The Whole Counsel Blog
Who is Azazel?
·
While the Devil and Satan as rebellious spiritual powers at enmity with Yahweh, the God of Israel, are well-known figures, there are others who are perhaps less well-known though no less important for understanding the nature of the demonic powers presented in the Scriptures. Within Second Temple literature there is a demonic figure commonly associated with Cain and his descendants’ corruption in Genesis and the corruption of the material world. That figure is the fallen angel Azazel. It is not a coincidence that Azazel is also the figure referenced in the institution of the Day of Atonement ritual (Lev 16). The figure of Azazel within the ritual atonement practiced in Israel and later Judea was understood by the first century…
Glory to God for All Things
Providence and the Music of Creation
·
God’s being and actions are one. This is essentially the teaching of the Church on the topic of the Divine Energies. When I read discussions about the Divine Energies – things seem to get lost in the twists and turns of medieval metaphysics or pass into the territory of seeing the “Uncreated Light.” Both approaches are unhelpful for me, and both obscure something that should be far more transparent. Some of the…
Faith Encouraged
Wisdom Is Hard Earned
·
Extended times of chaos and fear have a way of wearing us down to the point of despondency and hopelessness. As I watch events today I see that wearied look in many faces, and even, sometimes, in the mirror! A too long focus in immediate challenges, problems, disappointments, and fears can have that effect on anyone. But we who follow the Risen Lord are called to a deeper perspective than the passing…
Word of the Day
Religiosity and Christian Liberty (Tues, Nov. 3)
·
The Word of the Day (Tuesday, November 3) The word of the day is “false.” In our reading of Colossians 2:20-3:3, St. Paul continues to warn against the false religiosity of teachers who are leading the congregation at Colossae away from the freedom of the Gospel. In today’s passage, we read Paul’s warning against them:  “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourself to regulations…”? (vs. 20). In their ignorance of God, humans have devised all sorts of human-made religions. In Athens, for example, the Apostle noted an amazing diversity of altars to the gods.  He commented that the Athenians seemed to be “very…
The Morning Offering
Building Confidence
·
Much of what we think we need is born from our own immaturity When we find ourselves caught up in what we want, or what we think we need, we become despondent that things are not going the way we’d hoped. Disappointed, we start to wonder why God has failed to give us that which we’ve so sought after, that…
The Morning Offering
The God of Love and Mercy (YouTube video)
·
Faith Encouraged
A Prideful Delusion
·
There is a powerful word in the wisdom of the Orthodox Faith that acts as a real warning to you and me. It is the word “prelest.” It literally means “the state of spiritual delusion or deception.” This is a great spiritual illness in the teaching of the Church and is to be recognized and dealt with as quickly and as often as possible in relationship to a spiritual father. This is…
Word of the Day
Freedom from Bondage to Cosmic Powers (Mon. Nov. 2)
·
The word of the day is “requirements.” In our reading of Colossians 2:13-20, St. Paul confronts the new regulations and restrictions that his opponents would impose on the believers in Colossae. The Apostle writes that Christ has “wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us” (vs. 14). The “handwriting of requirements” here refers to the writing that established legal contracts (Strong’s #5499, 271). That image means that Christ has invalidated the obligations of Law of Moses. The Apostle teaches that these regulations were nailed to the cross with the Lord when He was crucified (vs. 14). Thus, they were put to death with Him. But Paul proclaims that just as Christ rose from…
The Morning Offering
Requesting Prayers
·
Please remember Igumen Tryphon in your prayers this week. I’m being admitted to Swedish Hospital’s Cherry Hill Campus Cardiac Unit in Seattle, on Monday, November 2nd, for three days of procedures to try to get my heart out of Atrial Fibrillation. I therefore am asked for prayers, that the Lord will guide my cardiologist, and that I will be restored…
The Morning Offering
Eternity
·
Eternity is a very long time God reveals Himself to us if we seek Him out, and only remains invisible to us if we refuse, out of pride and self absorption, to let Him enter our lives. If we desire the knowledge that is ours for the asking, we simply make it known, and God will open the way for…
Word of the Day
Faith, a Relationship and a State of Being (Sun. Nov. 1)
·
