- 1 day ago
Eph 1:17-19
17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,
18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),
19 And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,
17 [For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him,
18 By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones),
19 And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,
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00:00In my journey,
00:29I have been very surprised to learn that the early fathers of the church were trained and ordained by the apostles and helped to shape this ancient faith in her foundations and Christian doctrines.
00:46Dear listeners and followers,
00:48I share this with you because as a former Catholic, a Protestant and charismatic who has taught the Bible for 28 years,
00:57I only knew what I read in the King James Bible as a historical foundation of the church.
01:04I always like to share and preface up front that I am not a spokesman for the Orthodox Church,
01:11but rather I am merely one who is sharing her journey of personal conversion into these missing truths of this most holy ancient faith
01:22and the many times that I have been surprised by the love of God as these truths were spiritually opened up to my mind and heart by the Holy Spirit to see and know this is all of God.
01:37When I was introduced to the Orthodox Church,
01:41I reacted like most Protestants when learning that all the differences,
01:45which seem very strange and quite unbelievable at first,
01:49but as I said,
01:51the Holy Spirit opened up my spiritual eyes.
01:53And to see the truth,
01:56I was absolutely touched to the core to see how important it is to have all of the apostolic teachings,
02:05sacramental life and historical continuity that is preserved and safeguarded by the Eastern Orthodox Church.
02:14These were as truths to me.
02:18Dear ones,
02:18the way God works to open up our spiritual eyes and hearts is truly a divine mystery that is empowered by the faith of the individual.
02:31In reading a booklet called God's Revelation to the Human Heart by a beloved and well-respected priest monk of the Orthodox Church,
02:43whose name is Seraphim Rhodes.
02:45He stated that in regards to the path that people have taken to find God varies by many different experiences,
02:54depending on the sensitivity and the hardness of their hearts.
02:59For instance,
03:01Saul,
03:01who became known as Apostle Paul,
03:04had a unique experience since his heart was hardened and bent on killing the Christians in his day.
03:10He was literally knocked off of his horse and blinded for three days before he experienced the grace and kindness of God
03:19to supernaturally heal him of his blindness and told him the plan for his life.
03:27Well,
03:27we could say that Apostle Paul had a misguided or misaligned zeal for the things and the plans of God.
03:36And then we have the example of the two men in the account told in Luke chapter 24 who were walking on the road to Emmaus.
03:47Jesus Christ himself on that very day of his resurrection joined them and began walking with them,
03:55asking them why they were so excited.
03:58They were reminiscing about the great prophet who was killed and crucified on the cross and who had allegedly risen from the dead,
04:08but they didn't know what to believe.
04:11They were so confused.
04:13Then they did not recognize Jesus.
04:15But when they invited him as a stranger in need to spend the night,
04:21he obliged,
04:22still not recognizing him as they were breaking bread as he did on the night of the last supper.
04:28He suddenly vanished from their presence and were left with a burning in their hearts.
04:37Seraphim Rose tells us what made these two men recognize Christ in the end was this burning in their hearts
04:46and not just the fact that he had vanished out of their sight because magicians could do that too.
04:54Seraphim Rose explains,
04:56Therefore, it is not, first of all, miracles which reveal God to men,
05:03but something about God that is revealed to a heart that is ready for it.
05:09That is what is meant by a burning heart by which two disciples had contact with God who came in the flesh.
05:20And he further explains,
05:22Here we see what is called a revelation comes about.
05:26The heart is so moved and changed by the presence of God or by someone who is filled with his spirit
05:34or by just hearing the truth about him preached.
05:38This is also how the apostles had the power to go out to virtually the whole inhabited earth to India
05:47and perhaps even as far as China to Russia and so on.
05:53Another dearly beloved archbishop of the Orthodox Church,
05:58whose name is John McEnovich,
06:00said when someone asked him,
06:03Why is the truth, it would seem, revealed to some and not to others?
06:08Is there a special organ for receiving revelation from God?
06:13St. John said,
06:15Yes, in a certain sense there is such an organ,
06:19although usually we close it and do not let it open up.
06:24God's revelation is given to something called the human heart.
06:29Well, in these two accounts, described by Seraphim Rose and St. John McEnovich,
06:36we see the importance and reason of Christ coming to this earth
06:41and setting men and women's hearts aflame for the Savior of their souls.
06:47And this is for the purpose of salvation of mankind.
