Lord, Have Mercy!

This is an email I sent to the parishioners here in Portland, regarding current events. Brothers and Sisters,

Christ is in our midst!

Since the madness of 2020, I have fought to try and keep away from talking too much -or too deeply- about secular matters. I have also made a sort of "resolution" to make sure I am communicating face-to-face rather than by email or texts, since the written word can so easily be taken out of context, as has happened many times in our parish history. With that in mind, I would like to say something regarding current issues very simply. Please do not look at this too deeply nor too superficially. Make the sign of the cross and ask the Lord for mercy upon us all.

There are so many things happening around us right now. It is refreshing when I meet someone who has deliberately kept themselves out of the loop when it comes to the news of the day. Their ignorance is, in fact, a blessing and a witness: there is one thing needful. This is what we must focus on.

What is that "one thing"? The Kingdom of Heaven.

We are on a path, my friends. To the left and to the right of this path lie many things, always changing with the seasons. Some are harmless, but others are dangerous. Some seemingly innocent, others absolutely horrific. Their ultimate purpose -which becomes clearer with each passing day- is to distract us, confuse us, frighten us, divide us, make us apathetic, morally relativistic and and eventually to drive us to despair. We are tempted toward extremes, to take positions that may seem solid but shift with every new wind. We are tempted to cling to anger, resentment and judgement as though they were virtues. Yet these, too, soon morph into something else. There is no stability in the World. And so, if we follow the winds, where will be?

The Kingdom of Heaven never changes. The Church never changes. The Church will always guide us along this right path, so long as we keep the Kingdom as our ultimate goal, above all else. 

Let us keep our eyes down, minding where each step falls, making sure it is on the right path -the Royal Path- in the footsteps of our Savior.  Let us pray for everyone and force ourselves to love, even sacrificially. 

Do not waste time. Do not hesitate. If the past few years have shown us anything, it is that there is nothing more important, and no time other than now. 

May God be with us all.

Amen.

Fr. Photios