Contemplations – Page 418 – Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, U.K.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17 . “Man’s merit is a free gift, and no one deserves to receive anything from the Father of lights, from whom every good gift comes down, except by receiving what he does not deserve.” St. Augustine #grace #freegift #FatherofLights #Goddoesnotchange #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox . Annunciation of Saint Joachim with Birth of Virgin Mary. On this day, God sent His honorable angel Gabriel to announce to St. Joachim of the birth…

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17 . “Man’s merit is a free gift, and no one deserves to receive anything from the Father of lights, from whom every good gift comes down, except by receiving what he does not deserve.” St. Augustine #grace #freegift #FatherofLights #Goddoesnotchange #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox . Annunciation of Saint Joachim with Birth of Virgin Mary. On this day, God sent His honorable angel Gabriel to announce to St. Joachim of the birth…

Aug 13, 2016

For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.” 1 Peter 3:10 . “God has surrounded the tongue with a double wall—a barrier of teeth and the fence of the lips—in order that it may not easily and heedlessly utter words it should not speak. Keep it curbed within your mouth.” St John Chrysostom #guardyourmouth #speaknoevil #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

For “He who would love life And see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.” 1 Peter 3:10 . “God has surrounded the tongue with a double wall—a barrier of teeth and the fence of the lips—in order that it may not easily and heedlessly utter words it should not speak. Keep it curbed within your mouth.” St John Chrysostom #guardyourmouth #speaknoevil #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

Aug 12, 2016

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 . “Christians, should judge no one, neither an open harlot, nor sinners, nor dissolute people, but should look upon all with simplicity of soul and a pure eye. Purity of heart, indeed, consists in seeing sinful and weak men and having compassion for them and being merciful.” St Macarius the Great #pureinheart #purity #seeGod #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8 . “Christians, should judge no one, neither an open harlot, nor sinners, nor dissolute people, but should look upon all with simplicity of soul and a pure eye. Purity of heart, indeed, consists in seeing sinful and weak men and having compassion for them and being merciful.” St Macarius the Great #pureinheart #purity #seeGod #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

Aug 11, 2016

“But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. ” Luke 11:41 . “If you help a poor person in the name of the Lord, you are making a gift and at the same time granting a loan. You are making a gift because you have no expectation of being reimbursed by that poor person. You are granting a loan because the Lord will settle the account. It is not much that the Lord receives by means of the poor, but He will pay a great deal on their behalf. ‘They…

“But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you. ” Luke 11:41 . “If you help a poor person in the name of the Lord, you are making a gift and at the same time granting a loan. You are making a gift because you have no expectation of being reimbursed by that poor person. You are granting a loan because the Lord will settle the account. It is not much that the Lord receives by means of the poor, but He will pay a great deal on their behalf. ‘They…

Aug 10, 2016

And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:24 . “What then do the Lord’s words mean at another place (Matt.11: 30) “For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Actually there is no contradiction between both quotes. One speaks of the nature of tribulation, as the narrow door, and the other speaks of the feelings of those who overcome them. What causes hardship to our nature could be counted as easy if we accept it willingly. Moreover, the…

And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:24 . “What then do the Lord’s words mean at another place (Matt.11: 30) “For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Actually there is no contradiction between both quotes. One speaks of the nature of tribulation, as the narrow door, and the other speaks of the feelings of those who overcome them. What causes hardship to our nature could be counted as easy if we accept it willingly. Moreover, the…

Aug 9, 2016

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:19,20 . “What state can be more blessed than to imitate on earth the choruses of Angels?—to begin the day with prayer, and honour our Maker with hymns and songs?—as the day brightens, to betake ourselves, with prayer attending on it throughout, to our labours, and to sweeten our work with hymns, as if with salt? Soothing hymns compose the…

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” Ephesians 5:19,20 . “What state can be more blessed than to imitate on earth the choruses of Angels?—to begin the day with prayer, and honour our Maker with hymns and songs?—as the day brightens, to betake ourselves, with prayer attending on it throughout, to our labours, and to sweeten our work with hymns, as if with salt? Soothing hymns compose the…

Aug 8, 2016