06:51God is love, and he desires above all things that his people love him
06:57with all of their hearts, their souls, their minds, and all that is within them.
07:03This is the first and the greatest commandment.
07:07You see, salvation is said to be a mystery.
07:10It is explained explicitly that salvation as a mystery is a sacred reality revealed by God,
07:21but not fully comprehensible by human reason.
07:26Dear ones, this is not gained by rational thinking of mind,
07:31but rather this is an absolute divine spiritual intervention of God's grace
07:38or the energy of God by the precious Holy Spirit
07:42working in the heart and soul of one who is hungry to know and please God.
07:49This is consistent with Orthodox theology,
07:52where the term mystery, Greek mysterium,
07:57refers to divine truths revealed through Christ
08:01and the church.
08:02It is helpful and necessary to make a distinction
08:05between redemption and salvation.
08:10The Orthodox Church teaches that God alone
08:13has redeemed mankind through the cross.
08:16Salvation, then, is the process of accepting
08:21and incorporating that act of redemption personally.
08:27Scripture tells us that salvation is, therefore,
08:30a process of transformation in Romans chapter 5,
08:34beginning in verse 8,
08:37but God demonstrates his own love towards us
08:40in that while we were still sinners,
08:43Christ died for us.
08:46Much more than having now been justified by his blood,
08:51we shall be saved from wrath through him.
08:55Verse 10,
08:55For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God
08:59through the death of his Son,
09:01much more, having been reconciled,
09:04we shall be saved by his life.
09:06And not only that,
09:08but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
09:12through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
09:17Protestant theology,
09:19especially within evangelical and Reformed traditions,
09:23they teach and understand that salvation is primarily justified
09:28by faith alone.
09:29And this means that salvation is a legal declaration by God
09:35that a person is righteous based solely on their faith in Jesus Christ.
09:41It is considered an instantaneous event the moment one truly believes they are saved.
09:51They believe that good works and sacraments are not required for salvation,
09:56though they may follow as evidence of genuine faith.
10:01Protestants emphasize grace alone,
10:04meaning salvation is entirely a gift from God,
10:08and faith alone,
10:10meaning human effort,
10:13plays no role in earning it.
10:16Assurance of salvation is often emphasized
10:19with believers to trust in Scripture
10:22and their personal faith for certainty.
10:26And in contrast,
10:27the Orthodox Church views salvation as theosis,
10:32or union with God,
10:33or partaking of the nature of God.
10:36And this is not a legal transaction,
10:40but a mystical and transformative process.
10:44Salvation begins with baptism
10:46and continues throughout life,
10:49involving repentance,
10:50spiritual growth,
10:52and cooperation with God's divine grace.
10:55This is called synergy.
10:58It is where human free will
11:00works alongside God's grace
11:03and is essential.
11:05Sacraments,
11:06such as the Eucharist,
11:08confession,
11:09and others
11:10are not optional,
11:12but rather,
11:13they are vital channels
11:15through which God's grace
11:16is received.
11:18Assurance of salvation
11:20is not guaranteed.
11:23It depends on one's
11:24ongoing spiritual life
11:26and relationship with God.
11:29Dear listener and followers,
11:30In summary,
11:33Protestantism emphasizes salvation
11:35as a one-time declaration
11:38based on faith alone,
11:40while the Orthodox Church
11:42teaches it as a lifelong journey
11:45of transformation
11:46through grace,
11:48sacraments,
11:49and synergy with God,
11:51which again means
11:52cooperation with God
11:53in this lifelong journey
11:55of salvation.
11:56Man must cooperate
11:59with the grace of God.
12:02This cooperation,
12:03again,
12:03is called synergy.
12:05Salvation is not imposed
12:07upon man,
12:08but it is offered freely
12:10and must be freely received.
12:13The human will must respond
12:15to the divine initiative of God.
12:18And this reflects
12:19the Orthodox Church's
12:21consistent teaching
12:22teaching
12:23that salvation
12:24is a mystery
12:25of divine human cooperation,
12:28not a one-sided act.
12:31The grace of God initiates,
12:33sustains,
12:34and completes salvation,
12:36but the human person
12:38must actively participate
12:41through repentance,
12:43prayer,
12:44sacramental life,
12:45and obedience.
12:48A scripture that shows
12:49both human effort
12:50and divine action
12:52working together
12:53is found in Philippians
12:55chapter 2,
12:56verse 12,
12:57which declares,
13:00Work out your own salvation
13:02with fear and trembling,
13:04for it is God
13:05who works in you.
