- 1 week ago
2 Cor 5:11-12
11 Therefore, being conscious of fearing the Lord with respect and reverence, we seek to win people over [to persuade them]. But what sort of persons we are is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood by God, and I hope that it is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood also by your consciences (your inborn discernment).
12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but we are providing you with an occasion and incentive to be [rightfully] proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who pride themselves on surface appearances [on the virtues they only appear to have], although their heart is devoid of them.
11 Therefore, being conscious of fearing the Lord with respect and reverence, we seek to win people over [to persuade them]. But what sort of persons we are is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood by God, and I hope that it is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood also by your consciences (your inborn discernment).
12 We are not commending ourselves to you again, but we are providing you with an occasion and incentive to be [rightfully] proud of us, so that you may have a reply for those who pride themselves on surface appearances [on the virtues they only appear to have], although their heart is devoid of them.
Category
🛠️
LifestyleTranscript
00:29Today in this week,
00:30I have titled this one that asks,
00:34Do we as Christians have holy fear and reverence for God and his holy things?
00:41First, before we get started, I do want to preface that I am not a spokesman for the Orthodox Church,
00:47but I am merely a new convert who has been surprised by the love of God
00:52as I have journeyed into the mysteries of this ancient faith called Orthodoxy.
00:57It is my desire to share in the most simplistic way,
01:02a small part of the big puzzle in these truths in my journey of personal conversion.
01:08I was a practicing Protestant who was sharing the word of God for over 28 years
01:15by teaching and preaching in many denominations or non-denominations
01:19and also by reaching many countries around the world by radio internet.
01:24Until the day, I was invited to an Orthodox Church to witness true holiness
01:30in a service unlike any Protestant church service I had ever encountered before in all of my years.
01:38Oh yes, this is not to say that some of the practices and repetition of the liturgy
01:45did not cause questions of doubt.
01:47But once I started learning about the meaning and explanations
01:52of the reasons for these things I found problematic,
01:56I understood by the grace of the Holy Spirit, my teacher,
01:59who gave comfort and reassurance that this was the truth and the way of this most ancient faith
02:07since the very beginning of the birth of the church at Pentecost, 29 AD.
02:12I have been learning and I can clearly see now in that my years as a teacher of the Bible,
02:22as a Protestant and charismatic who drew sources of reference from commentators of the King James Bible
02:29and their understanding and perceptions many times more often than not.
02:34I found it was not aligned at all with the apostolic succession of the church
02:41and also the patristic fathers who were also called early church fathers
02:46who were theologians whose writing helped shape the foundations of the Christian doctrines.
02:53You see, apostolic succession is the unbroken, grace-filled transmission
03:00of the priesthood from Christ to the apostles
03:04and from the apostles to the bishops of the Orthodox Church up until this present day.
03:10The Orthodox Church teaches that this succession is preserved only
03:15where the Orthodox faith is preserved whole and undefiled.
03:21Apostolic succession is a direct historical and sacramental continuity
03:27from the apostles to present-day Orthodox bishops.
03:31St. John MacMavich, who is a modern-day saint, writes,
03:45So then, apostolic succession is tied to the purity of doctrine
03:52and teaches that this apostolic ministry includes guarding doctrine,
03:57preserving the sacraments, and maintaining the spiritual life of the church.
04:02So therefore, dear listener and followers,
04:06this was clearly one of the major factors that turned and shaped my new understanding of the church
04:12and her reality of her beginning,
04:15which was sorely missing in my Protestant theology
04:18and opened my eyes to the fact that the church was not an invisible idea
04:25or a loose gathering of sincere believers,
04:29but a living, continuous, spirit-filled body,
04:32which was rooted in the apostles themselves
04:35and still alive and vibrantly living with their authority and grace
04:40in our day and time in the Orthodox Church.
04:44We live in a day and time in this year of 2026,
04:50where everything in the world is in upheaval, uncertainty, and upside down.
04:56It seems from politics to global conflicts,
05:00from the economy to the rapid acceleration of technology,
05:05every pillar we once assumed was stable is now shifting beneath our feet.
05:11People are endeavoring to navigate rising costs of living,
05:16cultural proliferation,
05:18and a constant stream of information that clouds the line between truth and lies.
05:25Even institutions that once felt immovable,
05:28like education, healthcare, faith communities,
05:32and international alliances,
05:34are being tested and reshaped in real time.
05:38In the midst of all this volatility,
05:41individuals and families are trying to find clarity
05:44and a sense of direction
05:46and are searching for what remains trustworthy and enduring
05:50when so much around us feels fragile and unpredictable.
