By Michael Haldas,
Thoughts on Peace amidst Pain and Suffering, June 13, 2016
“In Christianity we are taught sin is a condition of the world and the cause of human suffering. We are also taught Christ defeated sin and redeemed suffering through the cross and now our suffering can be transformative. Many of us reject this because it is not the answer we want to the condition of evil and suffering. Who would want this answer? Who wants to suffer or see someone suffer? Most of us want a world without pain…but at the same time, we need to be careful of not falling into the mental trap of thinking reality should work according to our will. There is something bigger going on and we find greater peace in accepting our part and limitations as we strive to be as loving and good as possible in Christ.” (Sacramental Living)
“My heart goes out to all those who’ve lost everything, and I pray daily for the suffering peoples all over the world. Yet I remain peaceful in my heart because I place myself in the presence of God every day and stay focused on all that I am thankful for.” (Abbot Tryphon)
“Real peace is to be found only in the meeting of man with God. By having this divine peace, we have everything and become fearless before every aggression and every enemy. By having the peace of God, we can then have peace with our follow human beings.” (Orthodox Agape)
“The end result of the Holy Sprit’s work in our lives is a deep and lasting peace. Unlike worldly peace, which is usually defined as absence of conflict, this peace is confident assurance in any circumstance; with Christ’s peace, we have no need to fear the present or the future. Sin, fear, uncertainty and doubt and numerous other forces are at war within us. The peace of God moves into our hearts and lives to restrain the hostile forces and offer comfort in place of conflict.” (Life Application Study Bible, John 14:27)
“We were made for God and nothing else will really satisfy us.” (Brennan Manning)
Thoughts on Faith, Witnessing and Family, June 14, 2016
“Many of us have friends or family members who resemble the Jews of Capernaum. They stand at a distance from the faith and resist the claims of Christ on their lives. We may yearn for them to know our life-giving joy, but they neither see nor believe in the Lord…It is divisive to try to force others to believe our way. Instead, let’s witness about what Christ has done for us.” (Dynamis 5/8/2014, Life Application Study Bible, John 3:25-36)
“Sometimes we have difficulty confessing Christ even to those who are very close and dear to us. At such times, according to the Gospel, ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household’ [Matthew 10:36]. It so happens that our people do not understand us, but we also do not make any effort to speak to them discreetly about Christ. Or perhaps we sometimes even go to the opposite extreme. We talk to them so very much about Christ that – in the end – we tire them, satiate them, and pressure and annoy them so much they do not even want to hear anything about Christ. We can never pressure anyone, assume a commanding authority over him, or threaten him – even our closest relative – to follow Christ.” (Orthodox Agape)
“Don’t hide your light at home; our families are fertile fields for planting seeds of the Good News. Let your parents, children, spouse, brothers, and sisters know of your faith in Jesus, and be sure they see Christ’s love, helpfulness, and joy in you.” (Life Application Study Bible, 1 Timothy 1:5)
“Christ said it in a timely fashion: that in this life we must be warriors, even within our own family; our own people will behave as enemies, because we follow the Christian life.” (Orthodox Agape)
“A changed life speaks loudly and clearly, and it is often the most effective way to influence a family member…A changed life convinces people of Christ’s power. One of your greatest testimonies is the difference others see in your life and attitudes since you have believed in Christ.” (Life Application Study, 1 Peter 3:1-7, Acts 4:13)
~Michael Haldas, https://www.ancientfaith.com/contributors/michael_haldas.
Michael Haldas is an author, a religious educator and a speaker. He wrote Sacramental Living: Understanding Christianity as a Way of Life (published by Eastern Christian Publications), a book which he presented special editions of as gifts to Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in private audiences. Michael is also published monthly in Theosis Magazine and he has authored several Orthodox Christian themed articles for various publications. Additionally, he has recorded and contributed to multiple YouTube, DVD and CD educational projects. He teaches adult religious education and high school Sunday school at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George in Bethesda, Maryland and has worked with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Religious Education Department to create educational lessons and materials.
