Great Vespers with Litiya for the Feast of the Meeting of Christ Into the Temple. Simeon met the Child, took Him in his arms and glorifying God said, “Now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, O Lord, according to Thy word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples, a light of revelation for the gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel.”

"Lord, now lettest thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word;  for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation  whichTthou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,  a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Thy people Israel."  (Luke 2:29-32)

“Do not steal anything from anyone, and take nothing, and be content with what you earn by your own labors. Be diligent and avoid idleness. For as diligence is pleasing to God, so idleness on the contrary, as a source of every evil, is a sin very offensive to God.” -Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk

"And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against any one; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses."    (Mark 11:25)

The Prodigal Son is told as a parable that describes the actions of two sons. One stayed with his father and the other asked for his inheritance, received it and left to live a wasteful life. When his inheritance was gone and he was in need, he was given a job feeding swine. When he remembered that his father’s servants were treated well and with respect, he decided to go home. When he was still far off, his father was told that he was coming home. The father was so happy, he arranged for a welcoming feast and ran off to greet the son. The other son was saddened by the festivities since he had always obeyed his father. But the father, gently and with great love, told him that he would always be with him but that now his brother who was dead is alive again. Even if you have been away for a long time, you will be happily and warmly received when you return.

The Prodigal Son is told as a parable that describes the actions of two sons. One stayed with his father and the other asked for his inheritance, received it and left to live a wasteful life. When his inheritance was gone and he was in need, he was given a job feeding swine. When he remembered that his father’s servants were treated well and with respect, he decided to go home. When he was still far off, his father was told that he was coming home. The father was so happy, he arranged for a welcoming feast and ran off to greet the son. The other son was saddened by the festivities since he had always obeyed his father. But the father, gently and with great love, told him that he would always be with him but that now his brother who was dead is alive again. Even if you have been away for a long time, you will be happily and warmly received when you return.

"The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not 'get over' the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to." ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler  

"Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.”     (Matt 5:11-12)