June 16, 2025 • 42 mins
This show will examine more closely what Jesus is talking about when He said, Whomever desires to come after me must, deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. These are the steps the Lord Jesus requires for entering into His Kingdom of Heaven.
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O Gladsome Light Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.
O Gladsome Light is broadcast live Mondays at 11AM ET Music on W4CY Radio (www.w4cy.com) part of Talk 4 Radio (www.talk4radio.com) on the Talk 4 Media Network (www.talk4media.com O Gladsome Light is viewed on Talk 4 TV (www.talk4tv.com).
O Gladsome Light Podcast is also available on Talk 4 Media (www.talk4media.com), Talk 4 Podcasting (www.talk4podcasting.com), iHeartRadio, Amazon Music, Pandora, Spotify, Audible, and over 100 other podcast outlets.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
Hey, Welcome to the Old Glansome Light podcast. This program
contains preaching and teaching from an Orthodox Christian perspective to
help you in your walk with Jesus Christ and to
be victorious in Him.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well, it's a Monday morning at eleven o'clock and it's
the Old Lansom Light radio show. It's eleven o'clock Eastern
Standard Time, and I'm your show host, Doctor Al Man's
with a degree in Divinity, also known as Father Petros
of the Orthodox Church of the pi Ros.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
I'm broadcasting from.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
W fur Cy Internet Radio around the world twenty four
to seven. Also, i have a podcast on iHeartRadio called
Old Blossom Light. Please visit my website Oblossomlight dot org
and also like and subscribe to my two YouTube channels,
one called a Man's and the other one called Archpetros. Also,
(01:07):
I'm I'm posting my sermons on a Rumble under the
name of Man's a. The show is blessed by Metropolitan
Mikisldeck of the Orthodox Church of e p ROAs. The
slogan for the show is preparing Souls for Heaven. And
also I'm broadcasting from Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Chapel
(01:28):
in West.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Palm Beach, Florida.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Really doesn't make a difference where I am because as
long as we have an Internet connection, we can be
anywhere in the world and do this show. Which is
amazing technology that we have today. I didn't have that
when I was a kid. You know, no Internet, no
cell phones, this landlines, no voicemail.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I mean, it was.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Pretty interesting living back when I was a kid in
the fifties, sixties. Well, the show title today is all
the Way into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
The Way into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Now, my last show was titled Finding the Kingdom of God.
So I detailed in my last show how to find
the Kingdom of God. Now, once you find it, we
must get the way.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Finding is one thing, but the way is another. So
I'm going to.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Talk about today how once you discover the Kingdom of God,
what is the process or the way getting into the
Kingdom into the Kingdom of God. So let's get going here,
the way into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
We were created to live on earth.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Unlike animals who die and disappear with time, but with
the high purpose to live with God, our creator.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Not for one hundred years or so. But for eternity.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
See, we were created for heaven or earth is just
like away station, this site we're passing through.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
We are truly aliens.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Once you become a Christian, you're really an alien on
this earth, waiting for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. Interesting,
every individual that I know of instinctively strives for happiness.
Don't we want to be happy? You know, Let's be happy.
Don't worry, be happy?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
You know the song.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
This desire has been implanted in our nature by our creator,
and therefore it's not simple. But it is important to
understand that in this temporary life, it is impossible to
find true, full happiness because that comes from God and
cannot be obtained without God. Only God, who is the
(03:48):
ultimate good and the source of all good, can quench
our thirst or happiness. Material things can never wholly satisfy us. Indeed,
we know from experience that every item we have desired
has pleased us only for a short time. Then it
became boring and we started to desire something else. This
(04:10):
process of satisfaction and boredom then repeated itself many times.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
And I was right in that loop.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I can talk from experience that without God I was
trying to be happy and doing all kinds of things
to fill a void that only Christ can fill. Is
like the special place in your heart that only Christ
can fill it. It's like a puzzle, and only He
has a correct puzzle piece to fill your heart. And
so then you don't have to worry about trying to
(04:42):
be happy, you know physically, but God brings that true
happiness to you. Good example for the uncomfortable thirst for
happiness was Solomon. He was a famous king of Israel
who lived around one thousand BC.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
He was so rich that all the.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Household utensils in his palaces were made of pure gold.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
He was so.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Wise that kings and famous people from far away lands
came to hear him. He was so famous that his
foes tremble at the mere mention of his name. He
could easily satisfy any of his wishes, and it seemed
that there was no pleasure.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
That he did not possess or could not obtain.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
But with all of this, Solomon could not find total happiness.
