Morning Prayer

Lord, give rest to the souls of your departed servants, in a place of brightness, refreshment, and repose; where all suffering, sorrow, and sighing have fled away.

John 3:17

Lots of people know John 3:16, but John 3:17 is equally important. When you read the two verse together, it’s clear that verse 17 completes the teaching:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” (John 3:16-17)

“I was glad when they said…”

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“‘I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.'” (Psalm‬ 122:1‬) It's about that time again here at @StNicholasFW • #divineliturgy #eucharist #praise #worship #thanksgiving #psalmshymnsandspiritualsongs #icxcnika #frajarmus #stnicholasfw #fortwayne #indiana #46805

A post shared by Fr. Andrew Jarmus ☦️ (@frajarmus) on Aug 30, 2020 at 5:36am PDT

I always enjoy the peaceful moments in church before Sunday Liturgy. There is a mix of both tranquility and anticipation.

“‘I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.'” (Psalm‬ 122:1‬)

The Beheading

Today is the feast of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist (see Mark 6:14-30). This holy day is a day of strict fasting in the Orthodox Church, as we remember the death of an innocent and holy man at the hands of a weak leader governed by his ego and insatiable appetites.

And the light shines in the darkness…

“And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.” (John‬ ‭1:5‬)

Taste and see…

Christianity was never meant to be merely a topic of academic study. Christianity is communion with the living God. “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psalms of David)

Yes, we must use our heads when learning the Faith. But Christ doesn’t want us to leave him in our heads, he wants us to invite him to sit on the throne of our hearts.