tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75289144922861204292024-03-19T06:29:21.965+02:00Orthodox SocietiesCoptic Orthodoxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03553345604408488231noreply@blogger.comBlogger468125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-5158778929211840632016-02-24T15:44:00.000+02:002016-02-25T14:38:57.787+02:00Greatness in Repentance<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjhVqTEZEakKjb42Q0wCmeht_6hz6y6plG_HNwdeap9gmvupDjKd7qjqiFUv6TUJHwwOZYQFwTY_qnML9yDEzGvmmOxxr3PV34hRE2lExmFP78MX8SZNzzgGgRi-9LMUwOHOiDYu_eA/s1600/Jonah-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjhVqTEZEakKjb42Q0wCmeht_6hz6y6plG_HNwdeap9gmvupDjKd7qjqiFUv6TUJHwwOZYQFwTY_qnML9yDEzGvmmOxxr3PV34hRE2lExmFP78MX8SZNzzgGgRi-9LMUwOHOiDYu_eA/s640/Jonah-3.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When God described Nineveh as being the great city, He was not considering its ignorance and sin, but looked with great joy at its profound repentance as Nineveh was quick in responding to God's word. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Lot warned the people of Sodom of the Lord's displeasure, they scorned him, and "to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking" (Genesis 19:14) whereas the Ninevites listened with utter seriousness to Jonah and responded quickly to his word. The word of the Lord was fast, bearing life, efficacious and sharper than a double-edged sword. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fruit of their repentance was their humility, fasting, wearing of sackcloth and crying out to God. Their repentance was sincere in every meaning of the word, serious and from the heart, resulting in everyone turning "from his evil way and from the violence that was in his hands." (Jonah 3:8) </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From El-Keraza </span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-30192354528489023792016-01-29T16:41:00.000+02:002016-02-16T03:00:56.003+02:00The Diligent Pastor <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"O you pastors, be made like that diligent pastor, the chief of the whole flock, who cared so greatly for his flock. He brought near those that were afar off. He brought back the wanderers. He visited the sick. He strengthened the weak. He bound up the broken. He guarded the fatlings. He gave himself up for the sake of the sheep. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />He chose and instructed excellent leaders, and committed the sheep into their hands, and gave them authority over all his flock. For He said to Simon Cephas:— Feed My sheep and My lambs and My ewes. So Simon fed His sheep; and he fulfilled his time and handed over the flock to you, and departed. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Do ye also feed and guide them well. For the pastor who cares for his sheep engages in no other pursuit along with that. He does not make a vineyard, nor plant gardens, nor does he fall into the troubles of this world. Never have we seen a pastor who left his sheep in the wilderness and became a merchant, or one who left his flock to wander and became a husbandman. But if he deserts his flock and does these things he thereby hands over his flock to the wolves." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>St Aphrahat of Persia</b></span></span><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-43005352679588901952016-01-15T16:49:00.004+02:002016-01-15T16:51:22.367+02:00Commemoration of Circumcision of The Lord Christ<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On this day, the church celebrates the commemoration of the circumcision of the Lord Christ, to Whom is the glory. God had ordained the law of circumcision as a sign that His people would become a particular people over all others. This was that every male of the seed of Abraham be circumcised on the eighth day of his birth. God put every soul that did not obey this law under judgment.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />As our Lord Jesus was born from the posterity of Abraham, according to the flesh, He willed to be circumcised on the eighth day, to fulfill the law of and to relieve us from the heavy burden of this commandment, as St. Paul says, "Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers." (Romans 15:8)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />He also gave us the sign of the new covenant through baptism, as St. Paul says, "In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, buried with Him in Baptism in which you also were raised with Him, through faith in the working of God, Who raised Him from the dead. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses." (Colossians 2:11-13)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Therefore, He demands from us to keep the spiritual circumcision, that is to say the circumcision of the heart, so that we may live for Him in righteousness and in holiness, for He says, "Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God." (John 3:5)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Glory be to our God forever. Amen. </span></span></div>
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-16921371397735358632015-10-27T16:33:00.000+02:002015-10-27T16:35:43.477+02:00Our first beginning and our last end <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCrM4K-NTK2hOxEdzCqwMC8bfIaJVoXaKUjJtShyphenhyphenA-1xULE7AdVOv2ENdlf-0OMNE1sflnlRX-2LS9zNoe96TIRCGShKDllO8m7pDS2xM8qPFWi3x9Vo28rPy0k_Dsn5UboW3KDgiEQ/s1600/CCY016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCrM4K-NTK2hOxEdzCqwMC8bfIaJVoXaKUjJtShyphenhyphenA-1xULE7AdVOv2ENdlf-0OMNE1sflnlRX-2LS9zNoe96TIRCGShKDllO8m7pDS2xM8qPFWi3x9Vo28rPy0k_Dsn5UboW3KDgiEQ/s640/CCY016.JPG" width="494" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He is the truth, the absolute good, and the soul's goodness comes from that same source which has made it; the soul's perfecting in goodness comes from the conforming of its will to its nature, when it turns in love towards that good to which it owes its very existence - an existence which cannot be lost even if the will turns away from its creator. