Encouragement

 

"...the divine is equally present in all things..."

 

Today (Dec. 6) is St. Nicholas Day on most Christian calendars

The images above tell a story of St. Nicholas as an African. A Web search will show you images of St. Nicholas with the poor, with children and women, with sailors, and with coal miners in Pennsylvania. It seems that these images of St. Nicholas with the poor and with workers cannot be shared without permission and that certain ethnic organizations claim these images and the intervention of the saint at the Darr Mine Disaster in Pennsylvania on December 19, 1907 as their own. See here and here for examples.

Here is a prayer to St. Nicholas that I have adapted.

Good St Nicholas,
Help us prepare for the miracle of the coming of Jesus.
Help us not to be blind to the need for solidarity and generosity now and at all times.
Help us to be humble, sincere, joyful, and dedicated to the work of serving others and in accepting help from others.
Kind St. Nicholas, teach us kindness.
Kind St. Nicholas, teach us patience.
Kind St. Nicholas, teach us steadfastness.
As you helped others who were facing destitution and slavery and imprisonment and the loss of their lives and their loved ones on the seas and in the mines so also help us.
May our celebration of your feast be a blessing to us by strengthening our solidarity with one another and our faith in God's call to love one another in justice and peace.
I ask this in the Holy Name of Jesus Christ and in the Name of Mary, the Mother of God.
Amen

"Everything has been done so that you might become so many suns, sources of life (for others)..."

Photograph from Lynne Myfanwy Jones

"Everything has been done so that you might become so many suns, sources of life (for others). May you be perfect light before that immense ight. You will be flooded with its supernatural splendor. To you will come, limpid, direct, the light of the Trinity emanating from the One God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, to whom be glory and power forever and ever. Amen."---St. Gregory Nazienzen

What satisfies your heart?

 

Saint Moses the Black

The feast day of St. Moses the Black falls on August 28 on the Greek Catholic and Chalcedonian calendars. I'm posting this now because I think that it is helpful to begin preparing for this important day. We can use this time for thinking about what St. Moses means to us today and how we respond to people who are on hard paths. I have met many people who I believe are walking those hard roads hat St. Moses did and who are heading to holiness.

The Fellowship of St. Moses the Black has taken as their mission "to equip Orthodox Christians for the ministry of Racial Reconciliation, and to share the Orthodox Christian faith with African Americans and people of color." Their website provides the basic information and prayers that will be useful to you and will help you open your heart to St. Moses the Black.

The Fellowship's website gives the following information about the life of St. Moses the Black. It is taken from the Orthodox Church in America website. 

Life of St. Moses the Black

Saint Moses the Black lived during the fourth century in Egypt. He was an Ethiopian, and he was black of skin and therefore called “Murin” (meaning “like an Ethiopian”). In his youth he was the slave of an important man, but after he committed a murder, his master banished him, and he joined a band of robbers.

Because of his bad character and great physical strength they chose him as their leader. Moses and his band of brigands did many evil deeds, both murders and robberies. People were afraid at the mere mention of his name.

Moses the brigand spent several years leading a sinful life, but through the great mercy of God he repented, left his band of robbers and went to one of the desert monasteries. Here he wept for a long time, begging to be admitted as one of the brethren. The monks were not convinced of the sincerity of his repentance, but the former robber would not be driven away nor silenced. He continued to ask that they accept him.

St Moses was completely obedient to the igumen and the brethren, and he poured forth many tears of sorrow for his sinful life. After a certain while St Moses withdrew to a solitary cell, where he spent the time in prayer and the strictest fasting in a very austere lifestyle.

Once, four of the robbers of his former band descended upon the cell of St Moses. He had lost none of his great physical strength, so he tied them all up. Throwing them over his shoulder, he brought them to the monastery, where he asked the Elders what to do with them. The Elders ordered that they be set free. The robbers, learning that they had chanced upon their former ringleader, and that he had dealt kindly with them, followed his example: they repented and became monks. Later, when the rest of the band of robbers heard about the repentance of St Moses, then they also gave up their thievery and became fervent monks.

St Moses was not quickly freed from the passions. He went often to the igumen, Abba Isidore, seeking advice on how to be delivered from the passions of profligacy. Being experienced in the spiritual struggle, the Elder taught him never to eat too much food, to remain partly hungry while observing the strictest moderation. But the passions did not cease to trouble St Moses in his dreams.

Then Abba Isidore taught him the all-night vigil. The monk stood the whole night at prayer, so he would not fall asleep. From his prolonged struggles St Moses fell into despondency, and when there arose thoughts about leaving his solitary cell, Abba Isidore instead strengthened the resolve of his disciple.

In a vision he showed him many demons in the west, prepared for battle, and in the east a still greater quantity of holy angels, also ready for fighting. Abba Isidore explained to St Moses that the power of the angels would prevail over the power of the demons, and in the long struggle with the passions it was necessary for him to become completely cleansed of his former sins.

