11/26/13 Reflect - Verses 6-8 Paul means that those who have faith in Christ know that being “put right with God” (verse 6) is something that God does, not something that people can achieve on their own. 11/26/13 Psalm 93 (Good News Translation) Embodying Hope and Giving Thanks and Praise to God Introduction - Psalm 93: In this psalm, the writer describes God as a king clothed in majesty and strength. God rules over all the earth. The ocean roars in praise to God, yet God is even more powerful than the waves of the sea. Reflect – This psalm may have been used in the temple to celebrate God’s kingship. The “ocean” and “sea” are symbols of the power of chaos. God is described as one who has complete control over chaos. 11/26/13 A MUCH-MALIGNED, MODERN SAINT In recent years, many Orthodox Christians have developed a deep devotion of St. Nectarios, who was proclaimed a saint in 1961 by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The patron saint of cancer victims, St. Nectarios is frequently called upon to intercede in behalf of those suffering from any type of illness. It is hard to believe that during his lifetime, St. Nectarios was often treated unfairly. St. Nectarios (Anastasios Kephalas) was born in 1846 in Thrace. Always a pious and devout Orthodox Christian, he became a monk at the age of 30. He studied at the University of Athens, writing many books, pamphlets and Bible commentaries. He advanced quickly through the ranks of the clergy and in 1899, Nectarios was consecrated Metropolitan of Pentapolis by Patriarch Sophronios. He was assigned to be Bishop of Cairo. While popular with the faithful, many of his fellow clergy were jealous of him. They managed to turn the Patriarch against him, and within a year, Nectarios was dismissed from his diocese. Although stripped of his authority and duty, he never displayed any bitterness towards those who wronged him. St. Nectarios returned to Athens, where he soon was appointed the director of a theological school – a position he held for 15 years. In 1904, he established a monastery for women on the island of Aegina. When he retired from his position at the theological school, St. Nectarios returned to Aegina, where he lived the rest of his life as a simple monk. He loved hearing the confessions of the countless pilgrims who would come to visit the monastery. Unafraid of physical labor, Nectarios helped with the construction of the monastery buildings that were built with his own funds. He died on November 9, 1920 at the age of 74. Pilgrims continue to visit his tomb in the monastery church on the island of Aegina. From The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin
Posted on: Tue, 26 Nov 2013 08:10:53 +0000
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