“I am drowning, O Lady, under the tide of distress, and I am distraught by the blizzard of life's adversities. Come quickly, I entreat, and lend a hand of assistance. For you are my Patroness earnestly helping me.”  

- Great Paraklesis Ode 3

Reflection: 

The prayers of the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary have the boldness of a mother(1), and the strength of hope in the resurrection.(2) 

Often when we feel overwhelmed by the many stresses that our life has, we try to address the situations by ourselves and forget to turn to God. 

Let us remember that when we are overwhelmed we turn to God, and when we wish to do even more, we can cry out to our mother, the Panagia, the Virgin Mary, to pray for us. 

Resources:

1) The Wedding at Cana (Virgin Mary's first intercessory boldness) John 2:1-12

2) Mary at the Cross John 19:25-27 (Her silent strength and hope in the Resurrection in the sight of the most difficult thing, a mother witnessing her son dying on the Cross)

“Refute those who dispute with you by the strength of your virtues and not by the persuasiveness of your words, but by the meekness and quietness of your lips.” 

- St Isaac the Syrian, The Ascetical Homilies, Homily 4, pg 32-33.

Reflection: 

May we always work on ourselves to love Christ and our neighbor even better than the previous day, so that our virtues will shine. 

This way we will follow the advice of St Isaac and truly give the love and meekness of Christ(1) in response to any given situation. 

Resources:

1) John 18:28 (Jesus before Pilot)

“He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.”

- St Paul, Phil 2:7

Reflection: 

What does it mean to ‘empty ourselves’ (kenosis) for the sake of another person?  

Self-emptying(1) means pouring oneself out, humbling oneself, weeding out any ego through our spiritual life and looking and longing for opportunities to sacrifice for God and neighbor.

The self-emptying (kenosis) of God raised us up, Christ descended to us, so that we can ascend to God and be united with Him.(2)

Kenosis is a paradox and a mystery since "emptying oneself" in fact fills the person with divine grace and results in union with God. 

Let us follow Christ Who emptied Himself to save us, and humble ourselves by emptying ourselves of any pride or self-centeredness, and let’s be the loving presence others need in their lives. 

Resources:
1) ἀλλ᾽ ἑαυτὸν ἐκένωσε μορφὴν δούλου λαβών, ἐν ὁμοιώματι ἀνθρώπων γενόμενος
2) Met. Hierotheos, The Feasts of the Mother of God, pg 402. 

“You drive away the assaults of temptations, and attacks of the passions, O Virgin, therefore do we praise you throughout the many ages.” 

- Hymn from the 8th Ode of Small Paraklesis.

Reflection: 

The intercessions of the Ever-Virgin Mary, the Theotokos, have the ‘boldness’ of a mother unlike any other saint, before Christ Himself. 

As we approach the Fast for the Dormition of the Virgin Mary, let us cultivate a prayerful relationship with her, asking for her prayers before Christ as we do constantly in all of our services(1).  

When we develop our prayer-life to include asking for the help of the Saints, especially of the Mother of God, we will experience the help of God through the prayers of the Saints. 

Resources:

1) Link to Liturgical Service Texts (see how often the Virgin Mary is mentioned and asked for her prayers)

“Every action, every labor, should flow from a good disposition and tend towards the consecration of our hearts and the establishment of the Kingdom of God within us.”

- St Nektarios of Aegina, Homilies by St Nektarios of Aegina V. 1, pg 96. 

Reflection: 

Every single action from our morning routine, to our tasks during our work-day or school, should build up the Kingdom of God in our hearts and in the hearts of those around us.  

What makes every action flow from a good disposition, a heart that God will dwell in?

Through our worship services Christ forms the heart. Our participation in worship and the sacraments reveal and renew the heart as a holy temple of God.(1) Through the hymnology, the scripture, the sermon, and the environment of the Church building, and especially the Sacraments we invite Christ into our hearts. 

Both coming to Church and personal devotion and prayer throughout our day are equally necessary.