St Moses undertook a new effort. Making the rounds by night of the wilderness cells, he carried water from the well to each brother. He did this especially for the Elders, who lived far from the well and who were not easily able to carry their own water. Once, kneeling over the well, St Moses felt a powerful blow upon his back and he fell down at the well like one dead, laying there in that position until dawn. Thus did the devils take revenge upon the monk for his victory over them. In the morning the brethren carried him to his cell, and he lay there a whole year crippled. Having recovered, the monk with firm resolve confessed to the igumen, that he would continue to live in asceticism. But the Lord Himself put limits to this struggle of many years: Abba Isidore blessed his disciple and said to him that the passions had already gone from him. The Elder commanded him to receive the Holy Mysteries, and to go to his own cell in peace. From that time, St Moses received from the Lord power over demons.

Accounts about his exploits spread among the monks and even beyond the bounds of the wilderness. The governor of the land wanted to see the saint. When he heard of this, St Moses decided to hide from any visitors, and he departed his own cell. Along the way he met servants of the governor, who asked him how to get to the cell of the desert-dweller Moses. The monk answered them: “Go no farther to see this false and unworthy monk.” The servants returned to the monastery where the governor was waiting, and they told him the words of the Elder they had chanced to meet. The brethren, hearing a description of the Elder’s appearance, told them that they had encountered St Moses himself.

After many years of monastic exploits, St Moses was ordained deacon. The bishop clothed him in white vestments and said, “Now Abba Moses is entirely white!” The saint replied, “Only outwardly, for God knows that I am still dark within.”

Through humility, the saint believed himself unworthy of the office of deacon. Once, the bishop decided to test him and he bade the clergy to drive him out of the altar, reviling him as an unworthy Ethiopian. In all humility, the monk accepted the abuse. Having put him to the test, the bishop then ordained St Moses to be presbyter. St Moses labored for fifteen years in this rank, and gathered around himself 75 disciples.

When the saint reached age 75, he warned his monks that soon brigands would descend upon the skete and murder all that were there. The saint blessed his monks to leave, in order to avoid violent death. His disciples began to beseech the monk to leave with them, but he replied: “For many years already I have awaited the time when the words which my Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, should be fulfilled: “All who take up the sword, shall perish by the sword” (Mt. 26: 52). After this, seven of the brethren remained with the monk, and one of them hid nearby during the attack of the robbers. The robbers killed St Moses and the six monks who remained with him. Their death occurred in about the year 400.

Saint Nicholas Vilimirovich on death and resurrection and an icon with a question

But it is said: "How do the dead stand?" And in what body do they come? (1 Corinthians 35:15).

Paul the Apostle knew in advance and rejects the objections that the unbelievers will make regarding the resurrection of the dead. Even today, the non-believers who have not seen with material eyes the miracle of the natural resurrection, and much more spiritual resurrection, ask: “How will the resurrection of the dead take place? "

And the messenger follows: "I fool! What you plant does not live until it dies. “ (1 Corinthians 36:15). Unless a seed is planted in the ground, the plant will not grow, and in another expression something completely different will come out of the seed. Non-believers see with their own eyes but they do not see, so they ask, “How does a dead man do?” "

How ? The same way Jesus did. He descended to life in the grave and came alive. Even nature demonstrates the resurrection from the dead, in the lord of the living. The universe becomes easier for us and for us to have our resurrection, he himself raised from the grave and before that resurrection he laid up a dead man in the grave four days ago, and the son of a widow of Nayne and the daughter of Yairus.

The unbelievers ask, “What type of body will the dead rise? “In the kind that God wants. With God there are many types of bodies. The apostle Paul divides all bodies into two categories: earthly and heavenly. Therefore, those who died in earthly bodies will wear heavenly bodies: the corruptible will replace the corrupt, the immortal will replace the dead, the beautiful will replace the ugly. In this celestial body man will recognize himself and others around him, and distinguishes himself, whether he is dressed in gay rags or wearing royal purple. O Lord, the fruit of the womb, do not hand us over to eternal corruption, but as sons of royalty, we are dressed in immortality. Amen

Walking With Wisdom ~ Mother Teresa

I found this on The Contemplative Monk Facebook page:

Walking With Wisdom ~ Mother Teresa

"We cannot find God in noise and agitation. Nature: trees, flowers, and grass grow in silence. The stars, the moon, and the sun move in silence. What is essential is not what we say but what God tells us and what He tells others through us. In silence He listens to us; in silence, He speaks to our souls. In silence, we are granted the privilege of listening to His voice.

Silence of our eyes.
Silence of our ears.
Silence of our mouths.
Silence of our minds.
...in the silence of the heart
God will speak.

Silence of the heart is necessary so you can hear God everywhere - in the closing of the door, in the person who needs you, in the birds that sing, in the flowers, in the animals.

If we are careful of silence it will be easy to pray."