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />This good is not far from any of us, for 'in him we live and move and have our being'. But we must cleave in love to it so that we may enjoy the presence of him from whom we have our being. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />The apostle says we walk by faith as yet, and not by sight. But unless we already love him, we shall never see him. How can we love what we do not know? To know God is to perceive him with the assured grasp of the mind, and to see and apprehend him is given to the pure in heart. Our hearts however cannot be made pure to see him unless we love him in faith. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Faith, hope and charity are the virtues for whose building the whole scaffolding of Scripture is set up. The soul which believes what it does not yet see, hopes in and loves that which it believes - that is why we can love God if we believe, even before we know him. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /> </span></span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> DAILY READING WITH<br />St Augustine --- The Heart at Rest </span></span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-28789353512320092562015-10-09T08:03:00.000+02:002015-10-16T09:14:29.617+02:00The Fruitful Zeal <div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D-uIic1KAz8KBoKL6IBRD4LVvVeukCdwzvPfxxIcxaw6Kj0s1at0WeOkCuOvemEOPdPJqVrGgZQNjBSsO1rr72ZtrRsTPD2F_OcqvRPyWoLv8hJt4Zp-GipfUqYM8lqwkNOm1-OU0Q/s1600/pope+shenouda+III-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8D-uIic1KAz8KBoKL6IBRD4LVvVeukCdwzvPfxxIcxaw6Kj0s1at0WeOkCuOvemEOPdPJqVrGgZQNjBSsO1rr72ZtrRsTPD2F_OcqvRPyWoLv8hJt4Zp-GipfUqYM8lqwkNOm1-OU0Q/s640/pope+shenouda+III-30.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Look at the giants in the Kingdom of God, and earnestly desire to follow their road. Ask yourself every day: "What have I done for the Kingdom of God? Am I faithful in my service and in developing all the talents which God has given me? And have I responded to all those souls whom God wanted me to serve? And on the last day, shall I hear his tender voice saying to me: "Well done, good and faithful servant! you were faithful over a few things; I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord!" (Matt. 25:21) </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I always marvel at that clever servant who said to his master: "Master, your mina has earned ten minas". (Luke 19:16). This is the zeal that is real and fruitful in the Kingdom of God. In taking this as a standard for comparison, we might perhaps ask ourselves what we have done for our generation. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For that is what has been entrusted to us, and for which we are responsible before God and before the next generations! What practical use has our zeal been to save it?! Has it contributed to the saving of the church? Or have we taken a look and found our lives barren, worthless and unproductive?! </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What have we done for a generation of widely spread permissiveness, materialism and abandoning of the faith; in which it has become a duty for all the children of God to be shining lights on a dark mountain?</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">H.H Pope Shenouda III</span></span></b></div>
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-2276040668538923242015-09-13T16:17:00.004+02:002015-09-13T16:19:21.093+02:00Cutting Off The Head Of John The Baptist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Give me here on a dish the head of John the Baptist, she said. The request was abominable, but she persuaded him, and he gave the order to curb John's holy tongue. But even up to now it speaks out, for each day, or rather in every church, you hear John crying aloud through the Gospels and saying: It is not lawful for thee to have the wife of thy brother Philip. He cut of the head but he did not cut off the voice; he curbed the tongue but he did not curb the accusation.<br /><br />Hence, God has surrounded the tongue with a double wall - with the barrier of the teeth and the fence of the lips - in order that it may not easily and heedlessly utter words it should not speak. Keep it curbed within your mouth. Suppose it does not stand for this treatment. Punish it with the teeth just as if you were giving its body over to the public executioner to be bitten. For it is better that it be bitten now when it sins than that hereafter, when it is parched and seeking a drop of water, it be deprived of that consolation.<br /><br />From the writings of St. John Chrysostom<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://coptorthodox.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-martyrdom-of-st-john-baptist.html" target="_blank">The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist - Synaxarium</a><br /><a href="http://coptorthodox.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-martyrdom-of-st-john-baptist.html">http://coptorthodox.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-martyrdom-of-st-john-baptist.html</a></span></span><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Coptic Societieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923977523152693965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-57658759651939567422015-08-27T16:18:00.001+02:002015-08-27T16:21:25.136+02:00St. Mary The Model of Virgins <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil83CGQOIvS68GKPMTnj3AyTc8YhrHpA6d_X54fsLoomC0RWUTcq3bJmygPVy_7kOAmWsvsY5QaVEKbtP7RBBQKEnLY5ePQhs0QCAdXxjZIeMqhJjDtOrAykWkORksi7klTv5Q4YnCeg/s1600/Mary-Athanasius+The+Great-Societies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil83CGQOIvS68GKPMTnj3AyTc8YhrHpA6d_X54fsLoomC0RWUTcq3bJmygPVy_7kOAmWsvsY5QaVEKbtP7RBBQKEnLY5ePQhs0QCAdXxjZIeMqhJjDtOrAykWkORksi7klTv5Q4YnCeg/s640/Mary-Athanasius+The+Great-Societies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mary was a pure virgin, with a harmonious disposition. She loved good works...