Winter diary

Last Sunday father started the sermon on the Gospel reading (about the “Canaanite woman” – Matthew 15:21-28) with the words “Today’s Gospel reading finds Jesus on vacation...” We all laughed, and he explained: Tyre and Sydon were about 200 miles away from Jerusalem, on the sea shore – sounds like a good “getaway”, to have some rest... but it did not work out: that woman found Him even there. :)

Of course, that was just the beginning of the sermon. I love how father can make the sermons informal, and at the same time he makes them simple but reaching deep, touching the heart and inspiring to [try to] be worthy of God’s love towards us.

I also read an article on a Russian web site – someone’s short recollections on metropolitan Anthony Blum. It is always touching to read about him or especially his words. In this case a little note that father Anthony wrote to the author of this article was cited:

“Rejoice in that you’re dear to God. And, as much as you’re capable, do what you can to make Him glad.

May the Lord and the Theotokos keep you safe.

M. Anthony”

P.S. We’ve had a lot of snow and rain with cold weather lately, so here’s what you’d see through our windows these days:

Those are icicles, yes. Now they’ve grown longer and you wouldn’t see the lower ends through the window unless you came next to it.

Let us pray like the “Canaanite woman” that Christ thaws those icicles that have grown on our hearts. The Spring is coming. It starts on March 7th this year.