To the end of his life, he described his many
years of searching for happiness and his continual disappointments in
the Book of Ecclesiastes, which he began with the following phrase,
vanity of vanity, all is vanity, and that's in chapter one,
(05:48):
verse two. Innumerable otherwise people who were also successful in
life came to the same conclusion as King Solomon, and
that in the depth of our subconscious something reminds us
that we are just wanderers on this earth, and that
our true happiness is not here, but there, we're there,
(06:13):
in that other and better world known as Paradise or
the Kingdom of Heaven. Let man own the whole world
and everything that is in it. Yet all this will
interest him for no more than a short period, while
the immortal soul thirsting for personal communication with God will
remain onsatisfying.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
I imagine all my listeners.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And viewers on this could relate to what I am saying, boredom,
loss of interests, move on.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Tom was like a video game, you know, welcome to
the next level. We try to. I don't play video
game that when I was a kid, I.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Used to, but you know, you always look forward to
get into the next level, and after that you try
to get to the next level.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Same with happiness without God.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Now our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came
to this earth in order to return us our lost
capacity to spend eternity in the blissful presence of God,
which is heaven. He revealed to people that all their
evil lies in sin, and that no one through their
own effort can overcome the.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Evil within themselves.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Entertain this communion with God, because you know, God cannot
look upon sin. Sin ingrained in our nature since the
fall of Adam and Eve, stands between us and.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
God like a high wall.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
I've used the expression here in South Florida, we have
a lot of drawbridges, and it's like when you pull
up to go over the hill and then.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
You encounter this drawbridge.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
The gates come down, the bridge goes up, and you're
looking at a wall.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Isn't that just amazing.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
You can't get across the Inner Coastal Waterway until the
bridge comes down, and it may take a few minutes
for the boats to pass by for this to happen.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
But that's the same thing between us and God.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
There's this wall, this high wall, and the only Jesus
Christ can take that wall down and open the pathway
for us.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
To love God through Christ.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Now, if the son of God, had not descended to
us through his mercy, for us had not taken on
our human nature, and had not by his death comfort sin,
all of mankind would have perish forever. Now, thanks to him,
those who wish to cleanse themselves comes evil can do
(08:39):
so and return to God and obtain eternal bliss in
the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Now we're going to.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Look at details now how you can achieve this aim.
Let's take a look to examine more closely our path
indicated to us by our Lord Jesus. Christ said, whoever
desires to come after me, let him deny himself.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Take up his cross and follow me.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Thus a follower of Christ must begin by denying himself.
This means that you must disown all bad habits for
your heart, from sinful bonds like the hunger for money,
the hunger for luxury, fame, power, power over other people,
squelsh impure thoughts, harbor no lustful desires, distance yourself from
(09:31):
situations that lead to sin, and in general, do nothing
because of stubbornness or ego, but do all for the
love of God and with a desire to contribute to
the glory of His holy name. In other words, to
deny yourself is to be dead, indeed to sin, but
alive unto God. As Saint Paul has explained in Romans
(09:53):
chapter six, verse eleven, Blackwise, reckon ye also yourselves to
be dead, indeed onto sin, the the live unto God
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Then it is necessary for
a disciple and follower of Christ to take up his cross.
You don't take up the Lord's cross, you take up
(10:13):
your cross.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
The cross means.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
The various difficulties in sorrows associated with the Christian life.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Crosses are external and internal.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
To take up your cross means to tolerate everything without complaining.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Isn't that hard to do? I know a lot of
people that.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Like to complain, and they are so much fun to
be around, regardless of how unpleasant things might become. For example,
if someone has insulted you, or laughed at you or
provoked you, bear it all without anger or resentment.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Likewise, if you help someone.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
And that person, instead of showing gratitude, made up deceitful
tales about you, or or if you wanted to do
something good but we're unable to accomplish it, bear it
without despondency. We should have no expectations of other people
because that all leads to disappointment, and then all the
(11:16):
passions come to bear upon you of anger, resentment, and
how could that person do that to me?
Speaker 3 (11:25):
And so forth.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
But we're supposed to give it all to God. And
I'm going to tell you how we're going to do that.
You live enough on this earth, you're going to find
out maybe some misfortune befail you.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Did someone in your family become ill.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Or despite all your efforts entire slabor, did you repeatedly
suffer failure or repeat sims as some other thing or
other person oppressed You bear all with patience in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do not can consider
yourself punish on justly, but accept everything as your cross.
(12:06):
To bury your cross means not only to accept patiently
all difficulties that befall you, but also to strive for
spiritual perfection, as their scripture teach us. And that spiritual
perfection is called holiness. And the Lord says, ye holy,
for I am holy. So we need to be like
(12:26):
our Lord Jesus Christ. Is that possible? Well, yes, because
why would he say that to us? For example, we
must do good to others, work for the prosperity of
our perish, Visit the sick and go to the jail
the imprisonment, help the needing, collect money for the poor,
and assist in spreading the gospel of.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Jesus Christ for his commandment.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
In other words, we must seek out tasks which will
lead to the salvation and welfare of those around us,
and then, with severance and meekness, strive in that direction
by our actions, words, prayer, and advice from our spiritual Father.