The word of the day is “faith.” Today in our reading of Galatians 2:16-20, St. Paul charges that some believers in Galatia are abandoning their faith in Christ. These turncoats have fallen under the spell of “Judaizers” from Jerusalem who teach that being Christian means doing all the works of the Mosaic Law. Paul thought that the leaders in Jerusalem had agreed that faith was sufficient for membership in the Church.  But now even Peter had refused to associate with Gentiles who “did not live as Jews” (vs. 14). Paul reacted vehemently. The Gospel was at stake.  The Apostle’s message was that the works of the Mosaic Law did not and could not justify sinners in God’s sight. God’s approval…
Eastern Christian Insights
To Receive Mercy, We Must Become Merciful: Homily for the Holy Unmercenaries Cosmas and Damian of Asia and the Fifth Sunday of Luke in the Orthodox Church
·
1 Corinthians 12:27-13:8; Luke 16:19-31      There is simply no way around the basic truth that how we relate to our neighbors reveals how we relate to our Lord. What we do for even the most miserable and difficult people we encounter in life, we do for Christ. And what we refuse to do for them, we refuse to do for our Savior. Our salvation is in becoming…
Word of the Day
The Veil Removed: The Glory Revealed (Sat. Oct. 31)
·
The word of the day is “veil.”  In our reading of 2 Corinthians. 3:12-18,  St. Paul contrasts the clarity of our vision of Christ with the reading of the Law of Moses.  The Apostle writes, “But even to this day, when Moses is read a veil lies on their hearts. Nevertheless, when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away” (vs. 13-14). The key to the passage is its controlling metaphor, the image of the veil. Paul refers to when Moses came down from Mt. Sinai with the Tables of the Law (Exodus 34:29-35). When he spoke to the Israelites, his face shown with the Glory of God. But the people were afraid to approach him  (vs. 30).…
The Morning Offering
The Monk
·
The goal of the monk is to acquire the Holy Spirit The monastic vocation is a special calling from God that is all about relationships. It is a relationship that involves community (the monastic brotherhood), but primarily revolves around the monk’s relationship with God. Monks are not holy men who are living lives set apart from the world, but men…
No Other Foundation
The Beatitudes – “Blessed are those who mourn”
·
We continue with our series on the Beatitudes. Today we examine our Lord’s words, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted”. It is safe to say that the secular world today does not have much time for mourning. It rejects the idea that any might embrace mourning, sadness, grief, or sorrow and devote themselves to it as a kind of blasphemy against the Good Life. Without much reflection secularism…
Shepherding our Little Flock
You are the light of the world!
·
You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. + Matthew 5:14-16 Do you know that? I had this moment of profound self-doubt…
Faith Encouraged
Watering The Barren Places of Our Lives
·
Life is simple. It is. Life is not complicated. Life is not hard to figure out. I know, amazing statements given the complexities of our daily lives, but it is true. Notice I didn’t claim life was easy! And that, dear one, is the difference. But it amazes me how much I complicate life, my life. I complicate my life in all kinds of ways by assuming that life is not simple. But life is…
The Morning Offering
Protecting Our Children
·
Unless we protect our children, we are allies of the evil one As a priest, I am deeply shocked, almost beyond words, by the abuse perpetrated upon innocent children by clergy who have demonstrated a total lack of commitment to the teachings of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and who, in turn, used their sacred positions as clergy, to take advantage…
Word of the Day
Trials May Produce Growth in Faith (Fri. Oct. 30)
·
The word of the day is “encourage .” In our reading of Colossians 2:1-7, St. Paul encourages the believers in Colossae who face the challenge of false teachers who threaten to undermine their faith. He commends them for their “good order and steadfastness of their faith” (vs.5). Paul rejoices in their persistence despite the persuasiveness of the heretics (vs. 4). The Apostle discloses his “great conflict” for those in Colossae, neighboring Laodicea,  and others in the region that he has not seen face to face. (vs. 1).  From the Greek word for “conflict,” we get the English word “agony.” Paul is saying that he is in agony for the believers because of the external threat to their faith (Strong’s #73,5).…
Growing the Church
Orthodox Buzz Words 2: "God willing”
·
The next Orthodox catchphrase that I want to take up is the often-heard refrain, “if God wills,” or more often just “God willing.” This phrase and its many variants are so numerous that compiling a catalog of examples would require more space than we have allotted to us here. So, consider just a few examples: Have a safe trip home. OK, God willing. Get a good night’s sleep, I’ll try, God willing.…
Faith Encouraged
Do You Forget?
