the Gospel message. It is in the Sacrament of Baptism that we are “baptized into Christ Jesus” [Romans 6:3 NKJV] and “baptized into His death” [Romans 6:3 NKJV].
Continue to live the baptism of death with Christ - just like the cloth, come out of Baptism looking more like Him than the world.
“Now, at last, we must explain God’s plan of salvation. God, in his love of humankind, provided for us a way of salvation and of life. Believing in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and making this confession before many witnesses, we wash away all the filth of sin. The communication of the Holy Spirit enriched us, made us partakers of the divine nature and gained for us the grace of adoption as God’s children.” [St. Cyril of Alexandria, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria, theologian known as the “Pillar of Faith” and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Exodus 30:20 LXX; Leviticus 8:6 LXX
New Testament reading: Romans 6:3-4 NKJV; Matthew 28:18-20 NKJV; 1 John 5:6-13 NKJV
Day 38
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 11:28-31 NKJV; Luke 15:18 NKJV; Psalm 6:6 LXX; Luke 19:8 NKJV; Acts 9:6 NKJV; John 21:15 NKJV; Acts 19:18 NKJV; 2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV; Galatians 6:4 NKJV
Judgment of baptism
Baptism is the mark for the believers of the Lord Jesus Christ - the Sacrament of Baptism is part of the New Testament covenant that He gives to all those that believe in Him. When we sin, after becoming believers, through the Mystery of Repentance and Confession, our sins are washed away. How can we be judged then of this seal of the Holy Spirit?
St. Paul talks about this judgment in 1 Corinthians 11:28-31 NKJV saying, “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup (the Eucharist/Communion). For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.”
True repentance does not know justification to one's self, excuses, or shifting blame. True repentance is to self-examine. Pride is self-indulgence. Both with the self, where the former is to correct the wrong I see and the later is to continue to feed into the wrong. Self-examination covers three areas; my relationship with God, my relationship with others and my relationship with myself. True repentance involves admitting one's sin (as we spoke of previously of the younger prodigal son in Luke 15:18 NKJV,19), remorse (as David the Prophet and King in Psalm 6:6 LXX), taking responsibility of one's behavior (as Zacchaeus the tax collector in Luke 19:8 NKJV), proposing to follow the Lord and not to return back to the former life (as St. Paul in Acts 9:6 NKJV), having great confidence in the acceptance and forgiveness of the Lord (as St. Peter in John 21:15 NKJV), and confessing all of that to God before His stewards, the priests (as the believers in Acts 19:18 NKJV).
Let us repent and confess our sins to the Lord praying and saying “I have sinned, I have sinned, O my Lord Jesus forgive me; for there is no servant without sin nor a master without forgiveness.” [Weekday Great Fast Gospel response]
“Do not be surprised that you fall every day; do not give up, but stand your ground courageously. And assuredly, the angel who guards you will honour your patience.” [St. John Climacus, a 7th century monk and author of “Ladder of Divine Ascent”]
Old Testament reading: Psalm 6:6 LXX; Psalm 138 LXX (139:23 MT)
New Testament reading: 2 Corinthians 13:5 NKJV; Galatians 6:4 NKJV; Luke 19:8 NKJV; Acts 9:6 NKJV; John 21:15 NKJV; Acts 19:18 NKJV
Day 39
Scripture: James 1:12 NKJV; Revelation 2:10 NKJV; Philippians 2:12 NKJV; Philippians 2:8 NKJV; Exodus 19:5 LXX; Deuteronomy 11:1 LXX; Ephesians 6:5 NKJV; Romans 1:5 NKJV; 1 Peter 1:14 NKJV
Life of baptism
When you are immersed in the waters of Baptism three times (once in the name of the Father, once in the name of the Son, and once in the name of the Holy Spirit) you emerge to a new life. As Jesus rose again on the third day, after the third immersion you also arise with Him - your baptism means nothing more than getting wet unless it points to the death and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. Your baptism means nothing more than water if it does not point to the Baptism of the Cross and the blood that was shed on it for all mankind.
Baptism is our entry into the family of Christ and, as we said, is necessary for salvation. What is equally necessary after our baptism is to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ. We must strive to live a life according to the Holy Spirit inspired teachings of the Holy Orthodox Church. As believers, without effort on our part to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ, we will not be saved, regardless of our baptism. If we daily choose to live a life apart from Christ, a life of the world, then we have effectively made our death with Him, through Baptism, of no meaning...we ourselves choose to be dead to Him, not to be dead and risen with Him.
The arena of life is where we, as believers, struggle against temptations and sins, where we fight the powers of darkness, where we wrestle with our desires and wills and is also where we receive a life with Christ and mentoring directly from God, should we be obedient to His instruction. St. John Chrysostom says the arena of the Colosseum is where St. Ignatius was thrown into and devoured by the lions, thus receiving the crown of martyrdom, “the crown of life” (James 1:12 NKJV, Revelation 2:10 NKJV). Should we choose to struggle in this life for the sake of Christ, being obedient to Him and His teachings, then we too shall receive the crowns of life when we depart to be with Him. If we die to ourselves and our passions, die to the world and its desires, we too shall receive the crowns of martyrdom.
After the Sacrament of Baptism, the Holy Orthodox Church teaches us everything we need to know to work out the salvation of our souls, with “fear and trembling” [Philippians 2:12 NKJV]. In this arena we witness great victories and also experience major setbacks, times of inexplicable joy and times of overwhelming sadness. Life after Baptism is to keep praying, keep the fasts of the Church, attend the Divine Liturgy and partake of the Holy Eucharist as often as we can (not just Sundays if it is in our ability to do so) - to be obedient. We are given, for this life after Baptism, the Most Precious Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, to help us to continue the struggle, to continue to be worthy of the baptismal garments we were entrusted with at the time of our death and Resurrection with Jesus.
During this period of the Great Fast, may God grant us the grace to continue in our struggles against the powers of evil and to wrestle in laying aside our desires and sins but rather to lay hold of His promises and His abundant riches in this life after our first Baptism. May we learn true obedience from God Himself, who “became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” [Philippians 2:8 NKJV]
