Feast of the Church

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    The Feast of Pentecost: The Fire Has Fallen

    ByJobin

    *Feast of Pentecost – The Fire Has Fallen*

    Blessed Feast of Pentecost, dear brothers and sisters.

    The nine days of waiting are over. The fire has fallen.

    The feast day reflection is now on the blog, drawing on the prayers and readings of our own Pentecosti service alongside the Syriac patristic tradition.

    It sits with the three-service structure of the feast, the theology of the sprinkling of blessed water, the tripartite gift of the Trinity poured out on the gathered community, and the connection between Pentecost and the theology of theosis that gives the Seeking Theosis blog its name.

    One line from the liturgy has stayed with me through the morning: _the opening prayer that asks to be made worthy to receive the spiritual drink of the new wine of the Comforter Spirit._

    The new wine is being poured on the morning of Pentecosti Sunday. May our vessels be open to receive it.

    Come, Holy Spirit. Ta Ruha d-Qudsha. Come.

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    The Feast of the Ascension

    ByJobin

    The Feast of the Ascension | Stop Gazing, Start Going – Acts 1:1-11

    The disciples stared at the sky. Of course they did. Their Lord had just ascended. Their eyes followed Him. The sky was the last place they saw Him.

    Two angels: “Why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus will come back the same way He went.”

    The question is a redirection. The looking up must give way to the going out.

    St. John Chrysostom: Mark 16:20 is the charter of the Church. “They went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.” Going. Preaching. Co-operation. Confirmation. The four elements of the Church’s existence.

    The King is on the throne. Stop gazing. Start going.

    Full reflection at Seeking Theosis

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    Feast of the Annunciation to the Mother of God – March 25

    ByJobin

    Feast of the Annunciation – March 25

    The Creator of the universe asked a teenage girl for permission. He sent an angel. He spoke through words. He waited for a response.

    Mary said: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word.”

    And the Word became flesh. In her womb. Nine months before Bethlehem. The road from the manger to the Cross began in this room. On this day. With this yes.

    St. Ephrem: heaven and earth heard the yes simultaneously. The angels from their side. Creation from ours. And the Word began His journey from the throne to the manger.

    Full reflection at Seeking Theosis