A soul which has been caught to serve the enemy’s will then serves as a snare for other souls, for it conceals the grief of sin with its apparent delight.
Ephraim the Syrian, A Spiritual Psalter, Third Stasis.
Category: Faith & Ideology
How He loves mankind
“God is gracious and loves mankind.” This is a deeply-rooted dogma of Orthodox Christianity, repeated in prayers and benedictions constantly.
How (not how much) does he love mankind? John 3:16 comes to mind. He “so loves the world that He gave his only-beggoten son.”
Is His love limited — to semites, or to those in the western realm called Christendom? Continue reading “How He loves mankind”
American Civil Religion Redux
James Allen, a radio talk-show host and second- or third-tier columnist at Townhall.com, praises Glenn Beck as a “great leader” who has a “belief in a transcendent being called God.” I dissent and accuse Allen of suborning violations of the 1st Commandment. Continue reading “American Civil Religion Redux”
Historic or eschatological?
Sometimes Father Stephen says something that shocks me:
I would suggest that it is a mistake to describe Christianity as a “historical” religion, Continue reading “Historic or eschatological?”
Who sees and hears?
The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them. Continue reading “Who sees and hears?”
Remembering
By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land?
Psalm 136 (Septuagint, 137 in KJV)
Remembering, therefore, this command of the Savior, and all that came to pass for our sake, the cross, the tomb, the resurrection on the third day, the ascension into heaven, the enthronement at the right hand of the Father, and the second, glorious coming, we offer to You these gifts from Your own gifts in all and for all.
Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Anaphora
Red and Blue Families (Again)
Jennifer Roback Morse was late reviewing Red Families v Blue Families in part because it’s time-consuming to unpack illogic and obfuscation, but also in part because the book made her so mad she could hardly read it. A few bullet quotes capture her fury: Continue reading “Red and Blue Families (Again)”
Giving the heart away, piece by piece
I used to pay dearly and too dearly for every flattery of the world. I would always break off a piece of my heart and give it as payment, until eventually I gave my whole heart to the world Continue reading “Giving the heart away, piece by piece”
Like olive shoots
Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in His ways.
You shall eat of the labor of your hand.
You shall be happy and it shall be well with you.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house.
Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
Lo, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.
May you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel.
Psalm 127 (according to the Septuagint), sung at Orthodox Crowning (Wedding) Services.
God in our image
“What use will your prayer be to God?” ask the swarthy workers of the earth.
You speak rightly, sons of earth. What use is the mariner’s telescope to the North Star, when it sees the mariner even without a telescope? But do not ask me, since you already know, what use a telescope is to a mariner. Continue reading “God in our image”
Tipsy Teetotaler ن 