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />She did not want to be seen by men; but she asked God to examine her...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />She remained continually at home, living a retired life and imitating a honey-bee...</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />She generously distributed to the poor what was left over from the work of her hands....</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />She prayed solitarily to God, for two things: not to let a bad thought take root in her heart, and to grow neither bold nor hard of heart.....</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Her speech was calm and her voice was low... </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">She wanted to make progress everyday; and she did so.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />When she rose in the morning, she endeavoured to make her works more new than those she had already done....</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />She was not afraid of death, but rather was sad, and sighted everyday that she had not yet crossed the threshold of heaven. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>St. Athanasius the Great </b></span><br /></span>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-5321261308629569282015-08-12T16:06:00.000+02:002015-08-12T16:11:26.709+02:00The Virgin Mother <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_YdDX1gLnZbW4Ce8xCPbmV6AcoEg8j275tFJV2HG7jh1FKKxlmBhPH3o704KwVCg7TBHilI6V8L1TSoSWD7OFEDjcZXhvKU3VCEqWQpZHTOq8CSlQqaAaIUVlfYF2qvxxVgn4_XwNg/s1600/Mary-Pope+Gregory-Societies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_YdDX1gLnZbW4Ce8xCPbmV6AcoEg8j275tFJV2HG7jh1FKKxlmBhPH3o704KwVCg7TBHilI6V8L1TSoSWD7OFEDjcZXhvKU3VCEqWQpZHTOq8CSlQqaAaIUVlfYF2qvxxVgn4_XwNg/s640/Mary-Pope+Gregory-Societies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">God the Father arranged the nuptials for God, His Son, when, in the womb of the Virgin, He united Him to humanity, when He willed that He who is God before all the ages, become Man. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He united the Holy Church to Him, through the mystery of the incarnation. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, the bridal chamber of this Bridegroom was the womb of the Virgin Mother. That is why the Psalmist says, "He has set His tabernacle in the sun: and He is as a Bridegroom coming out of His bridal chamber" Ps. 18:6 (DRA). And it was as a Bridegroom is in fact that He came forth from His bridal chamber, because to unite the Church to Himself, the Incarnate God went forth from the inviolate womb of the Virgin. </span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Pope Gregory The Great</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-25939989656518626262015-07-14T17:48:00.000+02:002015-07-14T17:49:49.727+02:00Why Water?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uc-fJ0pJ5a_-Xc7b1y2o9BapCESngIt7fcm_KpCRpxGsys9ij1SArib8KTsBG-UI7eHE_pUl_aZoZCHrr-TjnFQPgVCXM-RNPZkiBlcuCamdDMGFAqkxsfBDj_EPC0fh8XYhy50CKA/s1600/Jesus+washing+feet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uc-fJ0pJ5a_-Xc7b1y2o9BapCESngIt7fcm_KpCRpxGsys9ij1SArib8KTsBG-UI7eHE_pUl_aZoZCHrr-TjnFQPgVCXM-RNPZkiBlcuCamdDMGFAqkxsfBDj_EPC0fh8XYhy50CKA/s640/Jesus+washing+feet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />But if any one wishes to know why the grace is given by water and not by a different element, let him take up the Divine Scriptures and he shall learn. For water is a grand thing, and the noblest of the four visible elements of the world. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heaven is the dwelling place of Angels, but the heavens are from the waters: the earth is the place of men, but the earth is from the waters: and before the whole six days' formation of the things that were made, the Spirit of God moves upon the face of the water. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The water was the beginning of the world, and Jordan the beginning of the Gospel tidings: for Israel deliverance from Pharaoh was through the sea, and for the world deliverance from sins by the washing of water with the word of God. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where a covenant is made with any, there is water also. After the flood, a covenant was made with Noah: a covenant for Israel from Mount Sinai, but with water, and scarlet wool and hyssop. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Elias is taken up, but not apart from water: for first he crosses the Jordan, then in a chariot mounts the heaven. The high-priest is first washed, then offers incense; for Aaron first washed, then was made high-priest: for how could one who had not yet been purified by water pray for the rest? Also as a symbol of Baptism there was a laver set apart within the Tabernacle.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>St. Augustine </b></span></span><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-38385551485457107762015-06-09T13:53:00.000+02:002015-06-09T15:17:09.075+02:00Fishers of Men <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsovMZjQlXOepXODENV_5mUnfcsOmOxAEyXoyUTeoaLQEiqyJc-nNRin626YwQgA8QjmRq7BMIYpSDi847EeVfblfT6Oz0CbshCjuWVB_j-TkGV_L34ATuWxXRgNCUxPQ6piJws0wJg/s1600/St+John+Chrysostom-Fishers+of+Men-Societies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsovMZjQlXOepXODENV_5mUnfcsOmOxAEyXoyUTeoaLQEiqyJc-nNRin626YwQgA8QjmRq7BMIYpSDi847EeVfblfT6Oz0CbshCjuWVB_j-TkGV_L34ATuWxXRgNCUxPQ6piJws0wJg/s640/St+John+Chrysostom-Fishers+of+Men-Societies.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But here, having heard one brief call, they both followed immediately. When they earlier had seen that John was in prison and that Jesus was withdrawing, it would not have been unnatural for them to return again to their own craft, fishing, having followed Him at the beginning and then later having left Him to fish. <br /><br />Accordingly, you now see that Jesus finds them actively fishing. But He neither resisted them at first when they desired to withdraw from Him, nor having withdrawn themselves, did He let them go altogether. He gave way when they moved aside from Him and came again to win them back. This, after all, is exactly what fishing is all about.<br /><br /><br />St. John Chrysostom</span></span></span></div>