Prayers to Saint George

I missed the Feast Day of St. George on April 23, but there are other Feast Days for St. George on Nov. 3, 10, and 26 according to this website. See the prayers below---and please feel good about praying to St. George often. He is an ecumenical saint revered by Christians, Muslims and Jews in some places.

I substitute "those who suffer from wears, terrorism, natural and environmental disasters, abuse, addictions, unemployment, imprisonment, hard and dangerous labor, injustice, exploitation and forced migration" for "Orthodox Christians" in these prayers

 

Holy, glorious and praiseworthy St. George!

We who are gathered in thy church (or: on thy feast) and venerate thy holy icon,

beseech thee, as a known intercessor for our longings:

pray with us to God, Whose loving kindness we implore, mercifully to hear us entreating His goodness,

and not to abandon our requests which are needful unto salvation and life;

that He might grant victories over adversaries;

and furthermore we pray thee abjectly, thou holy Trophy-Bearer,

to strengthen the Orthodox Christians in their battles, by the grace given thee;

crush the power of insurgent foes,

that they may be disgraced and brought to shame, and their presumption shattered;

may they know that we have Divine help, and thy mighty defense made known unto all in sorrow and trouble.

Entreat the Lord God and Maker of all creation to deliver us from eternal torment,

that we may always glorify the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

Prayer II

O holy Great-Martyr and Wonder-worker George!

Visit us with thy swift help, and entreat God Who loveth mankind,

that He not condemn us sinners according to our iniquities,

but rather do with us according to His great mercy.

Despise not our prayer, but seek for us from Christ our God, a life quiet and pleasing unto Him,

wellbeing of soul and body, fruits of the earth in all their abundance,

and that we might not turn to evil the good things bestowed upon us by the all-generous God,

but rather make use of them unto the glory of His holy name,

and the glory of thy mighty intercession;

may He grant the Orthodox Christians to overcome their enemies,

and strengthen His community with enduring peace and bliss.

And especially may He guard us round about with the ranks of His holy Angels,

so as to deliver us, after our departure from this life,

from the snares of the evil one and his fearful torments in the air,

presenting us without condemnation before the throne of the Lord of glory.

Hear us, O passion-bearer of Christ, George;

and without ceasing, entreat the Master and God of all, One in Three Persons,

that by His grace and love for mankind we may find mercy to stand with Angels and Archangels at the

right hand of the Righteous Judge,

and ever to glorify Him with the Father and the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto ages of ages.

Amen.

May we conquer our sins and transgressions!

 St. George

"Our Easter faith is about remembering"---The Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge the Great Vigil of Easter 2022

 

You're probably doing better than you think...

 

We have two important dates to mark: The Healing of the Paralytic and The Sunday of Thomas (with music from Ralph Stanley)

The Healing of a Paralytic: Mark 2:1-12

1 When Jesus returned to Capernauma after some days, it became known that he was at home.

2 Many gathered together so that there was no longer room for them, not even around the door, and he preached the word to them.

3 They came bringing to him a paralytic carried by four men.

4 Unable to get near Jesus because of the crowd, they opened up the roof above him. After they had broken through, they let down the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Child, your sins are forgiven.”

6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there asking themselves,

7 “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming. Who but God alone can forgive sins?

8 Jesus immediately knew in his mind what they were thinking to themselves, so he said, “Why are you thinking such things in your hearts?

9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, pick up your mat and walk’?

10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority to forgive sins on earth”—

11 he said to the paralytic, “I say to you, rise, pick up your mat, and go home.”

12 He rose, picked up his mat at once, and went away in the sight of everyone. They were all astounded and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”

John 20:19-29 and see this: https://www.goarch.org/thomas-sunday

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

21 [Jesus] said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”

22  And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit.

23 Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.”

24 Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.

25 So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”

28 Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

29 Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

I ceaselessly knock at Thy door

 

 

St. Oscar Romero, Pray For Us...

 

Today is the feast day of Saint Oscar Romero of El Salvador, killed this day in 1980 by US-backed forces while saying Mass. Oscar Romero presente!

 

"If they kill me, I will be resurrected in the Salvadoran people" - Archbishop Óscar Romero assassinated 24 March, 1980.

“I will not tire of declaring that if we really want an effective end to violence we must remove the violence that lies at the root of all violence: structural violence, social injustice, exclusion of citizens from the management of the country, repression. All this is what constitutes the primal cause, from which the rest flows naturally.”

Romero, the Archbishop of San Salvador who spoke out against poverty, social injustice and the death squads, was murdered while giving mass on the order of right wing death squad leaders. At his funeral hundreds of mourners were killed by the Salvadoran army. Despite these crimes, and countless others, the government of El Salvador and the right wing death squads continued to be supported by the United States throughout the 1980s.

No one was ever convicted of his killing.

Please don't neglect the Lenten fast...

 

Mary Dont You Weep- kry$tal Kleer

 

Dorothy Day On Dignity & Charity