Post-feast of the Ascension; the Holy Cyril (869) and Methodius (885), Teachers of the Slavs and Equals-to-the-Apostles and the Dedication of the City of Constantinople (330); the Holy Priest-Martyr Mocius (284-305); Passing into Eternal Life of Blessed Vasyl (Basil) Hopko, Auxiliary Bishop of Presvov (+1976)
Abstinence from meat and foods that contain meat.
Read
Acts 19:1-8; Hebrews 7:26-8:2
John 14:1-11; John 10:9-16
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
A human heart always seeks out its Creator. St. Augustine says: “Our heart is restless until it finds rest in You, O Lord” (Confessions I, 1). On the one hand, God takes the first step: “[Christ Jesus] though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil 2:6–7). On the other hand, we are invited to completely trust our- selves to God: “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In my Father’s house are many rooms” (Jn 14:1–2).
What is the source of our strength of spirit and our willingness to take a step towards an encounter with God on the path to the house of our Father, who has many rooms? The answer is simple: LOVE. It is out of love for mankind that the Lord created us and made us the crown of creation.
It is out of love that the Lord became one of us in order to free us from sin and slavery. From the very beginning God placed into the depths of the human spirit love, goodness, a sense of beauty and harmony. Human beings are the happiest when they love and are loved. Sin deformed our capacity for love. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, revealed to us that God IS Love and that we, being His children, are also called to be icons of God love and goodness.