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by Fr. Dmitri, New Zealand
Saturday 5 December 2009 ( 26
Hathor; 26 Hatour)
Apostles of the Seventy; Philemon; Archippus
But you are as chosen generation, a royal
priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.
(1 Peter 2:9a.)
CONSIDER THIS:
Our beloved Church has set the Morning Prayer to
remind us of
the Resurrection of the Lord of Glory, which took place about
dawn of the First Day, as in the Third Psalm."I lay down and slept;
I awoke."(Ps.3:5)
(Heguman Pishoy Kamel)
Thirst after Jesus and He will satisfy you with His Love.
(Isaac the Syrian)
Shower my heart O Lord by your blessings, so that Virtue might
grow in my heart and keep it in Your mercy so that it might give
the fruits of righteousness through Your mercy.
(Ephraim the Syrian)
Beloved brethren, who inherit with the saints, all the virtues
are not far from you, but they are for you and in you. You are
not hidden in this temporary world, but you are apparent to God.
(Anthony the Great)
Demons leave us alone to make us careless, then pounce on our miserable souls.
(John Climacus)
But He is of one nature, one hypostases, and one person, for God the Word.
(The Holy Psalmody)
We went through fire and through water; but You brought us out to rich
fulfillment.
(Psa.66:12)
We must seek Thee above all else, and not seek anything else
but Thee, for he who seeks Thee finds all in Thee.
(Ephraim the Syrian)
The appearance of these Spirits ( The Angels), comes in peace and
in silence; it creates joy and courage in the soul, for the Lord is our joy.
(St. Antony the Great)
REFLECTION:
All the children of the Church are priests. At Baptism they received
the anointing that gives them a share in the priesthood. The sacrifice
that they must offer to God is completely spiritual - it is themselves.
Holy Father, teach us to offer ourselves to You with all our thoughts,
words, and actions. Let us also exercise our "common priesthood" by
faithful participation at the Eucharist.
(S. Ambrose of Milan)
HOMILY:
A FALLING AWAY:
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching.
They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will
tell them whatever they want to hear. They will reject the truth and follow
strange myths.
(2 Tim.4:3-4) New Living Translation.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but having
itching ears, they shall heap to themselves teachers in accordance with
their own lusts. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall
be turned towards fables.
(2 Tim.4:3-4) Third Millennium Bible.
I have given two versions of the Scripture Passage, so you can see the
variation. 'For the time is Coming', I am sure that it is now come, as I
have seen examples of where people have Preachers who pander to their every
whim and will only tell them what they want to hear. They are not interested
in Bible Prophecy. They shy away from such things, they have no interest,
they are Laodicean (neither hot or cold), only lukewarm.
A minister should give varied and positive teaching, not monotonous and
negative condemnation..
The future prospect described in these verses provides added reason for such
preaching. Note how this hearing is wrong both in motive and interest; it is
determined by selfish caprice or desire to be entertained; and deliberately
diverted away from the truth to cunningly devised fables or myths. We should
steer clear of Heretical Teaching.
The vast number of strange teachers to whom people listen to today, is
largely the result of the Church's neglect of evangelization and right
teaching. Satan is behind these cunningly devised fables and he jumps
for joy at how man can be easily led astray.
We must purge the Church of these free thinkers, repent of our errors and
turn back to God and His Christ. Otherwise we will be in uncharted waters,
losing our way along life's pathway.
It has been said that there will be a great falling away from the Church
near the end of the Age.
Are you part of the falling away group or can you say you are part of the ELECT?
To Thee be glory and praise, now and ever, unto Ages of Ages.
AMEN!
Today's Readings:
Evening: Psalm 4:4-8; Gospel Matt.10:24-33.
Morning: Psalm 112:1-2; Gospel Mark 8:34-9:1.
Liturgy: Romans 8:14-17; 1 Peter 2:11-17; Acts 19:11-20;
Psalm 65:12-13; Gospel Luke 21:12-19.
Copyright DR
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