Artist Rendering
When watching a movie or reading a book I have always taught my children to say, “he is really acting badly” instead of “he is a bad guy” when we come across those characters. Solzhenitsyn famously said that the line between good and evil does not run through groups of people but rather through the middle of each human heart. So that “bad guy” in the movie is battling with the line in his heart. The battle is not decided. And there is something else too.
Miraculously we have been quoted $600,000 USD to completely build a beautiful church and fellowship area. Through the prayers of the Theotokos, we have raised more $400,000 to start the first phase of construction. With an additional $200,000 we can fully complete the project and establish a Mexican Orthodox church for the first time. Consider sharing your treasure with us, and your heart, because “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21)”. “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” –Matthew 6:21 Scan the QR code to donate or go to projectmexico.org/ temple
When the three magi presented gifts to Christ, they offered gold for a king, frankincense for a god, and myrrh for the dead. This is the ancient understanding and meaning of the three gifts. The priest, like one of the magi, often circles the church during services offering that same frankincense to the people. Frankincense is for gods. So why do we cense the people? Because they are made in the image of God, they are made in the image of our good God and are in turn worthy of a gift offered to gods.
We also have this element in us called the likeness, which is our free will. That free will moves at another level in us toward and away from that good God. So, we are good, made in the image of a good God, a beautiful God and in our free will we battle with that line in our heart as we work on our salvation, our sanctification.
But the good image is ever-present. In my individual conversations with the boys of the orphanage, I often end a chat by telling them, “You’re a good kid”, “eres un buen joven.” Because they are. This is something so important for each of us to remember about ourselves. We are all good at that deepest level and striving to realize that goodness in our hearts, in our lives. This means we are worthy of love, no matter what. Another activity I do with the boys of the orphanage is practice loving ourselves by saying, “[my name], I love you” and try to really mean it. No matter our struggles, we are good. And we are trying to be good. We are loved. And worthy of love.
“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.” –Isaiah 49:16
This changes everything.