05:56There is a wonderful godly man,
05:58whose name is Father Triffin,
06:01who is an abbot of the monastery of the all-merciful Savior,
06:05which is located on Vashen Island,
06:08just outside of Seattle, Washington.
06:11Father Triffin recently quoted a spiritual leader,
06:15who is a monk,
06:17whose name is Geronda Iphthimos of Kastelan,
06:22who said,
06:23We live in an age of anti-spiritual,
06:26anti-Christian age.
06:29Whatever is true is being attacked,
06:31especially the orthodox faith,
06:33the truth of Christ.
06:35We should not worry or be in anxiety.
06:38A faithful man will do whatever he can,
06:41will struggle,
06:42and the rest,
06:43whatever he cannot do,
06:44he will leave to God.
06:45He will leave to Christ.
06:47Whatever we may be,
06:49no one can stop us
06:51from living a spiritual life
06:53and can progress on into it
06:55and become sanctified.
06:57Yes, the world and the devil are indeed problems,
07:00but the greatest of obstacles
07:03are ourselves and our passions.
07:07Seeing and hearing these present-day issues
07:10boils down to watching
07:12the condition of our own lives
07:14and particularly our own souls.
07:18I am reminded of what Apostle Paul said
07:20in 2 Timothy 3, verses 1 and 2.
07:26But understand this,
07:28that in the last days
07:29there will come times of difficulties,
07:31for people will be lovers of self,
07:33money, proud, arrogant, abusive,
07:37disobedient to their parents,
07:39ungrateful, unholy.
07:41And it goes on.
07:43And Jesus himself warned us
07:46in Matthew chapter 24,
07:50beginning in verse 6,
07:52And you will hear of wars
07:54and rumors of wars.
07:56See to it that you are not troubled,
07:58for all of these things must come to pass,
08:01but the end is not yet.
08:02You see,
08:03all of these things tells us as Christians
08:06in this modern day and age
08:08that we must hold fast to the things
08:11that are sure and true.
08:13The Bible speaks of this as a warning
08:15so many times throughout the scripture,
08:18for instance,
08:19saying in Hebrews chapter 10, verse 23,
08:29And this tells us
08:32that we must be firmly gripped
08:35and fastened on truth
08:36by full assurance of faith in Christ
08:39without doubts or second thoughts.
08:43Hebrews chapter 4, verse 14 instructs,
08:46Seeing then that we have such a high priest,
08:49let us hold fast to our confession,
08:52In this teaching,
08:53we see that Christ himself,
08:55as our great high priest,
08:58is the reason we can hold firm
09:00to what is true.
09:02Now, in pondering the seriousness of life,
09:06which is fragile,
09:07and in James chapter 4, verse 14,
09:10teaches that it is fleeting
09:13and a momentary nature of earthy life.
09:17This scripture declares,
09:18Whereas you do not know
09:21what will happen tomorrow,
09:23for what is your life?
09:24It is even a vapor that appears
09:27for a little time,
09:28and then it vanishes away.
09:31St. Ignatius Rocca Nouveau,
09:35who lived in the 19th century,
09:38specifically from 1807,
09:41said,
09:42Remember the brivity or the shortness of life,
09:45for it is like smoke.
09:47St. Ignatius is considered
09:50one of the great modern patristic writers
09:53who bridged ancient Orthodox ascetic wisdom
09:57with the challenges of a rapidly modernizing world.
10:01His writings included
10:04The Arena,
10:05The Field,
10:07On Prayers of Jesus,
10:09and these were all written
10:11to guide Christians living in a time
10:14of spiritual distraction
10:15and cultural upheaval.
10:18St. Theopon,
10:20the recluse,
10:21as quoted as teaching and saying,
10:24Life passes swiftly,
10:27like mist before the sun.
10:29St. John of Cronstead
10:32left us with these words,
10:34Our life is a moment.
10:36Eternity is everything.
10:39A scripture that has always great impact
10:42throughout all my years
10:43is found in Hebrews chapter 12,
10:46verse 25.
10:48Apostle Paul warns us by saying,
10:51See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks.
10:54For if they did not escape
10:56who refused him who spoke on earth,
10:59much more shall we not escape
11:01if we turn away from him
11:03who speaks from heaven.
11:04Verse 26,
11:06Whose voice then shook the earth,
11:08but now he has promised saying,
11:10Yet once more,
11:12I shake not only the earth,
11:14but also the heavens.
11:16Now this,
11:17yet once more,
11:18indicates the removal of those things
11:21that are being shaken,
11:22as things that are made,
11:24things which cannot be shaken,
11:26may remain.