Should the prideful thought arise that you are better or
(13:14):
smarter than others, quickly cast it aside, because it will
undermine all of your good efforts and your virtues. Remember
what cast Lucifer out of heaven was pride, as the.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Lord says, I will share my glory with no one.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
And Lucifer fell like lightning to the earth, and his
name was changed to Satan. Now, blessed is he who
carries his cross with prudence and humility, because God will
never allow such a person to perish, but will guide
and strengthen him.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
With his Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
The Holy Spirit is the comforter, and Greek we call
it a pedoclet. He's the comforter, He helps us, he
leads us into all truth.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
In following Jesus Christ. It is not enough to carry
only an outward cross.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Indeed, external crosses are born not only by Christian but
by everyone. There exists no person person free from one
another or more sorrows. He who wishes to become a
true disciple of Christ must also carry his own cross,
and inner cross.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Comes more readily than the outer one.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
In the state of repentance, you need only to direct
your thoughts inwardly, to study your soul, and instantly.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
A multiviudo crosses will appear.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
For instance, reflect on how you were created and what
is the purpose of your life? Are you living according
to Christ's teachings? Are you accomplishing something good? Are you
growing spiritually? Meditate about this in some depth, and soon
you will come to realize that you are failing in
(15:01):
many important areas. God created you so that with all
your good works, life and being, you should contribute to
spreading the good and the strengthening of His kingdom through
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You, however, have not only
failed in this, but by your sins you have rejected
(15:23):
and even insulted our Lord Jesus Christ, reflect on what
awaits you beyond the grave, and on what side you
will find yourself at the last judgment, with the righteous
or with the evil doers. And we call that the
sheep goat judgment. The sheep will be on the right
and the goats will be on the left. And the
(15:43):
goats don't have a nice future, but the sheep do.
The goats will be dismissed to the abyss, but the
sheep will be transported to the heavenly Kingdom to be
with Christ forever. And if you seriously reflect on this,
you will naturally become distressed and will regret your many
words and deeds. And these painful feelings and the desires
(16:06):
for repentance will become your intercross. Remember in our Divine
Liturgy it says repentance is the means of salvation.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
If you continue attentively to.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Study yourself, you will find many other innercrosses. For instance, Hell,
which you have so carelessly avoided considering until now, will
suddenly appear.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
To you as a real threat in your life.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Now, Paradise, which the Lord has prepared for you, and for.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Which has barely crossed.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Your mind, will vividly present itself to you as it
really is, a place of eternal and pure joy from
all which you have deprived.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Yourself by your careless way of life.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
In other words, that what I'm saying is wake up
and not smell the coffee, but wake up, do not slumber.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Your soul is eternal.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
If in spite of the inner turmoil brought about by
such reflections, you firmly resolve to repent and mend your ways.
And if, instead of consoling your earthly enjoyments, you diligently
pray to the Lord to save you, and you decide
to surrender yourself totally to the Lord's will, then the
(17:23):
Lord will reveal to you more clearly the state of
your soul, so that you may be totally healed. And
this we call our journey in salvation into repentance and
salvation is called theosis, is a Greek word.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
It means that journey that we are on.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Remember that Jesus Christ is the healer of our souls
and our bodies.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Our problem is that.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
The actual condition of our spiritual sickness is hidden from
us under a thick mantle of self love and passions
that are fallen.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
That we're falling.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Our passions were fallen when Adam and Eve made some
bad choices in.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
The garden of Eden and were cast out.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Our news, which is our way we connect with God,
that's called the eye of the soul, was darkening, and
only Jesus Christ can illuminate that news. Only on occasionally,
thanks to our conscience, do we get a glimpse of
our major and most obvious spiritual wounds. Usually, the devil,
knowing how good it is for us to recognize our
(18:31):
moral illness, uses all of his wiles to prevent us
from doing so and tells us that all is well
and there's no need to worry, which is the biggest
trap that the enemy has and as personal demons that
go out too and do that work for the devil
(18:51):
to keep us from focusing on Christ in the salvation
of our souls. But when he sees that we are
really serious about becoming true Christians with God's health, are
on the way to restoring our spiritual health, then the
devil uses craftier means.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
He presents to us our internal illnesses.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Such as the hopeless condition that we become bewildered and
despair of our salvation. If the Lord permitted the devil
to use this trick on all, few of us would
find the strength to continue with this struggle. However, the Lord,
as a wise physician, protects us from despair. He heals
(19:32):
our spiritual ulcers and encourages us as we heal.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Therefore, as the Lord restores.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Your spiritual sight, you will begin to comprehend more clearly
that your heart is corrupt, and that your passions obstruct your.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Path to God.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
You will begin to understand also that the little good
that you have to your credit so far to damage
by your selfishness and conceit, which fuels our ego. Then
you will certainly grieve, and you will become frightened and saddened.