Let us strive to establish our hearts as the throne of God(2) through our participation of the worship services and our personal devotion, so that every thought, word, and deed we have may establish the Kingdom of God both within and around us.

Resources:

1) St Nektarios of Aegina, Homilies by St Nektarios of Aegina V. 1, pg 96

2) 1 Peter 3:14-16

“Faith is increased through prayer...We ask God to increase our Faith, not so that we can do miracles, but to love Him all the more.”

- St Paisios Spiritual Struggle V. 2,  pg 299. 

Reflection: 

Is our Faith as strong as it should be? 

Our Faith is our: relationship with God, love for God and neighbor(1), trust in God, our unity with Him. 

Increasing our prayer [both personal and worship at Church] increases our Faith, love, and trust in God.  When our love for God has increased, so will our love for neighbor.  When we love God and neighbor, other parts of our life begin to fall into place. 

Sometimes it is difficult to love our neighbor when they are not kind or when they believe very different things than ourselves. 

Loving our neighbor does not mean agreeing with or supporting every thought, word, or action they take. It means recognizing the image of God in them and treating them with respect and kindness each of us deserve as children of God. 

Loving our neighbor means being a loving presence for them, showing them that the doors to the Church, the path back home to Christ, is always open. 

Let us increase our prayer, so that we may increase our trust and love for God. We will then be a welcoming presence back to Christ, and our lives will increase in purpose, peacefulness, and inner joy.

Resources:

1) Matthew 12:30-31

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” 

- Matthew  5:14-19

Reflection: 

Do we ever hold back from being a Christian in public? 

Christ instructs us, His disciples, to let our light shine before the world. Part of our purpose in life is to be the light in the world. 

When we live our Faith everywhere we go, we will ‘shine’ with Christ’s light, with the light of: love, joy, compassion, and peacefulness. 

When there are opportunities for us to choose the Christ-like path, let us choose to live our Faith out loud, so that we may do our part as we ask in the Lord’s Prayer making, “on earth as it is in heaven”.(1)

Resources:

1) Matthew 6:9-13

“God will help us in our difficulties. But for God to provide divine power, people must offer whatever little they have and can give.”

- St Paisios, Spiritual Awakening, pg 256. 

Reflection: 

God has given us everything, our life, and our talents.(1)

From all that we are and have, let us give our time and talents to our neighbor, ultimately to Christ Himself(2) through His Church.

When we give back to God from all that He has given us, then our relationship deepens with Christ and our life becomes all the more fulfilling. 

Resources:

1) Matthew 10:7-8

2) Matthew 25:31-46

“When someone humbles you and you accept it,

then you have real humility, for real humility is

humility in action, not in words.”

- St Paisios, Passions and Virtues, pgs 181-182.

Reflection: 

We may be peaceful and communicate well before we are provoked, but what about after? For real humility, let us take into consideration:  We all have many gifts that God has given us, but because we sometimes forget these are gifts, and we begin to think we are better than other people.(1)

When someone corrects us, or even puts us down, Saint Paisios advises us to focus on the changes we can make to ourselves.(2) Imagine the the growth we can achieve if we utilize criticism as a learning moment - exercising patience, remaining peaceful, or correcting our behavior. We will avoid blaming others and focus on what we do have control over: ourselves. It is the knowledge of our own self that generates humility.  For the better one knows oneself, the clearer the eyes of the soul see his/her weaknesses.(3)  When we are given the opportunity for humility, let us accept it with meekness, so that we do not harbor resentment or pride inside us while showing humility externally.

As Christ shows us while being wrongly accused, beaten, spit upon, mocked, and hung on a Cross during His earthly ministry(4), let us follow His example and respond to every moment with humility in action.

Humility in action forms our hearts to be Christ-like, loving, patient, and life-giving.

Resources:

1) St Paisios, Passions and Virtues, pgs 178.

2) St Paisios, Passions and Virtues, pgs 186.

3) St Paisios, Passions and Virtues, pgs 187.

