What would happen IF WE WERE ALL MARTYRED for the Truth of Christ?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ม.ค. 2021
- What would happen if we were all martyred for the Truth of Christ?
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The video 'What would happen if we were all martyred for the Truth of Christ?' was recorded by Fr Seraphim Aldea, at Mull Monastery (The Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints), on the Isle of Mull.
I never thought that I would see what is happening here on earth.
Jesus spoke to me when I was in my twenties. I was at Mass and just before Holy Communion He said to me I Am with you my child. When He spoke to me I actually jumped and I realized that God Himself allowed me to feel His Awesome beautiful Love that is not the love that we feel here on earth❤
He allowed me to see all my sins forgivin. He alone has carried me through my life of many trying times.
He has allowed me to feel His Love many more times. God is good all the time. I am now 67 years old. God Bless You 🙏 You are reaching many people 🙏 You are doing God's work. Love and peace be with you forever ❤ one moment at a time
Catholic brother here. I want to express my love for the wisdom our Lord has gifted you with. Youve made me understand many scenarios in my life which Ive always stressed about unnecessarily. I lost a fist fight yesterday, losing sense of my vision and letting my pride get me in that scenario. Pray for me, brothers and sisters.
Will pray for you. May God be with you.
My fervent prayers for you. And your assailant.
I will pray for you.
I will pray for you. Please pray for rapid, thorough, non-modern, restoration of our singular Communion. Please consider attending a Latin Mass if you can find one, or an Eastern Liturgy if you are in a larger city.
Also please pray for me, the worst sinner.
I'm in love with the storys of the catholic martyrs I hope one day i could be a martyr for Christ the King ♡ would be a honor •
May the martyrs of Iona bless and protect you and all at the monastery as you continue to be guided by the Holy Spirit
I don't believe I deserve the privilege of being counted among the martyrs, but to be one means you choose Christ when it mattered the most. So it would truly be a blessing for anyone
I hope that I will not deny Jesus Christ. I believe that I will always die for our Lord Jesus Christ 🙏
Laurelle from USA
Me also
Father, I am a deacon in the Roman Catholic Church. My wife and I so appreciate your videos. They have been a blessing to us. Thank you!
Father, the Church has always known these things to be true. We will learn it again, and we are learning. Pray for us. Everything will be ok. The gates of Hell will not prevail.
Bravo! Thank you for your fatherly and godly Christian exhortation
Thank you Father I am filled with peace and courage after I watch your recording
This is eye opening and I have learned so much from it it has changed my life in a great way thank you brother
Dearest Father, God bless you and thank you again! I was looking forward to your next message! Stay warm! 🌹
My favorite of all Father’s “talks”.💥
If we suffer with Him (Jesus Christ) we shall also reign with Him. Keep the faith, hold fast to that which is true.
Thank you Father for this beautiful explanation of the relationship between the priest and the altar and the beautiful theology of altar and the details of the table.
I'm completely confused. Pray for me. I don't understand how we must defend ourselves and protect abused from abuser and yet be entirely without weapons.
Thank you, Fr. Seraphim. I needed this message. May God reward you efforts.
Agnostic/Protestant/socialist friend here. I was raised in a very Evangelical fundamentalist environment. I have been running from it for the better part of two decades, through grad school, marriage, alcoholism, children, and divorce. Through pushing the boundaries of my sexuality and trying to hold to an atheistic socialist politics. Throughout that rabid hound of heaven has pursued me, tirelessly, diligently, passionately. I can run no longer.
Again, I was touched by your video. I too have been trying to construct a god in my own image, from my own passions and weaknesses, albeit from the other side of the political spectrum. Rather than hold to the faith in His power to change the world, I have attempted to construct an image of god that I felt was conducive to the change I wanted to see in the world. I still pray in radical hope that God's kingdom will come on earth, that the lion will one day lie down with the lamb, that God will be all in all, but this video has helped me admit and come to terms with the fact that this may not follow the route or take the form I have imagined. How can we untangle the god of our own construction and the revealed God? How do we die to the world when we are called (in my opinion) to bring love into the world?
