One day John (the Almsgiver, Patriarch of Alexandria, 610-619) gave to one of his servants who had been reduced to extreme poverty two pounds of gold with his own hands so that no one might know of it. When his servant said, “After this gift I shall no longer have the courage to look you in the face, a face so dear, so like an angel’s,” he made this wise and praiseworthy answer, “I have not yet shed my blood on your behalf, brother, as Christ, our God, my Master and the Master of us all, commanded me.”
I've been reading…
about the increasing demand for, and therefore price of, gold as people around the world look for a place to put their money to ride out the hard times. In truly hard times, though, what good would gold be? Difficult to carry in large quantities and impossible to eat a truly desperate time would make gold essentially worthless.
In a truly hard time it would seem you would need something larger than yourself to believe in to help you make it through, the skills to produce food, clean water, and shelter for basic survival, and a community of people with you to share the tasks and lessen the dangers of life in a world of scarcity. Gold is incidental to any or all of these things. After all what would be more valuable, the ability to consistently feed yourself and your group or a bag of shiny metal?
Of course if you’ve already learned how to live low to the ground, what has often been called “thrift” you’re already ahead of the game. You don’t have the illusions and the dead weight of investment in fictions to recover from before you set out to live in a hostile world.
I wonder, sometimes, though, if all this economic chaos we’ve been going through may actually, when all the noise and clutter are taken away, be God’s way of reminding us of where our treasures and our hearts actually should be. In light of that gold may not matter as much as we think.
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A picture, they say…
is worth a thousand words and here are pictures of the aftermath of a recent attack on a Christian Church in Iraq. Please note that these are extremely graphic, not safe for work, and definitely not for children.
In seeing these pictures I must say that I am ashamed of my own attitude as a Priest, so often prone to seeking my own convenience. The two clerics in these pictures died with their flock and I sometimes complain about having to do a little extra once in a while.
Lord have mercy on me, a sinner and unworthy Priest and grant your eternal Kingdom to those who chose not to renounce you even in the face of terror and death.
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Wisdom…
Let our mind be there where Christ is. Then our prayer will be with Him and there will no longer remain much place for passions. We will get used to living in this way, and by such a peace-filled life we will rebuild our whole being.
Archimandrite Sophrony, +1993
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Great commercial…
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In all the craziness…
I’ve forgotten.
I’ve forgotten a hundred blessings each day. Family that cares. A warm place to live. Cats that lick my arms while I sleep. Music that fills my life. Church that fills my soul. Food and enough to share. Satisfying work. Clothes on my back. Sun in November. Friends and compatriots. A God that sees the beginnings and the ends and loves me even when I’m twisted and ugly.
The truth is that I live in a sea of blessings, mostly undeserved and mostly unobserved in the worries and bustle of the moment. One pause, one moment to reflect, and I discover how wealthy I am and how little I have recognized it all.
Thank you.
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Thanksgiving…
is on its way. I plan to make pies. On the day after Thanksgiving when the whole world goes crazy over shopping I will be starting on my plans for world domination through fruitcake.
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Matthew 5…
1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. 2 Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “ Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
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I like this commercial…
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Psalm 46…
To the chief Musician for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Al’amoth.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed,
and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah.
There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God,
the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.
The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted.The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge.