11:27In verse 28,
11:29Therefore,
11:29since we are receiving a kingdom
11:31which cannot be shaken,
11:33let us have grace
11:34by which we may serve God acceptably,
11:37with reverence and godly fear,
11:40for God is a consuming fire.
11:43You see,
11:44we are given
11:45a solemn warning
11:46not to refuse the voice of God.
11:49For one
11:50who now speaks from heaven
11:52is the same God
11:54whose voice once shook the earth.
11:56A greater shaking is coming,
11:58one that will expose
12:00and remove everything
12:01that is created
12:02temporal and imperfect,
12:05so that only what is eternal
12:07and unshaken
12:08may remain.
12:10And this points us
12:11towards the final consummation
12:14of the kingdom.
12:15the kingdom
12:16we are already receiving
12:18cannot be shaken
12:20because its life
12:22is rooted
12:22in the Eucharistic reality
12:25of Christ himself.
12:27In verse 28,
12:29we are reminded
12:30that grace
12:31is not merely a gift,
12:33but a position
12:35or a frame of mind
12:37of gratefulness
12:38that shapes our worship.
12:40It is the grace
12:41of God alone
12:42that, dear ones,
12:44enables us
12:45to serve
12:45our God
12:47in a manner
12:48that is truly acceptable
12:49and marked
12:50by genuine
12:51and true reverence,
12:52by awe
12:53and godly fear
12:54before the one
12:55who is,
12:56as scripture declares,
12:58a consuming fire.
13:00Dear ones,
13:01in looking
13:02at these warnings
13:03in holy scripture
13:05and teaching
13:06of these dear saints
13:07and aligning
13:08our lives
13:09with this
13:10most ancient
13:11faith of orthodoxy,
13:13I have learned
13:14in a totally
13:15different way
13:16in my journey
13:17and in growing
13:19in understanding
13:20of the most
13:20precious gift
13:22and what is called
13:23the sacrament
13:24of sacraments
13:25that our Lord
13:27Jesus Christ
13:27left with his
13:29New Testament church
13:30that night
13:31before he was
13:32going to the cross
13:33on our behalf
13:35is called
13:36the Holy Eucharist
13:37or Holy Communion
13:39which is presented
13:40within the divine
13:41liturgy.
13:42The understanding
13:44of this all-powerful
13:45word is quite
13:47different in the
13:48Protestant realm
13:49in the verses
13:50the Orthodox Church
13:52theology
13:53which goes back
13:54to the early
13:54fathers of the church
13:56which began
13:57at Pentecost 29 AD.
13:59and this is what
14:01has been hidden
14:02from me
14:03and from most
14:04other Protestant
14:05believers
14:06for centuries
14:07since the great
14:08schism of the
14:09Roman Catholic Church
14:11when she chose
14:12to depart
14:13in 1054 AD
14:14from the seven
14:16ecumenical councils.
14:17These seven councils
14:19made up
14:19one holy
14:21Catholic
14:21and apostolic
14:22church
14:22at the beginning
14:23and birth
14:24of the universal
14:25church.
14:26The Roman Catholic
14:28Church
14:28never changed
14:30its name
14:30from using
14:31Catholic
14:32which means
14:33universal.
14:34This great
14:35schism occurred
14:37because of
14:38two major
14:38issues
14:39which included
14:40Rome's claim
14:41to a universal
14:43papacy
14:44supremacy
14:45and her addition
14:46to the
14:47philoque
14:47clause
14:48to the
14:49Nicene Creed.
14:51The Eastern
14:52Orthodox Church
14:53teaches that
14:54the Holy Spirit
14:55proceeds from
14:56the Father alone
14:57as defined
14:58by the original
14:59Nicene Creed
15:00in 381 AD.
15:03Rome later
15:04added
15:05and the Son
15:06to the Creed
15:07unilaterally
15:09without an
15:10ecumenical council
15:11something
15:12Orthodoxy
15:13views as
15:14both theological
15:15incorrect
15:16and canonically
15:18illegitimate.
15:20Ever since
15:21that time
15:21up until
15:22this present
15:22day
15:23there are
15:24more than
15:2440,000
15:25groups
15:26who claim
15:27to being
15:27the church
15:28since they
15:29have splintered
15:30off of the
15:30Roman Catholic
15:31Church.
15:32These two
15:33claim to be
15:34direct
15:35descendants
15:35of the church
15:36described in
15:37the New Testament
15:38which falls
15:39under
15:39Protestantism.