Thank you Father. I am going to listen to this video again because it has so much content to absorb.
Yes, I feel it cannot be truly appreciated until the 3-4th viewing. Too rich 🗝️
When I read the life of St John the russian, I as a born orthodox was extremely surprised , if the hateful christians you talk about read it will be probably shocked , that’s why is so hard to be a saint.. being hateful is easy anyone can do it
Love, love & love! Thank you Aba for giving us the message of our God's teaching. We only have one enemy. His name is Devil. Christ teach us to fight him with faithful prayer and fasting. Dying in flesh will happen anyway weather we fight with gun or not. The best gun is love your enemies. Our great fathers used the truth gun to kill their enemy with love nothing else. God help us to be our great fathers children by using the invisible guns which is love your enemy, so we win at the end and protect our soul not the flesh which will die any way.
*This video MUST be heard best 2-3X in a row... to be simply comprehended. ..to say nothing of being taught and illuminated. This is probably one of the most valuable spiritual messages on TH-cam.
I am a gun owner and support an armed citizenry . I almost turned this message off right at the beginning, when Fr. brought up the killing by guns. This is NOT about guns. In my foolish self interests/ belief, I almost missed this absolute pearl of great price...this deep wisdom.
*This cannot be truly comprehensible unless heard numerous times...best closely spaced... studied.
💥Thank you Fr.
☦️Blessed Great Lent...2024.
Chicago, Illinois USA
I remember a Carmelite nun saying that some severe abuse of children had made her want to cry. And I said that the mother in me made me want to stop those men like a mama bear! I could NOT understand how she did not feel the great righteous responsibility to protect and defend the innocent.
Matthew 18:6 King
"But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea."
The idea of Holy Wars seems insane!
I believe I grasp what you are saying dear Father, and respect it.
I do not understand the idea of never any protection of children, self, the vulnerable etc. Total passivity in humility is the goal vs violence.
But even Jesus protected himself when it was not his time by walking as if invisible through a crowd that wanted to harm him. It's not violence. I understand. I'm wondering as I sit if I'm aware of any violence other than the millstone which Our Blessed Lord supported.
Jesus said, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” (Matt. 10:34)
Maybe rhetorical symbolism. I don't know.
Father, Im thinking (a dangerous thing to do :) Jesus practiced the religion of the Jews in the Old Testament and while he came not to abolish but fulfill it, i wonder if Christians draw from the OT in justifying some forms of violence.
Turning the other cheek, I've heard was a cultural metaphor of the time I believe. It had something to do with striking someone on the right but not on the left and Jesus' did not mean in His time (as it was a linguistic matter) what the same words mean literally to us in our culture and languages. Thank you!
I was looking forward to hearing from you today. you had a mystical glow from the camera perhaps. The saints are remembered, because you sincerely committed your time to teach us 365 days. Now we have it in our libraries. Thank you for helping God , spread Knowles.
Thank ypu for your passion, to bring us th Christ. Yes, in USA
We have delusional SELF centered egos,
Causing trouble, embarrassing really.
Tragic repercussions
Such unnecessary
Damage..May God forgive heal ,Our nations. It
Was never meant to be this way. .
And these seeds of love. Knowledge, understanding, Wisdom of God,
Father with all due respect. Is every person who picks up a gun in defense of life that way? What about brother Catholics who had no choice, but to engage the Nazis? Are they evil? Did they not do what God called them to do?
Unto death.
To kill another human being made in the image and likeness of God is a sin against God. Those who chose to kill their brothers and sisters, those Nazis, those Bolsheviks, those with ISIS, every one of the many, MANY genocides and pogroms throughout our history, sinned against God and neighbour. The hard part , the sad truth, is that responding to evil, even so great and evil, with evil is still to sin against Him.
Unto death. Dying to the world isn’t a cool sounding slogan that can be ignored once it becomes hard or inconvenient. Forgive me, but this is what it means to live with Christ. Our God. Our God who became man and allowed Himself to be crucified.
