by St. John Chrysostom (d. 407; from Homily 11 on Ephesians 4:4-16) If therefore we desire to have the benefit of that Spirit which is from the Head, let us cleave one to another. For there are two kinds of separation from the body of the Church; the one, when we wax cold in love, the other, when we dare commit things unworthy of our belonging to that body; for in either way we cut ourselves off from the “fullness of Christ.” But if we are appointed to build up others also, what shall not be done to them who are first to make … [Read more...]

by Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher “Jesus answered, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.”’” (John 3:5-7) According to our Lord Jesus, water is the medium by which we must be born into the kingdom of God, that is, the spiritual dominion of eternal life and communion with God Himself.  The alternative is to remain merely in … [Read more...]

By Fr. Jonathan H. Cholcher Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and you shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, “God with us.” (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23) The unmistakable sign of God’s enduring presence is the Incarnation of the Son of God, namely, the eternal Son of God taking on human flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary.  The eternal God assumes a permanent, eternal dwelling in a human body in the Person of Jesus Christ our Savior.  As Christ declared to His … [Read more...]