Die Schreiben von Schreiber

 The Christmas season began yesterday with the celebration of the Birth of Christ for those using the Revised Julian Calendar. For others on the Julian Calendar, there are a few days yet until the celebration begins. Yes. Christmas begins  on Christmas day...not thanksgiving or November 1st as the commercial interests around us would have us believe. But that's another blog entry. Yesterday we celebrated at my eldest daughter's house. It was s wonderful day. All the kids were there, our grandson, and our two grandkids who will be making their appearances in 2023! It was a full house, full of warmth and love, great food and drink, and all the trappings of a wonderful holiday family gathering. After the lovely charcuterie and amazing meal, we gathered in the family room where I put forth the following conversation-starter: Setting aside all the cultural aspects of Christmas, and focusing only on the religious part, stated in it's most blunt terms: Christmas is the day we cele...

 Death is painful for those who remain after the loss of a loved one. But death is a gift. If we did not die, we would live forever in corruption and brokenness, alienated from God. He used to walk in the garden with Adam and Eve, but after their fall, there was separation. To end that separation and enter upon the way to everlasting live in union with God, we must die, or the separation would be eternal. There is no other school like that of death. Nothing else teaches us, over and over, the importance of love, forgiveness, relationship with each other, and most importantly, with God Himself. Nothing prepares the soil of the heart as when the plow of death carves its furrows. Death says "I will not accept your wealth or your goods. Material is useless." So we must learn that money and property must be put in their proper place, far lower in importance than God and our neighbor. Death says "I can not wait until tomorrow or another day. There is no other time. There is no...

  We've just come through Great and Holy Lent and have celebrated Pascha, the resurrection of our Lord, God, and Savior, Jesus Christ from the dead.  It is common among Orthodox Christians to add to their reading list during the fast as part of the increased spiritual training in which we endeavor to engage and through which we hope to grow in fervent love for God and our Neighbor. It is a good thing. But...(You knew that was coming) Like so many other things, we must use balance and sobriety when we embark on such a task, and we must have our priorities in order. So what should I read? "Spiritual reading" is ok, but what you absolutely cannot do without is the Scriptures and the prayers. So if you're looking for something to read, read the Gospels and the Psalms. Then add Proverbs. Then add the Epistles, then the Prophets. Read the Gospel every day. We pray "Blessed art Thou, O Lord, teach me," "give me understanding," and "enlighten me with ...

  I was at a party. The attendees, tho not all directly acquainted, were all connected by having the guest of honor as a relative/friend "in common." As happens in the milling about and socializing, conversations take place and pieces of them are overheard by non-participants. I happened to catch a snippet where a relative mentioned an opinion that was contrary to the guest of honor's opinion and planning. No doubt the family member made the comment with the best of intentions, surely out of love and concern. They're family, after all. Still, it was in direct opposition to the intentions and plans of the guest of honor. Not that there was any threat to health or life of anyone. Nothing was dangerous, just a difference of opinion on a mundane matter. Later on, I casually mentioned to my friend that I heard this family member wasn't on board with the chosen course of my friend. In doing so, I caused hurt to my friend and put the face of the family member on my offen...

When the demons see that in the very beginning we intend to keep aloof from the witty lecture of a coarse leader, as from an infectious disease, then they try to catch us by two thoughts, suggesting to us: ‘Do not offend the story-teller,’ or: ‘Do not appear to love God more than they do.’ Be off! Do not dally, otherwise at the time of your prayer the jokes will recur to your mind. And not only run, but even piously disconcert the bad company by offering for their general attention the thought of death and judgment. For perhaps it is better for you to be sprinkled with a few drops of vainglory, if only you can become a channel of profit for many. -Saint John of Sinai, The Ladder of Divine Ascent   "The witty lecture of a coarse leader."   Sorry, what? St. John is writing in this chapter about the dangers of verbosity and joking. Proverbs cautions us that "In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise." St. John warns that a per...