God help us in our human weakness to stay true to His teaching and commandment.
ive wrestled with this question and if i may attempt to translate the message a little: the issue is that you are attaching worldly circumstance to the ultimate morality of God. you have to separate the physical world from the spiritual when you have these things in mind. the reality is that stealing is stealing whether it is a candy bar or a BMW, lying is lying whether you tell your wife she looks good in those jeans or you're bernie madoff, and killing is killing whether you're doing it because you enjoy it like a serial killer or you're trying to protect your family from an attacker in your house. the gravity or hierarchy(i hate that word) of the sin is only because of the physical world. the evil spirit is the evil spirit in the spiritual realm, and when it manifests in the physical* realm its akin to "wearing" it like clothing as the spirit underneath the physical is the same.
so the hard truth of reality is that if a man had a gun on your kids, or another nation was storming the beaches nearest you, or you were getting jumped in a dark alleyway, if you murdered someone or hurt someone you would still be guilty of the sin of murder or violence. like the brother monk said, its out of our passions that arise from our experiences that break down the discernment. the evil spirit is the evil spirit even if it is just in your heart and is never acted on, hence the 'if you even lust after a woman youve committed adultery'.
so now the question is, how does God feel about this struggle within ourselves, and what grace is offered to those who are in the military or harm in self defense or even martial arts/ufc? where im at now is that God values genuine recognition of what happens and our willingness to unselfishly admit we sinned and that we genuinely want to not choose believing/acting in a way that validates that sin and prevents further sin. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.(heb 4:15)" i also think that because God knows our heart and mind, if we have chances to avoid conflict he would take that into account.
it can be a hard reality to swallow sometimes, but there are people that have lived this out even through torture and watching their family die in front of them so it is definitely a fruit of the spirit. hope this helps, ive been struggling with this lately so just try to watch some faith in humanity videos to lift the spirits if you start slipping into bitterness. much love.
Father please know this question is not a gotcha question. I am asking a sincere heart felt question. How should we look at this? Thank you Father. Jesus and Mary bless you and keep you.
Father I also wish to mention a video worth watching. Please look up the Romanovs last Christmas? The message is beautiful and I hear God speaking to me in it very much so. I loved your message on what our cells can be, in order for us to encounter a greater relationship with God and those He puts in our lives. To see Him in everyone, but sadly often how quickly we forget and allow things to blind us from it. This video spoke deeply to me for many very important personal reasons. The one it spoke most to me about, was gratitude, simple joys in simple things, small things with great love. Is this not all of us now? A great opportunity of mercy has been given to us.
Not disagreeing with you entirely but to say the Catholic soldiers had no choice made their choice to defend their country’s beliefs. St Maximilian Kolbe made his choice and was martyred for his love of Christ.
I 've been thinking about that. I can't agree more. However it's nice to hear it from you too father. Maybe this is the point of church, people need to feel they are not alone. Thank you. Remember me in your prayer, please.
Better to belong to the Jesus club than the gun club! Amen....(from Canada)
Fr. Seraphim, this is a hard reality that we desperately need to hear more of, especially here in the west. Thank you so much. God has certainly blessed you with wisdom and spiritual insight that, in giving of yourself, you share with the world.
AMEN! We must be Little Christ's & see CHRIST in others! It is tough but then this is not HEAVEN! We must keep seeing God in others! VIOLENCE is not from GOD! Let the light of CHRIST shine through you!
from Greece i wish the best.. God bless
This is Steven from Las Vegas. I grew up around guns and was never taught they were evil. I always held the idea that I could use them to defend myself and my family. I grew up Protestant. The first time I heard you mention the idea that we don’t need guns I was offended. This was many months ago. Now I’m starting to wonder why I ever thought that way. The more I listen to you and the more I consider the lives of the saints, it just doesn’t make sense to own a gun anymore....for personal protection at least. Perhaps if I were a hunter, but I’m not. I have no need to defend myself- I can see that so clearly now. Thank you father. May my faith grow to embrace Christ completely and rid myself of worldly influence. God bless you Father.
Amen. May God be glorified by our lives and especially by our deaths.