15:41Therefore
15:42my point
15:42is
15:43in the
15:44interpretation
15:45of biblical
15:46understanding
15:47the Holy
15:48Scripture
15:48has been
15:49severely
15:49misunderstood
15:50and
15:51incorrectly
15:52interpreted.
15:54Since that
15:55time
15:55with many
15:56thousands
15:57of
15:57Protestant
15:58churches
15:58each
15:59has
16:00interpreted
16:00explained
16:01or understood
16:02the Holy
16:03Scripture
16:04in a way
16:05a certain
16:06way
16:07that made
16:07sense to
16:08them
16:08or have
16:09taken the
16:10word of
16:10God in
16:11the Scripture
16:12literally
16:12rather than
16:13in keeping
16:14with the
16:14original
16:15teaching
16:15of the
16:16early
16:16fathers
16:17who
16:17co-labored
16:18alongside
16:18the
16:19apostles
16:19who
16:20taught
16:20them.
16:21You see
16:22in my
16:23journey
16:24into
16:25learning
16:25about
16:26orthodoxy
16:26I have
16:27been very
16:28surprised to
16:29learn that
16:29many of
16:30the early
16:31fathers of
16:31the church
16:32were trained
16:33and ordained
16:34by the
16:35apostles
16:35and helped
16:36shape this
16:37ancient faith
16:38in her
16:38foundations
16:39of Christian
16:40doctrines.
16:40I share
16:42this with
16:43you because
16:44as a
16:44former
16:44Catholic
16:45Protestant
16:46and
16:46charismatic
16:47who
16:48spent
16:4828 years
16:49in teaching
16:50the Bible
16:50I once
16:51believed that
16:52the King
16:53James Bible
16:53and Protestant
16:54commentators
16:55who shaped
16:56my understanding
16:57were the
16:58full historical
16:59foundation of
17:00the church
17:00and my
17:01desire to
17:02know the
17:02truth was
17:03sincere
17:03and my
17:04hunger for
17:05understanding
17:06was real
17:06but even
17:07deeper than
17:08that was
17:09my unquenchable
17:10love for
17:10my Savior
17:11Jesus Christ
17:13that love
17:14was like a
17:15fire that
17:15compelled me
17:16to keep
17:17searching
17:17to keep
17:18pressing
17:18beyond what
17:19I'd ever
17:19known and
17:20beyond what
17:21I had assumed
17:22beyond the
17:23limits of my
17:24own comprehension
17:25to the degree
17:26that is beyond
17:27human understanding
17:28so that I might
17:29truly encounter
17:30my Christ
17:31not merely
17:33as an idea
17:33or a doctrine
17:34but in the
17:35fullness of
17:36his divine
17:37uncreated light
17:38and the reality
17:39of his living
17:40presence
17:41where one's
17:41heart is
17:42truly drawn
17:43into communion
17:44and oneness
17:45with the
17:45very one
17:46who is life
17:47and truth
17:47and love
17:48himself
17:50I believe
17:51there are
17:52many
17:52Protestants
17:53and Catholic
17:54believers
17:54whose love
17:55for Jesus
17:56Christ is
17:57real and
17:58genuine
17:58and yet
17:59like me
18:00they have
18:01felt an
18:01empty void
18:02of fulfillment
18:03in their
18:04quest to
18:05know their
18:05Savior's love
18:06in the depth
18:07of their
18:07desire and
18:08longing
18:09and even
18:09lack the
18:10inability
18:10to express
18:12this thirst
18:14in words
18:15because something
18:16in their hearts
18:17tells them
18:18that there's
18:18something more
18:19and they cannot
18:20rest until
18:21they find it
18:23dear listener
18:24and followers
18:25I can honestly
18:26say the time
18:27has come
18:28where in my
18:29discovery of
18:30this most
18:30precious ancient
18:32faith
18:32and being
18:33surprised by
18:34the love
18:35of God
18:35that I
18:36truly
18:37had this
18:38longing
18:38and desire
18:39answered
18:39in the
18:40depth of
18:41truth and
18:41love that
18:42I've been
18:42searching for
18:43and that is
18:44found in the
18:45greatest of
18:45all sacraments
18:47and that again
18:48is called the
18:49Holy Eucharist
18:50as I had
18:50shared before
18:52now I'm not
18:53saying I
18:54have reached
18:55this place
18:55in fullness
18:56and understanding
18:57this most
18:58holy mystery
18:59called the
19:00Divine Eucharist
19:01or Holy Communion
19:02but I know
19:03that I am
