THE BEATITUDES

THE BEATITUDES 

   The section of Matthew’s Gospel starting with Chapter five through the end of Chapter seven, is known as the evangelical Law – the law of the Gospel given to us by Christ. The very beginning of Chapter five begins with the Beatitudes, which for unknown reasons, are used in other Orthodox churches but, to my knowledge practically unused in the Greek churches.

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted,

Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice for they shall be filled.

Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy.

Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.

Blessed are they who are persecuted for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven. 
                                                                  Matthew 5:3-12

  The doctrine of Jesus Christ is the cause of blissfulness, of happiness and lasting joy. Everything that man  seeks is found in Christ not in this material world. Animals find all that they need in this world, but because we are much more than animals, and are spirits, this world cannot fulfill our desires. Man desires to be free and stay alive. Man desires knowledge and builds schools, universities and libraries seeking all the knowledge that exists. Man forms societies to increase his singular  power and accomplishes great things, such a highways, bridges, ships, aircraft, huge buildings, etc.  Summing it up, man wants to live for ever. Man wants to be able to know everything. Man desires to do everything he can and accomplish great tasks.

Man wants to live for ever.             God is eternal forever alive

Man wants to know everything        God knows everything 

Man wants to have all power           God is all powerful, 

 Thus,  there is no question that man desires to be a god like God.  God also wills that we become like Him, but the Devil convinced the first woman to break God’s law and eat the forbidden fruit, saying: “You will become like God” She listened to his deception and death entered the world.  Christ came and destroyed the authority of death which held man captive.

    "Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

A person aware of his poorness in body,  seeks assistance until he receives  help.

A person aware of his poorness of spirit,  seeks assistance  from God until he receives help. It is not the poverty that is blessed, but the awareness of poverty, which promotes action.

"Blessed are they who mourn for they shall be comforted."

Realizing his poverty, he cries, mourning to God, who sees his tears and bestows the spirit

"Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth."

Those who have mourned over their sins, comforted by God, become meek avoiding anger.

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after justice for they shall be filled.

Those becoming meek hunger to do God’s will and keep every commandment.

"Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy."

Acquiring justice from God, they seek to be merciful, having first  tasted His great mercy.

"Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God."

Pureness of heart is analogous to clearness of the eye; a clear healthy heart sees God

"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God".

Those who reconcile men  to Christ establish peace between them and God          

"Blessed are they who are persecuted for justice’s sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

Those who reconcile men to God are persecuted but courageous and love moves them to action.

"Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake; rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven."

Ascending the ladder of the Beatitudes, the person who is filled with courage and spirit, endures everything for the sake of Christ and the truth, and gladly undergoes persecution and even death.

HAPPINESS THAT NEVER ENDS

HAPPINESS THAT NEVER ENDS

     Every human being desires genuine happiness and contentment but there are few who find what they seek. Some say: “If I had lots of money, I would be happy;” others say, “If I was married I would be happy;” or  “I would be so happy if I could get a divorce;” the varieties of ideas of happiness are  numberless. Yet happiness continues to be evasive for so many people. So the question is where can one find true and endless happiness, for which all men crave? Where are we to find happiness that is lasting?  The answer will amaze many but it is a true answer and there is but one source of happiness.

    Solving the problem of happiness  lies in solving the burdensome problem of all mankind – death and causes leading to it, for death hangs over all of our heads like a sharp sickle, and none of us has 

NOW AND FOR EVER AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN

NOW AND FOR EVER AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN

Νυν και αει, και εις τους αιωνας των αιωνων Αμην.

Now and forever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

  Many newer translations, sadly, have changed the translation of this important part that follows “Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ” which is “Now and for ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  Errors in translation always whittle away little by little at the beauty of our Orthodox Faith, for there are many meanings in words and phrases not yet discovered. Changing the translation removes some the beauty and important knowledge found in a few words, which will be herein demonstrated.  Even “now and for ever and unto the ages of age, amen”, has great significance and meaning, and what appears here  is not exhaustive.

 “Now”  means at this present time, in this present temporary life, now,  while we are yet alive, now before the winds of death arrive, now, before we are called to judgment, now is the time for repentance, now is the time for sincere heartfelt prayer,  now is the time to prepare an apology here so as to be forgiven there, now we can still change our lives, now we can help the poor, now we are able to confess our sins, now we can partake of the life-giving Mysteries.

   “For ever”  is the great and sure hope of all those who love Christ!  For ever means that there is no end, for ever is what Christ is about!  For He died, but, forever, Christ will never die again! Forever is Christ’s glorious Resurrection!  He will raise us up  for ever on the last day! Forever we hope to be with Christ, for ever to rejoice, forever to dance and sing! Forever to celebrate in the kingdom of heaven! Forever to be with the Theotokos and all the Saints! For ever to gaze upon their exquisite beauty.

    But for how long will this last?  “Unto the ages of ages!  Unto the ages of ages means until the end of time, for beyond the ages of ages, when time ends, there is one single day, for ever without end, for ever without darkness, for ever unto the ages of ages is for all  eternity!  What could be sweeter than to be assured that we will live beyond the ages of ages, into the day that never ends for ever? For ever and ever in eternity with the Lord, where there is no pain, no sorrow.  Unto the ages of ages, there will be  no sighing, but life everlasting! And finally “Amen.” May this come to pass! May this be our lot! May we be sealed with the grace of God. May we cross the river of fire by the power of the Cross. Amen .Amen. Amen.

    How important is “Now and for ever and unto the ages of ages, Amen!

 Let us preserve it always.

THE HOLY MARTYR NEOPHYTOS

THE HOLY MARTYR NEOPHYTOS

Jan 21

 Being an ascetic and a martyr, our Saint is truly amazing, for from early childhood, he emulated his God-loving parents and virtues  beautifully bloomed in him, causing him to help everyone who needed it.  He offered a prayer at the entrance to a church, and struck a rock; Immediately a vast supply of much-needed water and milk came forth, which quenched the thirst of many, not only bodily thirst but also the thirst of their souls were nourished.

 Neophytos, tried to hide the virtues with which he was adorned,  never becoming proud and always sought the ascetic life. His mother Florentia in a dream learned about her virtuous child, for she was in amazed  at his many wonderful miracles. Shedding tears 

IF GOD IS NOT THE HOLY TRINITY, THERE IS NO GOD!

IF GOD IS NOT THE  HOLY TRINITY, THERE IS NO GOD! 

 “God is the Lord and has revealed himself to us; blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.”

   We sing this hymn frequently in Church, but how did God reveal himself to us? As the  One Triune God   of three hypostases. He is one nature, one essence, one will, not three gods. God necessarily is a Trinity because He as being the perfect Mind, He must have an idea of himself,  a perfect idea, for a perfect Mind can only beget a perfect Logos or Idea. God also necessarily has a perfect spirit. Both the Logos and Spirit have their eternal origin in the Father, and are coeternal having  the same nature.

   The Father is perfect Mind, the Son is perfect Logos, and the Holy Spirit is perfect Spirit. If God were the Father Mind , lacking