Thank you for your message.
I spent last winter in Pluscarden Abbey. It was a blessing. I wish I had known about Mull Monastery and made a pilgrimage before the pandemic. Your teachings are deep. Now I'm in the Dominican Republic building an orphanage and retreat house in the valley of a shrine to Mary. Your videos are an inspiration.
I love that language of the heart. I will do that. Speak from the hope of Christ!! Please pray for me.
Soo hard to swallow for many of us, who are trained to rely on ourselves. But that is the fact.
As an old "hippie" you are spot on Father.
After reading the sermon on the mount, which he was very much impressed by, Mahatma Gandhi said what a great thing for the world Christianity would be if it ever were to be put into practice. I think Fr Seraphim is making the same point.
God bless you
Pray for me that we all will receive child like faith and have full access to God's kingdom!!! May God bless you all more than he can ever bless me!!!
Thank you, Fr Seraphim, for so courageously articulating the scandalous teachings of Christ’s love even for our enemies to subvert the temptation to hate and kill our enemies. I know well how difficult and lonely it can be to communicate Christ’s nonviolent love in many quarters of the Church that have allowed the default behaviour of our fallen nature to dominate their worldview and resulting actions. You won’t be surprised to learn that your last two videos have been my favourite so far. Be encouraged despite the deluded and scared voices that try to drown you out. Love doesn’t hold a gun in its hands; fear does. But perfect love drives out fear. Grace and peace to you and the other brothers and sisters of Mull Monastery.
Some of us will not allow our family to be murdered in front of us, so we chose to defend our lives.
Just yesterday I had the very thought of blessing the person who would break-in with a gun, and how I should respond by showing kindness for violence.
You just confirmed my resolve. Thank you Fr Seraphim!!!
6:58 "If I perceive guns as the source of peace instead of Christ then who is my God?" Pure, the purest love, which surpasses all understanding, comes from your mouth. 💙
Bendiciones. El Mártir edifica la Iglesia, la Humanidad, la Paz. San Francisco: Haz de mí, Señor, un instrumento de tu paz. No debemos perseguir a los enemigos. No hay razón ni fe que nos lleven a destruir a los demás. Los Mártires son los grandes edificadores de la sociedad.
Then we would all be richly blessed!
Thank you.
God bless you father Seraphim we thank so mutch for your kind words,May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Have Mercy on us Amen.
Our love from Australia
BLESSINGS IN JESUS NAME
Can anyone recommend anything to listen to that is funny or cheerful and good for the soul? Exhausting times, need a rest. Thank you Father. I'm tired of myself trying to fix the world, it makes me tired and confuses me and my neighbour. Even just in my mind and heart. Why was it ever important to be important to me? Something wholesome and simple and funny we can all agree on before we publically disagreed so long ago?
For audio books, C S Lewis's Screwtape Letters or G Guareschi's Little World of Don Camillo
The only thing I can think of funny and all that, is a book.. I read by author Thomas Ruthford he is an American orthodox it’s title “Heaven help the single Christian “ Just realised cause of your comment that I watch a lot of “normal “ or mainstream entertainment when I’m down which is often.. Never thought of looking for something different
For healthy comedy search Jeanne Robertson here on youtube.
I listen to some relaxing jazz then. You can even find some live streaming here on YT.
I personally love to listen to music. Especially 80s (as it reminds of the joys of being little and playing at the park (the older kids had stereos) and Jesus Culture (Katie Torwalt/Kim Walker-Smith). Also, for funny stuff I like to watch funny cat/dog/farm animal videos. There’s other things I find funny, but it’s mostly inappropriate...lol 🤣. Sometimes just pausing and remembering the joys of the freedom in our youth and staying there for a little while is all we really need. To remember how sweet and short our time is here and embrace the beauty in the madness.
Thank you, Fr. Seraphim, for this outpouring of love. I affirm the truth in what you say. Could you give us a reflection on the appropriate ways we, as Christians, might resist evil? I think the hard part for many of us is not the idea of giving up our own lives for Christ but how we respond such horrible evils as genocide. Of course we pray and I do not minimize the impact of prayer. But is that all we do if our brothers and sisters are being exterminated by the thousands or even millions? We need guidance.