“May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of limbs - let them come to me, provided only I make my way to Jesus Christ.” [St. Ignatius of Antioch, 2nd century writer and Bishop of Antioch, known as “Ignatius the God-bearer”]
“Be obedient in everything. For the sons of obedience are blessed.” [St. Pope Kyrillos VI, 116th Pope and Patriarch of Alexandria, a “man of prayer and miracles” who departed to the Lord in 1971]
Old Testament reading: Exodus 19:5 LXX; Deuteronomy 11:1 LXX
New Testament reading: Philippians 2:12 NKJV; Ephesians 6:5 NKJV; Romans 1:5 NKJV; 1 Peter 1:14 NKJV
Day 40
Scripture: Galatians 4:9 NKJV; John 7:50-51 NKJV; John 19:40 NKJV; Hosea 4:6 LXX; Matthew 5:6 NKJV; John 3:1-13 NKJV
Rebirth in baptism
Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews but surprisingly, he was a secret follower of Jesus Christ, coming by night to Jesus to ask Him questions on the teachings he heard from Him. What he did was unheard of! By meeting with Jesus and potentially being caught speaking with Him was to tarnish his status, position and reputation as a Pharisee. Not only that but he knew that He was a teacher that came from God and that no one could do such signs, except the One that had God with him. Yet, in spite of potentially being caught, he was hungry for truth, for the spiritual message of Jesus, and wanted to be filled. In this first encounter with Jesus, he was told about the Mystery of Baptism - to be “born again”, the rebirth in baptism.
To make an important note of the Sacrament of Baptism taught by Jesus, to the Apostles, to their successors, to the Early Church and till now, it is important to note that the Gospel of St. John chapter 3 teaches baptismal regeneration and not the Evangelical “born again” experience. The Greek phrase used is “γεννεθη ανωθεν” (gennethe anothen) which has been translated “born from above” or “born again.” The Greek “ανωθεν” (anothen) can be translated either “above” or “again”, thus the reason for this confusion. In Galatians 4:9 NKJV, St. Paul uses the word “ανωθεν” in the sense of “again”; he asks the Galatians if they wanted to serve their former deities again. Although the English translation of “born again” is not a literal translation of the Greek, it conveys the underlying meaning adequately and agrees with the sense of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus - to be born from above, born again of water.
The next time we read of Nicodemus he moves out and in the light of day, defends Jesus, albeit indirectly - he speaks out upholding the law in a roundabout way to defend Jesus. John 7:50-51 NKJV record this for us, “Nicodemus (he who came to Jesus by night, being one of them) said to them, ‘Does our law judge a man before it hears him and knows what he is doing?’” Nicodemus inches closer to baptism, to being reborn, reborn with a renewed mind, a new way of thinking.
The next, and final, time we read of Nicodemus is John 19:40 NKJV,42, “Then they (Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus) took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury...So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.” Wow! The renewing of his mind, the words of the Gospel and Baptism, changed him completely! He no longer comes to Jesus hidden in the dark of night, he no longer indirectly defends Jesus, he no longer is worried about his reputation - he now comes during the day, in plain sight of everyone, associating himself with the King of the Jews! That’s the power of the message of Baptism, the power of a rebirth and new life with Jesus!
Nicodemus listened to the words of Jesus and allowed them to take root in his heart, becoming more informed, unlike the rest of the Pharisees who “are destroyed for lack of knowledge” [cf. Hosea 4:6 LXX] because they “have rejected knowledge” [Hosea 4:6 LXX]. Jesus says to them, “I will also reject you, that you shall not minister as priest to me: and as you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” [Hosea 4:6 LXX] - He forgets their children, which is the covenant with their father Abraham in the Old Testament, and renews His covenant with all those that will believe in Him, whether they be Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor, to those that accept in Him and are baptized in His name.
Nicodemus is made up of two words - the Greek word “νικη” (nike) meaning “victory” or “victorious” and “δημος” (demos) meaning “the people”. Let us step out in faith, as Nicodemus, and be a “victorious people” neither being afraid of what others will think or say of us, nor of what consequences we will face for professing our faith in the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“Who is the one who is born of the Spirit and is made Spirit? It is one who is renewed in the Spirit of his mind. It is one who is regenerated by water and the Holy Spirit. We receive the hope of eternal life through the laver of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit. And elsewhere the apostle Peter says: ‘You shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ For who is he that is baptized with the Holy Spirit but he who is born again through water and the Holy Spirit? Therefore the Lord said of the Holy Spirit, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, except a man be born again by water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.’ And therefore he declared that we are born of him into the kingdom of God by being born again by water and the Spirit.” [St. Ambrose, 4th century Bishop of Milan]
“He says therefore, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God: as if He said, You are not yet born again, i.e. of God, by a spiritual begetting; and therefore your knowledge of Me is not spiritual, but carnal and human. But I say to you, that neither you, nor anyone, except he that is born again of God, shall be able to see the glory which is around me, but shall be out of the kingdom: for it is the begetting by baptism, which enlightens the mind.” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Hosea 4:6 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 5:6 NKJV; John 3:1-13 NKJV
Day 41
Scripture: Acts 2:38 NKJV; John 3:5 NKJV; Jeremiah 17:10 LXX; Titus 3:5 NKJV; Romans 6:11-12 NKJV
Salvation of baptism
The day of Pentecost, when the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, St. Peter gives a moving Holy Spirit inspired sermon to the people and when they asked earnestly, “what shall we do?”, he responds saying, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” [Acts 2:38 NKJV]. This is the normal pattern: Repentance, Baptism for the remission of sins, then the bestowing of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, there is no such thing as an unbaptized Christian.