13:07And further,
13:09the Orthodox Catechism,
13:11which is published
13:12by the Church,
13:13teaches that
13:14salvation is the restoration
13:16of communion with God
13:18and made possible
13:20through the mystery
13:21of Christ's incarnation,
13:23his death,
13:24and resurrection.
13:26It is offered
13:27to all through the Church,
13:29which is the body of Christ,
13:31and received
13:32through the mysteries.
13:34These mysteries
13:35are revealed
13:36through Christ's incarnation
13:38and Paschka,
13:40or Easter,
13:41which are central
13:42mysteries of faith.
13:44The Orthodox Church
13:46describes salvation
13:47as both a divine gift
13:50and a mystery,
13:51which is rooted
13:52in Christ's incarnation,
13:54his death,
13:56his resurrection,
13:57and revealed
13:58through the Church's
13:59sacramental life.
14:01This understanding
14:02is deeply theological
14:04and liturgical,
14:06emphasizing participation
14:08in the life
14:09of Jesus Christ.
14:11The Eastern Orthodox Church
14:13teaches that salvation
14:15is a process of union
14:17with God
14:17or theosis,
14:19and not merely
14:20forgiveness of sin
14:21or escape from punishment.
14:23It involves
14:24the healing
14:25of the human person
14:26from the consequences
14:28of sin
14:29and the participation
14:30in divine life
14:32through Christ
14:33and the Holy Spirit
14:34and the transformation
14:35through grace,
14:37especially by way
14:38of the sacraments,
14:39which include
14:40baptism,
14:41the Eucharist,
14:42and confession,
14:42and lastly,
14:44living in communion
14:46with the Church
14:47or the body
14:48of Christ.
14:50This is not
14:51a one-time act
14:52or event,
14:54but a lifelong journey
14:55of repentance
14:57and faith
14:58and sanctification.
15:00Dear listener
15:02and followers,
15:03I have come to see
15:04that the Church
15:05is not a denomination
15:06among many,
15:08but it is
15:09the very body
15:10of Christ,
15:11which is unchanged
15:12in faith
15:13and practice
15:14since Pentecost 29 AD.
15:17The Eastern Church
15:19is unwavering
15:20in her commitment
15:21to the patristic traditions
15:24in veneration
15:25of the saints
15:26and the liturgical life
15:28rooted in the ancient
15:29Christian worship,
15:31which has been revealed
15:32to me
15:32in small measures
15:34and depth
15:35of holiness,
15:36little,
15:37little at a time,
15:39poquito poquito.
15:42I have never
15:43encountered
15:43anything like this
15:45before,
15:45even as a young girl
15:46growing up as a Catholic
15:48in a small rural town
15:50in Montana
15:51many years ago.
15:53The Holy Spirit
15:54has truly led me
15:55to understand
15:56that the Church's
15:57continuity
15:57is not merely
15:59historical,
16:00but it is
16:01spiritual
16:01and sacramental
16:03and alive
16:04in Jesus Christ.
16:06This is a mystery
16:07in itself.
16:09Throughout my
16:10short time
16:11and experience
16:12within the Orthodox Church,
16:14I have seen
16:15that the Orthodox Church
16:17is not about
16:18change or invention,
16:20but rather
16:20it is about
16:21faithfully receiving
16:23and living
16:23the fullness
16:24of truth
16:25handed down
16:26by the Apostles
16:27since the day
16:29of Pentecost 29 AD.
16:32My experiences
16:33on this journey
16:34when I was first
16:35introduced
16:36to the Orthodox Church,
16:38I reacted
16:39like many Protestants
16:40do by
16:40being confused,
16:42skeptical,
16:44and overwhelmed
16:44by the practices
16:45and teachings
16:46which seemed foreign
16:48and even unbelievable
16:49to me at times.
16:51The icons,
16:52the incense,
16:54the liturgy,
16:55fasting seasons,
16:56and even prayers
16:57to the saints
16:58were not a part
17:00of my spiritual
17:01vocabulary
17:02I had grown up with.
17:04I questioned everything,
17:06but I learned
17:07that this was
17:08a very natural response.
17:10Dear ones,
17:12when I actually
17:13went to the Orthodox Church
17:15for the first time,
17:16I must admit
17:17that I was moved
17:19by all the beauty
17:20of the icons
17:21displayed throughout
17:22the church
17:23and the festive robes
17:25that were worn
17:25by the priests
17:26and clergy
17:27were vibrant
17:29in color
17:29and adorned
17:30with the most
17:31beautiful embroidery.
