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Dearest Brethren in Christ, St Macrina was the elder sister of St Basil the Great and St Gregory of Nyssa. After her fiancee died, she became a nun and served Christ until she fell asleep in 379. She was discussing the immortality of the soul with her brother St Gregory on her deathbed which shows us that her words, thoughts and deeds were constantly focussed on Almighty God and all His Teachings. St Dios was born to Christian parents in the ancient city of Antioch, Syria. He became a celebrated Monastic who by the Grace of Almighty God performed many Miracles. One of the most famous Monasteries in Constantinople was founded by him. He fell asleep in the service of God in 430. May their memories be eternal! 1 COR 5:9 - 6:11 EVIL & IMMORAL PEOPLE: St Paul refers to his epistle or letter that has been lost to us. There is evidence that he wrote quite a few letters which were either lost or not included in the New Testament Canon. [Refer Col. 4:16] "Those who are outside" is an ancient Semitic statement referring to those people who are outside the Community of Almighty God. [Refer Ecclesasticus, The Prologue; Mark 4:1; Col.4:5; 1 Thess. 4:12; 1 Timothy 3|:7] "Before the unrighteous" refers to judges of secular courts at Corinth. St Paul asked they why they sought justice before the unjust and not before "the Saints" who were their fellow Christians. This is the biblical basis for Church courts. "Saints will judge the world ...." and "Angels" because in Christ, Christians share in His Authority to judge. This being so,"how much more" are we able to judge the everyday concerns of this life?! [Refer Matt 19:28; John 5:22,27; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 6; Rev 20:4] Love of litigation is a love of greed, hatred, and retaliation. Christians ought to be possessed of generosity, mercy and forgiveness. To "let yourselves be cheated" is to turn the other cheek. [Matt 5:30] As to those who will "not inherit the Kingdom of God," refer to 1 Cor 15:50; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:5; Rev 21:7-8; 22:15. Salvation includes being "washed" in the Holy Sacrament of Baptism, "sanctified" through the receiving of the Holy Spirit in the Oil of Chrismation, and "justified" through our faith in the Holy Trinity. "Such were some of you" means that in Christ we can be set free from the very worst of sins. MATTHEW 13:54 - 58: CHRIST IS REJECTED AT NAZARETH:
Sadly, too often we are all guilty of the same practice when we look at ethnic, social or monetary status and judge others accordingly. Not only are we not fit to judge anyone else, but we do not see the wonderful qualities within others who are, like us, the "image of God" and who therefore should be treated with respect. If Christ was in our midst, I wonder how we would really accept him? With love? Without any criticism? With great respect? With compassion? With warmth and kindness? If there are some men you hate and some you neither love nor hate, and others you love strongly and others again you love but moderately, recognisefrom this inequality that you are far from perfect love. For perfect love presupposes that you love all men equally. [Philokalia: St Maximos the Confessor: On Love] May Almighty God soften our hearts so that we may learn how to love all His creatures without exception and unconditionally. May we continuously glorify Him by seeing this wonderful world He has created with new, clear eyes, marvelling at His Magnificence and praising His Divine Name without ceasing! With love Your least worthy sister in Christ Marguerite P |
Our
Lord Jesus Christ found rejection instead of acceptance even in
"His own country" - Nazareth. [John 1:11] The people
could not fault Him in any way - neither in the wise
and profound words He spoke, nor in His daily actions - whether
at work or at worship. In their envy at His wonderful qualities,
the people of Nazareth dismissed Him on the basis of the unimportant
social status of His earthly family members.