19:04in a place
19:04where I am
19:05growing to
19:06understand my
19:07participation
19:08in it
19:09it is nothing
19:10like I've ever
19:10known in the
19:11true love and
19:12worship of our
19:13Lord Jesus
19:14Christ in the
19:15partaking of
19:16his body and
19:17blood each
19:18week in the
19:18Divine Liturgy
19:20it was at the
19:21Last Supper
19:22Jesus giving
19:23the command
19:24instituted the
19:25Eucharist
19:26the communion
19:27service when
19:28he took the
19:28bread and the
19:29wine gave a
19:30blessing and
19:31said to his
19:32disciples
19:32this is my
19:34body which
19:35is given
19:35for you
19:36do this
19:37in remembrance
19:38of me
19:39and this
19:40is the cup
19:41of the new
19:41covenant of my
19:42blood which
19:43is shed
19:43for you
19:45learning this
19:46has truly
19:47impacted my
19:48view of
19:49salvation
19:50by showing
19:51me that
19:51God's plan
19:52has always
19:53been to
19:54bring mankind
19:55into communion
19:56with himself
19:57through the
19:58Holy Eucharist
19:59which is
20:00celebrated
20:00during the
20:01Divine
20:01Liturgy
20:02the Orthodox
20:04Church teaches
20:05that every
20:06major act of
20:07God in the
20:08Old Testament
20:08foreshadows the
20:09Eucharist
20:10the offering of
20:11Melchizedek
20:12the Passover
20:13lamb
20:14the manna in
20:15the wilderness
20:16the sacrifices in
20:17the temple
20:18and the prophetic
20:19visions of
20:20Isaiah and
20:21Ezekiel all
20:22point toward the
20:24true bread from
20:24heaven
20:25in the New
20:26Testament
20:27these Old
20:28Testament
20:29sacrifices are
20:31but shadows
20:32and are
20:32fulfilled
20:33when Christ
20:34himself
20:34institutes
20:35the mystical
20:36supper
20:37declaring
20:37this is my
20:39body
20:39this is my
20:41blood
20:41revealing that
20:43the Eucharist
20:44is not a
20:45symbol
20:45but the
20:46true life
20:47of God
20:48given to
20:49his people
20:50and when
20:51Christ
20:52commands
20:53do this
20:54in remembrance
20:55of me
20:56he is not
20:57offering a
20:58suggestion
20:58but he is
20:59establishing
21:00an ongoing
21:02act of
21:03worship and
21:04spiritual life
21:04that is preserved
21:06and lived
21:06only within
21:07the Divine
21:08Liturgy of
21:09the Church
21:09even up
21:10until this
21:11present day
21:11and time
21:12until he
21:13returns
21:14and therefore
21:16the entire
21:17biblical account
21:18and history
21:19come together
21:20in the Divine
21:20Liturgy
21:21where heaven
21:22and earth
21:22meet
21:23and the
21:24faith will
21:24partake of
21:25the holy
21:25mysteries
21:26that were
21:27prefigured
21:27in the
21:28Old Covenant
21:28and fulfilled
21:29in the
21:30New Covenant
21:31the Orthodox
21:32Church has
21:33preserved this
21:34unbroken
21:35understanding
21:36showing that
21:37the Eucharist
21:37is not an
21:38addition to
21:39the faith
21:40but the
21:40very heart
21:41of God's
21:42plan
21:42from the
21:43beginning
21:45Saint
21:46Seraphim
21:48Zevendiski
21:49lived in
21:50early
21:5120th
21:52century
21:531883
21:55to 1937
21:56during the
21:57era of
21:58the Soviet
21:58persecution
21:59and he
22:00taught that
22:00the Divine
22:01Liturgy
22:01is the
22:02radiant
22:03life-giving
22:04center
22:05of Christian
22:06essence
22:06a priceless
22:08diamond
22:08a golden
22:09bridge to
22:10eternal life
22:11and a place
22:12where Christ
22:13himself
22:13shines as
22:15the eternal
22:15sun
22:17this is
22:18the worship
22:19of the
22:20New Testament
22:20Church
22:21this is
22:22the once
22:23and for
22:23all
22:23offering
22:24of himself
22:25which is
22:26now
22:27since that
22:28time is
22:29told in
22:29Hebrews
22:30chapter 7
22:31verses 26
22:32and 27
22:33and tells
22:34us
22:34for such a
22:35high priest
22:36was fitting
22:37for us
22:37who is
22:38holy
22:39harmless
22:40undefiled
22:41separate from
22:42sinners
22:43and has
22:43become
22:44higher
22:44than the
22:45heavens
22:45who does
22:46not need
