Comments on: Commentary on 2 Timothy 4:9-22, read on the 28th Wednesday after Pentecost. Loneliness. Delivered out of the mouth of the lion http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/16/commentary-on-2-timothy-49-22-read-on-the-28th-wednesday-after-pentecost-loneliness-delivered-out-of-the-mouth-of-the-lion/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Fri, 11 May 2012 16:48:56 +0000 hourly 1 By: Deborah http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/16/commentary-on-2-timothy-49-22-read-on-the-28th-wednesday-after-pentecost-loneliness-delivered-out-of-the-mouth-of-the-lion/comment-page-1/#comment-2517 Deborah Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:28:18 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1524#comment-2517 Father, Bless, St. Paul's words remind me of St. Peter's warning: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.." 1 Peter 5:8 It defies explanation--how we can learn to bear suffering--the suffering of others as well as our own, to truly grieve with those who grieve, sorrow over our sins and the all the pain and sadness in the world---and yet rejoice and have great peace at the same time! Equally an enigma and paradox is the way we can be entirely separated from or forsaken, physically and/or spiritually, by those around us and still be accompanied by a great multitude and are never truly alone. How we can experience two, seemingly contradictory emotions almost simultaneously is a great mystery and not easy to do. But somehow He teaches us over and over that we both bow down and stand up, sorrow and rejoice, are forsaken yet never alone, die and yet live. Father, Bless,

St. Paul’s words remind me of St. Peter’s warning:
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour..” 1 Peter 5:8

It defies explanation–how we can learn to bear suffering–the suffering of others as well as our own, to truly grieve with those who grieve, sorrow over our sins and the all the pain and sadness in the world—and yet rejoice and have great peace at the same time! Equally an enigma and paradox is the way we can be entirely separated from or forsaken, physically and/or spiritually, by those around us and still be accompanied by a great multitude and are never truly alone. How we can experience two, seemingly contradictory emotions almost simultaneously is a great mystery and not easy to do. But somehow He teaches us over and over that we both bow down and stand up, sorrow and rejoice, are forsaken yet never alone, die and yet live.

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