theosis

June 4, Pentecost Sunday

Blessed are You, O Christ our God, for you filled the fishermen with wisdom when you send down the Holy Spirit upon them and through them You have united the all people.  Glory to You, O Lover of humanity.  – Troparion of Pentecost Sunday

We celebrate the Sunday of Pentecost with meditations upon the Book of Acts and the words of Saint John Chrysostom as we reflect upon the gift of the Spirit.

Pentecost celebrates the birthday of the Church and on this day we remember our Baptismal graces and our adoption as sons and daughters of God, our incorporation into the unity of the Church, and the revelation of the Holy Trinity.  The celebration of Pentecost reminds us to Be Not Afraid!  Do not fear spreading the good news of the Gospels, do not be afraid of the graces God offers us.  Rather, trust and believe in God's omnipotent love.

Be sure to visit the website at isidorescorner.com/theosis

When the Most High God came down and confused the tongues of Babel, He scattered the peoples; but when He sent down the tongues of fire at Pentecost, He called all peoples to unity.  Therefore, in unity, we glorify the Holy Spirit. – Kontakion of Pentecost Sunday

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Pentecost Sunday

June 3, Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

We meditate today upon the words of the Book of Revelation and Andrew of Caesarea about our rest in the Spirit.

Tomorrow we will celebrate the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, the Spirit which gave the Apostles courage to go forth to spread the Good News of our salvation.  The same Spirit that encourages us as we begin our journey in God also offers us rest at the end of our journey.  Those who have labored in the Lord with all its struggles and pains are promised one day the rest and comfort that can only come in God.  Indeed, we can say that all we have done since we began our journey in Lent has brought us to this place of life in the Spirit, of becoming one with God in theosis.

Be sure to visit the website at isidorescorner.com/theosis

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Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter

June 2, Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Today we mediate upon the words of Saints Paul and John Chrysostom about joy in the Holy Spirit.

As we continue our preparations for the celebration of Pentecost, we look at the gift of joy that is offered to us in the Spirit.  Joy in the Spirit does not mean that our lives will be free from sadness and sorrow.  Indeed, our sins will certainly bring with them suffering for ourselves and for others.  However, when we suffer for the sake of the journey, for the sake of union with God we can rejoice that though we suffer now, God has promised us a future where ever tear will be wiped away.  Moreover, in these times of suffering, the Spirit will provide us with the means of consolation in the Church brought together by the Spirit.

Be sure to visit the website at isidorescorner.com/theosis

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Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter

June 1, Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

We meditate today upon the words of Saints Peter and Irenaeus about those things "into which angels desired to look".

The Holy Spirit is also the Spirit of Prophecy, it was by the Spirit that the prophets of the Old Testament spoke of the coming of the Jesus Christ and the redemption of the world.  We have seen those prophecies fulfilled in the Incarnation, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of our Savior, but the fulfillment of these prophecies does not mean that the Spirit of Prophecy has ceased to work among us.  The Spirit continues to inspire us to speak out about our future life in God, to look forward to that time when God will be all in all, to see the coming return and victory of Our Lord.

Be sure to visit the website at isidorescorner.com/theosis

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Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter

May 31, Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Today we meditate upon the words of Saint Paul and Saint John Chrysostom about the power of the Holy Spirit.

There is much power and grace in the Holy Spirit, but as Saint John says, much of that power is conditional upon our response, upon our willingness to be a tool and instrument of the Spirit.  This willingness is shown in the desire to follow Christ, to imitate what he has done so that just as the Spirit descended upon him at his baptism, so the Spirit will continue to descend upon us and lead us out into the world to be messengers of the Spirit.  In such a way we will be ever more filled with his blessings, ever more filled with the joy and peace that the Scriptures promise us.

Be sure to visit the website at isidorescorner.com/theosis

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Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

May 30, Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Sorry this is getting up late, there have been problems at the server.

We meditate today upon the words of the Gospel of Luke and Cyril of Alexandria about the fire of the Spirit.

There are many different images of the Spirit - life giving spring, dove, a ray of light, and a tongue of fire.  This image of fire does not only bring with it the visible appearance of fire, but the warmth and life giving power that comes with it.  Just as those who are physically cold come to the fire so as to warm themselves, to soften frozen limbs and fingers - so does one who is spiritually cold require the warmth of the Holy Spirit to soften harden hearts and bring a new spirit of life and energy.  Again, the gift of the Spirit brings with it responsibility and motivation for conversion of life and evangelization of the good news.

Be sure to visit the website at isidorescorner.com/theosis

To download this episode, click on the link below

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter

May 29, Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter

Today we meditate upon the words of Saint Paul and Saint Cyprian about renewal in the Holy Spirit.

As we continue our preparation for the celebration of the gift of the Spirit at Pentecost, we remind ourselves of the wondrous blessings that have been given us.  The Spirit renews us, justifies us, makes us into the adopted sons and daughters of God.  As such, we become heirs of the promise that Christ has given us, of the blessings of eternal life.  As heirs of the promise, we strive to live as sons and daughters, faithful to the Father, faithful to the renewed life that has been given to us so that in all we do we might be led by the Spirit of God.

Be sure to visit the website at isidorescorner.com/theosis

To download this episode, click on the link below

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter