Sunday, October 4, 2009

Quotes of the Day:

"The Son of God and the Son of Man -- one Son!"

             -- Battle cry of Saint Cyril at the Council in Ephesus, 431 AD.

"If we do not taste and see God here on earth, why should we expect to taste and see God after we die?"

             -- Symeon the New Theologian

"O Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who are in all places and fills all things,

Treasury of Good Things and Giver of Life: come and abide in us, cleanse us from every stain,

and save our souls, O Good One."

             -- Prayer to the Holy Spirit, Morning Prayers

Dialogue of the Day:

Why did God make human beings?

              To live with Him forever.

What does it mean to be created in God's image?

              God has given us the ability to create.

              God has given us the ability to love.

We say Jesus is our Saviour.  What did He save us from?

              Eternal death.

How did he save us?

              By becoming fully man.  Jesus is the God-man.

How did Jesus become the God-man?

             He was "incarnated" -- God took on flesh -- by being born of the Virgin Mary.

             God's son and Mary's son are the same person.

What two huge acts did Jesus do?

             He died, and took His strength and power to hell, where He conquered death, united death to Himself, giving it

             life.  He rose from the dead.

If Jesus Christ is a living person, how are we going to relate to Him?

             Think about the face of Jesus Christ on the Pantocrator icon from the Monastery of Saint Catherine, Sinai, the

             earliest extant icon of Christ, from the 5th century.  One eye sees our arrogance and how we hurt each other.

             The other is full of mercy.

Who helps us taste and see God, here on earth, during our everyday lives?

             The Holy Spirit.  At creation, the Spirit of God moved over the face of the waters, and breathed into Adam and Eve

             the breath of life.  The Holy Spirit is like our breath, invisible, alive, very near to us.

How do we allow the Holy Spirit to breathe on us, to give us wisdom as we go about our day?

             The prophets began their words with "Hear O Israel."

             Jesus began his parables with "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

             Fall silent.  Listen to the still small voice of God in your heart.  If you must speak, whisper in your heart, "Lord have

             mercy."  As you fall silent, you will know what to do.