http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2011/03/07/the-purpose-of-great-lent-by-deacon-nicholas-park/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Tue, 21 May 2013 19:41:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2011/03/07/the-purpose-of-great-lent-by-deacon-nicholas-park/comment-page-1/#comment-11171 helen Sun, 13 Mar 2011 00:29:39 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=3038#comment-11171 Thank you again, Deacon Nicholas.  With just a few words you made it very clear to me why it is so.  So it's only possible to be like Him (by, with or because of) His power and while staying or keeping in close communion with Him (through prayer and receiving Holy Communion).  And that explains why we cannot do it alone. "Our own strength is nothing." Thank you again, Deacon Nicholas.  With just a few words you made it very clear to me why it is so.  So it's only possible to be like Him (by, with or because of) His power and while staying or keeping in close communion with Him (through prayer and receiving Holy Communion).  And that explains why we cannot do it alone. "Our own strength is nothing."

]]> http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2011/03/07/the-purpose-of-great-lent-by-deacon-nicholas-park/comment-page-1/#comment-11121 Dn. Nicholas Park Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:32:20 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=3038#comment-11121 Amen, Helen. We are called to be like God <strong>with</strong> God, and it is only possible by His power and in close communion with Him. Our own strength is nothing. Amen, Helen. We are called to be like God with God, and it is only possible by His power and in close communion with Him. Our own strength is nothing.

]]> http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2011/03/07/the-purpose-of-great-lent-by-deacon-nicholas-park/comment-page-1/#comment-11109 helen Fri, 11 Mar 2011 20:02:51 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=3038#comment-11109 Thank you, Deacon Nicholas.  But I just want to add one more thing.  I know that without my prayers to the Lord, that I am nothing.  I don't just mean that as an empty phrase.  I mean that God is my medicine and I really feel uplifted and healthier when I pray.  And if I go too long without prayer I get really weighed down with the stress of life.  So it must be that they work together: Prayer AND striving to be like the Lord. Thank you, Deacon Nicholas.  But I just want to add one more thing.  I know that without my prayers to the Lord, that I am nothing.  I don't just mean that as an empty phrase.  I mean that God is my medicine and I really feel uplifted and healthier when I pray.  And if I go too long without prayer I get really weighed down with the stress of life.  So it must be that they work together: Prayer AND striving to be like the Lord.

]]> http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2011/03/07/the-purpose-of-great-lent-by-deacon-nicholas-park/comment-page-1/#comment-11060 Dn. Nicholas Park Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:18:52 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=3038#comment-11060 "Is it correct that the main thing is not the fasting and praying, et cetera, but the softening of our hearts towards each person who we have contact with each day?" Yes, I think that is accurate. As Fr. Seraphim said in his homily last week, quoting St. John: "If you love not your brother whom you have seen, how can you love God Whom you have not seen?" "Is it correct that the main thing is not the fasting and praying, et cetera, but the softening of our hearts towards each person who we have contact with each day?"
Yes, I think that is accurate. As Fr. Seraphim said in his homily last week, quoting St. John: "If you love not your brother whom you have seen, how can you love God Whom you have not seen?"

]]> http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2011/03/07/the-purpose-of-great-lent-by-deacon-nicholas-park/comment-page-1/#comment-11024 helen Wed, 09 Mar 2011 21:13:33 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=3038#comment-11024 Thank you for this beautiful sermon, Deacon Nicholas.  It's good to be reminded every day about the goal of our Lenten Journey, and of all of our life, to become like God: humble and patient.  So is it correct that the main thing is not the fasting and praying, et cetera, but the softening of our hearts towards each person who we have contact with each day? Father Seraphim, thanks and please keep posting all these wonderful articles and instructions regarding Great Lent.  I'm looking forward to reading them and learning from them! Thank you for this beautiful sermon, Deacon Nicholas.  It's good to be reminded every day about the goal of our Lenten Journey, and of all of our life, to become like God: humble and patient.  So is it correct that the main thing is not the fasting and praying, et cetera, but the softening of our hearts towards each person who we have contact with each day?
Father Seraphim, thanks and please keep posting all these wonderful articles and instructions regarding Great Lent.  I'm looking forward to reading them and learning from them!

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