4) Matthew 26-27

“If you want to help the Church, it is better to try to correct yourself, rather than be looking to correct others. Naturally, if everyone did the same, the body of the Church would be in good health. But today, people concern themselves with anything but themselves. Judging others is easy, whereas working on yourself takes effort.” 

- St Paisios, Spiritual Awakening V 2, pg 81. 

Reflection: 

Is our first reaction in any given situation to judge the other person, or correct ourselves? 

“If we work to look more intently towards our ‘inner’ activity rather than our external, giving precedence to Divine help, we can in turn be of greater and more positive help to others.”(1) 

“When someone applies his/herself to external activity before having polished his/her spiritual inner state, they will be wrought with worry, anxiety, lack of confidence in God and frequent loss of serenity.”(2) 

The main cause of many of our worries, anxieties, even lack of faith, and inner peace - is that we have not worked on our inner self: our weaknesses, our struggles, our relationship with God and others. 

Let us take ownership of our current inner state and through the life of the Church let us work on our shortcomings and address them by way of the worship services, sacraments, ministries, and fellowship.

Resources:

1) St Paisios, Spiritual Awakening V 2, pg 81.

2) St Paisios, Spiritual Awakening V 2, pg 81.

“God’s grace always assists the one who struggles, but this does not mean that the person struggling is always ends in a position of victory... What is important is not who is victorious,

but the labor of striving towards and devotion to God.”  

- St John Maximovitch, Sermons and Writings of St John, pg 8. 

Reflection: “The Lord Jesus Christ according to worldly view, was in trouble, but when the world considered Him to be completely destroyed, in actuality He was victorious over death and hades.”(1)  “The power of God is effective when a person asks for assistance from God, acknowledging the weakness of one’s nature.  This is why humility and striving towards God are fundamental virtues of a Christian.”(2)  Though we may not always be or feel “victorious” according to society's standards, our fulfillment in Christ is stronger than the standards of society. The ‘weakness of God is stronger than man’(3).  Let us never give up on striving toward God, even when it feels like we are losing, and Christ will provide His grace as He did for St Paul saying, “My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”(4). When we are persistent in our striving toward God, even during difficult times, we will witness God’s Grace and end up more genuine, peaceful, and loving. Resources: 1) St John Maximovitch, Sermons and Writings of St John, pg 8. 

2) St John Maximovitch, Sermons and Writings of St John, pg 8. 

3) 1 Corinthians 1:25

4) 2 Corinthians 12:9

“Do not believe your thoughts, neither when they tell you that you are terrible, nor when they tell you that you are a saint.”

- St Paisios, Spiritual Struggle, V.3 pg 47. 

Reflection: 

What is the beginning of every one of our opinions, feelings, actions, behaviors, decisions, and way of being?  Our thoughts.  

This matter is not simply psychological, it is our spiritual life that fuels our psychological and physical well-being. All spiritual life is based on thoughts.(1) Truly, the entirety of our life depends upon our spiritual life, therefore upon our thoughts.

This is not about simply good thoughts vs bad thoughts, since positive thoughts by themselves can be prideful and self-centered: a dead-end.  The key is to actively turn our thoughts toward a person - Christ.  

We must be vigilant to recognize when a thought in our mind is not our own, but rather a temptation. When attacked our mind is fogged with pessimistic or prideful thoughts in order to waste our time and distract us from prayer and our daily tasks.(2) 

We must choose to concentrate and direct our thoughts back to Christ.  If our mind wanders, call it back again and again. Do not allow your mind to wander.(3) 

When we turn our thoughts to God throughout our day in prayer, it is not a psychological exercise, it is deeper, engaging in a loving relationship and coming to know our Creator. 

When our spiritual well-being is grounded in love of Christ, then our psychological and physical well-being follows, and our efforts in the psychological and physical aspects of life flow more successfully.

Resources:

1) St Paisios, Spiritual Struggle, V.3 pg 63

2) St Paisios, Spiritual Struggle, V.3 pg 64

3) St Paisios, Spiritual Struggle, V.3 pg 63

“Geronda, when I ask for something from God, and He does not give it to me right away, should I persist? 