The Lord Jesus Christ says in John 3:5 NKJV “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” - it is very clear that a requirement to enter into the kingdom of God is be baptized yet, what a beautiful thing it is that those not born in the Church, those that do not receive the Sacrament of Baptism at infancy, are able to become the children of God by the Sacrament of Baptism no matter their age! Eternal salvation is meant for all! The waters that divided to let the Israelites, who accepted it, walk through on dry land, is the same water that the Egyptians, who stubbornly rejected it, were drowned in its depths - the water was for both but only those that accepted it lived, while those who rejected it perished.
May we today, and everyday, always keep the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ in the forefront of our minds, recalling the Cross to be our salvation. We can live salvation every day by recalling to our minds our first Baptism (Baptism of water and Chrismation) and our second Baptism (that of Repentance and Confession).
“The Lord was baptized, not to be cleansed himself but to cleanse the waters, so that those waters, cleansed by the flesh of Christ which knew no sin, might have the power of baptism. Whoever comes, therefore, to the washing of Christ lays aside his sins” [St. Ambrose, 4th century Bishop of Milan]
“[According to] apostolic tradition . . . the churches of Christ hold inherently that without baptism and participation at the table of the Lord (Eucharist/Communion) it is impossible for any man to attain either to the kingdom of God or to salvation and life eternal. This is the witness of Scripture too” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
“Here you are; you are going to come to the holy font, you will be washed in saving baptism, you will be renewed in “the bath of rebirth.” You will be without any sin at all as you come up from that bath. All the things that were plaguing you in the past will be blotted out.” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
“For if anyone should ask of me whether we have been saved by baptism, I shall not be able to deny it, since the apostle says, “He saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
“If any man does not receive baptism, he does not have salvation. The only exception is the martyrs, who even without water will receive the kingdom.” [St. Cyril of Jerusalem, 4th century Bishop of Jerusalem and theologian]
Old Testament reading: Jeremiah 17:10 LXX
New Testament reading: Titus 3:5 NKJV; Romans 6:11-12 NKJV
Day 42
Scripture: John 9:3 NKJV; John 9:1-11 NKJV; Matthew 4:16 NKJV; Hebrews 10:23 NKJV; Hebrews 10:20 NKJV; John 9:3-4 NKJV; John 1:4-5 NKJV; Deuteronomy 30:6 LXX; Romans 2:29 NKJV; Deuteronomy 10:12-16 LXX; John 9:35-41 NKJV
Enlightenment of baptism
When difficulties, trials and tribulations in life begin to plague us, what are some of the the first thoughts we think? “Where are you God?” “Why are You doing this to me God?” “Why is my life like this?” “Where is my life headed?” The blindness and uncertainty of our lives lead us to ask a thousand questions but we don't have to let our burdens force a harrowing dejection upon us. No, God always has a purpose - “that the works of God should be revealed in him” [John 9:3 NKJV].
When I read the Gospel reading of today, I see myself in this poor, pitiful hopeless man born without eyes (John 9:1-11 NKJV) - church fathers teach us that this man was born with no eyeballs, as was apparent from method of the miracle (the Creator created from the dirt and His saliva, similar to the way He first created man of dust and breath) and by fact that after the miracle some people could not recognize who he was, that something in his appearance changed.
Prior to Baptism, we lived in a state of darkness and in the shadow of death (Matthew 4:16 NKJV). After Baptism, we have become enlightened and live in the light of Christ. Where before Baptism we lived in a state of no hope, we now, after Baptism, live in the promise of hope, as St. Paul says in Hebrews 10:23 NKJV, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” It is because of the Sacrament of Baptism that we have become enlightened and see the Light of Christ. This Light gives us hope and is what gives us joy during our difficulties, trials and tribulations - we hold on to our hope because God, who has given us a “new and living way” [Hebrews 10:20 NKJV] is faithful in fulfilling His promises.
Why was the man born without eyes? Why do we, the believers, go through times of trials? What does this have to do with Baptism? Jesus gives us a reason why this man was born blind and why sometimes we go through times of trials in John 9:3-4 NKJV, so “that the works of God should be revealed in him. I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.” Jesus allows these things to happen so that God can be glorified through us - that we can be used as a tool in the hand of God to bring others to Him.
We are enlightened at the time of Baptism and bestowed upon us at the time of Chrismation is the Holy Spirit, “the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4-5 NKJV) [
In the Old Testament the outward appearance and sign of the covenant with God was circumcision of the foreskin, but also there was the circumcision of the heart that Moses spoke of in Deuteronomy 30:6 LXX - “And the Lord shall purge your heart, and the heart of your seed, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, that you may live.” What is that circumcision of the heart? St. Paul says in Romans 2:29 NKJV that the “circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter (of the law)”. Circumcision of the heart is done by the Holy Spirit, it is a transforming of my mind and heart, it is the work of Baptism, it is the continuation of the grace of Baptism in the Sacrament of Repentance and Confession - to circumcise our heart is done in faith, hope, love, and readiness to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and become His disciple laboring for the advancement of His Kingdom.
We may live in darkness for a time like the man born blind; but God will shine His splendid light one day! Jesus shone His light on this man born blind and this man was used as a tool in the hand of His Creator, as a way to bring more glory to God and to witness to others. If need be, as He did with this man, He will create new eyes for our souls, for the old, worn vision has led us astray.
Allow the light of Christ to search your heart, to allow the Holy Spirit to circumcise our hearts in the Sacrament of Baptism and for us to follow God in faith and love, allowing Him to use as tools for the advancement and furthering of His kingdom.