17:34Much of this
17:35was reminiscent
17:36of the Old Testament
17:37priests
17:37and the holy awe
17:39when they were
17:40ministering before God
17:41in the Holy of Holies.
17:44The choir was small
17:45in number
17:46compared to the
17:47huge choirs
17:48that I had seen
17:49and experienced
17:50in most churches
17:51that I ministered in
17:52and taught in,
17:54but all the while
17:55the most beautiful
17:56and reverent hymns
17:57and chanting
17:58was taking place.
18:00I thought I was in heaven.
18:03The presence of God
18:04was evident.
18:05And in the meantime,
18:07the divine liturgy
18:08was taking place
18:09at the inner sanctuary
18:10called the altar
18:11and was leading up
18:13to communion
18:13at a certain time
18:15and reached a peak
18:16of solemn
18:17holy reverence
18:19combined with the choir's
18:21deeply reverential
18:22singing,
18:23hushering in the very
18:24holy moment
18:25with the quiet stillness
18:27of the congregation
18:28in anticipation
18:29of receiving
18:30the body
18:31and blood
18:32of our Lord Jesus Christ,
18:34our Savior.
18:35And the priest
18:36then came out
18:37from the altar
18:38and he was carefully
18:39holding
18:40and guarding
18:41the chalice
18:42and presented it
18:43to the body of Christ
18:44for the first time
18:46receiving communion,
18:48the sacrament
18:49of the Eucharist,
18:51which is the most
18:52holy moment
18:53of all
18:54and are considered
18:55gifts
18:56because the Orthodox Church
18:58believes it is
19:00actually
19:00the body
19:01and blood
19:02of our Lord
19:03Jesus Christ.
19:04The Eucharist
19:06in Greek
19:06means thanksgiving
19:08and it is considered
19:09the sacrament
19:10of sacraments,
19:12the mystery
19:13of mysteries
19:14and is the perfection
19:15of every sacrament
19:16and the seal
19:17of every mystery.
19:19And I have learned
19:20that the Eucharist
19:21has the central significance
19:24in the life
19:25of the Church
19:26of every Christian
19:27and it is not merely
19:29one of a number
19:31of sacred actions
19:32or means
19:33of receiving
19:34the grace of God
19:35but it is
19:36the very heart
19:37of the Church,
19:39her foundation
19:40without which
19:41the Church
19:41cannot be imagined.
19:44In all of my years
19:46of being
19:47in the Church
19:48as a Protestant
19:49and having learned
19:50that especially
19:51among Evangelicals
19:53and Baptists
19:54and Presbyterians
19:55and Reformed churches
19:57communion is primarily
19:58understood
19:59as a memorial
20:01of Christ's sacrifice
20:02based on Christ's command
20:04to do this
20:06in remembrance of me
20:08according to Luke
20:10chapter 22
20:11verse 19.
20:13In view of this
20:15often called
20:17the symbolic view
20:19was promoted
20:20by Zingley
20:21who was a Swiss
20:22reformer
20:23and this practice
20:25remains dominant
20:26in many Protestant
20:27circles today.
20:29And this is exactly
20:30where I was
20:32in my practice
20:33and view
20:34of communion.
20:35Communion was not
20:36always practiced
20:37during these various
20:39churches
20:39but only on certain
20:41times and seasons.
20:43Most Protestant
20:44denominations
20:45do not celebrate
20:46communion
20:47the Lord's Supper
20:48weekly
20:49but instead
20:50observe it
20:50on a monthly
20:51quarterly
20:52or occasional basis
20:54depending on their
20:55theological emphasis
20:57and liturgical tradition.
20:59so as I had shared
21:02I had never seen
21:04such a holy
21:05awe and reverence
21:06for receiving
21:07communion
21:08in the times
21:09that we did
21:10while we were
21:11Protestant
21:11but rather it was
21:13considered
21:13a symbolic
21:14act
21:15of remembrance
21:16rather than
21:17a liturgical
21:18or literal
21:19transformation
21:20of the bread
21:21and wine
21:22contrasting
21:23with the sacramental
21:24realism
21:25of orthodox
21:26theology.
