Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Welcome!
I have created this blog so I can have active correspondence with all Fellowship members outside of Fellowship times. This blog is meant for discussion on any topic concerning our Orthodox faith. Please feel welcome to send material so that we can share it with everyone.
The first post is from another blogger's page (Enlargement of the Heart http://enduring-spirituallove.blogspot.com/) which I also e-mailed yesterday called The Lonely Sparrow.
The sparrow is one of the most common birds on earth; a tiny little bird whose life is of little value. Wherever you go you will be sure to see and hear them - they are a cheerful little bird with a beautiful song and are really happy when they are in company. In the "Easter Poem" of Venantius Honorius Clemantianus Fortunatus, "... the thickets now resound with the whisper of birds; amidst these the sparrow sings with exuberant love. O Christ, Thou Saviour of the world, merciful Creator and Redeemer ..."But in Psalm 102:7 we find a lonely sparrow:
"I watch, and am as a sparrow alone upon the house top" (Psalm 102:7)
The Psalmist, usually so joyful in the Lord, is feeling depressed, distressed and forsaken. He feels just like a lonely sparrow. There are countless times when we feel like a sparrow alone on a rooftop. In these moments, we should remind ourselves that we are never far from His presence, care and concern. He knows "what things we have need of before we ask" (Matt 6:8). We should remind ourselves that the sparrow is not blessed with outstanding plumage and is not really worth much by our standards - "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing?" (Matt 10:29). However, Christ comforts us and says, "you are of more value than the sparrows" (Matt 10:31). We should remind ourselves when we are alone on the rooftop; God cares for even the tiniest sparrow. Christ said, "One of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father" (Matthew 10:29) ... God watches over Creation and over His own children and promises us that He, "will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13:5)."Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted" (Matthew 5:4). We are being prepared and then " ... God will wipe away all tears from our eyes" (Revelation 21:4).
We are never lonely if God is with us.
With prayers,
Pandeli
3 comments:
Doxa Patri! I`m from Romania and I am very glad when I discover Orthodox brothers and sisters in places so far away from my country. I think it is a kind of blessing that God gives us, allowing us to know each other. Please, tell/ write more about the Orthodox Fellowship you joined, about the Orthodoxy in Australia. There are some Romanian communities in your country. Do you know any of them? Thank you and may God help us!
Sorry for not responding earlier, I was at a Spiritual retreat. Unfortunately I don't have any contact with the Romanian Orthodox (I met one at Mt Athos 5 years ago at Simonopetra). Also, I am in charge of the Orthodox Fellowship at my university and we have a chaplain. Orthodoxy is beginning to flourish here in Sydney, but there is still a lot of work to be done! Thank you for your response.
Pandeli
Thank you and may God help us all to serve Him, no matter where we live!
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