The theme of my State of the Parish address at this year's Annual Parish Meeting came from the 12th chapter of St Luke's Gospel. In it our Lord says, "Do not fear." If we are honest with ourselves, as we should be, there are probably many things that we fear in this life: economic ruin, violence, the death of a loved one, etc... The list goes on. But living in fear gets us nowhere. It does not improve the situation, or even change it. Being fearful keeps us from truly living and is not what God wills. The only fear we should have is the fear of God; that being a truly healthy reverence and awe for Him, not a cowering in the corner because we are afraid of Him. The Lord desires that we not be in bondage to anything, including fear. As Saint Paul says,"If God be for us, who (or what in this case) can be against us?" Nothing shall seperate us from the love of God, not even our fear, unless of course we allow it to.
May God fill us with the grace of the Holy Spirit so that we have a healthy fear of Him and live for Him not bound by anything in this world, nor anything within ourselves.
To God be the glory,
Fr Stephen
1 comment:
Father Stephen, bless!
Couldn't find your email address. My parish is the Cathedral of the Holy Virgin, Joy of All Who Sorrow, in San Francisco (where we have the holy relics of Saint John of Shanghai and S.F.). I will be visiting family in So.Cal. this week (I grew up in east SGV). Just heard about your church, have never been to a Western Rite Orthodox service, and plan to visit on Sunday. So, if you see someone who looks like a confused Eastern Rite person, it is probably me.
Look forward to meeting you!
Anna Brenneis
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