In this inspiring episode of The Double Edged Sword podcast, Father Genard sits down with newly ordained Deacon Colin Bethishou to discuss his journey to the diaconate. Join us as we delve into the profound spiritual experiences and the heartfelt calling that led Deacon Colin to dedicate his life to serving the Church and its community.

Deacon Colin shares his insights on the transformative power of faith, the importance of obedience to God's commandments, and the role of divine wisdom in guiding our everyday lives.

Deacon Colin's testimony and his unwavering commitment to the teachings of Christ. Father Genard and Deacon Colin also explore the significance of meditating on the holy scriptures and how this practice can enlighten our minds and hearts.

Tune in to hear about Deacon Colin's first steps in his new role, the challenges he anticipates, and the joy he finds in serving God and His people. This episode is a testament to the enduring power of faith and the grace that comes from living a life devoted to spiritual growth and service.

In this episode, Father Genard revisits Ephesians 2:8-9, delving into the profound truth that salvation is a gift of grace through faith, not earned by works. However, this often-misunderstood passage is only part of the story. Join us as we explore Ephesians 2:10, where we learn that we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to perform good works that God has preordained for us. Father Genard emphasizes that while our initial salvation is a divine gift, it requires our active participation through continuous good deeds.

Father Genard uses the powerful analogy of rescuing a drowning boy to illustrate that salvation isn't a one-time event. Just as the boy must continue to improve his swimming skills, we too must engage in good works to sustain our salvation. Drawing from the teachings of the blessed Theophilic, Father Genard explains that being created in Christ means transforming from doing evil to doing good. Our entire lives should be dedicated to good deeds, reflecting our faith in action.

This episode underscores the essential role of good deeds in confirming our faith. Citing Ecclesiastes 12:14 and 2 Corinthians 5:10, Father Genard reminds us that God will judge all works, both good and evil. He highlights Jesus' teachings in Matthew 16:27 and 7:23, which stress that rewards or denials will be based on our deeds. Join us for this compelling discussion on why faith must be accompanied by good works to achieve eternal salvation.

The podcast episode, led by Father Genard, explores the theological debate on salvation, emphasizing the balance between faith, grace, and good works. It begins with a prayer to the Holy Trinity, seeking wisdom and enlightenment through Christ. Father Genard critiques the Protestant belief in "faith alone," arguing that while Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes grace and faith as gifts from God, the verse does not include "alone." He stresses that both faith and grace are from God, requiring a cooperative relationship between divine grace and human action.

Father Genard provides a detailed analysis of Ephesians 2, highlighting the importance of reading the entire chapter. He explains that the Ephesians were once living in sin but were saved by God’s grace through Christ. This salvation, marked by baptism, necessitates ongoing good works, as indicated in Ephesians 2:10, which states Christians are created for good works prepared by God. The necessity of deeds alongside faith is further supported by James 2:14-16, which asserts that faith without works is dead.

In conclusion, Father Genard uses a metaphor of rescuing a drowning boy to illustrate that initial salvation must be followed by actions to sustain it. He emphasizes that salvation is not a one-time event but a continuous journey requiring faith, good works, and God’s grace. Scriptural references from Matthew 16:27 and Matthew 25:23 reinforce the significance of good deeds, with the promise of further discussion in the next episode on maintaining salvation through a faithful and active Christian life.

In this podcast episode, Father Genard delves into the responsibilities and qualities of a true, genuine Christian. He emphasizes the significance of baptism, where believers are buried with Christ and receive the Holy Spirit, sealed with holy oil. A key responsibility of a faithful believer is to engage deeply with the Holy Scriptures. Father Genard encourages listeners to read, study, and attend gatherings focused on the Scriptures, approaching the Bible with reverence and prayer. He stresses the importance of beseeching God for understanding, highlighting a prayer by Saint John Chrysostom as a model for seeking divine insight before reading the Scriptures.

Father Genard explains that the Holy Scriptures, being the word of God, should be treated with utmost respect. He shares practices from Assyrian homes where the Bible is kept open to bless the household, illustrating the deep reverence for the sacred text. The podcast also touches on the necessity of interpreting the Scriptures within the framework of the Church, guided by the teachings of the Holy Fathers and the Church’s liturgy. He points out that the Church, described in 1 Timothy 3:15 as the pillar and foundation of the truth, provides the proper context for understanding the Scriptures, preventing misinterpretations that have led to numerous denominations.

In conclusion, Father Genard calls for Christians to not only read and understand the Scriptures but to live by them. He emphasizes that the ultimate purpose of engaging with the Bible is to fulfill its teachings in everyday life. By doing so, believers not only strengthen their relationship with God but also prepare for eternal rewards. Father Genard encourages listeners to approach the Scriptures with a heart open to the Holy Spirit's guidance, ensuring that their understanding aligns with the Church's teachings, thereby living out their faith authentically and reverently.

When we leave church on Sunday, we feel we have done our tour of duty — a one- or two-hour Christian for the week. Father Genard Lazar opens Romans 12:1: present your bodies as a living sacrifice. Not a slaughtered animal, not a once-a-year offering at the parish, and not the Qurbana alone. A living, daily offering of body, mind, and soul.

Which body? The one God fashioned in the womb (Psalm 139:13). The one signed with the cross on the eighth day, a circumcision without hands (Colossians 2:11). The one buried with Christ in baptism (Romans 6:4) and clothed with Him (Galatians 3:27). St. John Chrysostom says that putting on the Son, you are made like Him in kind and form. That body received the fullness of the Spirit by the laying on of hands, as the Spirit descended on Christ after His baptism (Luke 3:21–22). Look in the mirror. Did you pray this morning? Where were you last night? Chrysostom: if the eye looks on no evil, it has already become a sacrifice; if the tongue says nothing filthy, it is an offering; if the hand does no evil — and then does alms — it is a whole burnt offering. Holy means set apart, like the altar, like the unblemished lambs, like Jesus the Lamb of God.

Then Romans 12:2: do not imitate this world. Be transformed by the renovation of your mind, and distinguish the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God. The world is groveling and temporal; it will melt. Enhancing the body for glamour and attraction — not for medical need — implies that God got the fashioning wrong. Beauty is false; the one who is in awe of the Lord will be praised (Proverbs 31:30). In the Liturgy the priest prays that our hearts be sprinkled from an evil conscience, that we offer spiritual and rational sacrifices in the true Faith — not for two hours, but as a life. Worship is in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). The Spirit you received will remind you (John 14:26). Go back to the mirror. How is this body being offered?

Key takeaways:

• Sunday worship is not a completed tour of duty — the sacrifice must be living and daily

• Your baptized body is a temple: eyes, tongue, and hands are either holy offerings or not

• Do not conform to the world’s pattern; be transformed by a renewed mind

• Discernment is a gift of the Holy Spirit — use the body for the glory of God, not for the gaze of man

Listen, share, and let the double-edged sword do its work in you today. Rate and review the podcast so more people encounter the living Word.