Truly, prayer is the greatest privilege we have, if only we would avail ourselves of it not just in time of trouble but every day, many tmes a day. 

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Col 3:17)

After Easter and Pentecost, Theophany is considered the third greatest feast of the Orthodox church, more so even than Christmas. It commemorates the baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. The Holy Trinity was revealed to the world. The Father spoke saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Holy Spirit was seen in the form of a dove, hovering over the waters. And John the Baptist bore witness saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

One important truth revealed to us at Jesus’ baptism is the dogmatic truth of God in three divine Persons. The Father is revealed as the one (voice) who bore witness to Jesus’ Sonship; the Spirit is symbolized as a dove descending from heaven. Christ is identified as the Son by the Father’s voice: “You are my Beloved Son.”

The Troparion of the feast of the Epiphany explains the feast and its iconographic portrayal. “When You, O Lord were baptized in the Jordan, the worship of the Trinity was made manifest for the voice of the Father bore witness to You and called You His beloved Son. And the Spirit, in the form of a dove, confirmed the truthfulness of His word.”

Father of Love, help my kids grow in gratitude to You.  Help them to find You in their busy lives.  Help me to affirm them and support them with love, that they might recognize authentic faith and love, and turn to You in their time of need.  Thank you, Lord.  Thank you.

But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (1 Sam 16:7-8)

“Thou, O Lord, shall protect us and preserve us from this generation forever. Save me, O Lord, for there is no longer any that is godly. (Prokeimenon 5th Tone)

“Be still and know that I am God. I am exalted among the nations, I am exalted in the earth!” (Ps 46:10)

"Today salvation has come to this house, since he [Zacchaus] also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man came to seek and to save the lost."          (St. Luke 19:10)

Zacchaeus began his repentance with a simple desire: He wanted to see Jesus Christ. Everything begins with the simple desire to see Christ. Nothing can happen without this desire. We must desire to see Christ as well. This is our first step toward the approaching Great Lent and Pascha.

Their proclamation has gone out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the universe!  The heavens are telling the Glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork! 

"Let us flee from the pride of the Pharisee! And learn humility from the Publican’s tears! Let us cry to our Savior, / have mercy on us, only merciful One!"     (Kontakion Tone 4)