The Catalog of Good Deeds: Sermons

"God Isn't Ashamed of His Law": the Role of Circumcision

December 29, 2018/undefined

Is December 25 Really the Day When Christ Was Born?

December 26, 2018/undefined

Spiritual Father's Advice: “When You Can’t Any Longer, Go Drink Some Tea"

December 22, 2018/undefined

Family

The Road to Bethlehem and How It Is Connected with 7 Prophecies of Exodus

December 14, 2018/undefined

Christmas Stories

Christmas Memories from the Catalog of Good Deeds: "Police Patrols Ensured that People Did not Go to Church"

December 05, 2018/undefined

"God Isn't Ashamed of His Law": the Role of Circumcision

December 29, 2018/undefined

Is December 25 Really the Day When Christ Was Born?

December 26, 2018/undefined

Spiritual Father's Advice: “When You Can’t Any Longer, Go Drink Some Tea"

December 22, 2018/undefined

Showing posts with label Sermons. Show all posts

A Double Church Feast: Circumcision of the Lord and St. Basil the Great

January 14, 2019

A Double Church Feast: Circumcision of the Lord and St. Basil the Great

Today we celebrate a double Church feast, the Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ, and memory of St. Basil the Great. In addition,

Spiritual Father's Advice: “When You Can’t Any Longer, Go Drink Some Tea"

By Fr. Andrew Lemeshonok

I remember being asked, “There are certain times in my life when I feel depressed, when it’s hard for me to pray, when my mind wanders around. What would you recommend doing in those moments? How do I deal with those emotional states?”

Everyone has moments when life becomes too hard to tolerate… I have heard about and used the following method: just drink some tea and eat something. The pain will become less excruciating. Or have some sleep. I’m not talking of the cases when you simply have to overcome yourself and not pay attention to your ego. There are moments in your life when you’re really on the edge, when you’re so stressed out… That was what Father Sophrony (Sakharov) told a hierodeacon from Mt. Athos in response to a similar question: “Stand on the edge but when you can’t any longer, go drink some tea.” A person needs some relief. If you bend something over all the time, you can break it. That’s why you need reckoning. If you don’t tie yourself up in this condition and ask for advice, then God through a priest (or if there isn’t any priest around, through some Christian person) will tell you what to do to stop being desperate. “Keep your mind in hell but don’t give up” — that’s the motto of our life.

We constantly live on the edge of life and death. On the one hand, the old self must die. On the other hand, the new self must be born. This process is painful and troublesome sometimes. That is why I wish us all to have enough humility, patience, and, most importantly, trust in God. The Lord never abandons us under any circumstances and in any situation. He is always near. You simply have to keep your eyes and your hearts wide open and pray to God. God will surely answer you.

December 7, 2018

St. Elisabeth Convent

The Shrewd Steward: What Does this Parable Mean?

November 29, 2018

The Shrewd Steward: What Does this Parable Mean?

“There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.”

"Our Laziness and Lack of Faith Leads Us into a Dead-End!"

November 28, 2018

"Our Laziness and Lack of Faith Leads Us into a Dead-End!"

By Fr. Andrew Lemeshonok I’m a priest, right? A spiritual father, if you like. To be honest, I’m nobody. I know that but

“Greatness Has Humble Beginnings” or Why Being Humble Is the Only Way to Move forward

November 17, 2018

“Greatness Has Humble Beginnings” or Why Being Humble Is the Only Way to Move forward

By Fr. Andrew Lemeshonok If we read memoirs of Father Sophrony about Elder Silouan where he recounts how that mighty ascetic fought spiritually

How to Determine Whether We Are on the Light Side or the Dark Side?

November 05, 2018

How to Determine Whether We Are on the Light Side or the Dark Side?

Metropolitan Anthony (Pakanic) gives his advice on how not to get lost in this world. After the Fall of Adam and Eve, we