The Lord Directly Commands That We Rebuke a Sinning Brother

The Lord Directly Commands That We Rebuke a Sinning Brotherby Archbishop Averky (Taushev) –
In order to strengthen their shaky “position”, such false preachers of this trendy, pseudo-“Christianity” like very much to abuse the Lord’s famous saying, Judge not, that ye be not judged (Matt. 7:1). This is their very favorite saying, which nevertheless does not hinder them in the least from judging and condemning in the cruelest manner all of those who do not agree with their heresy, which is no more than a totally deceitful distortion of the Gospel teachings—a fraud by which they confuse and disturb many. [Read more…]

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A Calling to Beauty, A Calling to Holiness

A Calling to Beauty, A Calling to Holinessby Fr. Gabriel Rochelle –
“Beauty will save the world,” said the great Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky. But what is that beauty? Not simply art no matter how well executed or in what medium. Indeed, we can become tearful at the sight of graceful dancers or upon hearing a brilliant pianist play Chopin, and we know intuitively that there is something generically spiritual going on. [Read more…]

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Orthodox Church Has Mission to Guard the True Faith Against False Prophets, Teachings, and Practices

Orthodox Church Has Mission to Guard the True Faith Against False Prophets, Teachings, and Practicesby Fr. Basil Ross Aden –
A primary mission of the Orthodox Church is to guard the true faith against false prophets, teachings, and practices. To be Orthodox is to be committed to the truth: the truth of the Gospel, the Holy Trinity, the scriptures, and the Holy Tradition

The word for today is “false.” In today’s reading of 2 Corinthians 11:5-21, we note how seriously St. Paul takes the false teachers who are misleading the congregation at Corinth. The Apostle is so concerned—and incensed—that he is willing to defend himself on the low level of his adversaries. [Read more…]

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Apostasy in the Orthodox Church Supported by Certain Clergymen and Hierarchs

Apostasy in the Orthodox Church Supported by Certain Clergymen and Hierarchsby Archbishop Averky (Taushev) –

The enemy of the human race is employing all his efforts and all his means to pull it [the Orthodox Church] down, and he is widely supported in this by open and secret apostates from the true faith and Church, including even those who have betrayed their high vocations and oaths as clergymen and even as hierarchs heading certain individual churches.

In truth, we are experiencing a terrible time — a time such as has never before been seen in the history of Christianity, in the history of mankind! A time of almost total instability! [Read more…]

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Carrying the Cross of Truth and Righteousness

Carrying the Cross of Truth and Righteousnessby Fr. Peter Olsen –
When we avoid the truth, we drift into the realm of not only falsehood but also dishonesty.

Life can be very confusing and challenging. The great gift of free will that God has given us carries along with it the awesome weight of responsibility and accountability. Sometimes we are tempted, knowingly or unknowingly, to despise the blessing of freedom that God has given us, wishing instead that someone or some thing would instead just tell us what to do and make our decisions for us. In other words, making decisions and choices is hard work. [Read more…]

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Christians Cannot Watch Indifferently and Allow Evil to Abuse Good and Destroy Innocence

Christians Cannot Watch Indifferently and Allow Evil to Abuse Good and Destroy Innocenceby Archbishop Averky (Taushev) –
When a gentle word of persuasion has no effect, when people are so steeped in evil that they do not yield to any admonishment and continue doing evil, a Christian cannot and should not take refuge in this teaching of the forgiveness of all, sit indifferently with his arms crossed, and apathetically watch as evil abuses good, as it increases and destroys people, his close ones.

To indifferently watch the ruin of a close one by one who has lost his senses and become a bearer of evil is nothing other than the breaking of the commandment of love for one’s neighbor. Every type of evil should be immediately thwarted with the most decisive measures, even including the sacrifice of oneself in an unequal struggle. [Read more…]

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Focus on God Instead of Ourselves

Focus on God Instead of Ourselvesby Fr. James Guirguis –
The Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. (6:22-33)

Our Lord says “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”

Often we hear or listen to these words and we think very straightforwardly that this is about what we look at with our physical eyes. Now there is certainly some truth to this, no doubt. But the Lord goes further and it helps to clarify the teaching for us. He says “No one can serve two master; for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” [Read more…]

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