Psalms and Saints

Ethics

2012-01-12T05:59:00.001-08:00

Some of the best Christians I have known were not Christian.

Root and Flower

2011-08-01T05:47:00.001-07:00

Author of 1 Timothy: "The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil."

And the love of others is the flower of goodness.

Peace and War

2011-07-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

Many Christian thinkers have applied themselves to the task of justifying war, but how many have applied themselves to the task of justifying peace?

Religion and Responsibility

2011-07-12T12:10:00.001-07:00

Some people live by their convictions, others blame it on the gods.

Worlds

2011-06-15T07:39:00.000-07:00

If there were a chance that the Romans would not crucify Jesus, then there is a world in which Jesus was not crucified.

The Journey with Christ to Jerusalem

2011-03-26T06:11:00.000-07:00

Fasting is making room for Christ.

Fasting affirms the immaterial over the material.

Feasting is the joy.

Amphiboly

2010-12-28T06:59:00.000-08:00

The Bible contains enough ambiguity to make all theologians happy.

Religious Perspectives

2010-10-21T03:55:00.000-07:00

Maybe if more Christians were Daoists, more Muslims were Buddhists, and more Jewish people were Confucianists, human societies would be more peaceful.

Life and Myth

2010-09-20T06:36:00.000-07:00

Most of us live by our own mythologies, but the lucky few live out the myth.

A Simple Ethic

2010-07-08T16:42:00.001-07:00

Unfamiliar activity performed indiscriminately makes a negative impression.

A Living Translation

2010-06-20T03:32:00.000-07:00

A favorite translation of the Bible is the Church.

Ethics

2010-05-04T04:42:00.000-07:00

The cliche is "God helps those who help themselves."

Is it not better to say, "One finds god by helping others"?

Potential

2010-04-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

Nothing has potential. Something has potential if it can become nothing.

Divinity and Humor

2010-04-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

It is said that divinity is greater than what one can imagine, and smaller than what one can imagine; wiser than what one can imagine, more foolish than what one can imagine.

Can we say that divinity is funnier than what one can imagine?

A Thanksgiving Prayer

2009-11-26T05:19:00.000-08:00

Let us remember this Thanksgiving as we sit at meat to pray:

You are the true light of every creature.

Those Puritans in 1637
In their desire to serve heaven

And to recompense indignation
--an opportunity for righteousness, instead
wiped out the tribal Pequot nation.

Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.

Quoting the Bible to describe their raid
--thinking to sanctify the act,
a mission to corner commercial trade.

Let us give thanks that today we may see
the Light of others’ humanity.

Allow us to pass through the darkness of this present life.

Christianity is Not...

2009-09-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

Chrristianity is neither Capitalism, Communism, Creationism, Evolutionary Science, Military Power, nor a National State.

Christianity is the renewal of lives and the unification with divinity through the power of the resurrection.

World Salvation

2009-09-09T14:21:00.000-07:00

Who will save the world, the mystics or the physicists?

The Church or churches?

2009-07-26T13:19:00.000-07:00

Christianity divided is a church in sin.

The Search

2009-06-18T14:28:00.000-07:00

One seeks to know humanity through the world. This is Science.

Another seeks to know the world through humanity. This is Religion.

Does Disaster Demonstrate Existence of the Supernatural?

2009-05-27T16:40:00.000-07:00

Scientists in the fields of physics and astronomy predict that our Sun, eventually, will die out. This, of course, will end life on planet Earth.

Somehow this is supposed to be a proof against the atheist in terms of purpose. That is, a religious person has hope in a supernatural world beyond this one whereas the atheist does not.

It is obscure as to how this shows the religious person has purpose built on anything but a hope for escape to another world, but that is another topic. And even so, why would this be better than the hope of the atheist?

In any case, if any disaster is impending, will not the religious try to find a solution or will they be caught up in prayer? Here the atheists show how they serve more purposefully than the religious.

If we are the religious, then is this what we want to say?

Fasting and Pascha

2009-04-19T07:54:00.001-07:00

Can Christians who do not fast know the beauty of Pascha?

Belief

2009-02-18T07:23:00.000-08:00

One believes that one reads words, eats food, breathes. One remembers how to read, eat, and that breathing is important.

How is this different from belief in the supernatural?

Both raise the problem of solipsism.

If we do not maintain that solipsism is the case, this hardly proves that there must be a supernatural world but only that there are other conscious entities beyond our own. And this is scarcely a proof of a supernatural world or even an indication of such.

