Do We Believe?

It’s often time the big things that grab our attention. The big struggles, the big loss-es, the big wins , the big triumphs, the big names and the big gifts. It’s our rare big sins and big challenges and short comings that we don’t have a way to make peace with that bother us.

Just recently we celebrated Pentecost. A big feast of the Church , and our reception of God’s gifting His Holy Spirit to us. It’s as big a gift as we could receive, and yet we find ourselves questioning if such a gift has actually been gifted or received in our own days as it was in the days of the Apostles.

I would say what most gets in the way of us receiving Him in the way the Apostles did before us , is not our own big sins, or the world’s current state, but rather our little , often ignored or easily excused shortcomings that receive no real attention or correction. And just to play devil’s advocate they don’t receive true patience or mercy and forgiveness from ourselves or those around us either because they aren’t viewed as serious enough for either path.

I propose that it’s exactly this lack of focus on the little things, that limits the depths of our repentance, which is a big thing, a very big thing. And so it’s the little things that establish our discipline and love and gratitude to and for God, and His Grace, and His Son, and His Holy Spirit. It’s the small all important action of humility in practice when interacting with God and His people!

With love and respect,

+Fr. Yanni Michaelidis