21:28You see
21:29the sacrament
21:30of the Eucharist
21:31was instituted
21:32by Jesus Christ
21:33himself
21:34at the Last Supper
21:35and was related
21:36by all four
21:37evangelists
21:38as well as
21:39by Apostle Paul
21:40himself
21:41who said
21:42in 1 Corinthians
21:43chapter 11
21:44beginning in
21:45verse 23
21:46at the last
21:47institution
21:48of the Lord's
21:49Supper
21:49verse 23
21:51for I received
21:53from the Lord
21:53that which I
21:54also delivered
21:55to you
21:56that the Lord
21:57Jesus
21:57on the same
21:59night in which
21:59he was betrayed
22:01took bread
22:02and when he
22:03gave thanks
22:04he broke it
22:05and he said
22:06take and eat
22:07this is my body
22:08which is broken
22:09for you
22:10do this in
22:11remembrance of me
22:12in the same
22:13manner
22:14he also took
22:15a cup
22:15after supper
22:16saying
22:16this is the
22:18new covenant
22:18of my blood
22:19this do as
22:20often as you
22:21drink it
22:22in remembrance
22:22of me
22:23verse 26
22:25for as often
22:26as you eat
22:27this bread
22:27and drink
22:28this cup
22:29you proclaim
22:30the Lord's
22:31death
22:31until he
22:32comes
22:33Paul
22:34then tells
22:35the brethren
22:36to examine
22:37themselves
22:37before taking
22:39the Holy
22:39Eucharist
22:40or communion
22:41in verse 27
22:43which declares
22:43therefore
22:45whoever eats
22:46this bread
22:47or drinks
22:47this cup
22:48of the Lord
22:49in an
22:50unworthy
22:50manner
22:51will be
22:51guilty
22:52of the
22:52body
22:53and blood
22:53of the
22:54Lord
22:54but let
22:55a man
22:56examine himself
22:57and so let
22:58him eat
22:58of the bread
22:59and drink
22:59of the cup
23:00for he
23:01who eats
23:02and drinks
23:02in an
23:03unworthy
23:04manner
23:04eats and
23:05drinks
23:05judgment
23:06to himself
23:07not discerning
23:08the Lord's
23:09body
23:09for this
23:10reason
23:11many are
23:11weak
23:11and sick
23:12among you
23:12and many
23:13sleep
23:14for if
23:15we would
23:15judge
23:16ourselves
23:16we would
23:17not be
23:18judged
23:18but when
23:19we are
23:19judged
23:20we are
23:21chastened
23:21by the
23:22Lord
23:22that we
23:23may not
23:23be condemned
23:24with the
23:24world
23:25dear ones
23:28I learned
23:29that when
23:30apostle Paul
23:31said in
23:32verse 23
23:32for I
23:34received from
23:35the Lord
23:35that which
23:37I have
23:37delivered to
23:38you
23:38this refers
23:40to the
23:40passing on
23:41or the
23:42transmitting
23:43of this
23:44holy
23:44tradition
23:45and these
23:47words
23:47were a
23:48part
23:48of the
23:49Eucharistic
23:50celebration
23:51in the
23:51first century
23:52just as
23:53they are
23:54today
23:54just think
23:56about it
23:56this first
23:57century spans
23:59the years
23:59of 1
24:00to 100
24:01AD
24:02this teaching
24:04and implementation
24:05of the
24:07Eucharist
24:07took place
24:08almost 2,000
24:10years ago
24:11and has
24:12been passed
24:12on through
24:13the generations
24:14of time
24:15even up to
24:16our present
24:17day
24:17and preserved
24:19by the
24:19Orthodox Church
24:20in her
24:21most reverent
24:22most holy
24:23tradition
24:24so she
24:25maintains
24:25the continuity
24:26of this
24:27holy mystery
24:29and practice
24:30according to
24:31Christ's command
24:32to do this
24:33in remembrance
24:34of me
24:35in the
24:37Eastern
24:37Orthodox Church
24:39the Eucharist
24:40is considered
24:40a mystery
24:41because it
24:42transcends
24:43human
24:44understanding
24:45and involves
24:46real mystical
24:47presence
24:48of Christ
24:49himself
24:49his body