To believe is not the same as to know. Be charitable to those who think they know and encouraging to those who are troubled by not knowing.

The Life of Glorification

2009-01-14T19:13:00.000-08:00

If struck on one cheek then offer the other. Should you be able to call the offender sister or brother, then you are in harmony.

That which is discordant can be tuned.

The Bellows

2009-01-11T08:58:00.001-08:00

Make yourself large so that you may grow and live, make yourself small so that you may yield and give.

Salvation

2009-01-07T10:45:00.000-08:00

Salvation is not a belief alone but life itself.

The Time of Jesus' Birth

2009-01-05T11:42:00.000-08:00

Someone has said that if we follow the schedule of the priestly services from 1 Chronicles forward to the time of Jesus, it would seem to date that he was born sometime in the Fall.

Another has said that if we follow a rabbinical comment that the first course was serving at the time of the destruction of the second Temple, then it would appear to date that Jesus was born in either December or January.

And yet the time of the nativity is not a chronos but a kairos. It was the opportune time for divinity to work through the elements of the world in order to bring it back into unity with divinity.

Accepted in and by Love

2008-12-23T18:04:00.000-08:00

What does it mean to be accepted in love? "If you forgive others their trespasses, then your heavenly father will forgive your trespasses. But if you do not forgive others, then neither will your father forgive you."

How can this be done? "Love your enemies and do good to them."

"Faith, hope, and love remain, but the greatest of these is love."

Love divinity, see divinity in humanity.

Accept them and you are accepted.

Prayer and Worship

2008-11-30T11:42:00.001-08:00

When one prays alone, this is worship of a member. When one worships with others, this is the prayer of the body.

The Spiritual and the Practical

2008-09-07T12:07:00.000-07:00

Be practical in spiritual matters, be spiritual in practical matters.

Christianity and Nationality

2008-08-13T06:32:00.000-07:00

A Christian is a Christian regardless of nationality. What does this mean for Christians?

Should a Christian be willing to kill another Christian if they are found to be of varying nationalities when those nations are at war?

Should a Christian be willing to do violence to another Christian because the other is of another nationality?

For that matter, should a Christian do violence to any human being--those who have the divine image?

Nationalism may be a virtue in the civic square but it is a heresy, a factious party-spirit, in the Church.

Ancient Christian Traditions

2008-07-08T18:08:00.000-07:00

The earliest Christian creeds, hymns, prayers, instructions are found in the New Testament itself.

An early creed of "who Jesus was" is found in the Pauline epistles. One need only read 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 to get a feeling as to the tradition handed on to St. Paul to see what the belief was about Jesus very early in the church.

Reading Colossians 1:15-20 as a hymn that St. Paul received from those Christians before him is a look back into the earliest Christian worship.

And an early confession, such as that in Romans 10:8-9, presents to us today what the earliest Christians professed as a part of an illegal religion; or, at least, as a part of a religious group without legal recourse to civic protection.

St. Paul, active in the AD mid-first century, is one of the earliest recorders of Christian ideas. Sorting out these passages, most scholars agree that on the basis of vocabulary and idiom these are sections that came from outside Pauline thought and used by him.

While folks are trying to figure out ancient Christianity through other sources, Pauline letters are available in many translations.

The Original State of the World

2008-05-09T05:22:00.000-07:00

Was the original state of the world pleasant or nasty? Was Locke correct or was Hobbes? For Christians, the question becomes one of distinctive origins given by a good deity.

So if we look at those peoples who are living closest to those of our ancestors in a hunting-and-gathering society, what do we find?

We find a large family clan with all the petty squabbles of a clan but on the whole we also find a people who are happily going about their business to survive in an austere world that yields some good things.

Maybe they are closer to the divinity than we are in our industrialized society?

Psalm 33

2008-03-31T05:25:00.000-07:00

Rejoice in the Holy Trinity, complete the joy of Being! The world awaits the union with divinity--the glorification. The apokatastasis is closer now than beforehand.

Righteousness and love is in the world, is in the world through the divinity. St. Dimitri taught: "No unity with God is possible except by an exceedingly great love." The justice, the equity with which the Trinity judges, is mercy and love.

"By the word of the Lord the heavens were made." And for us? Maximus the Confessor tells us that "God, as he alone knew how, completed the primary principles of creatures and the universal essences of beings once for all. Yet he is still at work, not only preserving these creatures in their very existence but effecting the formation, progress, and sustenance of the individual parts that are potential within them."