22:47daily
22:47as
22:49those
22:49high
22:50priests
22:50to offer
22:51up
22:51sacrifices
22:52first
22:52for his
22:53own sins
22:54and then
22:54for the
22:55people
22:55for this
22:56he did
22:57once for
22:57all
22:58when he
22:58offered
22:59up
22:59himself
23:01and for
23:02me
23:02this
23:03was the
23:04missing
23:05ingredient
23:05that was
23:06discovered
23:07and became
23:08alive in
23:09my discovery
23:10in learning
23:11about
23:11liturgical
23:13worship
23:13which is
23:14found in
23:15heaven
23:15and is
23:16celebrated
23:17by all
23:18hosts of
23:18heaven
23:19and even
23:20on this
23:21earth
23:22in the
23:22orthodox
23:23church
23:23all over
23:24the world
23:25every time
23:26liturgy
23:27is offered
23:27up in
23:28behalf
23:28and honor
23:29of our
23:30great high
23:31priest
23:31Jesus
23:31Christ
23:32himself
23:34having
23:35lived as
23:35a cradle
23:36catholic
23:36in my
23:37late
23:37twenties
23:38later a
23:39protestant
23:39whenever we
23:41sporadically
23:41we did
23:42partake
23:43of the
23:44act of
23:44communion
23:45I must
23:46say it
23:46never
23:46carried
23:47the
23:47depth
23:47the
23:48mystery
23:48or
23:49living
23:49understanding
23:50that I
23:50now have
23:51encountered
23:52in this
23:52ancient
23:53faith
23:53of
23:53orthodoxy
23:54where
23:55there is
23:56a holy
23:56hush
23:57a reverence
23:58as one
23:58is prepared
23:59to partake
24:00of the
24:00very body
24:01and blood
24:02of Jesus
24:02Christ
24:03once
24:04what felt
24:06symbolic
24:06or merely
24:07commemorative
24:08has shown
24:09to be
24:09something
24:09far more
24:10profound
24:11as is
24:12now a
24:13living
24:14breathing
24:14the very
24:15heart
24:16of
24:16Christian
24:17worship
24:17and preserved
24:19with deep
24:19reverence
24:20from the
24:21night when
24:21Jesus Christ
24:22himself
24:22instituted
24:23it before
24:24going to the
24:25cross for the
24:26salvation of
24:27all of
24:27mankind
24:29in orthodoxy
24:30the eucharist
24:31is not
24:32an accessory
24:33an adornment
24:34to worship
24:35but dear
24:36listener
24:36and followers
24:37it is
24:38a life
24:39giving
24:39partaking
24:40of the
24:41embodiment
24:41of Christ
24:42himself
24:42into our
24:43souls
24:44it is
24:45the moment
24:45when heaven
24:46and earth
24:46meet
24:46when Christ
24:47offers himself
24:48to us
24:50not as a
24:51memory
24:51but as
24:52true life
24:54the church
24:55has guarded
24:55this mystery
24:56with awe
24:57from the
24:57beginning
24:58stepping into
24:59that continuity
25:00feels like
25:01stepping into
25:02a living stream
25:03of faith
25:03that has
25:04never been
25:05broken
25:05and I've
25:07learned
25:07that the
25:08orthodox church
25:09never treated
25:10the eucharist
25:11as a symbol
25:11alone
25:12but as a
25:13real life
25:14giving body
25:14and blood
25:15of Christ
25:15just as
25:17the early
25:17fathers
25:18proclaimed
25:18for instance
25:20saint
25:21ignatius
25:21of anioh
25:22wrote
25:23calling the
25:24eucharist
25:24the medicine
25:25of immortality
25:27the antidote
25:28that we
25:28should not
25:29die
25:29but live
25:30forever
25:31in jesus
25:31christ
25:32and saint
25:33cyril
25:34of jerusalem
25:35who lived
25:36in 313
25:37to 386
25:39ad
25:39taught
25:40the newly
25:40baptized
25:41that when
25:42christ
25:42said
25:43this is
25:44my body
25:45no one
25:46should dare
25:47doubt it
25:47for he
25:48himself
25:49has declared
25:49it
25:50and you
25:50must believe
25:51his word
25:51i truly
25:53embrace
25:54the fact
25:55that in
25:55orthodoxy
25:56this most
25:57ancient faith
25:58is not an
25:59idea
25:59but a
26:00living
26:01reality
26:01and this
26:02is the
26:03heart of
26:03our worship
26:04and salvation
26:05dear listeners
26:05this is
26:07called
26:07theosis
26:08or the
26:09partaking
26:10of the
26:10nature
26:11of god
26:11it is
26:12not a
26:13metaphor
26:13it is
26:14real
26:14participation
26:15in the
26:16divine
26:17life