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-73634624628654386572015-05-31T17:53:00.001+02:002015-05-31T17:57:07.537+02:00The Living Water of The Holy Spirit <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsucEXRZFLrGr5WTyv0wNtqJiKQ5LKWlnWJ0IK5ZzIkRb4A038t7fMX5nlnQoQb0mjiOxfLWXcrlJ4mFdgX9kwjTV-SOBM3XXPn3AM4GC6JI0RGuDshy68XF_JpFsJUxXJSkbO7hujEw/s1600/Pentecost.+jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsucEXRZFLrGr5WTyv0wNtqJiKQ5LKWlnWJ0IK5ZzIkRb4A038t7fMX5nlnQoQb0mjiOxfLWXcrlJ4mFdgX9kwjTV-SOBM3XXPn3AM4GC6JI0RGuDshy68XF_JpFsJUxXJSkbO7hujEw/s640/Pentecost.+jpg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The water I shall give him will become in him a fountain of living water, welling up into eternal life. This is a new kind of water, a living, leaping water, welling up for those who are worthy. But why did Christ call the grace of the Spirit water? Because all things are dependent on water; plants and animals have their origin in water. Water comes down from heaven as rain, and although it is always the same in itself, it produces many different effects, one in the palm tree, another in the vine, and so on throughout the whole of creation. It does not come down, now as one thing, now as another, but while remaining essentially the same, it adapts itself to the needs of every creature that receives it.<br /><br />In the same way the Holy Spirit, whose nature is always the same, simple and indivisible, apportions grace to each man as he wills. Like a dry tree which puts forth shoots when watered, the soul bears the fruit of holiness when repentance has made it worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit. Although the Spirit never changes, the effects of his action, by the will of God and in the name of Christ, are both many and marvelous.<br /><br />The Spirit makes one man a teacher of divine truth, inspires another to prophesy, gives another the power of casting out devils, enables another to interpret holy Scripture. The Spirit strengthens one man’s self-control, shows another how to help the poor, teaches another to fast and lead a life of asceticism, makes another oblivious to the needs of the body, trains another for martyrdom. His action is different in different people, but the Spirit himself is always the same. In each person, Scripture says, the Spirit reveals his presence in a particular way for the common good.<br /><br />The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden, for he is light, very light. Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as he approaches. The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend and protector to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, to console. The Spirit comes to enlighten the mind first of the one who receives him, and then, through him, the minds of others as well.<br /><br />As light strikes the eyes of a man who comes out of darkness into the sunshine and enables him to see clearly things he could not discern before, so light floods the soul of the man counted worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit and enables him to see things beyond the range of human vision, things hitherto undreamed of.<br /><br /><b>St. Cyril of Jerusalem</b></span></span></div>
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-35434901293172707892015-05-11T16:22:00.000+02:002015-05-11T16:24:06.403+02:00Temptation <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Many people when they are first converted are fervent in prayer, but afterwards pray languidly, coldly, and then without paying attention; this because they feel secure. The enemy keeps watch and you are asleep. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Just think for a moment, brethren, how easily you say of a certain man, 'He is an evil-doer, a scoundrel'. Look into your own heart in case you see wickedness there. Are you not prepared to do yourself what you condemn in another? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Return to your heart, there you will be alone with him who sees all things. Hate sin, so that you may please God. Don't cherish it, don't think it over, rather despise it and turn away from it. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Temptation will suggest that sin can make you happy, it will threaten sorrow to tempt you to evil; but all this is emptiness, and will pass away. Wicked suggestions can come by thoughts or by evil conversations, and right living is easily corrupted. Wherever they came from, throw them out of your heart, don't pay attention to them, don't cherish them. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />But don't add up your merits: we don't come to Christ from righteousness, we have all sinned, and it is by his inspiration that we accomplish the good he has given us. We must remember what he commanded in his Gospel, 'Pray without ceasing', and if you do not give up prayer you may be sure he will not forget his mercy. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /> <b>DAILY READING WITH<br />St Augustine --- The Heart at Rest </b></span></span><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-47583581738577062272015-04-15T15:07:00.000+02:002015-04-15T15:09:20.858+02:00Why The Delay in His Resurrection? <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBhRBiAk7CIfLi6-04S5Ufj6tGrvYy0fJH-OKWUNrFcjhdWQy0_Uc0SNrwhV98ZYEFbIpbtN4nbrom2nRZgzN0K3IoxuCT3mR6d7sONmH59n7yj8stGRtsxtiXKP8r2571P8PNx9SJA/s1600/Resurrection-Coptic+writing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBhRBiAk7CIfLi6-04S5Ufj6tGrvYy0fJH-OKWUNrFcjhdWQy0_Uc0SNrwhV98ZYEFbIpbtN4nbrom2nRZgzN0K3IoxuCT3mR6d7sONmH59n7yj8stGRtsxtiXKP8r2571P8PNx9SJA/s1600/Resurrection-Coptic+writing.