As we struggle to care for ailing family members who have no hope of recovery; as we endure in ourselves the habits of a lifetime that seem so hard to break; as we wrestle with the sins of the world that seem to lead inexorably to crime and to injustice and, now, even to war, we must remember that we believe in a God who has met us at our worst, and has turned our darkness into his light.
Our struggles and our sadness are not meaningless and they are not endured alone. Even if we stand in the pit of despair, we must seek for illumination in the shadows, and find Christ in valley of death. We do not believe in a God who ignores our suffering or who befriends only the mighty and the powerful, but in a God who promised us, “In this world you have trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”
Be the Bee # 173 | Redemption & Repentance (Sunday of Saint Mary of Egypt)
Jesus tells us that He came to shed His blood and "give His life as a ransom for many.” But what exactly does that mean? What does the Orthodox Church teach about atonement?
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Focus On: Why do We Go to Church?
Why do We Go to Church?
Most such people were found to attend church with greater regularity while away than they did at home. When questioned about this, most sheepishly admitted that, while away, church attendance was seen as an opportunity to socialize, to make and meet friends, and to create a network of acquaintances in a new place.
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