26:17of jesus
26:18christ
26:19within the
26:20divine
26:20liturgy
26:21is a
26:22command
26:22he gave
26:23his
26:23disciples
26:24before
26:24he was
26:25willingly
26:25going to
26:26give his
26:26life on
26:27the cross
26:27and that
26:28is to
26:29take on
26:29our sin
26:30in order
26:31to free
26:31us from
26:32sin and
26:32death
26:33in order
26:33to destroy
26:34it
26:35he conquered
26:36death
26:36by giving
26:37his life
26:38for us
26:39so we
26:39could eternally
26:40live with
26:41him forever
26:42this is
26:43true love
26:44in revelation
26:46chapter 1
26:47verse 18
26:48jesus proclaims
26:49i am he
26:50who lives
26:51and was dead
26:52and behold
26:53i'm alive
26:54forevermore
26:55and i have
26:56the keys
26:57of hades
26:58and death
27:00our christ
27:01did this
27:02for you
27:03and for
27:04me
27:04and all
27:05others
27:05who will
27:06come to
27:06him
27:07and desire
27:07him
27:08more than
27:08anything else
27:09on this
27:09earth
27:11in experiencing
27:12the sacrament
27:14of sacraments
27:15one learns
27:16the true
27:17nature
27:17of the
27:18holy fear
27:19and reverence
27:19for god
27:20and his
27:21holy things
27:22we are
27:23reminded of
27:23the reverence
27:24and awe
27:24of god
27:25that we
27:26should be
27:26developing
27:27establishing
27:27and maintaining
27:29in our lives
27:30and hearts
27:31and partaking
27:32of the offering
27:33of the divine
27:34mysteries
27:35during this
27:36time
27:36there is much
27:38on our part
27:38that is required
27:39that is called
27:41having the
27:42synergy
27:42or the
27:43cooperation
27:44with god
27:45in developing
27:46spiritual
27:46discipline
27:47over ourselves
27:48and this
27:50brings us
27:50to our
27:51title of our
27:52reflection
27:52today
27:53do we
27:54as christians
27:55have holy
27:56fear
27:56and reverence
27:57for god
27:58and his
27:58holy things
27:59and this
28:00is where
28:01i personally
28:01have come
28:02to see
28:02that it
28:03is through
28:03the sacrament
28:04of sacraments
28:05called the
28:06holy eucharist
28:07or holy
28:07communion
28:08and partaking
28:09of it
28:09weekly
28:10in the
28:10divine
28:11liturgy
28:11which again
28:13was instituted
28:14by our
28:14precious lord
28:15jesus christ
28:16is where
28:18holy fear
28:19and reverence
28:19for god
28:20in his
28:21holy things
28:21is truly
28:23exemplified
28:24and illustrated
28:25as an example
28:26and illustrated
28:27as an example
28:29of the sacred
28:30fear
28:30of holy
28:32things
28:32this is the
28:34place
28:35where true
28:36reverence
28:36for god's
28:37holiness
28:37is demonstrated
28:39in hebrews
28:41chapter 12
28:41verses 28
28:43and 29
28:44declares
28:44let us
28:45have grace
28:46by which
28:47we may
28:47serve god
28:48acceptably
28:49with reverence
28:50and godly
28:51fear
28:51for our
28:52god is
28:53a consuming
28:54fire
28:55so in
28:56partaking
28:57of the
28:57holy eucharist
28:58which is
28:59actually the
29:00divine nature
29:01of christ
29:02through the
29:03gifts of
29:03his body
29:04and blood
29:04apostle paul
29:06in first
29:07corinthians
29:07chapter 11
29:09verse 27
29:10warns
29:10that receiving
29:11the body
29:12and blood
29:13without
29:13discernment
29:14brings judgment
29:15he says
29:17therefore
29:18whoever eats
29:19this bread
29:20or drinks
29:21this cup
29:22of the lord
29:22in an unworthy
29:23manner
29:24will be guilty
29:25of the body
29:26and blood
29:26of the lord
29:27but let a man
29:29examine himself
29:30and so eat
29:31the bread
29:31and drink
29:32of the cup
29:33for he who
29:34eats and drinks
29:34in an unworthy
29:35manner
29:35eats and drinks
29:36judgment
29:37to himself
29:38not discerning
29:39the lord's body
29:40for this reason
29:41many are weak
29:42and sick
29:43among you
29:43and many
29:44sleep
29:46and this is
29:47saying
29:47that not having
29:48holy fear
29:49and reverence
29:50for god
29:50and his holy
29:51things
29:52in coming
29:53to him
