“Thoughts in Christ”

by Fr. Vladimir Berzonsky

In the Spirit on the Lord’s Day

Here for the first time we find a reference to the most precious day of the week, the day we in English call Sunday—the Lord’s Day. Many wrongly speak of Sunday as the Sabbath; but Saturday is the Sabbath. The day of rest, on which the Lord God Almighty rested from His six days of creation (Genesis 2:2). A remarkable transition occurred in the…

The Lamb of God

Do you wonder what happens before your arrival for the Divine Liturgy? I recite some two dozen prayers for a start, followed by more prayers, one for each article of vestments donned by the priest, and another for the washing of hands. But then comes the glorious preparation of the Holy Gifts. Special breads and some wine are on the table of…

Enron and Lazarus

The present Enron scandal expresses the shadow side of capitalism. In this time of our nation’s healing from the disasters of 9/11, we have come together as a nation to demonstrate to others and to ourselves the best in our people. Patriotism has erased any vestige of cynicism from the past. Not since World War II have our priorities and values been…

St. Paul’s Valentines

St. Paul was sending valentines long before there was a word for it. That most brilliant of apostles loved instinctively and unstintedly. The Holy Spirit directed him to do the loving, kind and helpful things that would uplift his disciples and followers throughout the known world of the time. He loved them, and he told them that. He was happy that…

With Your Whole Heart

Where can you go in America and avoid the symbol of the heart? On Valentine’s Day we send notes of affection to family, friends and in schools, even near strangers. Bumper stickers proclaim “I V [NY, favorite pet, favorite team, etc.]” It’s almost impossible to find a pop song with some theme other than love—either found, lost, wished for or…

St. John’s Credentials: A Right to Write

Here appear the credentials of the writer of Revelation, St. John. He addresses those who will read and hear his writings as their brother and companion in: a) Tribulation (thlipsis); b) Kingdom (vasilia); c) Patience, or steadfast endurance (ipomoni). He writes as a soul brother to those who share his life and values. Only they will have the…

A Peaceful Death

Painless:

To die as a Christian is both privilege and duty. The insight that comes only after deep meditation is to grasp the gift which Christ brings us, by allowing us to share His sacred and unique heritage. He made His holy Father in heaven our Father, as well, when we conform ourselves to His will. After we spend a lifetime living for Him,…

The Family Reunion

“Your mother and her sisters know where my best dress, the black one, is hanging in the closet. I told them that’s what I’ll wear in my coffin. Nothing else. No jewelry, and I hope they won’t put makeup on me.”

“Oh, Baba, don’t talk about coffins and death. It’s so…[I wanted to say morbid, but I couldn’t think of the word] sad.” I was eleven at the…

Our God, Our Heavenly Father

Imagine what a transformation in understanding St. Peter and the other apostles had felt when they would begin their daily prayers as Christians. From childhood they had begun: “Blessed art Thou, O God.” The essence of Judaism is belief in a God so remote that one rarely addressed Him other than as “Lord.” Then they learned from the Lord Himself,…