It is mere rashness to seek death, but it is cowardly to refuse it. (A follower of Christ cannot pick his/her martyrdom)
Thank you for this Father and for bringing back before our eyes the wildness of Christ’s teachings.
Wow difficult but true message. Indeed we do not hear nearly enough about non violence and how it relates to Christianity. I heard on a radio programme some years ago that martyrdom is a spiritual gift - no one would be able to face it without the Grace of God, it goes totally against the values of the world. Gratitude and honour to Christian martyrs of every time and place.
Thank you so much. God bless you, Father.
Deary Reverend Father,thank you for this heartfelt reflection,for you have nullified troubles which have vexated me for some time,eg : how far should I go/act defending my self & my loved ones.I am re doubling my resolve to live in/ for & with Christ our Lord & Saviour.Thank you Father.
I'm hanging by a thread, Father. OCT 28th, 312AD. The Battle of Milvian Bridge. Constantine, in a vision, is given the Christogram and instructed to place it on his banner...BY THIS SIGN, CONQUER. Bye-bye, Maxentius! Constantine was said to have 'encountered the risen lord the night before battle. I'm NOT trying to create a ruckus here. I'm trying to square this with LOVE YOUR ENEMY. The Christogram applied to Constantine's banner was to give him success in the BATTLE, i.e. KILLING MANY MEN in the enemy army. Perhaps it's merely ONE MORE Orthodox paradox: Love your Enemy, except Kill Them in Battle. I have been an inquire for going on 2 years; I am stuck there. I tend to think of it as that I'm a TOURIST. I can observe members be served the sacraments...that's it. I turned to the Catholic Church, but, alas, my divorce status puts me in a 2-year cycle there, in order to become Catholic. Meanwhile, the Episcopal Church will welcome me with open arms. The problem is: I believe the tenants of the Orthodox Church. Enough of this. I am trying to come to terms with loving one's enemy vs. certain Holy Wars are approved by our Lord. Frequently, I think God has already filed me away as a LOST SOUL. I am alone in the world (lost my beloved companion animal this past July, which is why I always tell you to Pet the Goats and to bring them Treats) and have no idea what the purpose of my being in this world could be. I am old and sick. I feel like it would be best for me and the world if I were no longer here. I think I waited too long to return back to what I knew was the TRUTH as a 7 year old. ALL of this is so not fair of me to lay at your feet, so please--if you see any of this text--feel free to address ONLY the issues RE Constantine.
Prayers from a Catechumen in Texas.
I often wonder whether Constantine's conversion, and the decisions he made as a direct result of that conversion, were less a blessing and more a curse for the Empire and Christianity. I am not trying to be sacrilegious, and I apologize if I am speaking out of turn or in ignorance. But like you, I see his victory as a repudiation of everything that Christ taught us. I would be very grateful for Father's thoughts about all of this.
Praying for you, Mark. Luke 22 Verses 49 - 51. Peter cuts the ear off of one of the Roman soldiers who is in the process of arresting Jesus. Jesus heals the soldier's ear. He says no violence. It is his last miracle
Thank you dear Father for this powerful reminder to look to Christ and not reinforce our own world view. And remind us of the lives and examples of Saints who have gone before lighting the path. May we all, all be blessed.
People use violence, sin, use guns because they dont really believe! Lots of people also run away from proof that he exists (i did too) and go to proof that he doesnt because of what? I dont undrerstand. I have a friend that screamed at me to stop trying to convince him. I dont know how to deal with that and how to convert them and still keep my faith. God bless you!
I couldn't help but become a pacifist when I read the Gospel, and the Lives of the Martyrs. The one who is convinced I'm their enemy, let the same kill me. As for me, only The enemy and his demons are my enemy, no human. Therefore I will not lift one finger to harm another, "for in their evil, they know not what they do."
Multumesc,multumesc,Sa va mantuiti!Salutari din Romania noastra! Cu dragoste si respect!
