I recently asked one of our visiting Priests, Father John Stefero, if he had anything I could post on the website.  This is what he sent me:

 

IF I CAN HAVE HIM BACK

 

            There is a legend about an English mother who had a particularly gifted son who had given his life on the battlefield.  He was brilliant, had led his classes in scholarship and made a remarkable record in Oxford.  He went to war and was killed in action.  Then his mother had a strange dream.  She dreamed that an angel came to her and told her that she might have her son back for five minutes.

 

            "Choose," said the angel.  "What five minutes will you have?  Will it be in the hour of his high honor in Oxford, or in the hour of his heroism in battle?"

 

            The mother did not even hesitate.  She said, "If I can have him back for five minutes, I prefer to have him, not when he was in Oxford, not when he was in war.  I would like to have him as a little boy on a certain day when he disobeyed me.  He had run into the garden, angry and rebellious.  Then pretty soon he came back and threw himself into my arms and said he was sorry.  His face was hot and red.  His eyes were filled with tears.  He looked so small and so precious.  I saw his love in his eyes and felt his love in his body pressed close to mine - and how my love went out to him at that moment!  If I can have him back for just five minutes, let me have him as a dear little repentant boy."

 

            Is it not so with God?

 

 

-Taken from Daily Vitamins for Spiritual Growth by Fr. Anthony Coniaris

 

 

FASTING

 

            To lay upon oneself a strict rule of abstinence in everything, or to deprive oneself of everything that might serve to lighten one's weaknesses - not everyone can accept this.

 

            One should partake of enough food every day so that the body, strengthened, may be the friend and helper of the soul in the performance of virtue; otherwise it may happen that, while wearing out one's body, one's soul also will grow weak. 

 

            On Fridays and Wednesdays, and especially during the four fasts, partake of food once in the day, and an angel of the Lord will join himself to you.

 

• - Saint Seraphim of Sarov

 

 

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

 

Temptation is something you can't use, at a price you can't resist!

 

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One" (Matthew 6:13)

 

 

Dear Google Calendar,

This just isn't working out between us.  I understand that your XML feed doesn't include timezone information, but that doesn't help my viewers.  They click on an event, and see the wrong time.  I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to move on, and look elsewhere.  Maybe another time.

Sincerely,

stmarkella.org

Alright, the latest and greatest things on the internet are interactive online communities.  People can post comments on articles.  They can chat in forums, and network together online.  They can create groups, post images, and hang out together.  This sense of connectedness is what I'm trying to bring to our Church's website.   

This is not only meant as a playpen for the younger members of our church.  I envision this website becoming the first step in a new way of doing business.  Imagine a parish council member maintaining a blog about the decisions that go into the church.  Pews or chairs?  Red or blue carpet?  Feedback could be instant, and a detailed discussion (or flame war) could enfold outside of the time constraints of a general assembly.  The text of sermons can be placed online, and our Priest can maintain a blog himself.  He can respond to online questions, and lead theological discussions.

Anyway, I hope that everyone will support this internet effort.  It may take some work to get it off the ground, but I think that in the end, it will be worth it.