Frightened because you are in danger, in danger of perishing forever,
(20:09):
sadden because you have declined for so long to listen
to the gentle voice of God who is calling you
to salvation. And sadden because you have accomplished so little good.
Although these inner crosses present themselves as burdensome, do not despair,
and do not think.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
That the Lord has abandoned you. No, he is.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Always with you, and then visibly it sustains you even
when you forget him, He will not burden you with
chrials beyond your capacity. Fear nothing, but with total humbleness
and devotion, bear your cross and pray. And whilst we
need the help of the most Holy theotokis the Mother
of God. So when we ask for intercessions, see is
(20:55):
there quickly to help us. I think of Saint Mary
of Egypt in the desert, and she had her spiritual
battles going on because she lived the really horrible life
of he'll repute.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
But then the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Led her out into the desert to live the rest
of our days, and she had the help of the
Mother of God, the Holy Theatropius to be victorious. So,
our Lord, we did celebrate the Father's Day. But the
true Father is our father in heaven. He is the
gentleness of the Fathers that we could be wished for
(21:32):
if on occasion he allows us his faithful service to
be tempted. It is only to remind them of their
feebleness and to completely cleanse their.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Hearts from pride.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
And that's why we have confession and repentance to help
the wipe the slate clean and begin anew with Christ.
Don't I when you fall, get up if you fall,
get up. And the problem is if you fall and
stay down, the devil.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Winds, But if you get up, the devil loses and
Christ wins.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
In our hearts is where he intends to resign with
his son and his Holy Spirit.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
He stands at.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
The door and knocks, but you have to open the
door of your heart for him to come in. Now
in the time of sorrow, do not seek comfort from people,
because they're probably blind too. Most people are not experiencing
the fears of salvation and can be poor advisors, not all,
but Unstine's some. But make the Lord your only help, me,
(22:32):
the comforter, the tutor, the teacher, and from him alone
asks for help, and he will not disappoint The person
to whom the Lord sinds. Affliction is blessed one hundredfold
because it is afflictions that cure are sin, sick souls.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
In enduring sorrows.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
The Christian's life, and to Jesus Christ, who suffer for us,
we should consider sorrows a gift from the Lord and
of his care for our salvation. If you bury your
cross with perseverance and seek comfort only from Him, then He,
through his mercy will not abandon you, but will touch
(23:13):
your heart and will impart to you the gifts of
the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
It is then that you will feel.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
An indescribable delight, a wonderful inner piece, and joy such
as you have never experienced before. And at the time
you will feel an influx of spiritual strength. Prayer will
become easier and your faith stronger.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Then your heart will be kindled with love of God
and all people.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
All these gifts are to come from the Holy Spirit
of God. When the Lord decides to honor you with
such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors,
and do not think that you've attained perfection, because that
is another trap of the enemy.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Such thoughts come from pride.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards,
but gifts of divine mercy.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
This is to help us in our journey to salvation.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Occasionally, the Lord allows us to get a fortes of
our future blessings so that we will put forth a
greater effort in seeking His eternal kingdom. Finally, a disciple
of Christ must follow him. This means that in all
deeds and actions, we must try to be like our Lord.
Jesus Christ in his virtues.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
He demonstrated that to us when he dwelt among us.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
When he called the twelve Apostles the Chosen, he brought
him in and they walked with him during that three
years of his public ministry, and they saw all the
Christ's virtues were on public display.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
He showed that the apostles how to live with virtue.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
We must strive to live and act as he lived
and acted.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
For example, Jesus.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Christ always thanks his heavenly Father and constantly prayed to him.
Thus we also should constantly thank God and pray to
Him in all circumstances, whether good or bad, whether its
successful or difficult. Jesus Christ honored his mother and submitted
to the lawful authority, the Jewish law. Thus we also
(25:21):
should honor our parents and educators. We too should respect
those in positions of responsibility, provided their request or not.
In conflict with God's commandments. Jesus Christ fervently and with
love performed the task for which his father sent him to.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Be the savior of the world.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
We should also conscientiously and zealously perform the duties which
are laid upon us by God. And also the civil authorities.