“Some say, ‘did he suffer wrong for the glory of God?’ What wrong, tell me? For what if God had never willed to produce him at all? But I assert that he even received benefit from his blindness: since he recovered the sight of the eyes within. What were the Jews profited by their eyes? They incurred the heavier punishment, being blinded even while they saw. And what injury had this man by his blindness? For by means of it he recovered sight.” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
“How greatly magnificent is the baptism that was granted to you. It is the release of captives, the forgiveness of transgressions, and the mortality of sin. It is a new birth for the soul, a garment of light, a holy seal that life-long lasts, and a chariot to the heaven. It is the joy of paradise, the hail of the Kingdom, and the adoption gift.” [St. Cyril of Jerusalem, 4th century Bishop of Jerusalem and theologian]
Old Testament reading: Deuteronomy 10:12-16 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 4:16 NKJV; John 9:1-11 NKJV; John 9:35-41 NKJV
Day 43
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 3:3 NKJV; Psalm 33:8 LXX; Acts 22:15 NKJV; Isaiah 43:10 LXX; Isaiah 43:12 LXX; Joshua 24:27 LXX; Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV; John 5:31-47 NKJV
Savior’s Witnesses
The last week of the Great Fast completes our heavenly journey and turns our focus to Christ’s life-giving death and Resurrection. The readings this week, the end of the procession, point to the hope of salvation and the Resurrection. The word “Pascha” means ‘passover’ and in the Great Fast, Holy Week, and the Feast of Resurrection, we pass over from sickness to health, from the dryness of a spiritual desert to overflowing springs of living water, from apathy to a divine zeal, from a dying ember to a raging fire, from darkness to light, and from death to life.
This week, as we near the end of the Great Fast, we look back and see where we began and where God has brought us. He has, by His grace, made us the 5th living Gospel “written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.” [2 Corinthians 3:3 NKJV]. We are living epistles, testifying of His salvific work on the Cross. We are His witnesses to His love and His mercy. All our actions should always witness to Him, so when people see our good works they see Christ in us and not us.
To be a witness is to have a personal experience or knowledge of an event. To be His witness we must have first seen and heard Him. How can we expect our neighbors or loved ones to turn to the Lord, accepting Him, if we have not first turned to Him and accepted Him? How can we witness of Him to others, telling them of how sweet His love is, if we did not first personally “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 33:8 LXX)? [Psalm 33 LXX (34:8 MT)]. Meet Him at the Cross, witness His love for you, meditating on His love He showed you, choosing to die in your place, so that by His death you may have eternal life. Continue in the Great Commission of the Lord as a believer, instead of choosing to be “out-of-commission”.
Let us continue in this last week of Great Fast and through Holy Week, repenting of our sins, praying, asking and allowing God to open the blindness of our hearts and spiritual eyes, so we can see with pure divine eyes of our hearts His love for us, thereby readying ourselves to become witnesses to His salvation and love. “For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.” [Acts 22:15 NKJV].
“Even on the Cross He did not hide Himself from sight; rather, He made all creation witness to the presence of its Maker.” [St. Athanasius the Apostolic, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 43:10 LXX; Isaiah 43:12 LXX; Joshua 24:27 LXX
New Testament reading: Matthew 5:13-16 NKJV; John 5:31-47 NKJV
Day 44
Scripture: Matthew 16:16 NKJV; John 1:49 NKJV; John 11:27 NKJV; John 20:28 NKJV; Acts 8:37 NKJV; 1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV; John 4:42 NKJV; 1 Peter 1:9 NKJV; John 20:29 NKJV; Matthew 10:32-33 NKJV; Revelation 3:5 NKJV; 1 Peter 1:8-9 NKJV
Confessing the Savior
When we speak of confession, we first think of admitting wrongdoing; however, a confession can be a declaration of faith or admission. In order for a confession to be a true confession: 1) you must believe in your heart that what you are saying is true, 2) you have to be willing to openly commit and let others know and 3) you must state and acknowledge your confession.
Peter confessed Jesus to be the Christ, the “Son of the Living God” [Matthew 16:16 NKJV]. Nathanael (aka Bartholomew) confessed in John 1:49 NKJV “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”. Martha, the sister of Lazarus, confessed in John 11:27 NKJV, “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God”, Thomas confessed Jesus to be Lord and God - “My Lord and my God!” - in John 20:28 NKJV and in Acts 8:37 NKJV the Ethiopian eunuch confessed saying, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
The confession I most remember is of Thomas because people remember him as “doubting Thomas” - I think we should remember not that he doubted, since as we spoke yesterday, how can we be witnesses of Him unless we have personal first hand experience? How could St. Thomas confess “the good confession in the presence of many witnesses” [1 Timothy 6:12 NKJV] that He has seen Christ risen from the dead unless He witnessed first hand? Rather, we should remember his theologically rich confession of acknowledging Jesus not only as Lord but also as God.
Let us follow the example of the Ethiopian eunuch who, after confessing, went back to his land and is said to have been the first evangelist to the land of Ethiopia about the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us follow the example of St. Photini (Samaritan woman at the well) who confessed to the people and when they heard Him for themselves confessed saying, “this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.” [John 4:42 NKJV] but we can only do so if we believe in our hearts and declare with our lips.
We may not see the risen Lord with our physical eyes until the age to come, that is in the next life, so in the meantime let us hold firm to our faith and confess Jesus as Lord and God so that we may “receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls” [1 Peter 1:9 NKJV]. For “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” [John 20:29 NKJV]
“He not only requires faith which is of the mind, but confession which is by the mouth, that He may exalt us higher, and raise us to a more open utterance, and a larger measure of love.” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
