We tempted and led a raccoon into captivity briefly, relocating it this afternoon to a faraway country. The face of this shy little creature sitting in the cage, kept returning to me during the Divine Liturgy, along with the echoing refrain, “for the love of tuna.” Several varieties of grapes grow in our yard. Scuppernongs cover the fence along … [Read more...]
The Myrrh Bearing of the Holy Theotokos
[1] Not many stories are recounted in all four of the Gospels. Jesus having his feet anointed with a pound of the myrrh of pure nard [2] is one of those stories. [3] Here myrrh refers to a medicinal aromatic essential oil called spikenard or muskroot which is derived from a flowering plant of the valerian family that grows in the Himalayas of … [Read more...]
Not By Comparison
Adam and Eve created enmity with each other and the world around them when they started comparing themselves to God and each other. God found out about their dis-ease when He entered the garden looking for communion. Calling out for them, Adam answered, “I heard You in the garden and I was afraid because I am naked so I hid.” [1] “Who told you, … [Read more...]
Re-member me in love forever Lord!
On an occasion when Jesus was in Capernaum, the city of the Apostle Peter’s family, the leaders of the local synagogue appealed to him on behalf of a certain Roman Centurion, whose servant was ill. They made their case for Jesus to intervene on the basis that the Centurion was worthy because “he loves our nation and built our synagogue.” Nothing … [Read more...]
Treasure in Earthen Vessels: Prayer and the Embodied Life
Treasure in Earthen Vessels “In the following pages, Fr. Stephen Muse provides us, not with a manual of prayer, but with an opening into the life of prayer by unveiling for us “the mystery of embodied life and the uncreated divine life.” He provides an entryway for us, as human beings with all our brokenness, weakness and fear, to dialogue … [Read more...]
Orthodox Women in Healing Ministries – Annual Conference, Dormition Monastery
The Orthodox Women in the Healing Ministries celebrates 25th Years (1992 - 2017)! Orthodox Women in the Healing Ministries was founded in 1992 with the mission of providing support to Orthodox Christian women who work in the medical and healing professions. This includes doctors, nurses, therapists, social workers and the like. From its inception … [Read more...]
Resiliency!
Resiliency is the theme of the Annual Conference the Orthodox Christian Association of Medicine, Psychology and Religion (OCAMPR). This year we gather at the Ukranian Cultural Center in Somerset, NJ, November 2-4. If you have never attended an OCAMPR conference you are missing a feast for the heart, mind and soul. Fellowship among Orthodox … [Read more...]
Created for a Communion of Love
It is written, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”[1] What is a “living soul”? Moreover, “What is man that Thou art mindful of him? [2] The ancient Hebrew word translated as “living soul” is nephesh. It is the same word used for all “life” brought … [Read more...]
Amim’s Great Discovery… Be Yourself!
Amim, what happened to your nose? Where are your mouth and ears? Where did your fingers and hair go? St. Anthony of the desert, in response to a questioner who asked about the purpose of ascetical struggle, once summed it up as an effort "to become yourself." By this he did not mean selfishly living without regard for other people's feelings or at … [Read more...]
St. Nilus Abba-tizer: embracing involuntary suffering
Abba Nilus said, “Do not be always wanting everything to turn out as you think it should, but rather as God pleases, then you will be undisturbed and thankful in your prayer.”[1] "Undisturbed and thankful" is something we usually associate with enjoying the blessings of life--good food, good reputation, financial resources, health and the … [Read more...]