24:50and blood
24:51in the forms
24:52of bread
24:53and wine
24:53affected by
24:55the Holy Spirit
24:56during the
24:56divine liturgy
24:57when Jesus
24:59said
24:59himself
25:01take
25:02eat
25:02this is my
25:03body
25:03which is
25:04broken for
25:05you
25:05do this
25:06in remembrance
25:07of me
25:08is far
25:09more
25:10than
25:11thinking
25:11back
25:12about
25:12something
25:13it is
25:13actual
25:14participation
25:15in it
25:16in the
25:17Eucharist
25:17we participate
25:18in Christ's
25:20human nature
25:20his body
25:21his blood
25:22in verse 26
25:24Paul said
25:24for as often
25:25as you eat
25:26this bread
25:27and drink
25:28this cup
25:28you proclaim
25:29the Lord's
25:30death
25:30till he
25:31comes
25:32and this
25:33proclaiming
25:34of the
25:34Lord's
25:35death
25:35until he
25:35comes
25:36is to
25:36be done
25:37until
25:37Christ
25:38comes
25:38again
25:38in all
25:39of his
25:39glory
25:40in the
25:40last
25:40days
25:41and the
25:42celebration
25:43of the
25:43Holy
25:44Eucharist
25:44is in
25:46Christ's
25:46invisible
25:47presence
25:48although
25:49one day
25:49we will
25:50feast with
25:51him
25:51face to
25:52face
25:52in the
25:53kingdom
25:53in his
25:54book called
25:55the mystery
25:56of faith
25:56Metropolitan
25:58Hilarion
25:59which I
26:01have used
26:01as a
26:02reference
26:02many times
26:03Metropolitan
26:04Hilarion
26:05teaches
26:06by saying
26:06the
26:08Eucharist
26:08is a
26:09sacrifice
26:10in which
26:10Christ
26:10himself
26:11is the
26:12offerer
26:13and the
26:13offered
26:14the
26:15receiver
26:15and the
26:16received
26:17Christ
26:18is the
26:18one
26:19true
26:19celebrant
26:20he
26:21is
26:21invisibly
26:22present
26:22in the
26:23church
26:23and acts
26:24through
26:25the
26:25priests
26:25orthodox
26:26Christians
26:27believe
26:28that the
26:28Eucharist
26:29is not
26:29merely a
26:30symbolic
26:31action
26:31performed
26:32in
26:33remembrance
26:33of
26:34the
26:35mystical
26:35supper
26:35rather
26:36it is
26:37the
26:37mystical
26:38supper
26:38itself
26:39renewed
26:40daily
26:40by
26:40Christ
26:41and
26:42continuing
26:42without
26:43interruption
26:43in the
26:44church
26:44from
26:45that
26:45paschal
26:46night
26:46when
26:47Christ
26:47reclined
26:48at the
26:48table
26:48with his
26:49disciples
26:50to this
26:50present
26:51day
26:51the
26:52early
26:53church
26:53fathers
26:54consistently
26:55affirmed
26:56the
26:56real
26:56mystical
26:57presence
26:58of
26:58Christ
26:58in
26:59the
26:59Eucharist
27:00not as
27:00a mere
27:01symbolism
27:02but as
27:03a divine
27:03mystery
27:04in which
27:05the bread
27:05and wine
27:05truly become
27:06his body
27:07and blood
27:08one of
27:10one of
27:10the earliest
27:10witnesses
27:11is
27:12Saint
27:12Ignatius
27:13of
27:13Antioch
27:14who lived
27:14in
27:15107
27:16AD
27:16and he
27:18wrote
27:18in his
27:18letter
27:19to the
27:19Smyrna
27:19Church
27:20that
27:21heretics
27:21abstain
27:22from the
27:23Eucharist
27:23and from
27:24prayer
27:24because
27:25they do
27:26not
27:26confess
27:27that
27:27the
27:27Eucharist
27:28is the
27:28flesh
27:29of our
27:29Savior
27:29Jesus
27:30Christ
27:31his
27:32words
27:32reflect
27:33a clear
27:33belief
27:34in the
27:34Eucharist
27:35as the
27:36actual
27:36body
27:37of Christ
27:37not a
27:38symbolic
27:39meal
27:40and
27:42Saint
27:42Justin
27:42Martyr
27:43lived
27:44in
27:44150
27:45AD
27:45in his
27:46first
27:47apology
27:47described
27:49the
27:49Eucharist
27:50celebration
27:51and stated
27:51for
27:53not as
27:53common
27:54bread
27:54and
