tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546468339418636140.post2845458218178910555..comments2024-01-12T04:58:49.069-05:00Comments on Kyrie, Eleison!: It's All JoyAnastasia Theodoridishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16092531121989260111noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546468339418636140.post-58364586332817490332011-05-16T10:09:47.440-04:002011-05-16T10:09:47.440-04:00GretchenJoanna, people say he is sometimes confuse...GretchenJoanna, people say he is sometimes confused and other times not.<br /><br />Elizabeth, yes we are all struggling - together, not alone, not separately.<br /><br />Anne, yes, but let us not make of His words anything that will conflict with what He <i>did</i>; He "died for us <i>while we were yet sinners."</i> That is, before we had repented. Proving He had also forgiven us, because clearly, He wouldn't die for us unless He had already forgiven us. "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do." (As His love is infinite and unconditional and noit bordered even by impenitence, so must His forgiveness be, which is but a function of that Love.) <br /><br />So I think that by His words *and* deeds, we must understand that impenitence perversely reacts to God's very forgiveness (love) by finding it distressing and eventually even tormenting - in the exact degree to which we have rejected it. <br /><br />At least this is how Orthodox Christianity understands things. One of our morning prayers begins:<br /><br /><i>As I rise from sleep I thank Thee, O Holy Trinity, for through Thy great goodness and patience Thou wast not angered with me, an idler and sinner, nor hast Thou destroyed me in my sins, but hast shown Thy usual love for men, and when I was prostrate in despair, Thou hast raised me to keep the morning watch and glorify Thy power.</i> <br /><br />http://www.myriobiblos.gr/texts/english/prayerbook/main.htmAnastasia Theodoridishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16092531121989260111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546468339418636140.post-2152299465618556942011-05-16T00:26:28.834-04:002011-05-16T00:26:28.834-04:00Forgiveness is a big struggle for me. I know there...Forgiveness is a big struggle for me. I know there are things to forgive that I struggle with, and keep struggling with. God's goodness is the only true comfort. <br /><br />The idea that "God doesn’t withhold His (forgiveness), ever, from anybody, under any circumstances" -- I'd encourage you to compare that to what Jesus said. He said unless we forgive our brother from our heart, God will not forgive us. And he says with the measure we use, it will be measured to us -- blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. <br /><br />Which, I think, encourages me to keep fighting my struggles with forgiveness. God help me learn how to love the way I should. <br /><br />Take care & God bless<br />Anne / WFWeekend Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10425001168670801073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546468339418636140.post-27542752753684465872011-05-15T18:04:13.791-04:002011-05-15T18:04:13.791-04:00what a beautiful letter. this living Christianity ...what a beautiful letter. this living Christianity in the Orthodox church is part of what continues to give me hope... <br /><br />I agree with GJ... we are all struggling, even if it is only to begin. Lord have mercy on us!elizabethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00962587884124992942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6546468339418636140.post-49090936346395932082011-05-15T17:32:55.095-04:002011-05-15T17:32:55.095-04:00It must have taken a deal of humility for this man...It must have taken a deal of humility for this man to come to church; he probably knows there are hard feelings about him still - unless he is already of a confused state of mind from the ravages of age. In either case, it took effort of some kind, and to want to be in church is a good sign.<br /><br />We are all struggling, even if it's only to begin the struggle.GretchenJoannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13641677400029070452noreply@blogger.com