dailyreadings Archives • Page 203 of 292 • Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Midlands, U.K.

“Now it was not accidentally but part of the purpose of the divine dispensation that Christ came after the prophets. For God does not pursue all things at once, but accommodates Himself to mankind through His great mercy; for if they despised His Son coming after His servants, much less would they have heard Him before. For they who listened not to the inferior commands, how would they have heard the greater?” John Chrysostom . “For when a man despises the grace given him; and forth with falls into the cares of the world, he delivers himself over to his lusts; and thus in the time of persecution he is offended, and becomes altogether unfruitful. Now the prophet points out the end of such negligence, saying, ‘Cursed is he who doeth the work of the Lord carelessly.’ For a servant of the Lord should be diligent and careful, yea, moreover, burning like a flame, so that when, by an ardent spirit, he has destroyed all carnal sin, he may be able to draw near to God who, according to the expression of the saints, is called ‘a consuming fire.” St Athanasius #parableofvinedressers #befruitful #GodsentHisBelovedSon #coptic #orthodox #dailyreadings

“Now it was not accidentally but part of the purpose of the divine dispensation that Christ came after the prophets. …

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“What is the meaning of ―took no oil with them‖? What is ―in their lamps‖? In their hearts. For this reason the apostle wrote, ―Indeed, this is our glory, the testimony of our conscience.‖14 There is the oil, the precious oil. This oil is of the gift of God. We can put oil into our lamps, but we ourselves cannot create the olive. See, I have oil. But did I create the oil? It is of the gift of God. So you have oil. Carry it with you. What does it mean to ―carry it with you‖? To have it within, where it is pleasing to God. Note: those ―foolish virgins, who brought no oil with them,‖ wish to please a human audience by that abstinence of theirs by which they are called virgins, and by their good works, when they seem to carry lamps. But wishing to please human spectators, doing praiseworthy works, they forgot to carry with them the necessary oil.” – St. Augustine #carryyouroil #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

“What is the meaning of ―took no oil with them‖? What is ―in their lamps‖? In their hearts. For this …

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“The peacemakers with others are not only those who reconcile enemies, but those who unmindful of wrongs cultivate peace. That peace only is blessed which islodged in the heart, and does not consist only in words. And they who love peace, they are the sons of peace. Or, if the peacemakers are they who do not contend one with another, but reconcile those that are at strife, they are rightly called the sons of God, seeing this was the chief employment of the Only-begotten Son, to reconcile things separated, to give peace to things at war.” St John Chrysostom #peace #peacemakers #sonsofGod #coptic #orthodox #dailyreadings

“The peacemakers with others are not only those who reconcile enemies, but those who unmindful of wrongs cultivate peace. That …

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“All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, shall profit me nothing. It is better for me to die in behalf of Jesus Christ, than to reign over all the ends of the earth. “For what shall a man be profited, if he gain the whole world, but lose his own soul? ”Him I seek, who died for us: Him I desire, who rose again for our sake.” St Ignatius of Antioch #liveforChrist #dieforChrist #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox #consecrationofchurchofStAnthony #StAnthonytheGreat

“All the pleasures of the world, and all the kingdoms of this earth, shall profit me nothing. It is better …

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“It is not he who begins well who is perfect. It is he who ends well who is approved in God’s sight.” Saint Basil #firstwillbelast #lastwillbefirst #dailyreadings #coptic #orthodox

“It is not he who begins well who is perfect. It is he who ends well who is approved in …

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