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But why are our death, burial, and resurrection all at the same time, for we do arise at the same moment that we are buried at baptism, whereas our Master's resurrection was delayed? He arose after three days. Why, then, does our resurrection come at once and His come more slowly? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The truth is that He did so to help us to understand that weakness is not the reason for the delay. Surely He Who could make His servant arise in an instant of time was all the more able to raise up Himself. Why, then, the delay? Why the three days in the tomb? So that the fact of His resurrection after a death which was slow in coming might, because of this delay, be established by a proof beyond all dispute. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even now, after such strong proof, there are men who say that He only appeared to suffer. What would these men have said if there had not been such a delay in His resurrection?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">St. John Chrysostom</span></span></div>
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-56685571371014508922015-04-09T17:28:00.001+02:002015-04-09T17:30:56.810+02:00Verses And Fathers Sayings - The Body And Blood <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEN8AHDJgFL0aVEXxvS2CLeXuZCO4H3IKQmIwhJ3q5Ic337Ys2mDcfgo-SyZnsm_I4sF7fNRnUbjjV8F6_dAkdCVQ7A61BBq5FiIbgO86_8hlQTp3w4VbBKn4yAjHH2K9FFLyez0E5vA/s1600/Last+Supper-Coptic+Icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEN8AHDJgFL0aVEXxvS2CLeXuZCO4H3IKQmIwhJ3q5Ic337Ys2mDcfgo-SyZnsm_I4sF7fNRnUbjjV8F6_dAkdCVQ7A61BBq5FiIbgO86_8hlQTp3w4VbBKn4yAjHH2K9FFLyez0E5vA/s1600/Last+Supper-Coptic+Icon.jpg" height="640" width="526" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and<br />broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; <br />this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks,<br />and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For <br />this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many <br />for the remission of sins. <br />(Matt. 26 – 28)<br /><br /> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Up till now, Christ who set the table, is sanctifying it Himself; <br />No man changes the bread and wine into the body and blood<br />of Christ, but Christ Himself who was crucified for us. The <br />priest utters the words, but the, sanctification <br />occurs through the power of God, and His grace; through<br />His words, ‘This is My body, and this is My blood’, <br />they are sanctified.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /> St. John Chrysostom</span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-78806944998793065012015-03-30T14:43:00.000+02:002015-03-30T14:46:43.578+02:00The Born Blind Receives Sight <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPX-9bbkJyfjooWdNSE901PdWIUBNTm-dd0VGsNI41zNBmUyCsR1_SqcKFLQ_qkDdoqaIXiBeGHcRn-hIxvX16w6K8km_-Dd2B1x9vOn8g8Pxd0HnQ28yG0NJIcOOGeXd3n4zyvnB-w/s1600/jesus+healing+blind+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimPX-9bbkJyfjooWdNSE901PdWIUBNTm-dd0VGsNI41zNBmUyCsR1_SqcKFLQ_qkDdoqaIXiBeGHcRn-hIxvX16w6K8km_-Dd2B1x9vOn8g8Pxd0HnQ28yG0NJIcOOGeXd3n4zyvnB-w/s1600/jesus+healing+blind+.jpg" height="640" width="536" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>John 9:1-41 (NKJV)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b>A Man Born Blind Receives Sight</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />9 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. 2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />3 Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him. 4 I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay. 7 And He said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”. So he went and washed, and came back seeing.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />8 Therefore the neighbors and those who previously had seen that he was blind said, “Is not this he who sat and begged?”<br />9 Some said, “This is he.” Others said, “He is like him.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He said, “I am he.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />10 Therefore they said to him, “How were your eyes opened?”<br />11 He answered and said, “A Man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to the pool of Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed, and I received sight.”<br />12 Then they said to him, “Where is He?”<br />He said, “I do not know.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b>The Pharisees Excommunicate the Healed Man</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />13 They brought him who formerly was blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath when Jesus made the clay and opened his eyes. 15 Then the Pharisees also asked him again how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.”<br />16 Therefore some of the Pharisees said, “This Man is not from God, because He does not keep the Sabbath.”<br />Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them.<br />17 They said to the blind man again, “What do you say about Him because He opened your eyes?”<br />He said, “He is a prophet.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />18 But the Jews did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind and received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight. 19 And they asked them, saying, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”<br />20 His parents answered them and said, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but by what means he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. He is of age; ask him. He will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. 23 Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”<br />24 So they again called the man who was blind, and said to him, “Give God the glory! We know that this Man is a sinner.