“for that which He asked for was something concealed, to which the faith of believers ought to extend itself. We must hold that form of confession, that we so mention the Son of God as not to forget the Son of Man, for the one without the other offers us no hope of salvation; and therefore He said emphatically, Whom do men say that the Son of Man is?” [St. Hilary of Poitiers, 4th century Bishop of Poitiers]
Old Testament reading: Psalm 118 LXX (119:46 MT)
New Testament reading: Matthew 10:32-33 NKJV; Revelation 3:5 NKJV; 1 Peter 1:8-9 NKJV
Day 45
Scripture: Genesis 15:5-6 LXX; Genesis 15:4 LXX; Romans 4:23-24 NKJV; John 5:25 NKJV; Genesis 15:1-6 LXX; John 6:35-45 NKJV; Romans 13:11 NKJV
Faith in the Savior
How long are you willing to wait for your food at a restaurant before you begin to get “hangry” or how long are you willing to wait at the doctor’s office before you get impatient and ask when you can see the doctor? How long are you willing to wait for God to: bring healing, work a miracle in your life, to fix your marriage, to bring back your prodigal child, to give you a promotion, etc?
Why is it that sometimes we can choose to wait on God a bit longer than other times and for some things we choose not to wait on Him at all? When is it that we determine God is just too slow and He has crossed the line by making us wait so long? Do we choose to give God no more than a year to fix my marriage or I’m walking out? How long do you choose to give God to help you find the person you’re going to marry before you take matters into your own hands? How long do you wait until you yell at God for not giving you children? How long are you willing to wait on God’s timing? How long are you willing to wait for God to save you from (fill in the blank). If God’s answer is not what you want to hear, are you willing to still believe in Him and His goodness or do you choose to take matters into your own hands?
In Genesis 12, Abram (Abraham’s name at that time) was told by God that He will make Abram into a great nation - Abram is 75 years old at this time and Sarai (Sarah’s name at that time), his barren wife, is 65. Skip forward to chapter 15 and we see a direct mention of God promising Abram an heir. That heir would be Isaac, who is born in chapter 21. It is easy for us, the readers, to read those 9 chapters, which fly by quickly, and not really understand the full gravity of the situation - Abram and Sarai were told a promise at the age of 75 and 65, respectively, and when God fulfilled the promise, they were 100 and 90, respectively. They waited for 25 years for the fulfillment of God’s promise. 25. How long do you wait in rush hour traffic before you move from one lane to the next? They waited for 25 years! How is that they could wait for 25 years?
Twice Abraham built altars for the Lord, twice he called upon Him, for 25 years he walked with God, he obeyed the Lord in Ur of the Chaldeans and went up to Haran then down to Canaan. He left everything and walked - where to? - to a place that he knew not of and that God would eventually show him. What about all those things? Weren’t those faith? No, those weren't faith. God took Abram out at night and said, ‘Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.’ And He said to him, ‘So shall your descendants be.’ And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.” [Genesis 15:5-6 LXX] Wasn’t Abram listening, obeying, following and submitting a showing of his faith? It was different than all that. So then what was that faith?
God told him that his heir wasn't Eliezer of Damascus but his heir would come from his body (Genesis 15:4 LXX). Abram felt God's word enter into his deadness - he felt the energy of life. “So he believed in the Lord”. What happened? God touched death, and life emerged from death. “So he believed in the Lord” - based on what? based on that God can raise from the dead. This is faith in God. This is what the whole world inherited and what we received in Christ Jesus. In Romans, Paul says, “it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead.” [Romans 4:23-24 NKJV]
If we believe in Him who raised up Jesus Christ from the dead, then our faith will be accounted to us for righteousness, just like Abram's faith. This is the Christian faith, it is exactly the same as Abram's faith - that God can raise from the dead. But Abram's faith is higher - do you believe that Jesus Christ died and rose? The devils also believe this. What Abram believed is that God is capable of RAISING from the dead - not just to believe that Christ died and rose, as if He died for Himself and rose for Himself, no. Our faith will be like Abram's faith if we believe that Christ is able to RAISE (not just rise) from the dead. To raise who? YOU! If you believe that Christ is able to raise YOU from the death of sin - that is faith in God.
When I feel, the way Abram felt, that Christ RAISED ME, and WILL RAISE ME and IS RAISING ME now from death, that is an active faith in God. He didn't rise for Himself, He rose for us. His death and Resurrection became for us and with us. He raised Lazarus from the dead, to show you and me that we are Lazarus - that we can be raised, even if we have lived in sin for so long, as Lazarus was in the tomb and the stench of death for four days. “Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.” [John 5:25 NKJV] - this is the raising from the dead. This is faith. This is how Abram was able to wait 25 years - because he had true faith in God. Because of that true faith in God, he was able to have patience and endure - it was an active faith, a faith that produced works.
Do we have the faith of Abram? Do we believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior? Do we believe that He is able to raise us from the dead? Do we believe that He is able to raise us up from our sins? If so, brothers and sisters, let us produce the works that show this active faith.
“Do you wish to honor the Body of the Savior? Do not despise it when it is naked. Do not honor it in church with silk vestments while outside it is naked and numb with cold. He who said, “This is my body,” and made it so by his word, is the same who said, ‘You saw me hungry and you gave me no food. As you did it not to the least of these, you did it not to me.’ Honor him then by sharing your property with the poor. For what God needs is not golden chalices but golden souls.” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
Adapted from a sermon by Fr. Matthew the Poor, a Coptic Orthodox monk and author who departed to the Lord in 2006.
Old Testament reading: Genesis 15:1-6 LXX
New Testament reading: John 6:35-45 NKJV; Romans 13:11 NKJV
Day 46
Scripture: John 20:23 NKJV; 1 John 2:15-17 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 NKJV; Mark 12:27 NKJV; Daniel 12:2 LXX; Isaiah 26:19 LXX; 1 Corinthians 15:12-22 NKJV
Savior’s resurrection