 Ladies and Gentlemen Please Would you bring your attention to me? I want to tell you a little bit about myself. There is no more important topic, after all. I'm an Orthodox Christian because I did a lot of research and I read a lot of books which led me to decide that Orthodoxy was the correct faith, and so I should be there since I know the truth. You can see me in church. I mean, how could you miss me? Have you seen my vestments? They are legit! I got them custom tailored by monks in Holy Rus! I chose them because they are the most vivid colors and the brightest gold. The embroidered cross on my back really sparkles. So I spend most of the liturgy in the altar, the holiest place, of course. Where else would I be. But when I come out, you can see my piety and devotion in my bows and movements. And the voice! Oh have you heard me chanting? It's pretty much what angels sound like. By the way, when I do come out of the altar, you'll see me limping. That's because I'm...

 Let us start with the crown jewel of Holy Tradition: The Sacred Scriptures. We know in the commandments of God we are told "You shall not commit adultery." Generally people understand this as not having sex with a person other than the one to whom you are married. That's partly correct.Jesus became man and dwelt among us and taught us the commandments are much deeper than they first appear. Regarding this command, He said if we even look at another person and think lustfully about them, we have committed adultery. "Great multitudes" followed Jesus, (Mat. 4) and when He saw them, He went "up on a high mountain" where they came to Him (Mat. 5). It was here on this mountain that He told the multitudes about how the commandments are not only about outward actions, but also about the nous, the "heart" of men and women.  Was He only speaking to married people when He said this? Probably not. A "multitude" is going to represent the societ...

" Pray without ceasing. " How, exactly, are we to do that? I can't just sit and pray all day. I have responsibilities: A job, a family, etc. And what would I pray about? I'm not good with words, and even if I was, surely I would run out of thoughts to pray about.  The answer to every question about this is the Jesus Prayer. Let's look at the prayer itself, in smaller parts: "Lord Jesus Christ." The Name above all names at which every knee shall bow and every tongue confess. The titles Lord and Christ, the anointed one of God. As the song says, there 's power in the Name. When we call upon the Name of the Lord, we worship Him(Ps 116), we draw near to Him, and He draws near to us (Ja 4:8). How long have I lived my life attending services on Sunday but leaving and spending the rest of the week drifting away? But if I call on His Name throughout the day, I call to mind His imminent presence and I maintain closeness with Him. I repent, literally turning t...

 This is a combination of a series of Facebook posts I made some time ago: Did you know...Mary is the greatest woman who ever lived. The archangel Gabriel and her cousin, St. Elizabeth both confess in Scripture "Blessed art thou among women." She was chosen by God to conceive, enflesh, birth, nurture, and raise "very God of very God, of one essence with the Father!" He who can not be contained condescended to be contained in her womb. She is the first Christian to receive the Savior, and she did so in ways no one else could ever do. She found favor with the Father, was overshadowed by the Spirit, and gave birth and raised the Son. (Icon: Our Lady of the Sign, depicting Christ's conception in her womb as she says "May it be done unto me." Her arms are open to us in an invitation to also receive the Savior of our souls.) Did you know...Mary is the model of a life of faith. When God's Angel came to her with His amazing message, in faith, Mary respo...

Many people have various ideas concerning the Saints of Christianity. Many Protestants, while acknowledging a few of them by calling them "Saint Paul" or "Saint Luke," fall into two camps. The more "evangelical" denominations generally don't recognize many, if any non-biblical persons as saints, to my knowledge. The "Mainline Protestants" like Methodists, Anglicans, Lutherans etc, do recognize other saints, to a limited degree. Coming from Lutheranism, I know they acknowledge Saint Augustine, Saint Lucia, and others. Ironically, Martin Luther, the Reformer who is credited with "restoring the Gospel" is not recognized as a saint, and no person is considered a saint, in the narrow sense, since the Reformation. In Lutheranism (I'm not sure about others), there is a broad, general sense of saint-hood, and it's generously applied to pretty much all those who have departed this life apparently in the faith. But that's it. Sain...