Jesus loved everyone and did good to all that did
not sin. He said, with sinners and tax collectors, but
he did become like them. What he did is he
(26:04):
led them out of their sin to live a holy,
righteous life. So should we love our neighbors and do
good to as many people as possible. Jesus Christ did
everything possible for the salvation of mankind. Sol must we
do good to others, not sparing our own well being
and trime. Jesus Christ voluntarily suffered and died for us
(26:28):
on their cruel cross at Golgotha. Therefore, we too must
not grumble when some unpleasantness befalls us, but be ready
to make sacrifices with humility and our devotion to God.
Jesus Christ not only forgave his enemies they're ingratitude and animosity,
(26:49):
but he even wished them well. Remember at the cross,
when they crucified the Lord, he said to them, Father
laid out the sin.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
Upon them, for they know not what they do. Could
we do that?
Speaker 2 (27:02):
So we also must forgive our enemies, and that's a
tough one. Without the Holy Spirit, and without the Holy
Spirit we can't do it. Even with this Holy Spirit.
It's a struggle. We have to forgive our enemies, repaying
them with good for their evil upon us, while blessing
those who revile us.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
We are not to respond to.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
These people as the world, but as Christ taught us,
to bless them, and by doing that they'll see that
we are different. And by being different, you may leave
these people to salvation. Jesus Christ, taking of heaven and earth,
lived in poverty and obtained his daily necessities to his
(27:43):
own labor. So we must also be industrious and content
with what God has given us, not to be consumed
with the desire for riches for their own sake. In
the words of our Savior, he said, it's easier for
a camel to go through the eye of a needle,
then for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.
And that's Matthew nineteen twenty four. Jesus Christ, being meek
(28:07):
and humble of heart, never strove for ambulation, but directed
all towards the glory of his heavenly Father. We also
must not parade ourselves or seek recognition. For instance, do
you help your neighbors, do you give alms? Do you
live more piously than those around you? Are you wiser
than your friends? Are you in some way way above others?
(28:31):
Don't brag about it. Remember that all your praise with
the attribute are not yours, but the gifts of God.
Following Jesus Christ means accepting with faith and submitting to
all that Jesus Christ taught without question, with simplicity of heart,
total trust. In other words, put all of your eggs
(28:52):
in one basket, which is contrary to the world's thoughts.
As I thought about this that if you follow the world,
world will give you a grave, but if.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
You follow Christ, he will give you a kingdom. So
which one you want? Your choice.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
He who accepts Jesus Christ's words becomes his disciples, but
he who fulfills his commandments with complete devotion becomes.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
His true and devoted follower.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
This is the meaning of denying yourself, taking up your.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Cross, and following Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
This is the only straight path into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Christ walked this path and calls us to follow him.
There never was, and never will be, any other path
to salvation but this one shown to us by Jesus.
I am the Way, I am the Truth, I am
the Life, and no one comes to.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
The Father, but through me saith the Lord.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Now to the beginning, this path may seem too narrow
and steep, But it seems this way only because our
understanding of divine blessing and happiness has become distorted. And
as I talk about, our news was dark and because
of Havm and Eve, but is illuminated through the holy
(30:08):
mysteries of baptism and chrismation. Many of us regard the
bitter as sweet, and the sweet and bitter. However, as
we come closer to God, much of what seemed difficult
or bitter before will become easy and sweet, and what
seemed to please before it will.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
Become boring and harmful.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Of course, there will be trying periods in our life
when the path of ascension towards God will seem exceptionally difficult.
Then we should think that for every step taken there
is a thousand rewards being prepared. Sufferings along this path
are momentary, but the rewards are eternal. Therefore, do not
(30:49):
fear the path of Christ, for a smooth and wide
path end in health, but a thorny and narrow when
that leads to heaven. Remember the song by leads up
a stairway to heaven.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Stairway to heaven. They go up, one step at a time.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
It's a work, it's a struggle, but it's a stairway
to heaven. But then a seeing DC came out with
a song called Highway to Hell. And so you choose
on which side you want to be. You want to
be on a high highway to hell or.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
A stairway to heaven. It's all based on our choice.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
No, I didn't God make the path of the Kingdom
of Heaven light and pleasant. Only God knows this, and
who we question his divine wisdom. He saw that the
narrow path is what we need because we are really
creative for struggle.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Always compare it to a roller coaster.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
If the roller coaster was smooth and flat, call me
would ride the roller coaster. But I tell you I
don't like him. But some people love the roller coaster.
They go up, and they go down, they go around,
they walk say down, they go in the tunnels.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
I mean, some people get a real blast out of that.
But they on the ground. Not ever, they not do that.
So the Lord said, the narrow path is what we need.