I’m the type of person that likes to take roots where I am - I really love to visit new places and travel but the thought of moving elsewhere doesn’t really appeal to me. I always thought there can’t be anything better than what I’m doing right now, nowhere better than where I live. When I was younger I was afraid of dying, not because I would be leaving my family behind but because I couldn’t understand the concept of eternity...for me, eternity was way too long, too long in a place I had no concept of, no idea of, no knowledge of. I asked so many questions about heaven growing up and wanted to know where this next place was, what it looked like, what I’d be doing there - it was so scary not knowing.
Imagine living in the time of the Old Testament and the thought of dying - where would you go when you died? There was no means of salvation...at best you would bring a blood sacrifice for the covering of your sins, but covering is a far cry from the freeing and releasing of your sins (John 20:23 NKJV). That’s a really scary thought; not knowing where you were going after you died. Thankfully though, as I grew up, I began to read the word of God more and more and began to realize - our original home is heaven and this life that we are living here on Earth is just our temporary home, our temporary life (1 John 2:15-17 NKJV). The more and more I read the more I wanted to go to heaven!
But heaven is not the goal of life! Our life here is not to be lived just to make it to heaven...our life on Earth is meant to be lived with God here, and by doing so, when we go to heaven it will be a continuation of the life with God we had on Earth. But how can I really be sure that when I am forgiven that I am really forgiven by God? The Old Testament didn’t have the immediate assurance, they just had the covering of sins - there were prophecies of a salvation to come but many did not live in the flesh to see that day. When Jesus Christ died on the Cross, He put an end to the bonds that sin had on us. See, when you died before the time of the Cross of Christ, you’d went to Hades and there you waited...until one day, when Jesus Christ died on the Cross, Satan thought he won, only for Him to show up to the doors of Hades to take all those righteous ones to Paradise with Him.
What about us living after the time of the Cross of Christ? When He rose, His Resurrection became our Resurrection - St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 NKJV, “For since by man (Adam) came death, by Man (Jesus Christ) also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” We have been given a promise that after the believers of God depart from this world, in Christ, we are all made alive. “He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living” [Mark 12:27 NKJV]. The believers will not taste death but will depart from this life to be with the Lord, whereas those that do not believe, will live in their deadness with Satan...the former shall be made alive in Him and the latter will live in their death with him!
“For the sake of all he tasted death. Although by nature he was life and was himself the resurrection, he surrendered his own body to death. By his ineffable power he trampled upon death in his own flesh that he might become the firstborn from the dead and the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep… . Even if the resurrection of the dead may be said to be through a man, the man we know it is through is the Word begotten of God. The power of death has been destroyed through him.” [St. Cyril of Alexandria, 5th century Patriarch of Alexandria, theologian known as the “Pillar of Faith” and a “doctor of the Church”]
“No human enters into death except through Adam and no one into eternal life except through Christ. This is the meaning of that repeated phrase “all”, because as all men belong to Adam through their first or carnal birth, so all men who belong to Christ come to the second or spiritual birth. Therefore, he says “all” in both places because as all who die die only in Adam, so all who will be made alive will not be made alive except in Christ...Man indeed brought death to himself and to the Son of Man. But the Son of Man, by dying and rising again, brought life to man.” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
Old Testament reading: Daniel 12:2 LXX; Isaiah 26:19 LXX
New Testament reading: John 20:23 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 15:12-22 NKJV
Day 47
Scripture: Matthew 25:34 NKJV; Matthew 25:37-39 NKJV; Matthew 25:41-43 NKJV; Matthew 25:46 NKJV; Matthew 16:27 NKJV; Matthew 25:23 NKJV; Matthew 25:26-30 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 9:24 NKJV; Matthew 25:21 NKJV; John 4:13 NKJV; Matthew 8:20 NKJV; Luke 9:58 NKJV; John 1:11 NKJV; John 14:1-2 NKJV; Galatians 3:27 NKJV; Isaiah 61:10 LXX; Revelation 6:11 NKJV; Isaiah 53:5 LXX; Matthew 26:56 NKJV; Isaiah 61:1 LXX; Luke 4:18 NKJV; Colossians 1:15 NKJV; Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV
Savior’s judgment
In Matthew 25:34 NKJV Jesus speaks of those who will “inherit the kingdom”, which is heaven. To those that ask “Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’” (Matthew 25:37-39 NKJV) - they are those He calls “righteous” - the righteous are the believers, those that believe in Him and do good deeds. To those that did not do these good deeds, He says to them, “Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’” (Matthew 25:41-43 NKJV) - these are the ones who did not do the good deeds “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46 NKJV) - there is no mention of the quantity of the deeds but that the deeds were done because they believed in Him and loved Him. St. Augustine said that Jesus Christ Himself is truly the one who is found in all of the aforementioned conditions, just as He is the One who is the Savior of each of these conditions as well.
Matthew 16:27 NKJV says “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.” When Jesus Christ comes back in the Second Coming or we stand before Him after our departure from this world, what reward will we receive? Will we be like the wise servant of the five or two talents and hear Him say to us, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’” [Matthew 25:23 NKJV, 23]. Or will we be like the foolish servant who, when given the one talent, did nothing with it but hid it? What do we do with our faith? Do we keep it to ourselves? Do we not share it with others? If not with words do we share our faith, do we share our faith by our actions in good deeds? If not, most dreadfully and fearfully we shall hear, “You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents. ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’” [Matthew 25:26-30 NKJV].
Let us work diligently in this life so we may win the race and obtain the imperishable crowns of life (1 Corinthians 9:24 NKJV) and at the time of our judgment hear those most beautiful, sweet, joyous words, “Well done, good and faithful servant...Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV)