Love brings about the completion of creation--how great is that love reflected by the creation!

And though plan as we do, we cannot go further than the day's work. "If God wills," wrote the Apostle, that is how we should speak. Entire nations take counsel in order to make manifest their projects although the world is beyond their control.

The Almighty desires all to be in union, delivers the worshippers who are unified in the One.

Goodness and Growth

2008-03-31T05:15:00.000-07:00

If what is good does not change, then why the changes?

Some say that the change is necessary due to the growth. Divinity did not change the moral position but accommodated the development of humanity as a parent does so with a child.

Others say that the series of covenants were a propaedeutic to the Christ.

And there have been those who said that the covenants are not eternal but perpetual until the advent of another.

And yet, both the killing of infants when taking a city and allowing them to be killed as a part of the circumstances of the first advent appear to be events that were unnecessary to human growth in goodness.

Goodness and the Euthyphro Question

2008-02-22T11:02:00.000-08:00

3000 years ago it was good to execute the rebellious or disorderly child by stoning (Deut. 13, 21), but now it is not.

Was it good because the divinity said so or good because it was good in itself?

If it were good in itself, then why do we not recognize that now? If it were good because the divinity said so, then why do we not follow it now?

And if the divinity changed the rules for the elect or the chosen, then why the change?

Do we not say that what is "good" is a timeless quality or do we say that what is "good" is a relative quality?

Who decides which commands are timeless and which ones are relative?

Someone says: "Divinity decides."

And then we see a variance of approaches and someone else says, "You must accept it."

I accept it, but I also accept that there is nothing in the newer testament that says that one should not execute the disorderly child. Of course, there is nothing in there that says one should do so.

"Follow the general principles."

But the principles appear to have changed. Are those timeless or are they relative?

Seven Nightmares

2008-02-08T10:08:00.000-08:00

The Adversary is a nightmare of God.

Indifference is a nightmare of Compassion.

Ignorance is a nightmare of Knowledge.

Deceit is a nightmare of Justice.

Bigotry is a nightmare of Wisdom.

War is a nightmare of Peace.

Cruelty is a nightmare of Love.

Seven Journeys

2008-01-06T06:01:00.000-08:00

A journey to the Godhead begins with the Inner World.

A journey to the Inner World begins with Wisdom.

A journey to Wisdom begins with Humility.

A journey to Humility begins with Reflection.

A journey to Reflection begins with Consideration.

A journey to Consideration begins with Meditation.

A journey to Meditation begins with Prayer and Fasting.

Salvation and Orthodoxy

2007-12-04T07:23:00.000-08:00

What is the Orthodox view of human salvation?

Orthodoxy, just as Catholicism and other churches, teaches that salvation is personal. A person repents and follows the cross of Christ to the ascension.

Orthodoxy also teaches that salvation is communal. The local church helps the Christian by offering grace through the sacraments--whether named or not--to assist the person on the journey to glorification. Divinity works through matter in the body of Christ.

Lastly, Orthodoxy teaches that salvation is universal or cosmic in two ways. First, the world of the living and the dead are one in Christ as the living may intercede mercy for the dead and the dead may pray mercy for the living. In another way, Christ will redeem the material world.

Seven Loves

2007-11-15T18:04:00.000-08:00

Seven Loves

A person who loves God but not others appears pious but is not.

A person who loves others but not God is closer to God than one would think.

A person who loves neither God nor others is twisted into the self.

A person who loves God and others approaches the saint.

A person who loves self before God and others is an infant.

A person who loves others before self is on the way to spiritual maturity.

A person who loves God and others before self is the saint.

Seven Dreams

2007-10-03T12:59:00.000-07:00

The Logos is the dream of God.

Humanity is the dream of the Logos.

Knowledge is the dream of Humanity.

Wisdom is the dream of Knowledge.

Peace is the dream of Wisdom.

Love is the dream of Peace.

God is the dream of Love.

Sympathy for Humanity

2007-09-18T05:03:00.000-07:00

Some believe that divinity is an oriental despot, helping only those in favor and imposing cruelties upon the rest.

A god of little humor and less warmth, one has sympathy for those who believe in such and, if such a god did exist, for that god.

Belief and Knowing

2007-09-02T19:13:00.000-07:00

If believing were the same as knowing, I would have more solid beliefs.