Yes, be persistent.  Within our prayer we must be persistent, just as the Canaanite Woman was with Christ…That you ask with humility and that you wait with patience. Prayer that is made with Faith, pain, persistence and patience, provided that that which we ask for is for our wellbeing, is heard.” 

- St Paisios, Περἰ Προσευχἠς [About Prayer], Volume 6, pgs 39- 40. 

Reflection: 

Have we ever considered that persistence is necessary in prayer? 

Let us follow the example of faith and humility of the Canaanite Woman(1): 

When we think we receive silence in our prayers, let us persist in faith, knowing God to have the answer(2). 

When there seems to be a roadblock, let us accept it with humility(3), and persist with faith for even the smallest consolation. 

With the Canaanite woman, "Christ showed how she does not give up even upon reproof so that the great virtue in the woman was revealed. His words were spoken not in insult, but calling her forth, and revealing the treasure within her.”(4)

Our times of struggling to wait for God's answer may be similar to the Canaanite Woman, that He may reveal something greater within us during the humble-patient waiting period. We must remain persistent as she was, running to the Church as she did to Christ.

As St Paisios describes, our prayer requires both persistent faith and humble patience. So let us never give up, while remaining humble, seeking the revelation of God's will in everything we do.

Resources:

1) Matthew 15:21-28 Then Jesus went out from there and departed to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.” But He answered her not a word. And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.” But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

2) Matthew 15:23 & 15:25 "But He answered her not a word...Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” She persisted in Faith, even in the face of silence.

3) Matthew 15:26-27 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” Even in the face of a road block, she accepted it with humility, not challenging Christ's words but continuing in Faith asking for even the smallest bit of mercy.

4) St John Chrysostom, Homily 52.

“When you read the lives of the saints, you have before your very eyes living translations of the Gospel...

and you see their courage, their love for God,

and your heart is set afire, you become inspired.”

- Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra, The Church at Prayer pg 132. 

Reflection: 

“Do we know the saints of our Church?”(1)

“They are our brothers and sisters. We are members of the same family. We have the same father, God, and the same mother, the Church. We eat the same food, Holy Communion. We have all come forth from the same spiritual womb, have been nourished on the same milk, dined at the same table. Do we know our siblings, the saints of the Church?”(2) 

“Just like when your family gathers for dinner, and one of the children is late, and everyone waits for him/her, so it is with the saints, who are waiting for all of us, for me and for you.”(3)

So let us seek out and read the lives of the saints, witness the living Gospel, come to know our siblings the saints, and take in their courage and love for God.  Since they are alive in Christ, let us ask for their intercession and walk with them in our journey toward the Heavenly Kingdom.

Resources:

1) Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra, The Church at Prayer pg 132.

2) Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra, The Church at Prayer pg 132.

3) Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra, The Church at Prayer pg 132.

“The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

- St Paul, Galatians 5:22-23

Reflection:

Recently, have we acted in or experienced any of the fruits of the Holy Spirit?  

If we have not exhibited or experienced these attributes recently, that should wake us up to realize we are veering off the path of the Gospel of Christ.  It is not our environment, but what is within us that needs to be addressed and guided back toward a relationship with Christ. 

Let us examine(1) our: day, behavior, thoughts, feelings, words, and actions and compare them to the fruits of the Holy Spirit mentioned by St Paul.  

Once we determine where we are lacking (since all people do lack somewhere in that list), let us run to Christ and re-engage our life in the Church in an even stronger way than ever before. 

As we approach the Feast of Pentecost this Sunday, may we strive toward growing closer to Christ and making room in our hearts for the Holy Spirit to work through us. 

Resources:

1) 2 Corinthians 13:4-6

“We enter into prayer without realizing it. Converse with Christ, conversation, the reading of Scripture, the singing of psalms, the light of an oil lamp and the fragrance of incense all create the appropriate atmosphere so that everything happens naturally, in simplicity of heart.”