Thank you so much for the content of your message. It emanated throughout the depths of my soul. I needed to hear that today. God bless you, Brother in Christ Jesus.
Thank you for the reminder Father - I wish people would turn off their TVs. I was so sad on Theophany (Eve of Nativity for our Julian Calendar brethren) when I scrolled down facebook and was inundated with cryptic commentary on the USA / White House Situation. None of these comments were condolences, nor prayerful. There were NO Theophany comments, and only one Eve of Nativity post - all the rest, just the world, the worldly cares, politics. It feels like nobody cares anymore past their own opinions. Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU for these videos.
We are called to die to self everyday and that is no easy thing. A slow death by self everyday. Fortunately with the grace of God he will show us how. I can not forgive in my power but give it to Christ and all things ....🙏🏽
Thank you Father for the real message coming from deep of your heart,,,, the real meaning to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in this challenging world we live, God bless you
The enemy has been slowly removing God from our daily lives - in schools, workplaces, governments and eventually families. Very sad situation. We need to recognize this and get back into prayer and keeping God in the center of it all - it is HE who is governing us. Amen! (from Canada)
Thanks so much for the teaching
A beautiful contemplative homily at the end of the day, before sleep, with a prayer rope in hand - and my cat staring at me.
take my life and let it be consecrated Lord, to thee. I pray if this time He will give me the strength to face this. I trust Him.
Thank you and may God bless you.
It takes great courage and grace to speak the truth in humility and love.
Thank you!
Father thank you for sharing the Truth. These are confusing times and we need to be reminded of Jesus' commands so that we do not blindly follow behind those Christians who are being led astray (as Jesus warned in Matthew 24:24). I thank God for your online guidance and pray God's blessing on your ministry. Please say a prayer for me. ❤️
Thank you Father! The more I read the Synaxarion, the more I agree with you on this topic. :-) I have a short question, though: What would you reply to someone who asked about why even some Orthodox Fathers, say, Archimandrite Cleopa Ilie, allow defending one's country even by military force, if necessary? This view appears to be in line with the fact that in the Defence Forces of my country, Finland, there are Orthodox military chaplains. If you could offer some thoughts on this, I would be grateful! Thanks again, God bless you all!
Father, thank you for sharing this message. May God have mercy and help us as Christians discern the right from wrong. The only way to save is the way to the cross. And that is why our savior had died on the cross for us. I will keep praying for our brothers and sisters in Christ. May God bless and illuminate us all.
deeply resonate with your sharing... I find huge chunks of bible almost unreadable cause of such violence and wrath.. years back ! I nearly got expelled from school for daring to question such stuff.. I always felt that god, yeshua were full of love - thankyou - glad you didnt press stop !
Thank you for your videos and support, Father!
thank you so much for this video, it moved my heart xx🙏
Thank you for your faithfulness father, the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.
It is fairly clear where the line was crossed that Fr Seraphim mentioned. We need only look at the Constantinian era. In 312 it was illegal for Christians to be in the fighting Roman army. By 416 it was legal for ONLY Christians to be in the army. In the space of 100 years the Church reversed its stance. In accepting the peace which Constantine offered the Church, it also was pressured into accepting fighting in the empire's wars. And this has been the situation for the last 1700 years. The early Christians accepted death rather than to kill. The line was crossed in the 4th century when the Church became the religion of the State. Until we honestly examine that time period and the events of the 4th century, we will not recover the spirit of the early Church.
Our blood would seed the triumphant renewal and glorious expansion of the true Church and would bring about the social kingship of Christ.
This reminds me of the Parable of the Wedding Feast where people are yelling outside the door saying, "Lord have mercy" and "I ate with you!" But Christ responds, "I do not know you" and He slams the door. I think there's lots of people who have fallen to idol worship, triumphantism, and political tribalism. And with it, polluted the most pure image of Christ. Indeed, so now there exists this terrible chasm within the holy Orthodox Church. Because they are not compatible. You can not serve both God and Manna. Lord have mercy!