If knowing were the same as believing, then I would be a more ignorant man.

The Religious Vision

2007-09-02T19:10:00.000-07:00

If I have a vision of the supernatural while semi-conscious or asleep, then I am persuaded of the existence of the supernatural.

But no one else is so persuaded.

And though I am persuaded, I know that mental states can be affected by externals. Are these externals supernatural?

But a mental state can also be affected by imagination as much as by environmental reality, and this would bring a supernatural vision into question.

The Result of Arguments for Existence of a Divinity

2007-09-02T19:08:00.001-07:00

To argue for the existence of what is, is trivial.

To argue for the existence of what is not, is ridiculous.

To argue for the existence of what is unknown, is debatable.

Therefore, could one say that to argue for the existence of a divinity is either trivial, ridiculous, or debatable?

Arguing for the Existence of Divinity

2007-09-02T19:04:00.000-07:00

There are at least two ways to argue for the existence of divinity, rationally and empirically.

On the former, theistic philosophers have nearly ruined the god-question by using clever complication more than simple indication. Granted the subject is complex, but some suspect that they are more adept at the art of conniving rather than that of clear convincing.

Concerning empiricism, scientists do not discover the supernatural in the natural world. This is through no fault of their own since by profession they only engage investigation of the natural world.

A Theology of Creation

2007-08-07T13:02:00.000-07:00

Many people discuss long into the winter night as to how to interpret the creation. How was it done? How long did it take? When did it happen? These are the usual questions and very good ones too.

But there are other questions that are just as important.

Why did it happen? What was it supposed to reveal? Who was involved?

Reading Genesis, Job, Psalms, and the Gospel of John about creation, one can discover at least five things about it. There are probably more than five, but five is a good start.

1. God did not have to create (Acts 17:25) and did not need the creation, so creation is not an act of necessity. This may upset us, we were unnecessary.

But then one can see that God created out of charity (Ps. 33, Rev. 4:11). We are the result of divine love.

2. Creation was a purposeful act with good intentions (Gen. 1:31, Job 38:7).

3. The creation is not divine but susceptible to corruption (Is. 40:7-8). And yet it may be used for divine purposes (2 Kgs 5:14, Matt. 26:26-28, Mark 6:13, John 1:14, 1 Cor. 10:16, 11:27-29,1 Tim. 4:3, 1 John 4:2).

4. God is involved with the creation and shows care for it, set out to redeem it, to bring it to glorification (John 1, Acts 3:21, Phil. 3:21, 2 Thess. 2:14).

5. God is above the creation, beyond it (Eph. 4:6). God is not a higher being in a chain of beings (1 Cor. 8:6).

These are just some of the things one can discover about the creation.

Psalm 24 Devotion

2007-07-26T11:15:00.000-07:00

The divine Logos has made all things that have been made, not anything without the Logos was made, the land, seas, and rivers. The Logos is in every human being, the impression of the divine is present within the soul. Every person is founded on the divine image.

Does this mean that anyone shall ascend to the divine place? "But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering." The bride of Christ, the temple of the living God, the body of Christ--these are those who are found there.

They listened to teachers as John Climacus, "Run from places of sin as from the plague, for when fruit is not present, we have no frequent desire to eat it." As the master taught, "You will know them by their fruits." A good tree cannot bear bad fruit and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

An apostle wrote "Pure religion is this, caring for the orphan and the widow and keeping oneself unstained by the world." Let your yes be yes and your no be no. Do this, give up the world, and be perfect.

The master taught, "He who abides in me and I in him will bear much fruit."

But what door must be opened so that he may enter?

St. Isaac the Syrian wrote "Enter eagerly into the treasure house that lies within you and so you will see the treasure house of heaven, for the two are the same and tere is but one single entry to them both. The ladder that leads to the kingdom is hidden within you and is found in your own soul. Dive into yourself and in your soul you will discover the rungs by which to ascend."

The heart is the ancient treasure house, but the master stands at the door and knocks.

Who is the King of glory?

The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the one seated upon the throne, the sword comes out of his mouth to vanquish the wicked, he comforts the oppressed. His head and hair were white as wool with eyes of fire, and his voice is as roaring water.

To the Christian, do you know that this Christ dwells within you? To those who are not Christians, do you know that you are the impression of the Logos?

Open up the door of your hearts and see within, see the divinity who is there.

True Philosophy

2007-07-19T19:16:00.000-07:00

The true Philosophy poses the challenge, that challenge concerns how humanity may be divine.

