Comments on: The Coke lady and the ice. Stories from the International Winter Youth/Young Adult Service Retreat, Pharr, Texas http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Tue, 21 May 2013 19:41:23 +0000 hourly 1 By: seraphimholland http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-2637 seraphimholland Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:45:32 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1568#comment-2637 I looked up "Philotimo". It is a beautiful word, and certainly is a good answer. There is an excellent post about this word: http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2008/01/24/philotimo-responsive-gratefulness/ I looked up “Philotimo”. It is a beautiful word, and certainly is a good answer. There is an excellent post about this word:
http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/2008/01/24/philotimo-responsive-gratefulness/

]]> By: seraphimholland http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-2636 seraphimholland Mon, 04 Jan 2010 23:39:25 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1568#comment-2636 I have known Fr Antonio and his family for over two years now. I have been at the summer camp for two years now, and plan to continue to be at the camp and the retreat for many years. I have known Fr Antonio and his family for over two years now. I have been at the summer camp for two years now, and plan to continue to be at the camp and the retreat for many years.

]]> By: Elaine http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-2630 Elaine Mon, 04 Jan 2010 00:55:36 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1568#comment-2630 Philotimo. Philotimo.

]]> By: Yorgos the Canadian http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-2608 Yorgos the Canadian Thu, 31 Dec 2009 16:31:49 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1568#comment-2608 The root of the reason was she saw them as she saw herself: human flesh and no different then her own self or her own family (for that ice was profit and food to her to keep the coke cold to sell it to gain funds.) This is why the holy law says: "love thy neighbour as thyself". To God who is no respecter of persons and not partial to any man all people are the same crafted by His Hand. In loving them she loved herself and in doing that she loved God "for if you do this to the lest of these you do it Unto Me" says The Lord. Grace and Peace to you from St Georges Greek Orthodox Church, Toronto, Canada The root of the reason was she saw them as she saw herself: human flesh and no different then her own self or her own family (for that ice was profit and food to her to keep the coke cold to sell it to gain funds.)

This is why the holy law says: “love thy neighbour as thyself”. To God who is no respecter of persons and not partial to any man all people are the same crafted by His Hand. In loving them she loved herself and in doing that she loved God “for if you do this to the lest of these you do it Unto Me” says The Lord.

Grace and Peace to you from
St Georges Greek Orthodox Church, Toronto, Canada

]]> By: Mary http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-2607 Mary Thu, 31 Dec 2009 15:45:32 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1568#comment-2607 She had love. She looked at them, and loved, and gave freely from what she had to give. She had love. She looked at them, and loved, and gave freely from what she had to give.

]]> By: Deborah http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-2606 Deborah Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:59:07 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1568#comment-2606 She not only had the ability to see their need but to see what she, despite her extreme poverty, had to offer. And she, though poorer than they, had the willingness and love to give it. She is the widow giving her "two mites". She not only had the ability to see their need but to see what she, despite her extreme poverty, had to offer. And she, though poorer than they, had the willingness and love to give it.

She is the widow giving her “two mites”.

]]> By: daniel http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-2605 daniel Thu, 31 Dec 2009 12:57:50 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1568#comment-2605 Bless Father Seraphim, Is it that the old lady, unlike the rich man with the bountiful harvest who thought only to award himself, gave what she had -- even needed, for to ensure her small harvest -- because she perceived a need in those who could not help themselves otherwise? In so doing could she have exhibited true love of neighbour and more than anything else a manifest faith in God to provide for her harvest? This also reminds me of the widow's mite. Bless Father Seraphim,

Is it that the old lady, unlike the rich man with the bountiful harvest who thought only to award himself, gave what she had — even needed, for to ensure her small harvest — because she perceived a need in those who could not help themselves otherwise?

In so doing could she have exhibited true love of neighbour and more than anything else a manifest faith in God to provide for her harvest?

This also reminds me of the widow’s mite.

]]> By: Yuliya Guzman http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-2601 Yuliya Guzman Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:52:00 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1568#comment-2601 Hello Father Seraphim, this is a very good story. I will try to answer your question... What did the Rich man not have? detachment from material things? I suppose ice should have been expensive for those women, since you mentioned this took place in a small town of Guatemala. did they give away the most important what they had which is ice? Ice which allowed to cool the drinks, sell them and make some small living? I really don't know, but something tells me that they gave something very valuable to them. Yet they gave it away with no regret because they could not watch suffering. What did the Rich man not have? Mercy, love for other people, detachment from earthly things?.. at the end of the day though it probably did not matter whether they were Roman Catholic or Orthodox. It is said in the Scripture something like this "Child, give me your heart". Their hearts seem to be in the right place. Their hearts had mercy for other person's pain and answered to it without looking back, without thinking of how they will feed their families at night if they don't sell drinks. Hello Father Seraphim, this is a very good story. I will try to answer your question… What did the Rich man not have? detachment from material things? I suppose ice should have been expensive for those women, since you mentioned this took place in a small town of Guatemala. did they give away the most important what they had which is ice? Ice which allowed to cool the drinks, sell them and make some small living? I really don’t know, but something tells me that they gave something very valuable to them. Yet they gave it away with no regret because they could not watch suffering. What did the Rich man not have? Mercy, love for other people, detachment from earthly things?.. at the end of the day though it probably did not matter whether they were Roman Catholic or Orthodox. It is said in the Scripture something like this “Child, give me your heart”. Their hearts seem to be in the right place. Their hearts had mercy for other person’s pain and answered to it without looking back, without thinking of how they will feed their families at night if they don’t sell drinks.

]]> By: Antonia Colias http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-2600 Antonia Colias Thu, 31 Dec 2009 05:08:23 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1568#comment-2600 Bless, Father ! I'm so very glad that you have met the Perdomo family, and are attending this event ! Mat. Elizabeth and her two older daughters are treasured friends of mine for some years now. Thank you for sharing "glimpses" of this year's service retreat. Bless, Father !
I’m so very glad that you have met the Perdomo family, and are attending this event ! Mat. Elizabeth and her two older daughters are treasured friends of mine for some years now. Thank you for sharing “glimpses” of this year’s service retreat.

]]> By: David http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2009/12/30/the-coke-lady-and-the-ice-stories-from-the-international-winter-youthyoung-adult-service-retreat-pharr-texas/comment-page-1/#comment-2598 David Thu, 31 Dec 2009 04:07:31 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=1568#comment-2598 Mercy. Mercy.

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