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”<br />26 Then they said to him again, “What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes?”<br />27 He answered them, “I told you already, and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become His disciples?”<br />28 Then they reviled him and said, “You are His disciple, but we are Moses’ disciples. 29 We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from.”</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />30 The man answered and said to them, “Why, this is a marvelous thing, that you do not know where He is from; yet He has opened my eyes! 31 Now we know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does His will, He hears him. 32 Since the world began it has been unheard of that anyone opened the eyes of one who was born blind. 33 If this Man were not from God, He could do nothing.”<br />34 They answered and said to him, “You were completely born in sins, and are you teaching us?” And they cast him out.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b>True Vision and True Blindness</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when He had found him, He said to him, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” <br />36 He answered and said, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?”<br />37 And Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him and it is He who is talking with you.”<br />38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” And he worshiped Him.<br />39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”<br />40 Then some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these words, and said to Him, “Are we blind also?”<br />41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore your sin remains.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>John 9:1-41 (NKJV)</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Sayings of The Fathers </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />We have just heard that Jesus gave sight to the man who was blind from birth. Do you wonder? Jesus is the Savior. He did something in keeping with His name, for by His kindness He restored what He had given to a lesser degree in the womb. Now when He made his eyes less powerful, surely He did not make a mistake, but He deferred it for the miracle. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The blindness was not due to the sin of his parents or due to the sin of the blind man, but in order that the glory of God might be made manifest in him. That blind man was prepared as a salve for the human race. He was bodily restored to light, in order that by considering his miracle we might be enlightened in heart.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>St Caesarius of Arles</b></span></span></div>
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-59380693768523117672015-03-10T01:05:00.000+02:002015-03-10T01:07:08.404+02:00Prodigal Son<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdt7l9R0wx502IILN3IDjnWX7S_9jFOy39lrV_AFm6p5SmwPYRtCXTg6pLQ29RYMRNefdpplVKXW5Ki7zWR5gAgh232P_Ri8E4jymULAiOZ5qaJI0dioyrzwjO4poAQ_C3V9MaciriWkJ/s1600/m276.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdt7l9R0wx502IILN3IDjnWX7S_9jFOy39lrV_AFm6p5SmwPYRtCXTg6pLQ29RYMRNefdpplVKXW5Ki7zWR5gAgh232P_Ri8E4jymULAiOZ5qaJI0dioyrzwjO4poAQ_C3V9MaciriWkJ/s1600/m276.JPG" height="474" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Only the gospel of Christ fully knows the mystery of sin and the problem of sin and everything which hides within it. The prodigal son of the Gospel is the perfect example of the repentant sinner. The Gospel shows us that man, through his free will, can share his life with Earth and with Heaven, with Satan and with God, with paradise and with hell. Sin gradually strips man of everything divine in him, paralyzes his every divine inclination and desire, until it finally throws him into the bosom of Satan. And then man reaches the plight of grazing the swine of his master, the Devil. The swine are passions, which are always greedy and gluttonous. In such a life, the unfortunate man is nothing more than insane.<br /><br />In a shocking parable of the Gospel, the Lord says about the prodigal son, ‘he came to himself,’ (Luke 15:17) How did he come to himself? He came to himself through repentance. Through sin, man becomes mad, insane. Every sin, even the most seemingly insignificant one, is always an insanity of the soul. Through repentance, man comes to his senses becomes complete again, comes to himself. Then he cries out loud to God, runs to Him, and cries towards Heaven, ‘Father, I have sinned against Heaven, and in thy sight’ (Luke 15:21). And what is the heavenly Father doing? He is always infinitely merciful upon seeing His child in a state of repentance. He has compassion for him, runs, embraces him, and kisses him. He orders His heavenly hosts, the holy angels: ‘Bring forth the best robe and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this is My son who was dead, and is alive again; and he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.’ (Luke 16:22-24)<br /><br />And this is taking place for each and every one of us, and for the sake of every sinner who repents. Namely, joy and happiness is taking place in the heaven of the All-merciful Lord and God, and together with Him, all of the holy angels.