27:55common
27:55drink
27:56do we
27:57receive
27:57these
27:58but
27:58the
27:59food
27:59which
27:59has
28:00been
28:00made
28:00into
28:01the
28:01Eucharist
28:02is
28:02both
28:02the
28:03flesh
28:03and
28:03blood
28:04of
28:04the
28:04incarnate
28:05Jesus
28:06Justin
28:07Martyr
28:07emphasized
28:08that
28:09the
28:09transformation
28:09occurs
28:10through
28:11prayer
28:12and
28:12the
28:12words
28:13of
28:13Christ
28:13affirming
28:14the
28:15sacramental
28:15realism
28:16of the
28:17early
28:17church
28:18as we
28:19have
28:19coursed
28:20through
28:20a
28:21small
28:21look
28:22at
28:22some
28:23of
28:23the
28:23mysteries
28:23of
28:24the
28:24true
28:24spiritual
28:25faith
28:25which
28:26are
28:26truly
28:27mysteries
28:27and
28:28miracles
28:28as
28:29they
28:29are
28:29supernaturally
28:30imparted
28:31into
28:32the
28:32heart
28:32of
28:33one
28:33who
28:33is
28:33hungry
28:34for
28:34God
28:35just
28:35as
28:36we
28:36saw
28:36in
28:36the
28:36opening
28:37of
28:37this
28:38sharing
28:38or
28:38reflection
28:39today
28:40with
28:40the
28:40two
28:40men
28:40on
28:41the
28:41road
28:41to
28:41Emmaus
28:42and
28:43this
28:43is
28:43what
28:44I
28:44call
28:44a
28:45little
28:45snippet
28:45or
28:46a
28:46small
28:47part
28:47of
28:47a
28:48huge
28:48and
28:48endless
28:49and
28:49priceless
28:50piece
28:50of
28:51an
28:51unending
28:51lifelong
28:52inexhaustible
28:54truths
28:54that
28:55are
28:55waiting
28:55to be
28:56imparted
28:57into
28:57the
28:58sovereign
28:58heart
28:59of
28:59one
28:59who
29:00seeks
29:00to
29:00know
29:00their
29:01redeemer
29:01and
29:02savior
29:02whom
29:03their hearts
29:04are being
29:04set aflame
29:05with
29:06and
29:06love
29:07and
29:07have
29:08deep
29:08faith
29:09just
29:09as
29:09stated
29:09by
29:10Seraphim
29:11Rose
29:11who
29:11said
29:12therefore
29:13it is
29:14not
29:14first
29:15of all
29:16miracles
29:16which
29:17reveals
29:17God
29:18to
29:18men
29:18but
29:19something
29:19about
29:20God
29:20that
29:21is
29:21revealed
29:22to
29:22the
29:22heart
29:23that
29:23is
29:23ready
29:24for
29:24it
29:24and
29:25this
29:25is
29:25what
29:26is
29:26meant
29:26by
29:26a
29:27burning
29:27heart
29:27by
29:28which
29:29the
29:29two
29:29disciples
29:30had
29:30contact
29:31with
29:31God
29:32who
29:32came
29:32in
29:33the
29:33flesh
29:33he
29:34said
29:35here
29:36we
29:36see
29:36how
29:36what
29:37is
29:37called
29:37a
29:37revelation
29:38comes
29:38about
29:39the
29:40heart
29:40is
29:40moved
29:41and
29:41changed
29:41by
29:42the
29:42presence
29:42of
29:43God
29:43by
29:44someone
29:44who
29:44is
29:44filled
29:44with
29:45his
29:45spirit
29:45or
29:46by
29:46just
29:46hearing
29:47the
29:47truth
29:47about
29:48him
29:48preached
29:48and
29:50and
29:50and
29:50and
29:50lastly
29:50dear
29:51ones
29:51these
29:52mysteries
29:53are
29:53not
29:53merely
29:54symbolic
29:54rituals
29:55they
29:56are
29:56sacred
29:57encounters
29:58with
29:58God
29:58that
29:59unite
30:00the
30:00faithful
30:01to
30:01Christ
30:01and
30:02his
30:02church
30:03these
30:04mysteries
30:05are
30:05not
30:06symbolic
30:06rituals
30:07but
30:08transformative
30:08encounters
30:09with
30:10Christ
30:10administered
30:11through the
30:12church
30:12and guided
30:13by his
30:14Holy Spirit
30:14as I
30:16continue
30:17to seek
30:18truths on
30:19my journey
30:20of personal
30:21conversion
30:21the Holy Spirit
30:23graciously and
30:24gently opens
30:25my spiritual
30:26eyes to
30:27see
30:28things little
30:29at a time
30:30and what I
30:32have discovered
30:32through the