“He Himself was hungry; who is the “bread of life,” which if a man eats of it, he will never hunger again (John 6.35).
He Himself was thirsty, crying out “I thirst!” (John 19.28); who gives the “living water,” which, if a man drinks of it, he will never thirst again (John 4:13 NKJV, 6:35, 7:37).
He Himself was a stranger with “nowhere to lay His head” (Matthew 8:20 NKJV, Luke 9:58 NKJV), who “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (John 1:11 NKJV); who brings all men home to the heavenly house of the Father (John 14:1-2 NKJV).
He Himself was naked, in the manger in Bethlehem, in the streams of the Jordan, and on the cross of Golgotha; who clothes all men with Himself (Galatians 3:27 NKJV), and with the “robe of salvation” (Isaiah 61:10 LXX, Revelation 6:11 NKJV).
He Himself was sick, “wounded for our transgressions” and “bruised for our iniquities,” left alone hanging on the cross (Isaiah 53:5 LXX, Matthew 26:56 NKJV); who Himself heals all the wounds of men, for “by his bruises we were healed” (Isaiah 53:5 LXX).
He Himself was in prison, arrested as a criminal and thrown into jail, forsaken by His disciples (Matthew 26:56 NKJV); who Himself proclaims “liberty to the captives” (Isaiah 61:1 LXX, Luke 4:18 NKJV), setting men free from everything that binds them, and forgiving their crimes.
Since Christ has identified Himself wholly with every man, in every one of his sad and most sorrowful states, the person who “does it to the least of his brethren” does it to Christ Himself - not “as if” to Christ, but to Christ in reality, for Christ is most truly within every man, and every man is the bearer of Christ, the “image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15 NKJV).” [St. Augustine of Hippo, 4th century theologian]
Old Testament reading: Psalm 111 LXX (112:10 MT)
New Testament reading: Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV
Day 48
Scripture: Mark 14:22-25 NKJV; Luke 22:18-20 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 NKJV; John 15:4 NKJV; John 16:33 NKJV; 1 Peter 1:8 NKJV; Romans 8:13 NKJV; Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV; Mark 1:11-13 NKJV; Luke 4:1-14 NKJV; John 14:6 NKJV; Lamentations 3:22-23 LXX; John 14:16 NKJV; Matthew 10:19-20 NKJV; Romans 8:26 NKJV; John 3:16 NKJV; Isaiah 49:6 LXX; Romans 5:2 NKJV; Romans 8:26-27 NKJV
Savior’s blessing
Whenever we gather together for the Divine Liturgy, we have Communion with God, doing this “in remembrance of Me.” [Mark 14:22-25 NKJV, Luke 22:18-20 NKJV, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 NKJV]. When we abide in Him, He will abide in us (John 15:4 NKJV). The blessing of Him abiding in us is a peace the world does not know and cannot give (John 16:33 NKJV), joy that is inexpressible (1 Peter 1:8 NKJV), love that is unconditional.
The blessing of His salvific work for us on the Cross was to put to death our sinful nature and gave us the opportunity to live in the Spirit, thereby being able to put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:13 NKJV). The blessing of strength against temptations our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us in the wilderness during the 40 days of fasting (Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV, Mark 1:11-13 NKJV, Luke 4:1-14 NKJV). The blessing of our Savior is He not only tells us about the way of eternal life, but He shows and leads the way. He is “the way, the truth, and the life” [John 14:6 NKJV]. He does not tell us something He does not do Himself - He showed us the ways of humility against the sin of pride, praying alone in a quiet place and time, love for his enemies, compassion for the brokenhearted, weary, orphans, widows and the outcasts, and shows us forgiveness for the sinners that return in repentance and how we should accept those who come back in repentance. He shows us mercy and that His compassions never fail and they are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-23 LXX).
Our Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, blesses us with the sending of the Holy Spirit that proceeds from the Father. When He sent us the “Comforter” Who is the Holy Spirit [John 14:16 NKJV]. The blessing of the Holy Spirit is the continuing guidance by God, Who dwells in each and every one of the believers who has been Baptized and Chrismated. The blessing of the Holy Spirit is He lives in us and the same power that rose Jesus from the dead lives in the believer! The Holy Spirit will give us boldness and words to speak in front of rulers, judges and all the people of the Earth who persecute us for the Name of Jesus (Matthew 10:19-20 NKJV). The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses, when we do not know what we should say in prayer, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with “groanings which cannot be uttered” [Romans 8:26 NKJV].
The blessing of salvation is having a clear conscience with God, because we are reconciled and at peace with God once again. We are freed, by the Cross of Jesus, from the guilt of shame that came with disobedience. The blessing of salvation is the gift of joy - joy in times of tribulations...we are given the gift of joy to endure patiently during tribulation knowing that perseverance in tribulation will bring a refinement and abundant blessings. Salvation brings joy, a joy that Christians now are able to endure suffering and trample death by following in the example of Jesus and because of Jesus Christ. The blessing of salvation is that we become aware of God's love towards us, that He would send His Only-Begotten Son to die in order to save us (John 3:16 NKJV). The blessings of salvation are countless and endless. As we go into Holy Week, make time to sit before the Cross of Christ and ponder on all of these blessings, meditate on the Cross and the blessings we received from that glorious, selfless, transformative love.
“Through the Holy Spirit comes our restoration to paradise, our ascension into the kingdom of heaven, our return to the adoption of sons, our liberty to call God our Father, our being made partakers of the grace of Christ, our being called children of light, our sharing in eternal glory, and, in a word, our being brought into a state of all “fullness of blessing,” both in this world and in the world to come, of all the good gifts that are in store for us, by promise hereof, through faith, beholding the reflection of their grace as though they were already present, we await the full enjoyment.” [St. Basil the Great, 4th century Bishop of Caesarea, Confessor and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Lamentations 3:22-23 LXX; Psalm 99 LXX (100:5 MT); Isaiah 49:6 LXX
New Testament reading: John 16:33 NKJV; Romans 5:2 NKJV; Romans 8:26-27 NKJV
Day 49
