The Lord said, “He who hears you hears Me, and he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
Dear to Christ the evangelists of the Word of God,
Christ is in our midst! He is and ever shall be.
Our Lord tells us that each one of us is responsible for preaching the Word of God to others. When others hear us, they are hearing our Lord Himself. But how do we tell others about Jesus? St. Paul in today’s epistle tells us
“Brethren, conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.” Our speech, how we speak to others will influence them to come and discover Christ. If our words are “gracious”, the other will be edified by them. The responsiblility of bringing Christ to others falls on all of us.
Congratulations to the new Parish Council officers. (Please, see the bulletin for the names)
Next Saturday we will have Soul Saturday. We will commemorate all the departed. Please, don’t send the names but come in person and bring the names with you. If you can’t attend for health reason only, give the names to someone else. If you have a loved one who passed away and buried from St. George, we will pray for him/her automatically.
Humility is the door to enter to the spiritual life. Here is what Abbot Tryphon writes about it: “There is freedom from stress, anxiety, and even anger, when we place our trust in God, and in he whom God has set over us as our spiritual guide. The invading enemies to our salvation have power over us only when we depend on ourselves. Without humility, there can be no victory over the demons that would destroy the soul. When we set ourselves up as our own spiritual guide, we end up feeding the ego and give power to the enemy. Comfort and joy can only be part of our life when we surrender our self-will to the will of God. Having a good confessor, or a spiritual father, helps destroy the ego, and leads us into the loving embrace of God.”
We can’t share the “Good news” with others if we are empty. Come on Sunday and take Grace from the One who can give us all the Graces to be able to witness to Him in this world that is hungry more than ever for Him. Our homes are hungry for God, come be filled by Him and take the peace back to your home.
In Christ Jesus,
Rev. Fr. Dr. George Dahdouh, Priest
St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church
9116 Bayview Ave.,
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3M9
Office: 905/731-7210, Cell in case of Emergency: 416/937-6301
~Pastor’s Message of October 18, 2020~