March 13, 2007

• Quote for the Week:

  “Our most important task, perhaps, is the Christian enlightenment of ourselves and others. We must go deeper into our Faith—not by studying the canons of Ecumenical Councils or the typicon (although they also have their place), but by knowing how God acts in our lives; by reading the lives of God-pleasers in the Old and New Testaments (we read the Old Testament far too little; it is very instructive); by reading the lives of Saints and the writings of the Holy Fathers on practical spiritual life; by reading about the suffering of Christians today and in recent years. In all of this learning our eyes must be on heaven above, the goal we strive for, not on the problems and disasters of earth below.”

  “Do you have a notebook for taking down quotes from Holy Fathers in your reading? Do you always have a book of Holy Fathers that you are reading and can turn to in a moment of gloom? Start now—this is essential!” +Fr. Seraphim Rose

  Question for the Week:

  Let us reflect upon Fr. Seraphim Rose’s question. Have you considered keeping a notebook for taking down quotes from the Holy Fathers you’re reading? (If the book is one you own, you might prefer highlighting in order to streamline the process. If you happen to encounter quotes worth saving while surfing the internet, why not create a document you can copy and paste them into? This way, they won’t become misplaced, or worse, wind up as part of a toddler’s coloring spree!)

  Scripture for the week:

  “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place.” Ephesians 6:14

  Thought for the Week: Your Life as a Mirror

  Do you remember giving a concert for your parents when you were little, and when you saw them in the audience, you waited and waited until they met your gaze…and when they did, your arms went flaying all over the place waving ‘hello’ with a humungous grin on your face? Such is the power of a smiling parent. When we are first born, we spend countless hours studying the face of this special, big person we come to know as ‘Mom’ while she is nursing us, feeding us a bottle, changing our diaper, or just holding and chatting to us. This face and every expression it makes leaves a stamp in our remarkable, youthful, brain. As we see her face daily, we learn to quickly discern what she is thinking, doing, feeling, etc. We come to realize that her face expresses joy, sadness, hopefulness, disapproval, etc. We are permanently bonded to, and imitate, the face of the one we know so well.

  
  

  We find mirrors elsewhere in our lives. Our churches are adorned with them, for the face reveals the person. “Prosopo” which is Greek for face, shares the same root with the Greek word for personality (prosopikotita). In seeing Christ’s face, we recognize His humanity and Lordship, and we desire to mirror His Holy image…in seeing our face, our children see our personhood, and they mirror what they see. What icon do we portray? Are we intentional in showing joy despite life’s hardships? Do we walk with furrowed brow, head down, or chin up, crow’s feet and sparkly eyes? What do our children and husbands see when they behold our face? We all need to be reminded now and then, that to those we love, our Life is a Mirror!

  • 11:47 am
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