St. Benedict

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
Christ is in our midst! He was and is and ever shall be. Ο Χριστός έν τώ μέσω ημών. Και ήν και έστι και έσται.

THE DIVINE LITURGY OF SAINT BASIL THE GREAT

Priest: (During the foregoing Litany:) Our God, the God Who saves, teach us how to thank You worthily for the benefits You have granted us and grant us still. Having accepted these Gifts, Lord, cleanse us of all taint, both of body and spirit, and teach us how to achieve holiness in reverence for You, so that with the witness of a clear conscience, as we receive a portion of Your Hallowed Gifts, we may be united to the Holy Body and Blood of Your Christ and, receiving them worthily, may possess Christ indwelling in our hearts, and so become a temple of Your Holy Spirit. Lord, find none of us guilty of profaning these Your awesome and heavenly mysteries, nor let us be enfeebled in soul and body by receiving them unworthily; but grant that to our last breath we may receive the portion of Your Sacred Gifts as they way to eternal life, for an acceptable defense at the dread Judgment Seat of Your Christ; that we too, with the Saints who have pleased You through the ages, may share in Your Eternal Blessings, prepared for those who love You O Lord.

TODAY'S SYNAXARION

On March 14th Our Holy Orthodox Church commemorates, honors and entreats the holy intercessions of the following Saints, Forefathers, Fathers, Patriarchs, Prophets, Apostles, Preachers, Evangelists, Martyrs, Confessors, Ascetics and Teachers of Our Holy Orthodox Christian faith: Saint Benedict of Nursia; Saint Efschemon, Bishop of Lampsakos.

+By the holy intercessions of Your Saints and Holy Martyrs, O Christ Our God, have mercy on us and save. Amen.

TODAY'S SACRED SCRIPTURAL READINGS ARE THE FOLLOWING:
Orthros (matins) Old Testament: Isaiah 10:12-20
Esperinos (Vespers) Old Testament 1: Genesis 7:6-9
Esperinos (Vespers) Old Testament 2: Proverbs 9:12-18

FOR YOUR PERSONAL REFLECTION AND CONTEMPLATION

"Prayer is the beginning of every good thing, and the mediator of salvation and eternal life..." (St. John Chrysostom)

ON PEACE WITH ONE ANOTHER
by Saint Gregory Palamas

We are all brothers and sisters in that we have One Creator and Lord, Who is Father to us all. That brotherhood we share with animals and inanimate nature. We are also brethren one to another as descendants of one earthly father, Adam, and the only creatures made in God's image. But even this is common to all nations. More especially, however, we are brethren in that we are of the same race and live in the same place; and above all else, share one mother, the Holy Church and true piety, the author and finisher of which is Christ, the rightful Son of God. Not only is He our God, but He was well-pleased to be Our Brother, Our Father, and Our Head, bringing us all together into one body, and making us members of one another and of Himself.

When Christ rose from the dead on the third day and appeared to the women who came to the tomb He said, "Go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me" (St. Matt. 28:10). Do you see how He deigns to be called our brother? Just as the Apostle said to Him, "He took not on him the nature of Angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren" (Hebrews 2:16-17). Christ is also our Father because He gave us new birth through Holy Baptism and His Divine Grace. He calls His disciples His children and when He comes to His saving passion He promises not to leave them orphans. Again the Apostle says, "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14). Saint Paul confirms that we are all one body in Christ by saying, "Now ye are the body of Christ, and individually members of it" (1 Corinthians 12:27). As a single body has many members, and as many members as there are, they form a single body, so it is with Christ. For truly we were all baptized in the one Spirit into the one Body.

With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+Father George