- St Porphyrios, Wounded by Love, pg 114. 

Reflection: 

Have we struggled to pray or to get through our day lately?(1)  

It helps tremendously to be immersed in the environment of Christ and go to the Church to pray, relaxing with God, or when that is not available, create that environment at home as St Porphyrios describes.  

Whenever we feel off, let us immerse ourselves in the environment of the Church, reaching out to God in that prayerful environment given to us by Christ Himself.

Resources:

1) John 15:5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

- St Paul, Colossians 3:15. 

Reflection: 

What feelings do we allow to rule in our hearts? What kinds of thoughts preoccupy most of our time? 

St Paul reminds us that in order to follow Christ’s prayer(1) that His disciples (we) be united as one as He, the Father, and Holy Spirit are one: we must strive to have the peace of God rule in our hearts. 

But what leads our effort to be united to every person around us, to have true inner peace? To be thankful for each and every one of them.  

In order to be thankful for our neighbors, we must recognize the good in them, pray for them, and make a lot of efforts to reconcile as well as build up all of our neighbors (family, friends, and strangers)(2). 

Let us find ways to genuinely be thankful for every person in our life, for the work involved in reaching that place in our hearts will allow God to enter and give us His Peace and our lives will be fulfilled in ways we cannot even imagine.  

Resources:

1) John 17

2) Galatians 6:1-3

“When someone has a vice we should try to bombard him/her with rays of love and compassion so that he/she may be cured and freed. These things are achieved only through the grace of God. Think that this person is suffering more than you… we must adopt an attitude of care, respect, and prayer.”

- St Porphyrios, Wounded by Love, pg 183. 

Reflection: 

Imagine being a ray of light for someone in darkness. Our light is our gifts of love, patience and compassion. How might their outlook change? How might we feel?  

When we give our light in the face of darkness, we open the door (and keep it open) to growth, healing, and repentance for everyone involved. 

Christ sacrificed Himself for us in the face of (and for) all of our faults and sins, so we must emulate Christ’s love for His Church in all of our interactions. When someone is going down a bad path or acts toward us in negative ways - we are called to choose empathy(1), even when we do not feel like it, and our feelings will follow. 

This is very difficult to achieve, and we must constantly ask for God’s help along the way. 

Let us strive to choose empathy with all people, in all situations, so that we may follow in the footsteps of Christ and the Apostles and be the light of Christ in the world.(2)  As Christ’s light, let us become beacons of healing, keeping the door open for growth for everyone and ourselves.

Resources:

1) Matthew 5:44

2) Matthew 5:14 “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."

“We enter into the Church - to unite ourselves with our fellow people, with the joys and sorrows of each and everyone, to feel that they are our own, to pray for everyone, to have care for their salvation, to forget about ourselves, to do everything for them as Christ did for us.” 

- St Porphyrios, Wounded by Love, pgs 88-89. 

Reflection: 

How do we unite ourselves like this with everyone? By loving God and neighbor.(1)

When we unite ourselves to everyone by loving God and neighbor, our life will feel more fulfilling, our purpose more clear, and joyful. By loving God and neighbor we put them first, a way of living which edifies and strengthens our heart and soul - because imitating Christ’s sacrificial love edifies and strengthens us. 

It is in the journey toward uniting ourselves with everyone else that we become our most authentic self, while becoming the one Body of Christ; the Church. 

The qualities it takes to love God and unite ourselves with our neighbor, along with the relationships formed with God and one another, shape our heart to be Christ like, resulting in the freedom to live as our truest and best self.  

The more we give, love, think of, care for, pray for, and walk along with people through their joys and sorrows (making them our own), the more Christ-like we become, the more freedom we will live in, and the most sincere joy we will experience. 

“Christ is revealed in that unity between His love and ourselves: the Church. On my own I am not the Church, but together with you.”(2)

Resources:

1) Mark 12:30-31

2) St Porphyrios, Wounded by Love, pg 88.