Mystery and Rationality

2007-06-28T16:23:00.000-07:00

All the rational arguments that are made about the existence of the supernatural--what about them?

Let us say that there is no supernatural world, then all these arguments are not only misleading but they are also false.

Now let us say that there is a supernatural world. If this supernatural world is a mystery which is not fully revealed, then it cannot be known fully and so may not be argued for rightly. Therefore the rational arguments for it may not be false but they may well be misleading.

A Question of Confession

2007-06-20T19:05:00.000-07:00

We asked our priest: What do we do in a case where a loved one might have requested a DNR or act of euthanasia? Is it right or wrong to follow the request?

He replied: No matter what you decide, you need to go to confession.

A Quality of Mercy

2007-06-20T19:01:00.000-07:00

I asked the subdeacon: How do I reply to those who challenge prayer for the dead?

He inquired: Why would it be wrong to pray divine mercy for anyone?

Seven Ways of the Christian Life

2007-06-20T18:46:00.000-07:00

A Christian aims far in life toward Christ.

Acts of Charity--A Christian engages in acts of love to others.

Intercession--A Christian intercedes for others, living or dead.

Meditation--A Christian is ever mindful of the godhead.

Suffering--A Christian is willing to go through trials.

Fasting--A Christian abstains from things so as to be spiritually exercised.

Artwork--A Christian sees divine beauty in art.

Read Scripture--A Christian reads Christian literature (Bible, writings of Saints, Martyrs, Ascetics, Wonderworkers, leaders of the Church) so as to be encouraged.

Bishop Ignatii on Prayer

2007-05-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

When you pray, once more crucify yourself on the cross of prayer. Push aside all memories, however important they may be, which come to you during prayer: ignore every one of them. Do not theologize, do not be carried away by following up brilliant, original, and powerful ideas which suddenly occur to you. Sacred silence, which is induced in the mind at the time of prayer by a sense of God's greatness, speaks of God more profoundly and more eloquently than any human words. "If you pray truly," said the Fathers, "you are a theologian."

The Church and Scripture

2007-04-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

The Christian life is neither by living through the Church alone nor reading Scripture alone. The former way forgets its beginnings, the latter way lacks guidance.

". . . the Church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of truth" (1 Tim. 3:15).

"Let nothing besides the canonical Scripture be read in church" (Canon 24 of the African Code).

Here are seven things about both the Church and the Scripture.

The Church is the Body of Christ and the Scripture is the Word of Christ.

An encounter with the Scripture is an encounter with the ancient Church, an encounter with the Church is an encounter with living Scripture.

The Scripture came out of a community of people devoted to the Trinity.

The devoted community preserved the Holy Tradition.

The devoted community preserved the Scripture which is part of the Holy Tradition.

It would be unnatural to split the community from the Scripture or the Scripture from the Holy Tradition.

The best commentary on Scripture should be the Church, the living Scripture.

Seven Ways of Theology

2007-04-02T06:40:00.000-07:00

Theology is not a Science of study but a Devotion of sacrifice.

Theology that is studied but not lived lacks heart.

Theology that is lived but not studied lacks insight.

Theology that is neither studied nor lived is the way of vanity.

Theology that is both lived and studied is the way of the saint.

Theology that does not appear as theology is true Theology.

Theology is not a topic of debate but a life revealed to the world.

What is Giving?

2007-03-25T18:08:00.000-07:00

A student asked: What is giving?

Giving is like a sacrifice and not a bank account. The former comes from love, the latter from the world.

Psalm 15 Devotion

2007-03-18T13:21:00.000-07:00

One asks: who may abide with God? Is it not one who lives in the cross and resurrection? For "He who abides in me and I in him will bear much fruit." But where is this? Christians are strangers on the earth, pilgrims to the divine homeland. They "desire a better country; that is, a heavenly one" since "God has prepared a city for them." Meanwhile, one lives the divine way since "the kingdom of God is within you."

A Christian has to "walk blamelessly" and "do no evil" but how is this possible? "With God all things are possible." One must not slander or say ill of one’s neighbor, "this ought not to be so, does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water?" John Climacus wrote "A proud Christian argues bitterly with others. The humble Christian is loathe to contradict them."