<br /><br />St. Justin Popovich</span></span><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Coptic Societieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923977523152693965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-22238678260020858362015-02-06T15:21:00.002+02:002015-02-06T15:24:01.103+02:00The Resemblance Between Jonah And Jesus <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And when we examine the story of Jonah, great is the force of the resemblance. Jesus was sent to preach repentance; Jonah also was sent: but whereas the one fled, not knowing what should come to pass; the other came willingly, to give repentance unto salvation. </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Jonah was asleep in the ship, and snoring amidst the stormy sea; while Jesus also slept, the sea, according to God’s providence, began to rise, to show in the sequel the might of Him who slept. </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To the one they said, “Why are you sleeping? Arise, call your God, that God may save us;” but in the other case they say unto the Master, “Lord, save us.” Then they said, "Call upon thy God"; here they say, "save Thou". </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But the one says, "Take me, and cast me into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you"; the other, Himself rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The one was cast into a whale’s belly: but the other of His own accord went down, where the invisible whale of death is. And He went down of His own accord, that death might cast up those whom he had devoured, according to that which is written, "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; and from the hand of death I will redeem them".</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">St. Cyril of Jerusalem</span></b></span><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-19658517802678392552015-01-23T04:55:00.000+02:002015-01-23T05:43:18.257+02:00Miracle beyond the Senses Manifests the Power of God<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.<br />John 2: 11</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the wedding day in Galilee, Water was made wine. Do we have appropriate words or senses to ascertain what methods produced the change by which the tastelessness of water disappeared and was replaced by the full naval' of wine? It was not a mixing; it was a creation, and a creation that was not a beginning but a transformation. A weaker liquid was not obtained by admixture of a stronger element; an existing entity perished, and a new entity came into being. The bridegroom was anxious, the household in confusion, the harmony of the marriage feast imperiled. Jesus is asked for help. He does not get up or busy himself. He does the work without any effort. Water is poured into the vessels, wine drawn out in the cups. The evidence of the senses of the pourer contradicts that of the one who draws it out. Those who poured expected water to be drawn; those who draw out think that wine must have been poured in. The intervening time cannot account for any gain or loss of character in the liquid. The mode of action baffles sight and sense, but the power of God is manifest in the result achieved.<br /><br />St. Hilary of Poitiers </span></span><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Coptic Societieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923977523152693965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-75807618336738777052015-01-20T02:37:00.002+02:002015-01-20T02:39:07.393+02:00Carry Sins Of Others<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The one who is without sin, carried sin for our sake. He did not feel ashamed to walk forward with the sinners and ask His servant, John, to baptize Him. When the great prophet became shy of the situation, He gently said to him, "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Matthew 3:15<br /><br />By doing this He gave us a practical lesson. He gave us a lesson to carry the sins of others, to happily pay the price on their behalf.<br /><br />H.H. Pope Shenouda III</span></span><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Coptic Societieshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09923977523152693965noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-62212274094886854632015-01-12T08:05:00.000+02:002015-01-12T08:14:21.343+02:00Ethiopian Patriarch Visits Egypt <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This is not just a visit to our Church, but rather to our hearts</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>HH Pope Tawadros II </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">H. H. Pope Tawadros on the visit of the Patriarch of Ethiopia: It is not just a visit to our Church but rather to our hearts. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In his meeting with His Holiness Abune Matthias I, Patriarch of Ethiopia, His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Pope of Alexandria, in his speech expressed his happiness and the Holy Synod by this visit, referring to the historical relationship between the two Churches: I want to express my happiness at receiving Abune Matthias I, Patriarch of Ethiopia on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Coptic Orthodox Church, the first visit of an Ethiopian Patriarch was in the 1982.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Bible spoke of Egypt in the Old Testament in the book of Isaiah, about the coming of Jesus Christ into the land of Egypt, where He blessed many places. There is a strong historical ties between our two Churches began since Pope Athanasius of Alexandria from 328 to 373 B.C., when he enthroned Bishop Salama (Saint Frumentius - ፍሬምናጦስ) the first Bishop of Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Church has many Ancient Churches, Monasteries and many Saints, including St. Takla Haimanot which our Church in Alexandria is built in his name. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The relationship between our two Churches is geographically linked by the Nile River. We also have strong ties in recent years. Bishop Bemen, from The Coptic Holy Synod, is the coordinator of relations between the two Churches. This is not just a visit to our Church, but rather to our hearts. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We welcome His Holiness once again to Egypt.</span></span></div>
