A journal of byzantine digressionS
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High Noon
The prayer for “It’s the middle of the day and that guy in the next cubicle is about to get me fired.”
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Continual Repentence
We say this Psalm All Day. Can it be lived that way?
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Knowing God
On the Second Sunday of Lent we commemorate St Gregory Palamas. This is treated as a second Sunday of Orthodoxy, a reclarification of the Faith.
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Say who now?
To whom does the Lord give the “instruction” (Torah)? (See Psalm 118/119:176)
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IYKYK
Meditating on the 1st Psalm of the 3rd Hour. Waking up to God’s Glory is all we need.
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Crocheting Mandalas
I made two of these crocheted circles in ’91 or ’92 while sitting in a very long, very boring staff meeting at 815 2nd Avenue in New York. There was a group of us that did needlework in the back row during staff meetings. The Presiding Bishop once commented that he knew he had made…
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Sunday Reflection
Our two priests were away and the community had a Typica Service today. I was blessed to give the reflection at this service. Troparion – Tone 1When the stone had been sealed by the Jews, while the soldiers were guarding Thy most pure body, Thou didst rise on the third day, O Savior, granting life…
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Fight the New Drug
How do we purge all the sinners from the Lord’s City?
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Just like a Spider
Are you spinning out your life like a spider or are you leaning relying on the only thing that is real?
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Finally.
LENT IS Finally Here. Today, 18 March, is about as late as Lent can be in the Eastern Churches using the Julian Paschalion. I’m not sure what the exact latest date is, but today is pretty close. Look: I love Lent. I especially love Byzantine Lenten Practices, not least the fasting. We’re essentially vegan from…
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Forgiveness
I’m working on a reflection for next Sunday. A pattern dawns on me – seeing patterns is a thing I do… I think it’s Spectrum Work… anyway – linking the Themes of Lent and Prelent seems to make for fruitful meditation. Here’s one for today, Forgiveness Sunday, linked with Last Sunday, the Sunday of the…
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The Help of Heaven
Psalm 5Give ear to my words, O Lord, understand my cry. Attend to the voice of my supplication, my King and my God; for to you I shall pray, O Lord. In the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I shall stand before you, and you will watch over me; because you…
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Sunrise
Psalm 142 / 143 Lord, hear my prayer; in your truth give ear to my supplication, and in your justice hear me. Do not enter into judgement with your servant, for in your sight no one living can be justified. For the enemy pursued my soul; humbled my life to the ground; made me dwell…
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Liturgy Begins
The content is a recitation of Psalm 102/103, praising the Lord for His mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. It emphasizes the infinite mercy and justice of the Lord, encouraging all to bless Him. The Psalm reflects on the frailty of humanity but emphasizes the enduring nature of God’s mercy for those who fear Him.
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Life Happens
When we were kids, it seemed to my brother and I, swimming in the Gulf of Mexico, that the waves came in sets of three: two normal ones and then a huge one. Three sets of three would end in a gigantic one. This childhood sense was not unique to us: various mythologies speak of…
Orthoparadoxy 