The Edge of Mysterion, Chapter Twenty Two, by Richard Rene (Conciliar Press, 2011)

The Edge of Mysterion, Chapter Twenty Three, by Richard Rene (Conciliar Press, 2011)

The Edge of Mysterion, Chapter Twenty Four and Conclusion, by Richard Rene (Conciliar Press, 2011)

"The Parable of the Unjust Judge" from The Parables of Christ by Spiritual Fragrance Publishing (2012)

This week, Fr. Ted addresses the question of how a loving God could also judge us.

Fr. Ted inquires into who is really being judged in the story of the Last Judgment.

Fr. Ted challenges us to take seriously the coming Judgment by Christ which will reveal what we have chosen in this life.

Fr. Theodore Paraskevopoulos calls us to lay aside our own judgment of others and turn our focus towards repentance in light of the Final Judgment.

Visit the "holy mountain" of Mt. Athos, and join in the quest for a spiritual elder with acclaimed poet and author Scot Cairns, who reads selections from his newly-released book and talks with two-time pilgrim to the holy mountain, Kevin Allen!

Andrew says seeking union with anything or anyone outside of God gradually takes away our freedom, takes away our personhood, takes away our ability to be uniquely ourselves. Read the transcript HERE.

We finish this Lenten series discussing the virtues of patience, love, and not judging our brother. Again, the Orthodox axiom of working out the virtues in the body is true, and we learn that patience is not merely a passive state, but also requires spiritual/bodily effort to restrain evil thoughts/actions, choosing to perform God's will instead. Love for God, neighbor, enemies and the whole of creation is our aim, cultivated with our growing awareness of God's pure and captivating eros coming down from heaven. Engulfed in this love we lose interest in the world and adopt the humble mind of Christ, whose words on the Cross, "forgive them for they know not what they do," are to become our own towards all men.

Dean The Very Rev. Dr. John Behr, author of academic, popular, and spiritual works, presented the keynote address at this year's Education Day at St. Vladimir's Seminary. Fr. John highlighted the symbiotic relationship between Christianity and books, and described how the development of the internet has changed the way people read.

What is the difference between mercy and grace? Dn. Michael Hyatt continues going through the book How to Be a Sinner by Dr. Peter Bouteneff.

Meet Peter, one of the treasures that is part of the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Catherine, one of the treasures who is part of the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Father Tom, one of the treasures who is part of the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Helen, one of the treasures who is part of the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Carol Anne, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Edna, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet John, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Nick, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Anna, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Karl, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Daniel, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Xenia, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Edward, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Kenneth, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Ruth, one of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet Chris and Laura, two of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Meet William and Jane, two of the treasures at the Mission. Taken from Walking Humbly: The Holiness of the Poor, by St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Listen to reflections about encountering Christ in the midst of pain, from St. John the Compassionate Mission.

Listen to stories from Brother Luke about people who frequent St. John the Compassionate Mission in Toronto, Ontario.

Today looking forward to St Bridget’s feastday, Martha relives some of her culinary training and how it and a well-stocked pantry can help.

useful Chrome/Firefox add-on that finds your X/Twitter friends on Bluesky #

I would like to share with you an easy technique for avoiding moral accountability. Whenever you are caught and called to account for doing something wrong (that is, when you are “busted”), you simply invoke the figure of the Pharisee. Tell your accuser that he is being judgmental and Pharisaical, and that he has no right to judge you. After all, the Lord says, “Judge not”. It works almost every time, functioning as a moral Get Out of Jail Free card.

I recently spoke with a dear friend who dolefully reported that a distant family member had left his very traditional Protestant church (with its stress on doctrine and Reformed worship) for a group called “The Bridge”. The name of the group reminded me of similar names of such new churches, such as “Connect”, and “Relate”—i.e. the names were intended to highlight their emphasis on relationships. So much for “St. James Anglican Cathedral”, or “Ferndale Baptist Church”, or even “Living Waters Pentecostal Assembly”.

Fr. Apostolos discusses the final judgment of the human soul.

Fr. Apostolos speaks about Divine Judgement and the pardon offered to all through the blood of Christ.

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

On the second Sunday before the beginning of the Great Fast the Church calls to our attention the Last Judgment. Fr Tom teaches us that our fate at the appearance of the Son of Man in His glory will be determined by our reaction to the brightness of His Love and Mercy. (Sunday of the Last Judgment)

On the third preparatory Sunday before Great Lent, the gospel of the Last Judgment is read. Fr Tom reminds us that though today we can choose to acknowledge or to ignore Christ as Lord, on that great and final day everyone will acknowledge Him and give an account of their life.

The awesome day of the Lord's return in glory to judge the earth is presented powerfully by the words of the Lord Himself. Fr Tom reminds us that we will experience the mercy and truth of God's presence as the ultimate judgment of how we've lived His command to love God and neighbor.

On Meatfare Sunday we commemorate the Last Judgment, when Christ returns to His creation to judge the world and redeem His people. Fr Thomas reminds us that our fasting is related to the Judgment. As we fast to prepare for Pascha, the Lord's resurrection is the first sign of our resurrection and the coming Judgment.

Before we enter into Great Lent, the Church presents us with a depiction of the awesome and fearful Final Judgment of the world by Christ to motivate us to love God and man. In teaching this, Fr Thomas offers an answer to the age-old question, "Why do we have to be judged?"

The Great Day of the Lord, the Last Judgment, when Christ appears in glory, will come suddenly upon all of humanity. Fr Thomas reminds us that every time we gather together in church to be in the presence of God, the angels, the saints, and one another, we're practicing for that last and great day when we will answer for every deed. (Mt 25:31-46)

As the Church prepares us for the Great Lenten season by hearing the parable of the Last Judgment in Matthew 25, Fr Thomas reminds us that our preparation for that Great Day begins every time we prepare ourselves for the Eucharist. It is a fire that consumes the unworthy.

Being judged by God is far more than a legal pronouncement. Listen as Fr. Tom reminds the faithful that God's judgment has much more to do with our purification and our becoming truly human.

The Gospel reading of the Last Judgement can bring incredible fear and awe; however, as Fr. Tom reminds us, it should also be a great source of consolation!

In our lives, crucial choices have to be made and upon these choices our eternal destiny depends.

Fr Gregory preaches on Meatfare Sunday at their new mission in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland on Sunday the 23rd of February.