Christian Life – Page 4

Dec

12

2016

Enough vs. Abundance

Christian Life

DAY AFTER DAY Christians say the Lord’s Prayer, asking God to “give us this day our daily bread,” that is, to provide us with what we need for today. The rich man in Christ’s parable (Luke 12:16-22) clearly has a different perspective. He is not just concerned about today but about tomorrow, finding his security in the “grain and goods” he has stored up. The man’s approach seems eminently practical – we do the same with our IRAs and annuities. Nobody wants to end their days on earth in a welfare hotel. But if we put absolute confidence in any…

Oct

13

2016

By Fr. Roman Planchak

St. John Chrysostom: Family

Christian LifeWisdom of the Fathers

"Don’t say, “Bible-reading is for monks; am I turning my child into a monk?” No! It isn’t necessary for him to be a monk. Make him into a Christian! Why are you afraid of something so good? It is necessary for everyone to know Scriptural teachings, and this is especially true for children. Even at their age they are exposed to all sorts of folly and bad examples from popular entertainments. Our children need remedies for all these things! We are so concerned with our children’s schooling; if only we were equally zealous in bringing them up in the discipline…

Oct

01

2016

By Fr. Roman Planchak

St. Romanos: Patron of Church Musicians

Christian Life, FaithMusic

ONE OF THE MORE POPULAR CHANTS in our Church is the kondakion of Christ’s Nativity, “Today the Virgin gives birth…” What many do not know is that this hymn is an excerpt from a much longer work and that it was written by St Romanos the Melodist. Who is This Saint? St Romanos was born in Homs, Syria (some say Damascus), to a Jewish family in the latter part of the fifth century. We do not know when he was baptized or whether his family was converted as well. As a young man he moved to Beirut and entered the…

Jun

25

2016

By Fr. Roman Planchak

The Son of Man Forgives Sins

Christian Life

WE READ IN Matthew 9:1-8 that, when people brought a paralyzed man to the Lord Jesus, He healed the man’s paralysis, but not before telling him, “Your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). The bystanders’ initial thought that Jesus had blasphemed was replaced by wonder. As Matthew described it, “they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men” (Matthew 9:8). The Lord Jesus, of course, was more than just a man. His full humanity was joined without confusion to the divine nature of the Word of God. He forgave sin, then, as the only-begotten Son of the Father.…

Dec

07

2015

By Fr. Michael Winn

54 Ways to Be Merciful During the Jubilee Year of Mercy

Christian LifeYear of Mercy

Practicing mercy in our lives actually does take practice Source: Aleteia The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” —Matthew 9:11-13 God, who is merciful, desires our mercy. Here are 54 ways to keep to mercy during the Jubilee Year. Try randomly selecting one each week and putting…

Nov

25

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

St. Philip’s Fast

Christian Lifenativity fast, pilipiwka

The American Shopping Season is at hand. Some people will spend it jostling for bargains; others will pass the time lamenting the commercialization of Christmas. The Eastern Churches, on the other hand, encourage their faithful to prepare for this feast by fasting. Each of these Churches has a pre-Nativity Fast, but each Church observes it to a different degree. Like the feast of Christ’s Nativity itself, this fast originated in the West. In ad 380 he Council of Saragossa in Spain mandated daily church attendance beginning on December 17. Pope St Leo the Great (400-461) described four Fasts, one in…

Nov

25

2015

By Fr. Roman Planchak

The Nativity Fast in the Home

Christian Lifenativity fast, pilipiwka

The Shopping Season is at hand. Some people will spend it jostling for bargains; others will pass the time lamenting the commercialization of Christmas. The Eastern Churches, on the other hand, encourage their faithful to prepare for this feast by increasing their involvement with the things of God. Please download this wonderful guide to help you prepare for the glorious coming of our Lord! PDF - Christmas-Fast-in-the-Home Source: Eparchy of Newton

Nov

09

2015

By Respected Author

Nativity Fast Traditions for Byzantine Catholics

Christian Life, Liturgy, Prayernativity fast, pilipiwka

Source: Holy Protection of Mary Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Phoenix The Byzantine Catholic Church invites all to participate more fully in the central mysteries of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through her calendar of feasts and fasts. The feast of the Nativity of Our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ (Christmas, December 25) is one of the great feasts of the Church year, celebrating the coming or advent of the Messiah (which in Hebrew means “He who is anointed by the Spirit” or in Greek, Christos), Jesus Christ. Christ was born into the world through the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary to…

Oct

13

2015

By Fr. Michael Bombak

I just can’t do it…but He can! Responding to our Lord like Levi.

Christian Life

2 Corinthians 1:8-11, Luke 5:27-32 I saw that movie again last night. You know which one I’m talking about. You’ve seen it or its many sequels, or maybe you’ve read the book. I’m not sure how many times I’ve seen it but it’s staggering whatever it is. You know, it’s that story where some initial incident sparks the need for a hero to rise up and save the day. Throughout the course of the story various setbacks spring up which makes the main character doubt him or herself. Although the self-esteem of this character is thrown into question and threatened…

Aug

15

2015

By Fr. Michael Winn

On Christian Death and Funerals – Pastoral Letter of the Most Rev. Nicholas J. Samra

Christian Life, LiturgyBurial, Funeral, Samra

In Psalm 115:5 we read "Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful ones." From time immemorial, Christians have prayed for their dead and elaborated their prayers with ritual. The death of a loved one is a sorrowful experience for anyone. Often it is a numbing experience as well. Survivors want to do the best they can to honor their departed. They may look around to see what friends or acquaintances have done in similar times of loss. Sometimes they accept whatever suggestions funeral directors offer. They may find themselves burdened with excessive costs or…