We who are.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Below see only bits and pieces but He who is
above all creation caes or lies from the standpoint of eternity. Now,
isn't that amazing? God sees us as citizens of heaven. However,
though not completely understanding the plans of our creator.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Let us consider these following notes.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
One, the Kingdom of Heaven is the highest beatitude and
exhaustible wealth. If great efforts are necessary to obtain meager
and temporary earthly advantages, then how can it be possible
to obtain such a great and eternal treasure without any effort.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
It takes effort here to make a buck, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Well, it's going to take effort to make heaven to
be that sheep of God at the Great Judgment seat.
Number Two, The Kingdom of Heaven is the most coveted reward.
Where else are rewards given freely and foreign? You know,
talk about the Kingdom of Heaven. There's no rust, No
(33:06):
thieves are breaking.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
In, none of that here.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
We got to worry about criminals robbers. We lock our doors,
we have security. We hope that nobody's going to break
in and steal our stuff up in heaven. That's not
going to happen.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Now.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
If we struggle to get temporary benefits so much more
should we struggle to obtain the eternal reward of being
in heaven with Christ. Three, we must bear our cross
because we want to be with Christ and to participate
in his glory. If Jesus Christ, our master and teacher,
(33:41):
gained heavenly glory through suffering, we did not be shameful
for us to share his glory when we faintheartedly.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
Shone and trials our sorrows.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Besides, lifelong crosses are not the lot of the Christians alone.
Everybody carries across. Both Christians and Pagans, they all carry across.
The difference is that for some there are crosses serve
as a means of attaining the Kingdom of heaven, while
for others they bring no such value. For the Christian
(34:11):
the cross has gradually becomes lighter and more joyful, while
for the non believer of the pagan it becomes heavier
and more burdensome. Why is this because where the one
carriage across with faith and devotion to God, the other
carries that.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
With grumbling and anger.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Therefore, Christians do not shun your lifelong cross, but on
the contrary, thank Jesus Christ that he.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Honored you to follow and imitate him.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
If Christ had not suffered and died, then none of us,
no matter how much we suffered and struggled, would enter
the Kingdom of heaven. For then we would have to
suffer as slaves, and slaves deserve no rewards. Now, however,
we suffer as sons for our own salvation.
Speaker 3 (34:55):
Old merciful Lord, How great is thy love for us?
How great are thy.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Benefits to us that will bend this evil itself for
our benefit and salvation? Christian gratitude alone to Jesus Christ,
your benefactor, obliges you to follow him. Christ came down
to earth for you. Can it be possible that you
would prefer some worthy thing to him? For you, Jesus
(35:20):
drank the cup of suffering. Can it be that you
would refuse to suffer a little while for him? Even
Saint James and his epistle says, our life is mere vapor.
It appeared through a little while, then it's gone. Jesus Christ.
Number five. Jesus Christ redeemed us by his death, and
therefore by the right of redemption we belong to him.
(35:42):
I must do all that he wills God Christ Christ,
God wills only one thing, that we should attain eternal
bliss and holiness and be like him.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
And number six.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
Finally, we cannot avoid the narrow path into the Kingdom
of Heaven, since every person has sin, and sin in
itself is an ulcer that cannot be cured without strong medicine.
Suffering can be the medicine which God uses to cure
our souls. When somebody is ill, then, regardless of its surroundings,
(36:16):
even though he is in the most magnificent of palaces,
he will still suffer, such as.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
The fate of every sinner. No matter where he.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
Settles, even in Paradise itself, he will suffer because of
the elements of Hell reside within him. Likewise, a righteous
person can be as happy in a shack as in
a palace.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
When a heart is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Wherever we may find ourselves, we will always feel joy,
since Paradise is inside of us. And so if you
wish to attain the Kingdom of Heaven, you cannot bypass
the path taken by Jesus Christ.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
Indeed, all the prophets, the apostles, mar.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
The saints, and counless other righteous ones walk along this path.
There is no other some might object saying, how can
we were as sinfle in we be like Jesus Christ
or the saints, that is, through holy baptism and holy chrismation.
Holy baptism is the illumination of our soul or news,
(37:24):
and chrismation.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
Is the ceiling into the Holy Spirit and then.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
Receiving, receiving of the holy mysteries of God, the Holy Communion,
the body and Blood of Christ. Being full members of
the Orthodox Church, we live in the secular world and
have families in many responsibilities that Christ must be pre
eminent in our lives. By Christ being pre eminent in
our life, he will bring total perfect balance to all
(37:53):
our relationships.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
The saints like us.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
We're not sinless at first, but anticipated in worldly affairs,
labored and had various obligations and families took care about.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
But they repented.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
So the definition of a saint is it's a sinner
who has repented. So we all can be saints. All
we got to do is repent and be like God,
which we can do through.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
The power of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
The saints that have gone before they were not perfect
in everything. They had their share of temptations and low moments.
