God prefers to reveal His ways through paradox. Because mystery is paradoxical. But people don't like paradox; people want clearcut answers, clearcut methodologies. And so people get confused. Why did God choose this way? Wouldn't it have been easier and less messy if God did it otherwise, maybe by just waving his hand and telling …
Ancient Hymns of Holy Thursday
The Last Supper, by Julia Stankova (Reproduced here with her permission.) http://www.juliastankova.com/home.html On Holy Thursday we commemorate the Last Supper and the washing of the disciples' feet by Jesus. Throughout Holy Week some of the most profound meditations are found in the various Kanons that are sung throughout the week, usually in the Matins services …
Spiritual Reflection – Stars, Kingfishers, Dragonflies and the Personal Touch…
(I have permission to reproduce the following blog post by my friend Michael in England. The original is found on his blog site; or on his Facebook page.) He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name.from Psalm 147 I am not a scientist but …
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Life in the time of Coronavirus
The psalms often speak against 'enemies' and often plead for God's protection against these enemies. Our biggest enemy today is the coronavirus pandemic which is threatening lives everywhere. So, replace 'They' in this verse with 'It' and it becomes a plea for protection against the 'enemy' coronavirus. (My Logos/Faithllife software provides me with many illustrated …
Re-inventing the language of prayer
Like Anne Frank, Etty Hillesum lived in Amsterdam during the German occupation. Like Anne Frank, she kept a diary. And like Anne Frank she died in a concentration. But unlike Anne Frank, she was not a teenager; she was 29 when she died in Auschwitz in 1943. Her diaries cover her spiritual journey during the …
The Face of our Humanity
Happy and Blessed Palm Sunday to you who read this. A glorious day, despite the fact that most of us spent it at home, only with our thoughts and memories of Palm Sundays past and perhaps a live streamed Liturgy. No communion in our mouths, but nevertheless the Lord is with us. Joy! Joy is …
Christian, Come Forth!
As the coronavirus pandemic rages on, it is easier for people to become even more alienated than usual from the worship services of the Orthodox Church. But today is Lazarus Saturday, the beginning of Holy Week - though this weekend of Palms is a kind of festal break between the end of Lent yesterday and …
God’s ‘hidden love’
Lord, stir up within me at this timethe sense of wonder at your Cross;fill me with a fervour of faith at this moment,so that my thoughts may be inflamedwith the fire of your love;and may my eyes become for yourivulets of waterto wash all my limbs;may your hidden lovebe infused into my thoughts,so that my …
Life is Eucharist
Human life is the expectation of that which is at the end, and at the end is the joy of the bridal chamber, the joy of the Resurrection. At the end are Mary and John and all the saints; at the end is the wonderful fullness of life. When I see this end, I want …
A Haiku for Now
this world of dew is yes, a world of dew and yet. . . This haiku by Issa Kobayashi (1763-1828) captures my own moments of sorrow in these days of the coronavirus devastation. I copy it here from the book haiku mind by Patricia Donegan. We know that nothing lasts forever. Not a human life, not the planet we live …
Ancient Answers 