Dear all.
- Yesterday’s gospel reading (Mark 8:34 – 38; 9:1) poses the stark questions: “what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul? Or, what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Thus put the questions can only have one rational answer and that is it profits not at all a man if he loses his soul.
- Of course in today’s world an increasing number of people do not believe in the existence of soul so to them gaining the whole world sounds like an excellent deal. So they may, like Faust, sell their soul to Mephistopheles for material gain. They reason that as you cannot see, taste, touch or feel are soul they are giving away nothing.
- Now isn’t that what the devil would have us believe? To those of course that reject the idea of a soul they are self-condemned and, paradoxically, do not know it. So here’s the thing: no one can take your soul from you but you can lose it and, once lost, can only be found through repentance and prayer which is something that no non-believer would ever consider doing.
- The secular world condemns those of faith and calls them out as superstitious. I just wonder what the secular world would feel if just before its passing the stark realisation dawned on them that they were wrong? Why would you bet against yourself? This is the sticking point: the world wins its bet by losing its soul and if it loses its soul then there is only oblivion. On the other hand if you believe in the existence of the soul then there is nothing that you could receive that would cause you to exchange it for all of the gifts of this world.
The program for this week is as follows: Tuesday tomorrow Sophia and her three daughters: matins from 7:30 AM; 6:45 PM on Tuesday at Bible class resumes; Saturday divine liturgy in English from 9 AM to 10:15 AM; Vespers in Greek at 4 PM.
On Monday 30 September there will be a service in Previlly (details to follow). On the 12th and 13th of October our Archbishop is scheduled to pay us another visit (details to follow)
- I have now returned from overseas refreshed and rejuvenated and ready for the tribulations ahead. So my thought for the week is a simple one: holidays are nice but home is even nicer. Look forward to seeing you all soon.
Till next time.
In Christ.
Father John Athanasiou 0411 061 554.