Notwithstanding this, living in circumstances similar to ours and having
their ups and downs, they steered through the main objective.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Of their life, the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Undoubtedly, we also, if we truly desire to, can be
good citizens, faithful spouses, loving parents, and simultaneously good Christians.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Christ will bring bounds to our lives.
Speaker 2 (38:53):
But we must worship the Lord Jesus Christ in spirit
and in truth.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
For he is truth.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
Our faith will not be an obstacle, but on the contrary,
will aid all.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Our good undertakings.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
The essence of Christianity is pure and selfless love, which
is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, brethren, if you
wish to attain the Kingdom of Heaven, follow the path
which Jesus Christ took, and he the all merciful One,
will help you in every step of the way. As
(39:28):
I said at the opening of this show, you've got
to deny yourself, and I give you a complete definition
of how to deny yourself. You must take up your cross,
and I've told you exactly how to take up your
cross and the external cross. And we must follow Jesus
Christ and all his teachings and all of his commandments.
(39:49):
Which are many, and probably the biggest one is love
one another. And by loving one another, you will show
the world that you are a disciple. And finally, I'm
going to read verses out of Matthew chapter six, Verse
thirty one says, therefore, do not.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
Worry saying what should we eat, what should we drink?
Or what should we wear? Or?
Speaker 2 (40:12):
After all these things the gentile seekret for your heavenly
father knows that you need all these things. But seek
first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
These things will be added to you.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry
about its own things sufficient, for the day is its
own trouble. For what man is there among you? If
his son asks for a bread, lelly give him a stone.
Or if he asked for a fish, will he give
him a serpent? If you, then, being evil, know how
to give good gift to your children, how much more
(40:50):
will your father, who is in heaven, give good things
to those who ask him.
Speaker 3 (40:56):
So that is the.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Code of how radio show I did on this subject.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
Finding the Kingdom of Heaven. But now I have explained to.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
You in this radio show the way into the Kingdom
of Heaven. Listen to the show intently and follow follow
the commandments of Christ, and you will find that way
as it said it can be. It's a narrow path.
Why is a path that leads to destruction, but narrow
(41:26):
is the path that leads to heaven where Christ is
seated on the throne with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
May God bless you on this journey and understanding of
finding the Kingdom of Heaven and the way into the
Kingdom of Heaven and the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (41:58):
Thank you for listening to Some Light podcast. We hope
this program is encouraged you to fight the good fight
of faith and walk in the accordance with the commandments
of our Lord. May God bless you on your journey
to salvation.
Hey, Welcome to the Old Glansome Light podcast. This program
contains preaching and teaching from an Orthodox Christian perspective to
help you in your walk with Jesus Christ and to
be victorious in Him.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
Well, it's a Monday morning at eleven o'clock and it's
the Old Lansom Light radio show. It's eleven o'clock Eastern
Standard Time, and I'm your show host, Doctor Al Man's
with a degree in Divinity, also known as Father Petros
of the Orthodox Church of the pi Ros.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
I'm broadcasting from.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
W fur Cy Internet Radio around the world twenty four
to seven. Also, i have a podcast on iHeartRadio called
Old Blossom Light. Please visit my website Oblossomlight dot org
and also like and subscribe to my two YouTube channels,
one called a Man's and the other one called Archpetros. Also,
(01:07):
I'm I'm posting my sermons on a Rumble under the
name of Man's a. The show is blessed by Metropolitan
Mikisldeck of the Orthodox Church of e p ROAs. The
slogan for the show is preparing Souls for Heaven. And
also I'm broadcasting from Saints Peter and Paul Orthodox Chapel
(01:28):
in West.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Palm Beach, Florida.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Really doesn't make a difference where I am because as
long as we have an Internet connection, we can be
anywhere in the world and do this show. Which is
amazing technology that we have today. I didn't have that
when I was a kid. You know, no Internet, no
cell phones, this landlines, no voicemail.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
I mean, it was.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Pretty interesting living back when I was a kid in
the fifties, sixties. Well, the show title today is all
the Way into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 3 (02:03):
The Way into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Now, my last show was titled Finding the Kingdom of God.
So I detailed in my last show how to find
the Kingdom of God. Now, once you find it, we
must get the way.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Finding is one thing, but the way is another. So
I'm going to.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
Talk about today how once you discover the Kingdom of God,
what is the process or the way getting into the
Kingdom into the Kingdom of God. So let's get going here,
the way into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 3 (02:44):
We were created to live on earth.
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Unlike animals who die and disappear with time, but with
the high purpose to live with God, our creator.
Speaker 3 (02:54):
Not for one hundred years or so. But for eternity.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
See, we were created for heaven or earth is just
like away station, this site we're passing through.