Scripture: Galatians 5:6 NKJV; John 15:16 NKJV; Romans 8:24 NKJV; Ephesians 2:5 NKJV; 1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV; Romans 5:10 NKJV; Romans 2:13 NKJV; Jeremiah 38:3 LXX; Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV; Romans 8:35-39 NKJV; 1 John 1:9 NKJV; Hebrews 13:8 NKJV; John 6:37 NKJV; Mark 11:10 NKJV; John 8:44 NKJV; Isaiah 25:9 LXX; Romans 2:16 NKJV; John 10:28 NKJV; 1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV
Savior’s salvation
We cannot save ourselves by our own good works, but salvation is a “faith working through love” [Galatians 5:6 NKJV]. Salvation was initiated by God - “You did not choose Me, but I chose you” [John 15:16 NKJV]. Salvation is an ongoing, lifelong process of past, present and future...not a one-time proclamation. In the past tense, salvation was having been saved by the death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ - “we have been saved” [cf. Romans 8:24 NKJV, Ephesians 2:5 NKJV]. In the present tense, we must also be saved by our active participation through faith in our union with the Lord Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit - “we are being saved” [cf. 1 Corinthians 1:18 NKJV, 15:2]. In the future tense, we must be saved at His glorious Second Coming - “we will be saved” [cf. Romans 5:10 NKJV]. St. Paul thinks of justification as an event to take place in the future and also as a part of the final judgment (Romans 2:13 NKJV, 16).
A few days ago, we talked about the Old Testament and the concept of salvation - there were glimpses of hope and prophecies of that promise but not knowing where you would go was scary; however, when Jesus died on the Cross we were assured where we were going in the life to come - back home to be with Him.
How can we believe that the gift of salvation is an unshakeable promise, that God won’t change His mind down the road or if we do something bad that we lose that chance of eternal life forever? God's love and grace are eternal - in Jeremiah 38:3 LXX (31:3 MT) God says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love”. God doesn't save us according to the number of good deeds we do, but by His grace and the fact that I do good deeds as proof that He loves me and I love Him (Matthew 25:31-46 NKJV).
Romans 8:35-39 NKJV says nothing “shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” What about when we sin and separate ourselves from Him? He stills loves us, even then! 1 John 1:9 NKJV says that God is righteous and faithful - “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” If we confess, He will forgive - there is no chance that when we sincerely repent and then sincerely confess our sins to Him in the presence of the priest that God will not forgive our sins. Jesus Christ does not change, nor will He change His mind - “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” [Hebrews 13:8 NKJV]. If we come to Him, He will take us in and will not cast us out - “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” [John 6:37 NKJV].
His promise of salvation is unchangeable and an unconditional promise! Rest easy and be assured of this promise! Today He rides triumphantly into Jerusalem, He is “Hosanna in the highest!” (Mark 11:10 NKJV) meaning, “Save us, we pray!” and He saved, He saves and He will save. Allow Him to triumphantly ride to the Jerusalem of your heart. Allow Him to be your King, your “Hosanna in the highest!”
Do not let the devil (“the father of lies” - John 8:44 NKJV) trick you into thinking there is a sin you need to be ashamed of and cannot confess to the priest. Our Father in Heaven sees us when we sin and He is faithful to forgive us when we sincerely confess with our hearts to Him in the presence of the priest. Our salvation is secured and will never be taken away, but that promise is made good while we still have a chance here on Earth - so do not quit in the spiritual struggle, do not delay to repent and confess, do not wait for the second judgment but rather examine and judge yourself daily, do not delay in holding to the truths of the Gospel, do not delay in the freedom you receive in faith in God, do not delay in reading Scripture because to know the Scripture is the beginning of knowing God, do not delay in the amazing healing of His love, do not delay in being united with Him in the Eucharist, do not delay to proclaim to Him, “Hosanna in the highest!”, do not delay in acting on the promise of His Resurrection and Salvation!
“The marvel is, not that men have failed to know Christ, but that they have not listened to the words of the Scriptures.” [St. Ambrose, 4th century Bishop of Milan]
“But do not sin, O man, expecting that you will repent; and do not succumb [to sin] being confident of forgiveness! Remember that death will not delay. Do not craftily seek means to draw out the pleasure of sin with a dishonest mind! God is not mocked [Gal. 6:7]. His knowledge precedes your thoughts. Affliction will overtake you suddenly, and when you cry out, He will not answer you.” [St. Isaac the Syrian, 7th century Bishop of Nineveh and theologian]
“How long shall we neglect our own salvation? Let us bear in mind of what things Christ has deemed us worthy, let us give thanks, let us glorify Him, not by our faith alone, but also by our very works, that we may obtain the good things that are to come, through the grace and lovingkindness of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom and with whom, to the Father and the Holy Ghost be glory, now and ever and world without end” [St. John Chrysostom, the 4th century Archbishop of Constantinople and a “doctor of the Church”]
Old Testament reading: Isaiah 25:9 LXX
New Testament reading: Romans 2:13 NKJV; Romans 2:16 NKJV; John 10:28 NKJV; 1 Peter 1:3-5 NKJV

Daily Journey Through the Great Fast With the Early Church

Reject evil

Cleave to good

Love and give

Grow in Spirit

Pray and submit

Be perfect

Seek the kingdom

Pray always

Follow Christ

Assurance

Reject, give and follow

Build on rock

Difficulties on the road

Victory in temptations

Confession of repentance

Righteousness of repentance

Temptation of repentance

Judgment of repentance

Faithfulness of repentance

Forgiveness of repentance

Acceptance of repentance

Spirit of the Gospel

Spreading the Gospel (The Cost of Following Jesus)

Peace of the Gospel

Light of the Gospel

Faith in the Gospel

Works and fruit of the Gospel

Glory of the Gospel

Submission in faith

Service in faith

Hope in faith

Freedom through faith

Sentence of faith

Guidance by faith

Strengthening the faith

Repentance & baptism

Witnessing in baptism

Judgment of baptism

Life of baptism

Rebirth in baptism

Salvation of baptism

Enlightenment of baptism

Savior’s Witnesses

Confessing the Savior

Faith in the Savior

Savior’s resurrection

Savior’s judgment

Savior’s blessing

Savior’s salvation