·
It never ceases to amaze me when I succumb to fears that flow from a forgetful faith. It seems a week doesn’t pass (or sometimes even a day) when I am either mindlessly faithless or I have reduced my faith to mere “decoration.” But that is easy to do in a world where serious devotion is seen as “silly” or “unsophisticated.” In our day and age where we really do trust lesser…
The Morning Offering
The First Steps on the Path of Holy Sobriety
·
Cultivating and treasuring the salvific caution born out of love of God When we first begin to take our Orthodoxy seriously, we tend to throw ourselves into it in such a way that it is like diving deep into the sea. Many generations of experienced and holy men and women have told us that as regards our faith, we will…
Word of the Day
The Mystery of “Christ in Us” (Thurs. Oct. 29)
·
The word of the day is “mystery.” In our reading of Colossians 1:24-29, St. Paul speaks about the desire to know the secrets of the universe. The Orthodox Study Bible notes that the Colossian heretics wanted to know such hidden knowledge (OSB fn. on 2:3). But Paul answers this desire by pointing to the “mystery hidden from the ages, now revealed” (vs. 25). Paul’s remarks suggest that the heresy that threatened to mislead the congregation at Colossae has some characteristics of “mystery cults” along with features of Gnosticism (See Tuesday, October 27). At the time in the Roman Empire, various secret societies taught obscure myths of the cosmic cycles of birth, life, death, and rebirth. Clandestine rituals initiated converts into…
Behind the Scenes
Schedule for Seven Holy Women and You: 2020 Online Ancient Faith Women's Retreat
·
This year, the beloved Ancient Faith Women’s Retreat is moving online for a special journey into the lives of seven women saints and the ways they foster our own spiritual identity. Created as both a deeply personal and enriching communal experience, our live, interactive webinar retreat will feature the writers of Seven Holy Women: Conversations with Saints and Friends. A copy of the book is complimentary with each registration package. We are…
Faith Encouraged
The Protection of the Theotokos
·
“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” This saying has been around a long time and been attributed to several famous and not-so-famous people, but it rings true, doesn’t it?: It’s hard to communicate AND easy to miscommunicate, especially if both speaker and hearer want to misunderstand! We are a people strongly shaped by an inherent mistrust of all…
Word of the Day
Once Alienated Now Reconciled (Wed. Oct. 28)
·
The word of the day is “alienated.” In our reading of Colossians 1:18-23, St. Paul proclaims that Christ has “made peace through the blood of His cross” (vs.20). Why did it take the suffering of the Cross for the Father to “reconcile all things to himself”? Why couldn’t some sweet words of His lovingkindness have accomplished it? Why couldn’t our Heavenly Father have declared his unmerited forgiveness of sinners without such the shedding of the Lord’s blood? Theologians have wrestled with these questions throughout the centuries. In our reading, St. Paul refers to the “human condition” to give one answer. He states, “you… were once were alienated and enemies [of God] in your mind by wicked works…” (vs. 21).  Paul…
The Morning Offering
Struggling with Prayer
·
What do we do when our prayer becomes dry? When we find ourselves struggling with prayer, and feel that it has become dry and lifeless, we are sometimes tempted to stop praying. When our prayer has become a struggle, it is good to remember that God knows our needs, and even knows what we want to say when we don’t…
