Weekly Devotional

Praising God

by Fr. Dr. Derrence Ross Dmitri Th D, New Zealand

Saturday 21 May 2011 (13 Pachons;13 Bashans):

St. John the Theologian & Revelator, Apostle & Evangelist.
Abba Arsenius.

Mary set out ........into the hill country.......
where she entered Zechariah's House and greeted Elizabeth.
(Luke 1:39)

CONSIDER THIS:

O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no
want to them that fear him.
(Psa.34:9)

Better is the end of a thing, than the beginning
thereof.
(Eccles. 7:8)

Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will
for you in Christ Jesus.
(1 Thess. 5:18)

If we seek God, he will show himself to us, and if we keep
Him,he will remain close to us.
(Abba Arsenius)

The Glory of a good man is the testimoney of a good conscience.
Therefore keep your conscience good and you will always enjoy happiness.
(Imitation of Christ)

Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will
receive, that your joy may be full.
(John 16:24)

Those pictures we used to see of Monk's conviviality,
I never quite believed before, until the Brothers came
next door, And filled the rural air with peals, of endless
bells announcing meals.
(Time for a Rhyme-Fr.S.J.Forrest)

Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you;
but tarry in the City of Jerusalem until you are
embued with power from on high.
(Luke 24:49)

REFLECTION:

In the interior life and in the apostalate, let us always
work with Your Son. For then everything becomes easier
and more certain, quick and more delightful.

Lord Jesus, help us to labour hard in the Christian Apostolate.
Teach us to work always with Your Holy Father God, so that
we may obtain the best fruits from this work.
(Louis Grignion de Montfort)

HOMILY:

TESTIMONY:

I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth. (Psa. 34:1)

This is an acrostic poem. The spirit of exuberant confidence in the Lord is more important than the structure of the Psalm. Many of of its phrases have found their way into devotional worship. David has reached the point of spiritual certainty. The very centre of his being was his praise of God.

He gives a personal testimony. He magnified the Lord and saw that the Lord is good. I enquired of the Lord and He answered me. What an unforgettable experience. He cried unto the Lord and was heard and saved with full salvation. He knew of experience when an angel of the Lord intervened to save not only him but also his people.

He enlarges his theory of deliverance by the illustration of young lions going hungry. Even powerful beasts in their prime have less security of life than those who turn to God for sustenance and enjoy His abundant provision.

David teaches his followers what it means to fear the Lord. The Lord's continual benevolence has three characteristics.:-

(a) Strict avoidance of all falsity of speech (see Matt.5:37).

(b) Activity in doing good.

If we look at 1 Peter 3:10-12, we see a synopsis of Christian Ethics.

There are two trends in Human Life. On the one hand there is the pursuit of righteousness and godliness, which is bound up with the goodness and power of the Lord. On the other hand is the choice of wickedness and its inevitable doom and leads to ruin.

Ask yourself what path are you going to follow?

Finally as an echo of the initial Testimony, it is impossible for those who trust in the Lord to share in the condemnation of the guilty.

To Thee be all glory and praise, now and ever, unto Ages of Ages. AMEN!

Today's Readings:

Evening: Psalm 129:1-2;Luke 11:17-23.
For S.John 1 John 3:21-4:6; 1John 4:11-16;20-5:5.

Morning: Psalm 146:10;John 7:31-36. For S.John John 21:15-25.
Liturgy: Ephes. 1:1-14;1 John 4:15-5:1; Acts 9:36-43; Psalm 15:4;
Gospel: John 7:14-24.
For S. John 1 John 1:1-7; John 19:25-27; John 21:24-25.

Last Week | Next | Weekly Devotional Archives

-------
Malankara World
A service of St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox Church, Ohio
Copyright © 2009-2020 - ICBS Group. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer
Website designed, built, and hosted by International Cyber Business Services, Inc., Hudson, Ohio