Love Could Not Bear That

Love Could Not Bear That

SCRIPTURE Habakkuk 3:17–18 (NIV) Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. REFRAIN Love could not bear that. QUOTE St. Silouan, from St. Silouan the Athonite by Archimandrite Sophrony "A certain hermit said with evident satisfaction, 'God will punish all atheists. They will burn in everlasting fire.' Silouan was clearly upset. He said, 'Tell me — supposing you went to paradise, and there you looked down and saw someone burning in hell-fire — would you feel happy?' 'It can't be helped,' said the hermit. 'It would be their own fault.' Silouan answered with a sorrowful countenance: 'Love could not bear that. We must pray for all.'" ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

If You Are Loved Into God

SCRIPTURE 1 John 4:18 (NIV) There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. REFRAIN I am drawn by love, not driven by fear. QUOTE Richard Rohr, from The Universal Christ "If you are frightened into God, it is never the true God that you meet. If you are loved into God, you meet a God worthy of both Jesus and Christ. How you get there is where you arrive." ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Hell Took a Body and Discovered God

SCRIPTURE 1 Corinthians 15:55 (NIV) "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" REFRAIN Christ descends to where I am and brings me up. QUOTE John Chrysostom, from Paschal Homily "Let those who have fasted and those who have not fasted rejoice today. The table is fully laden; feast sumptuously. Let no one grieve poverty, for the universal Kingdom has been revealed. Let no one fear death, for the Savior's death has set us free. Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see. Christ is Risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is Risen, and life is freed. Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead." ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Announcing Your Place

SCRIPTURE 1 Corinthians 15:51 (NIV) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed. REFRAIN I have a place in the family of things. QUOTE Mary Oliver, from Wild Geese "Meanwhile the world goes on... meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting — over and over announcing your place in the family of things." ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Ubiquitous Light

SCRIPTURE John 12:36 (NIV) "Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." REFRAIN Christ is the light in whom I live and move. QUOTE Athanasius "God in Christ became the bearer of flesh for a time, so that humanity could become the bearer of Spirit forever." ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.