Check your heart when seeking God's will

If a man really sets his heart upon the will of God, God will enlighten a little child to tell that man what is His will.  But if a man does not truly desire the will of God, even if he goes in search of a prophet, God will put into the heart of the prophet a reply like the deception in his own heart. 

Preparing for Holy Communion: a prayer to the Theotokos

O Mother of God, who surpasses every mind and word!  O Virgin who exceedest all earthly virginity, for even before the Divine birth was thou a Virgin beyond all virgins—and such didst thou remain both during and after the birth!   

Thee, O Lady do I beg, thee do I entreat, O merciful and man-befriending Mother of the merciful and man-befriending God:  defend me at this hour if ever thou wilt do so, for now am I most in need of thy protection and thy help. 

I am all a mire of filth and sin, a dwelling place of soul-corrupting passions.  Yet I intend to approach the all-pure and terrifying Mysteries of thy Son and God, and therefore do I suffer fear, and trembling embraces me because of the unbearable multitude of my sins. 

But if ever I am to remain without communion on the pretext of my unworthiness, then shall I fall into a great abyss of evil and bring upon myself great chastisement.  I anguish over both the first alternative and the second. 

To thee do I run; be kind to me, my all-pure Lady.  Take advantage of thy motherly boldness before thy Son and God, and gain for me forgiveness of my former sins.  Vouchsafe me to be made pure and enlightened by communion of the Mysteries, and show me how to spend the remainder of my life in repentance, purity and humility.  Remain always with me in my thoughts, words and deeds, in all the movements of my soul and body, instructing me, leading me and guiding me, deflecting from me all hostile powers, and preserving me and providing thy servant, however worthless, with thy grace in every way. 

Don't be surprised if...

Do not be surprised if you fall every day and do not surrender. Stand your ground bravely and you may be sure that your guardian angel will respect your endurance. 

On the flowering of the Spirit within

The demons try to undermine your inward resolution by buffeting your souls with an untold variety of temptations.  Yet out of these many tribulations a garland is woven for you; Christ’s power ‘comes to its fullness in us in our weakness, (II Cor 12:9).  It is usually when our situation is most gloomy that the grace of the Spirit flowers within us.  ‘light has shone in the darkness for the righteous, (Ps 112:4 LXX), if, that is, ‘we hold fast to our confidence and the rejoicing of our hope firmly to the end,’ (Heb 3:6). 

On carrying out the Lord's commandments

When we are compelled by our conscience to accomplish all the commandments of God, then we shall understand that the law of the Lord is faultless (cf Ps 19:8 LXX).  It is performed through our good actions, but cannot be perfected by men without God’s mercy. 

In time of tribulation

If a fierce storm of tribulations fall upon us, let us not be terror stricken as if we had to overcome the disaster in our own strength, since both our Counsel and our Strength is Christ, and through Him we can do all things, without Him nothing, Who, to confirm the preachers of the Gospel and the ministers of the mysteries, says, Lo, I am with you always even to the consummation of the age, (Mt 28:28).  And again He says, these things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, because I have overcome the world, (Jn 16:33).  The promises, which are as plain as they can be, we ought not to let any causes of offense to weaken, lest we should seem ungrateful to God for making us His chosen vessels, since His assistance is powerful as His promises are true. 

Boston Marathon tragedy

People have started writing to me about the tragedy at the Boston Marathon yesterday.  What happened is deeply grievous.  We were coming back home from a few days of church service in New Hampshire where my husband has a temporary assignment.  We found out about what happened not long after arriving home.  

We have been spared the sorrow of knowing anyone personally who was killed or injured through the blasts.  But, in the relationship we share through our humanity, there is no one who is unaffected as we all share the same fragility and vulnerability throughout our lifetimes.  May God grant His mercy on all the souls which departed this life and all those injured, and otherwise traumatized persons, and all the families/friends affected.  What happened is no small thing. 

The Boston Metropolis mobilized right away to meet needs in a tangible way and his Eminence Metropolitan Methodios issued a statement yesterday afternoon.  See below:   

To the Reverend Clergy and Faithful Stewards of the Metropolis of Boston

Brethren, 

We are all shocked with today's terrorist attack at the Boston Marathon.  Once again, evil reared its ugly head and countless of our fellow citizens have been victimized.  Our prayers and thoughts are with the victims and their families, as well as our governor, mayor, and police officials.  We stand by our law enforcement agencies and all the heroic first responders as they begin the process of fully investigating this act of terrorism, and bring to justice those responsible. 

Today is Patriot's Day during which we remember the heroes of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and the first battles of the American Revolutionary War.  Annually on this day, the historic Boston Marathon takes place as a long-standing tradition which brings together diverse people from across our community, the nation, and around the world, to celebrate the virtues of hard work and perseverance in one of the world’s most well-known sporting events.  Let us not be deterred by this cowardly act of hatred, but stand united in the exercise of freedom and justice, as we pray for peace and love to reign in our society.

I ask our parishes throughout the Metropolis to offer prayers for the repose of the souls of those who tragically lost their lives today, and to pray for the healing of all those who were injured.  May the God of Peace and Mercy bring His peace upon our community.  I pray that you and your loved ones are safe and secure.  We will continue to stay in touch as further details on this evolving tragedy emerge.  

With Archpastoral Love,

+ Metropolitan Methodios