Be the Bee (Video)

“The glory of God is a living human; and the life of humanity consists in beholding God.” (Saint Irenaus of Lyons)

Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him. But what does that mean?

On the Third Sunday of Great Lent, we may think that "bearing your cross" means patiently enduring burdens. Especially now, as we make our way through the struggle of Great Lent.

But Christ isn't simply calling us to endure: to rely on our own strength or wisdom or will.

He's calling us to die to our broken selves so that we can be made new in Christ.

He's calling us to draw near to the Throne of Grace.

As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee171

“The glory of God is a living human; and the life of humanity consists in beholding God.” (Saint Irenaus of Lyons)

Jesus tells us to pick up our cross and follow Him. But what does that mean?

On the Third Sunday of Great Lent, we may think that "bearing your cross" means patiently enduring burdens. Especially now, as we make our way through the struggle of Great Lent.

But Christ isn't simply calling us to endure: to rely on our own strength or wisdom or will.

He's calling us to die to our broken selves so that we can be made new in Christ.

He's calling us to draw near to the Throne of Grace.

As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee171

"O Gregory the Miracle Worker, light of Orthodoxy, support and teacher of the Church, comeliness of Monastics, invincible defender of theologians, the pride of Thessalonica, and preacher of grace, intercede forever that our souls may be saved." (Apolytikion for the Sunday of Saint Gregory Palamas)

Is it possible to know God? How could a perfect God have anything to do with His imperfection creation?

These are some of the questions Saint Gregory Palamas faced in the 14th century. And they're questions the Church faces today. We dedicate the Second Sunday of Great Lent to this important saint because he taught an important theological truth that's at the core of the Christian life:

That God is both knowable in His Energies and unknowable in His Essence.

And this mystery is shown to us when Jesus heals the paralytic in Mark 2.

As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee170

"On this day, the first Sunday of Lent, we commemorate the restoration of the holy and venerable icons…” (Synaxarion for the Sunday of Orthodoxy)

After weeks of learning about forgiveness and pride and judgment, we begin Great Lent with a Sunday dedicated to icons. Why?

On one level, this is the anniversary of the triumph over Iconoclasm in 843 AD. But there's more to this triumph than meets the eye.

So we'll take a deep dive into the theology of icons to learn that God made a promise to His saints. That He would unite heaven and earth. That we could look upon the face of the Lord and live.

And this promise is fulfilled in us. We hold up icons as proof of this promise, the treasures we display in the Triumph of Orthodoxy.

As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee169

"On this day, the first Sunday of Lent, we commemorate the restoration of the holy and venerable icons…” (Synaxarion for the Sunday of Orthodoxy)

After weeks of learning about forgiveness and pride and judgment, we begin Great Lent with a Sunday dedicated to icons. Why?

On one level, this is the anniversary of the triumph over Iconoclasm in 843 AD. But there's more to this triumph than meets the eye.

So we'll take a deep dive into the theology of icons to learn that God made a promise to His saints. That He would unite heaven and earth. That we could look upon the face of the Lord and live.

And this promise is fulfilled in us. We hold up icons as proof of this promise, the treasures we display in the Triumph of Orthodoxy.

As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee169

“Nothing makes us so like God, as our readiness to forgive the wicked and wrongdoer.” (Saint John Chrysostom)

The Greek word for forgiveness means "sharing the same space." At the doorstep to Great Lent, we're given the opportunity to both seek and offer forgiveness.

Forgiveness Sunday (especially Forgiveness Vespers) is our chance to overcome resentments and share the same space with both God and neighbor. So that, together, we can journey to salvation and an experience of God's Kingdom.

Because right and wrong is about more than what’s right or wrong for you.

As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn. https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee168

.

“Nothing makes us so like God, as our readiness to forgive the wicked and wrongdoer.” (Saint John Chrysostom)

The Greek word for forgiveness means "sharing the same space." At the doorstep to Great Lent, we're given the opportunity to both seek and offer forgiveness.

Forgiveness Sunday (especially Forgiveness Vespers) is our chance to overcome resentments and share the same space with both God and neighbor. So that, together, we can journey to salvation and an experience of God's Kingdom.

Because right and wrong is about more than what’s right or wrong for you.

As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn. https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee168

.

“O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public.”

(Kontakion of Judgment Sunday)

In this Episode:

00:00​ What is Judgment Sunday?

01:14​ How Will We Be Judged?

03:50​ Causing Others to Stumble

05:40​ Love and Judgment

06:54​ My Brother is My Life

09:29​ When Right is Wrong

What this Episode is About:

In Matthew 25, Jesus offers a prophetic word on the Day of Judgment, when He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Yet this isn't a private judgment, focused on our own private religiosity. It's based on the way we treat other people.

In fact, Jesus tells us that, when we love others, we are actually loving Him. And, when we despise others, we're actually despising Him.

Because right and wrong is about more than what’s right or wrong for you.

As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee167

“O God, when You come upon the earth in glory, the whole world will tremble. A river of fire will bring all before Your Judgment Seat and the books will be opened, and everything in secret will become public.”

(Kontakion of Judgment Sunday)

In this Episode:

00:00​ What is Judgment Sunday?

01:14​ How Will We Be Judged?

03:50​ Causing Others to Stumble

05:40​ Love and Judgment

06:54​ My Brother is My Life

09:29​ When Right is Wrong

What this Episode is About:

In Matthew 25, Jesus offers a prophetic word on the Day of Judgment, when He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Yet this isn't a private judgment, focused on our own private religiosity. It's based on the way we treat other people.

In fact, Jesus tells us that, when we love others, we are actually loving Him. And, when we despise others, we're actually despising Him.

Because right and wrong is about more than what’s right or wrong for you.

As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee167

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived.” (1 Corinthians 6:9)

The Prodigal Son left the warmth and safety of his Father's house and joined himself to people that left him empty. And, when he returned, his Older Brother refused to welcome him.

We often focus on the incredible mercy that the Father shows (which is important). But it may be more helpful to focus on how both the Prodigal Son and Older Brother forgot who they are.

Because we, too, can easily forget that we are children of the Father.

As always, we've prepared a FREE downloadable workbook to help you act on what you'll learn: https://mailchi.mp/goarch/bethebee166