Please remember last week hundreds of Orthodox chruch members killed inside church of st Marry in Ethiopa Tigray region
Such an important message for our world in where we are at present. Thank you so much for this!
Thank you, Father, I needed to hear that🙏❤️
Thank you for your message and very true what you say.
1st commandment know who I AM in TRUTH in SPIRIT in FAITH for the word has been manifested into FLESH AMEN
Thank u 🙏🏾 this exactly what we need this kind of teaching the world is 🌎🌍 so divided full of heaters selfishness... no words to describe it we need to listen learn open our eyes & heart ❤️ how about the little children what example we’re leaving for them it doesn’t matter which part of the world we come we ar brother & sister in Jesus Christ thank u 🙏🏾 🙏🏾🙏🏾 from 🇨🇦
AMEN
AMEN
AMEN
Divine struggle in prayer
The Church recommends the reading of the Psalms morning and evening. The Psalms of David call upon the destruction of the enemies of God's Anointed.
Only if you read it in a literalist way, which would be an error. Many of the "Fathers", St. Theodorus the Great Ascetic and St. Maximos the Confessor saw the enemies in Psalms as our inner demons or the passions we struggle with every minute of every day. This has helped me immensely. Please forgive me if I am wrong about this and welcome being corrected if I am.
@@triscat Yes. The enemies are within. ❤️☦️
If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. God has the sole power to punish people who sin, not us.
God bless you Father.
Good video father. My guns are for hunting. I'd never used them on other people.
I was a pacifist a long time ago and a vegan for about ten years.
I really liked Tolstoy's 'The kingdom of God is within you'. I wonder why he was excommunicated.
Maybe I could reach a point where I would be okay with being martyred. Martyrs are after all extraordinary people. My sister was murdered by ms13 and maybe I could forgive those people. Some of the people that attend the parish I go to live in an area with
high crime. One of the parishioners was talking about how on Dec 25th her neighbor's house was broken into and they were all murdered for their Christmas presents. I was talking to a lady on the bus a few years who that actually happened to I think her children were killed and she wasn't quite psychologically normal. Personally if I was ever a father which is looking unlikely at this point I don't think I should allow my wife and children to be killed.
I feel like it might be possible that there are more than two worlds in the orthodox community.
It seems like there is some trouble between the patriarch of Moscow and ecumenical patriarch that is going to or already has torn the faith apart.
I'm reading a book called way of the ascetics right now. It's talking about considering yourself the worst of the sinners and not judging other people and obedience even if you consider them wrong. It seems like if everyone stubbornly stuck to having it their own way and to their own views we could easily split Orthodoxy into a hundred million different worlds one for each person.
All God fearing people should pray before they go out and buy a gun. I'm an American and almost everyone I know has one for protection, and thats well and good but they have a lack of faith in the Lord's protection. Guns are just an idol.
Amen
Father you speak directly into my inner soul. I have only one question. Since there are indeed many Saints that participated or at least accepted wars (there is even some cases of young virgin women commiting suicide to preserve their chastity. Different case but sin nevertheless) I think that God has many ways to be reached. Christ said to Apostles that what you tie here in earth is fasten in Heavens and what you untie here is loosen on Heavens as well. Maybe God has given us the “right” to “bend” the rules but to do this we need to be very very cautious and only do it with the guidance of Holy Spirit derived perhaps from Ecomenic gathering of our spiritual leaders and NOT by ourselves which has the danger of loosing the right path since we are blinded from our passions
Bless Father
Thank you for saying this father, because this is what I believed since beeing a kid, then CS Lewis made a massive hole in it, but this is the truth nevertheless. Church possition never sit with me, but you brought peace again. Thank you. Realy.
Wow. Good message.
A difficult teaching but a faithful one
Thank you, thank you so much for saying what's in my heart. I feel we are in a battle that God is allowing to happen in order to test our faith and our real love for Him. I pray that everyone becomes aware of His light and presence in our hearts and choose to follow Him in meekness and surrender, giving Him our fears and cares, He will take care of everything. I put my trust in Jesus, not in the ways of this world or the ways of men, especially if they're Not guided by the Holy Spirit.