“Thoughts in Christ”

Israel calls the United States its greatest friend—maybe its only friend in the current climate of warfare against Palestinians. Why is it? And even a stranger question: Why would a democracy such as ours offer almost unqualified support of an ethnocracy? Yes it’s true; Israel calls itself a democracy, and in some sense it may be—but only for…

Like good Jews everywhere, the disciples of the Lord had been resting. It was the Sabbath, and that didn’t change. But their hearts were not at rest. Churning inside with frustration, confusion, hope that had been dashed to the ground, they agonized over the death of the Master. But Mary Magdalene’s soul could not be contained. She yearned to go to…

How like Jesus to rise above the excruciating pain and the agony of His last moments on earth to care for the needs of His mother. As He told Peter to care for His disciples after he himself would recover from the shame of betrayal (Luke 22:37), so here He worries over the life ahead which His own mother would endure after Jesus was gone from the…

We can learn from every apostle, even from Judas Iscariot. The gospels encourage us to emulate those who have set their shoulders to the plow (Luke 9:62). We learn also the fate of those who abandon Christ. Loyalty, commitment, devotion to the living Lord challenges us all in these times. Jimmy Hoffa expressed the cynicism that permeates our society…

On the fourth Sunday of the Great Lent the Holy Church honors the memory of St. John called Climacus, which means “The Ladder.” He’s called that because of the astounding book he wrote dedicated to helping those serious about salvation to progress on the way to God’s Kingdom. He lived not far from Mt. Sinai, where Moses received the Ten…

Jesus understood that Peter would not bring himself to confess that he was the Lord’s disciple. He knew also that after a period of inner struggle, Simon would again regain his faith. Thus He doesn’t say “if,” but “when you have returned.” When faith takes hold once again, Peter will be all the stronger for the experience. He will have compassion on…

The media is a secular organ of society, but it can produce enormous spiritual benefits. In exposing the heinous crimes against little children by grown men it is achieving a blessed good deed for humanity. Who can read the above passage and not feel the emotion of our Lord Jesus? To crush the innocence of God’s little ones is more horrible than…

The Sunday of Orthodoxy celebration has a double feature: A procession of icons and the condemnation of all heresies of the past. They are integrally connected. However, non-Orthodox and even some of our own faithful look upon icons as mere adornments, an insignia of our faith. They beautify our temples and our homes. Western Christians explain them…

This is perhaps the most powerful statement in the Bible: you may be partakers of the divine nature. What it doesn’t mean is that we can become part of the very essence of God, for that would be the ultimate blasphemy. No difference would exist between the divine and the human natures. It does mean that we are invited and encouraged to take part in…

St. Paul says that he remembers his friends at Philippi every time he prays. How fortunate it would be to one of them. He prayed for each, by name or by remembering the faces. He gave thanks to the Lord Almighty and let them know it. They brought him great joy.

Some of us pray always for others, but we don’t let them know it. However, it’s such a…

Here for the first time we find a reference to the most precious day of the week, the day we in English call Sunday—the Lord’s Day. Many wrongly speak of Sunday as the Sabbath; but Saturday is the Sabbath. The day of rest, on which the Lord God Almighty rested from His six days of creation (Genesis 2:2). A remarkable transition occurred in the…

Do you wonder what happens before your arrival for the Divine Liturgy? I recite some two dozen prayers for a start, followed by more prayers, one for each article of vestments donned by the priest, and another for the washing of hands. But then comes the glorious preparation of the Holy Gifts. Special breads and some wine are on the table of…

The present Enron scandal expresses the shadow side of capitalism. In this time of our nation’s healing from the disasters of 9/11, we have come together as a nation to demonstrate to others and to ourselves the best in our people. Patriotism has erased any vestige of cynicism from the past. Not since World War II have our priorities and values been…

St. Paul was sending valentines long before there was a word for it. That most brilliant of apostles loved instinctively and unstintedly. The Holy Spirit directed him to do the loving, kind and helpful things that would uplift his disciples and followers throughout the known world of the time. He loved them, and he told them that. He was happy that…

Where can you go in America and avoid the symbol of the heart? On Valentine’s Day we send notes of affection to family, friends and in schools, even near strangers. Bumper stickers proclaim “I V [NY, favorite pet, favorite team, etc.]” It’s almost impossible to find a pop song with some theme other than love—either found, lost, wished for or…

Here appear the credentials of the writer of Revelation, St. John. He addresses those who will read and hear his writings as their brother and companion in: a) Tribulation (thlipsis); b) Kingdom (vasilia); c) Patience, or steadfast endurance (ipomoni). He writes as a soul brother to those who share his life and values. Only they will have the…

Painless:

To die as a Christian is both privilege and duty. The insight that comes only after deep meditation is to grasp the gift which Christ brings us, by allowing us to share His sacred and unique heritage. He made His holy Father in heaven our Father, as well, when we conform ourselves to His will. After we spend a lifetime living for Him,…

“Your mother and her sisters know where my best dress, the black one, is hanging in the closet. I told them that’s what I’ll wear in my coffin. Nothing else. No jewelry, and I hope they won’t put makeup on me.”

“Oh, Baba, don’t talk about coffins and death. It’s so…[I wanted to say morbid, but I couldn’t think of the word] sad.” I was eleven at the…

Imagine what a transformation in understanding St. Peter and the other apostles had felt when they would begin their daily prayers as Christians. From childhood they had begun: “Blessed art Thou, O God.” The essence of Judaism is belief in a God so remote that one rarely addressed Him other than as “Lord.” Then they learned from the Lord Himself,…