We don’t clean ourselves up before we pray—then we would never pray (or we would only pray the prayers of the Pharisees). We come to God in prayer bringing all of our weaknesses with us, even, perhaps glorying in our weaknesses. We glory in our weaknesses because we know that any deliverance we experience, any good that comes from our lives will only be evidence of God’s great love and power to save even the most screwed up, even the chief of sinners. We glory in our weakness because we know that our weakness is only another opportunity for God to reveal His greatness.

In Homily 43, St. Isaac speaks of three areas of ‘discipline,’ or areas in which we must guide or rule our life. Proper discipline in these areas leads to purity. These three areas are bodily discipline, leading to purification of the body; discipline of the mind, leading to purification of the soul; and spiritual discipline, leading to purification of the mind.

"St. Isaac the Syrian’s homily 44 is one of his several very difficult homilies. It is difficult not because it is hard to understand. Exactly the opposite is the case. It is quite straight forward and easy to understand. I understand it, and I am offended by it." Here is a link to the book that Fr. Michael mentions at the end of this blog: http://www.orthodoxchristianebooks.com/grace-of-incorruption

"The experience of forgiveness is much more organic, more relational. Forgiveness is actually something that grows. St. Theophan says that it is necessary to develop the hope that comes from working on our salvation (i.e. cooperating with God’s Grace through repentance and spiritual disciplines). And it is this hope that begins to release us from shame and is the evidence of growing or maturing forgiveness. 'Without it,' St. Theophan says, 'there can be no beginning of the work of salvation; and even more so, no continuation. But there it was in conception; here it is mature.' For St. Theophan, it seems, forgiveness and the accompanying release from shame is something that is conceived in us and grows to maturity."

And those who are outside the Orthodox Church, even those outside any kind of Christian faith whatsoever, what about these? Could these be the poor, the blind and the lame of today? As the Gentiles were outside the ancient covenant with Abraham, yet were invited, even compelled into the Kingdom of the Messiah because of the unbelief of many of the Jews, will we Christians be spared if we do not ourselves put on Christ? Is it possible that those not so nearly blessed as we are, those blind to the Creed, poor without the Divine Liturgy, and lame in regard to faith, will not these, perhaps, be the ones compelled into the Kingdom of Heaven while those of us with every blessing, yet distracted by every worldly concern, are left outside? St. Paul tells us to consider both the goodness and the severity of God.

I want to make clear to everyone that we will not be asking anyone about vaccination status. As in almost all matters, so with government health mandates, it is possible (probable) that very godly, intelligent and well-meaning people will disagree. Let’s not let self righteousness—and her children, fear, anger, and judgement—keep us from loving one another and believing the best of one another, even if we don’t see eye to eye on this or any other political or medical matter.

Just about any discipline that has to do with the body, if you really think that discipline is important, is mostly just a matter of making yourself do it; but forgiveness is not merely a bodily matter. Forgiveness is a matter of the soul, of the heart. Forgiveness is not so easy. On its most basic level, forgiveness means that you will not seek revenge. It means that you are letting go of your right to get even. When you forgive someone, you stop punishing them in your mind. It means that you stop rehearsing in your mind how much they hurt you.

Fr. Stephen De Young begins the discussion of the book of Genesis.

Fr. Stephen De Young begins the discussion of Genesis 1.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion of Genesis.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion of Genesis, Chapter 2.

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes the discussion of Genesis, Chapter 3.

Fr. Stephen De Young begins the discussion of Genesis, Chapter 3.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes the discussion of Genesis 3.

Fr. Stephen De Young begins the discussion of Genesis, Chapter 4.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion of Genesis, Chapter 4.

Fr. Stephen De Young concludes the discussion of Genesis, Chapter 4.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Genesis, Chapter 5 and the beginning of Chapter 6.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues the discussion of Genesis, Chapter 6.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the end of Genesis Chapter 6 and Genesis Chapters 7 and 8.

Parental Advisory: This episode may contain some adult themes Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Genesis Chapter 9.

Parental Advisory: This episode may contain some adult themes. Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Genesis Chapter 10 and the beginning of Genesis Chapter 11.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the beginning of Genesis Chapter 12.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues his discussion on the beginning of Genesis Chapter 12.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the rest of Genesis Chapter 12.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the beginning of Genesis Chapter 13.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the rest of Genesis Chapter 13 and the beginning of Genesis Chapter 14.

Fr. Stephen De Young continues his discussion of Genesis Chapter 14

Fr. Stephen De Young finishes his discussion of Genesis Chapter 14.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the beginning of Genesis Chapter 15.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the rest of Genesis Chapter 15.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Genesis Chapter 16.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Genesis Chapter 17.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Genesis Chapter 18.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Genesis Chapter 19.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Genesis Chapter 20.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Genesis Chapter 21

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses Genesis Chapters 22 and 23

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the beginning of Genesis Chapter 24.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the rest of Genesis Chapter 24.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the beginning of Genesis Chapter 25.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the end of Genesis Chapter 25.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the beginning of Genesis Chapter 26.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the end of Genesis Chapter 26.

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the beginning of Genesis Chapter 27

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the end of Genesis Chapter 27

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the beginning of Genesis Chapter 28

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the end of Genesis Chapter 28

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the beginning of Genesis Chapter 29

Fr. Stephen De Young discusses the ending of Genesis Chapter 29, as well as Chapters 30 and 31.