30:33Eastern Orthodox
30:34Church as I
30:35previously have
30:36shared
30:37has greatly
30:38touched me
30:39to the
30:39core
30:39and I
30:40began to
30:41see that
30:41orthodoxy
30:43wasn't a
30:43collection of
30:44strange customs
30:45but rather
30:46it was a
30:47living continuation
30:48of the church
30:49founded by
30:50Christ himself
30:51the
30:52Orthodox
30:53church
30:53unwavering
30:54commitment
30:55to apostolic
30:56tradition
30:57patristic
30:58theology
30:58and
30:59sacramental
31:00life
31:00revealed
31:01a depth
31:02and holiness
31:02I'd never
31:03encountered
31:04before
31:05and I
31:06learned that
31:06the church
31:07is not
31:08reinvented
31:09in every
31:09generation
31:10or does
31:11her own
31:11thing
31:11whenever
31:12she chooses
31:12like swing
31:14from a
31:14high wire
31:15from a
31:15ceiling
31:16to entertain
31:17the congregation
31:18or have
31:19a smoke
31:20machine
31:20to imitate
31:21the presence
31:22of God
31:22but rather
31:23she is the
31:24body of
31:25Christ
31:26preserved
31:27through the
31:27centuries
31:28by the
31:28Holy Spirit
31:29through the
31:30catechism
31:31teachings
31:32I have
31:33come to
31:33understand
31:34that the
31:34church's
31:35continuity
31:35is not
31:37just historical
31:38it is
31:38spiritual
31:39and sacramental
31:40divine
31:41liturgy
31:42unchanged
31:42for
31:43centuries
31:44became a
31:45place
31:45where heaven
31:46and earth
31:46met
31:47the icons
31:49are said
31:49to be
31:49windows
31:50into
31:50eternity
31:51and the
31:52fasting
31:52seasons
31:53are teaching
31:54me discipline
31:55and repentance
31:55and the
31:57prayers
31:57of the
31:57saints
31:58remind me
31:58that I
31:59am never
32:00alone
32:00but I
32:01am surrounded
32:02by a
32:03great cloud
32:03of witnesses
32:04as told
32:05in Hebrews
32:06chapter 12
32:07verse 1
32:08I now see
32:10that
32:10orthodoxy
32:11is not
32:12about being
32:13different
32:13it is about
32:14being faithful
32:15to God
32:15to his
32:16commands
32:17and the
32:18protocol
32:18of the
32:18early church
32:19and her
32:20continuity
32:20is never
32:21changing
32:22but remains
32:23the same
32:24since her
32:25beginning
32:25in Pentecost
32:2629 AD
32:27it is not
32:29about rejecting
32:30my past
32:31which brought
32:32me up to
32:33this point
32:34but now
32:35it is about
32:35fulfilling
32:36my life
32:37in all
32:38fullness
32:38of truth
32:39found in
32:40orthodoxy
32:41and or
32:41sacraments
32:42the orthodox
32:44church is not
32:44a denomination
32:45it is a body
32:47of Christ
32:47the pillar
32:48and ground
32:49of truth
32:49the bride
32:51of Christ
32:51because it
32:52was founded
32:53by the
32:53Lord
32:53himself
32:54and sanctified
32:55by the
32:56descent
32:57of the
32:57Holy Spirit
32:58she has
32:59remained
32:59unchanged
33:00in her
33:01essence
33:01and teaching
33:02from the
33:03time of the
33:03apostles
33:04to this
33:04day
33:05and I
33:06invite you
33:07again
33:07to join
33:08me next
33:09time
33:09as we
33:10journey
33:10into the
33:11missing
33:11truths
33:12of this
33:12ancient
33:13faith
33:13and discover
33:14the mysteries
33:15of so
33:16many
33:16teachings
33:17of the
33:17early
33:18fathers
33:18the
33:19apostolic
33:20fathers
33:20who
33:21contributed
33:22so much
33:23to the
33:23church
33:23that
33:24Christ
33:24founded
33:25from
33:25her
33:25beginning
33:26which
33:27I
33:27say
33:27again
33:28and
33:28you've
33:28heard
33:29it
33:29before
33:29began
33:31at
33:3129
33:32AD
33:33at
33:33Pentecost
33:34and
33:35the
33:36next
33:36time
33:36to