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-2190243234784320362015-01-07T18:24:00.001+02:002015-01-07T18:26:38.889+02:00The Holy Nativity <div style="text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This Nativity night </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">bestowed peace on the whole world; </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So let no one threaten;<br />This is the night of the Most Gentle One – Let no one be cruel;<br />This is the night of the Humble One – Let no one be proud.<br />Now is the day of joy – Let us not revenge;<br />Now is the day of Good Will – Let us not be mean.<br />In this Day of Peace – Let us not be conquered by anger.<br />Today the Bountiful impoverished Himself for our sake; </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, rich one, invite the poor to your table.<br />Today we receive a Gift for which we did not ask; </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So let us give alms to those who implore and beg us.<br />This present Day cast open the heavenly doors to our prayers; </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let us open our door to those who ask our forgiveness.<br />Today the DIVINE BEING took upon Himself the seal of our humanity, </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In order for humanity to be decorated by the Seal of DIVINITY.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> St. Isaac The Syrian </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nativity Sermon</span></span></b><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-56225464772955380922014-12-27T16:37:00.003+02:002014-12-27T16:40:17.866+02:00O Theotokos <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">You are the honored Mother of the Light; from the risings of the sun to its settings praises are offered to you, O Theotokos, the second heaven, as you are the bright and unchanging flower, and the ever virgin mother; for the Father chose you, and the Holy Spirit overshadowed you, and the Son condescended and took flesh from you. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wherefore, ask Him to give salvation to the world which He created, and to deliver it from all tribulations. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let us praise Him a new praise, and bless Him, now and forever and unto the ages of all ages. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Amen.<br /><br /><b>From the Prime Hour </b></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">of the Coptic Orthodox Agpeya </span></span></b><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-19871754557545987182014-11-21T15:32:00.000+02:002014-11-21T15:34:49.540+02:00Verses and Fathers Sayings <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><b><br />But the ones that fell on the good ground are <br />those who, having heard the word </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>with a noble and good heart, keep it </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>and bear fruit with patience.</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><br />Luke 8:15 </b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Observe
your thoughts, and beware of what you have in your heart and your
spirit, knowing that the demons put ideas into you so as to corrupt your
soul by making it think of that which is not right, in order to turn
your spirit from the consideration of your sins and of God. </span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Abba Elias</span></span></b><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-70620497551025936472014-11-01T13:31:00.000+02:002014-11-01T13:34:32.051+02:00Dwell Together In Unity<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">into him who is the head, into Christ, </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Ephesians 4: 15 - 16 ESV</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Perform your duties in the church faithfully and joyfully, as they fall to your lot according to your rank, and fulfill your ministry with uprightness, because of that God under whom we are fellow servants and to whom we understand that we shall render an account of our actions. <br /><br />Therefore, his mercy ought to abound in us, because 'judgment without mercy to him that has not done mercy.' For this reason pray with us for those who still cause us sadness, that the sickness of their carnal mind, intensified and concentrated by long custom, may be healed. <br /><br />For who does not understand 'how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity' if that pleasure touches a palate from which the mind has spit out all the bitterness of division and that loves the sweetness of charity? <br /><br />The God to whom we pray for them is powerful and merciful enough to use any sort of occasion to draw them even now to salvation. May the Lord preserve you in peace.<br /> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>St Augustine</b></span></span><br />
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<!-- AddToAny END -->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17775349619610158230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7528914492286120429.post-62662627801213541412014-10-14T13:40:00.000+02:002014-10-14T13:43:38.490+02:00Troubled Thoughts <br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">He who goes out weeping, bearing <br />the seed for sowing, shall come home <br />with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.<br />Psalm 126:6</span></span></b></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></b>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A brother questioned Abba Poemen in this way, 'My thoughts trouble me, making me put my sins aside, and concern myself with my brother's faults'. The old man told him the following story about Abba Dioscorus (the monk), 'In his cell he wept over himself, while his disciple was sitting in another cell. When the latter came to see the old man he asked him, "Father, why are you weeping?" "I am weeping over my sins," the old man answered him. Then his disciple said, "You do not have any sins, Father." The old man replied, "Truly, my child, if I were allowed to see my sins, three or four men would not be enough to weep for them."</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Abba Dioscorus</span></span></b><br />
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