29:54to receive
29:54his body
29:55and blood
29:55in an unworthy
29:57manner
29:57with hidden
29:58immorality
29:59disunity
30:01doctrinal heresy
30:02or disorder
30:04which are all
30:05sins
30:06of not seeing
30:07the gifts
30:08of god
30:09as holy
30:10things
30:10for holy
30:11people
30:11you see
30:13dear ones
30:14i have learned
30:16also that in
30:16partaking
30:17of the divine
30:18nature of our lord
30:19is again called
30:21theosis
30:21in greek
30:22and this is
30:23where we are
30:24actually
30:25partaking
30:26of the body
30:27and blood
30:27of christ
30:27his literal
30:29body and blood
30:30through the divine
30:31eucharist
30:32these gifts
30:33are meant
30:34to draw us
30:34upward
30:35to lead us
30:36into the pursuit
30:37of his likeness
30:38into a life
30:39growing
30:40in communion
30:41with him
30:42the sacred
30:43ascent
30:43is what the church
30:45again calls
30:45theosis
30:46which is
30:47our participation
30:49in the very
30:50life
30:51of christ
30:53this is not
30:54an external
30:55sentimental
30:56sporadic
30:57feeling
30:57but it is
30:59a wholehearted
31:00reality
31:00of actually
31:02knowing
31:02that god
31:03exists
31:04and is
31:04desirous
31:05of drawing
31:06you and me
31:07into personal
31:08union
31:08with himself
31:09and this does
31:10not happen
31:11overnight
31:11dear ones
31:12but this is
31:13developed along
31:14our life
31:15journey
31:16in partaking
31:17of the divine
31:18nature of god
31:19which again
31:20is found
31:21in the liturgical
31:22worship
31:22as a new
31:23testament christian
31:24and again
31:25the highest
31:25form
31:26of worship
31:27that is
31:27possible
31:28this is
31:30true union
31:30with almighty
31:31god
31:32i feel
31:34personally
31:36as though
31:37a priceless
31:38treasure
31:38has been
31:39handed to me
31:40and i cannot
31:42describe it
31:43the orthodox
31:45church uses
31:46the fear
31:46of god
31:47in the liturgy
31:48with the fear
31:49of god
31:50and faith
31:51and love
31:53draw near
31:54says the
31:55divine liturgy
31:56this is
31:57exactly the
31:58same concept
31:59sacred fear
32:01of the holy
32:01things
32:02it means
32:03awe
32:04and reverence
32:05awareness
32:06of god's
32:06holiness
32:07and humility
32:08before the
32:09mysteries of god
32:10the mystery
32:12i am touching
32:12here
32:13is only a
32:14small part
32:15of a vast
32:17of a holy
32:18reality
32:19yet even in
32:21these few
32:21words we can
32:22glimpse the
32:23majesty of what
32:24our lord
32:24instituted on
32:26the night of
32:26the mystical
32:27supper
32:27and it remains
32:29the most sacred
32:30and unforgettable
32:31gift that he
32:32left to his
32:33church
32:33drawing us
32:35into true
32:36communion and
32:37oneness with
32:38himself
32:38this gift
32:40is the divine
32:41liturgy
32:42wherein we
32:43encounter
32:43the holy
32:44eucharist
32:45the very
32:46body and
32:46blood of
32:47christ
32:47where we
32:48stand in
32:49holy fear
32:49and reverence
32:50of the one
32:51who made
32:51eternal life
32:52possible
32:53in receiving
32:55it
32:55we do not
32:56merely remember
32:57him
32:57we partake
32:59of christ
32:59himself
33:00entering into
33:01the life
33:01he offers
33:02and becoming
33:03united to
33:04him in the
33:05deepest and
33:05most
33:06transformable
33:07way
33:08please dear
33:09ones
33:09i invite you
33:11next time
33:11when we
33:13journey through
33:13the ancient
33:14faith of
33:14orthodoxy
33:15and discover
33:16more truths
33:17which have
33:18been at the
33:19very heart
33:19of the church
33:20since her
33:21beginning at
33:21pentecost 29
33:22a.d
33:23these truths
33:25are first
33:26and foremost
33:26which take
33:27us into an
33:28encounter with
33:29our living
33:29god whose
33:31boundless love
33:32knows no end
33:33and who
33:33embraces all
33:34of mankind
33:35and calls us
33:36all
33:37each into
33:38deep fellowship
33:39with himself
33:42out
33:42and who
33:59are
33:59is
33:59a