St. Pachomius instructed that the Christian needs to strive, "bearing death before our eyes every hour, and every moment imagining the fearful punishment." This burdens the soul, yes, but also makes it contemplative "to be turned toward God, undistracted by earthly things. And not only this, but once humility is worked out by these, the soul is persuaded to become compassionate and without vainglory, lowly and made a stranger to all worldly mentality."

In this way people may honor the Holy Trinity while not paying any mind to those who ridicule them for doing so. The Christian is not moved to the prideful way even by money, for "the love of money is the root of all evil." The exchange and increase of money for the sake of money is simply not a problem, for the Christian will give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.

The one who does these things will not be moved but instead will listen, even in the face of taunting and persecution, to the counsel of the Church, that which is the "pillar and foundation of the truth." And then Christ will set that person as "a pillar in the temple of God."

The Movement of Prayer

2007-03-14T04:46:00.000-07:00

A student asked me, why is it that it that some Scripture writers talk about prayer changing the mind of God?

I told her that I'm not sure why but it may be more the perception than the reality.

When one travels towards a mountain it appears to increase in size and, likewise, when one leaves it behind it seems to decrease in size.

Similarly, maybe prayer is a vehicle that brings one closer to divinity which, because of the prayer, seems to change.

Prayer, or lack of it, simply changes our perception.

Prayer for Daily Guidance

2007-03-13T04:17:00.000-07:00

Holy God, Father Almighty,
Bless me and make me a blessing

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Have mercy upon me a sinner

Holy Spirit, Comforter of God,
Quicken me and direct my ways

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit!

Saint Mary, blessed Theotokos,
Pray for me

Saint Daniel the Prophet and Saint Thomas the Apostle,
Pray Christ in me

Holy Angels, hosts of heaven,
Protect me and keep me safe

Amen

Seven Measurements

2007-03-11T06:17:00.000-07:00

If you only measure time then you have not experienced it.

If you only measure space then you have not lived in it.

If you only measure music then you have not heard it.

If you only measure art then you have not seen it.

If you only measure love then you have not given it.

If you only measure suffering then you have not felt it.

If you try to measure divinity then you have misunderstood.

The Prayer of Saint Ephraim

2007-03-09T06:16:00.000-08:00

O Lord and Master of my life, do not give to me the spirit of laziness, faintheartedness, lust for power, and idle talk.

But give to me your servant the spirit of purity, humility, patience, and love.

O Lord and King, grant me to see my own faults and not to judge my brother and sister, for blessed are you unto ages of ages.

O God, cleanse me a sinner!

The Doors

2007-03-08T06:21:00.000-08:00

The self is a door to imagination.

A spouse is a door to the world.

Children are a door to truth.

Parents are a door to wisdom.

Friends are a door to worth.

Enemies are a door to reflection.

Death is a door to Divinity.

Divinity is a door to the self.

Psalm 1 Devotion

2007-03-08T05:53:00.000-08:00

The person who is truly happy is the one who does not follow the council of the impious,stand in the way of sinners,or sit in the seat of pestilence. For the Christian is with "thousands of angels in a festive assembly," the Christian way is Christ who said, "Follow me!" The seat is in heaven, as St.Paul wrote we should be mindful that we are seated in the "heavenlies with Christ."

We ascend to Christ by being an icon of Christ, changing from "glory to glory." How? The law of Israel was a custodian to Christ and we, too, study the law--the law of Christ--day and night. As St. Paul taught we are in-lawed to Christ to "do good works which he prepared for us." And we will be as trees planted by the waters as the tree of Christ, the cross, nourished by his living waters, giving the fruit of resurrection from the sacrifice of life.

An abbot, Dorotheos, taught that the world is a circle around God, the center. As we draw closer to God, the center, so they become closer to each other. Christ and the body become one. But contrast Dorotheos' picture with the wicked who grow farther apart. As the impious stray from the center they are also more scattered, are "blown away." They are not centered in God, not planted by living waters, and not moved by Christ.

God knows the way of the righteous, moves the body, the body of Christ. Am I of the body or do I stray alone? Do I wish to be planted as a cross for others so as to give them good things to eat? Do I ignore others and so stray from God? "God knows the way of the righteous,but the way of the wicked is destroyed."

As Jesus fulfilled the old covenant, one finds fulfillment in living Christ. The way of destruction is easy but the way of Jesus is hard. How do we live it? The Spirit helps us to love the Holy Trinity and another Christian as a member of Christ. And others? Those who are not of Christ, we love them as those who have the divine icon in them as we help them grow that divine love in Christ. This is true happiness.