Speaker 3 (03:04):
We are truly aliens.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Once you become a Christian, you're really an alien on
this earth, waiting for the inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven. Interesting,
every individual that I know of instinctively strives for happiness.
Don't we want to be happy? You know, Let's be happy.
Don't worry, be happy?
Speaker 3 (03:24):
You know the song.
Speaker 2 (03:25):
This desire has been implanted in our nature by our creator,
and therefore it's not simple. But it is important to
understand that in this temporary life, it is impossible to
find true, full happiness because that comes from God and
cannot be obtained without God. Only God, who is the
(03:48):
ultimate good and the source of all good, can quench
our thirst or happiness. Material things can never wholly satisfy us. Indeed,
we know from experience that every item we have desired
has pleased us only for a short time. Then it
became boring and we started to desire something else. This
(04:10):
process of satisfaction and boredom then repeated itself many times.
Speaker 3 (04:16):
And I was right in that loop.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
I can talk from experience that without God I was
trying to be happy and doing all kinds of things
to fill a void that only Christ can fill. Is
like the special place in your heart that only Christ
can fill it. It's like a puzzle, and only He
has a correct puzzle piece to fill your heart. And
so then you don't have to worry about trying to
(04:42):
be happy, you know physically, but God brings that true
happiness to you. Good example for the uncomfortable thirst for
happiness was Solomon. He was a famous king of Israel
who lived around one thousand BC.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
He was so rich that all the.
Speaker 2 (05:00):
Household utensils in his palaces were made of pure gold.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
He was so.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
Wise that kings and famous people from far away lands
came to hear him. He was so famous that his
foes tremble at the mere mention of his name. He
could easily satisfy any of his wishes, and it seemed
that there was no pleasure.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
That he did not possess or could not obtain.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
But with all of this, Solomon could not find total happiness.
To the end of his life, he described his many
years of searching for happiness and his continual disappointments in
the Book of Ecclesiastes, which he began with the following phrase,
vanity of vanity, all is vanity, and that's in chapter one,
(05:48):
verse two. Innumerable otherwise people who were also successful in
life came to the same conclusion as King Solomon, and
that in the depth of our subconscious something reminds us
that we are just wanderers on this earth, and that
our true happiness is not here, but there, we're there,
(06:13):
in that other and better world known as Paradise or
the Kingdom of Heaven. Let man own the whole world
and everything that is in it. Yet all this will
interest him for no more than a short period, while
the immortal soul thirsting for personal communication with God will
remain onsatisfying.
Speaker 3 (06:33):
I imagine all my listeners.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
And viewers on this could relate to what I am saying, boredom,
loss of interests, move on.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Tom was like a video game, you know, welcome to
the next level. We try to. I don't play video
game that when I was a kid, I.
Speaker 2 (06:51):
Used to, but you know, you always look forward to
get into the next level, and after that you try
to get to the next level.
Speaker 3 (06:57):
Same with happiness without God.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Now our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came
to this earth in order to return us our lost
capacity to spend eternity in the blissful presence of God,
which is heaven. He revealed to people that all their
evil lies in sin, and that no one through their
own effort can overcome the.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Evil within themselves.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
Entertain this communion with God, because you know, God cannot
look upon sin. Sin ingrained in our nature since the
fall of Adam and Eve, stands between us and.
Speaker 3 (07:35):
God like a high wall.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
I've used the expression here in South Florida, we have
a lot of drawbridges, and it's like when you pull
up to go over the hill and then.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
You encounter this drawbridge.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
The gates come down, the bridge goes up, and you're
looking at a wall.
Speaker 3 (07:54):
Isn't that just amazing.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
You can't get across the Inner Coastal Waterway until the
bridge comes down, and it may take a few minutes
for the boats to pass by for this to happen.
Speaker 3 (08:06):
But that's the same thing between us and God.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
There's this wall, this high wall, and the only Jesus
Christ can take that wall down and open the pathway
for us.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
To love God through Christ.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
Now, if the son of God, had not descended to
us through his mercy, for us had not taken on
our human nature, and had not by his death comfort sin,
all of mankind would have perish forever. Now, thanks to him,
those who wish to cleanse themselves comes evil can do
(08:39):
so and return to God and obtain eternal bliss in
the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Now we're going to.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
Look at details now how you can achieve this aim.
Let's take a look to examine more closely our path
indicated to us by our Lord Jesus. Christ said, whoever
desires to come after me, let him deny himself.
Speaker 3 (09:01):
Take up his cross and follow me.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Thus a follower of Christ must begin by denying himself.
This means that you must disown all bad habits for
your heart, from sinful bonds like the hunger for money,
the hunger for luxury, fame, power, power over other people,
squelsh impure thoughts, harbor no lustful desires, distance yourself from
(09:31):
situations that lead to sin, and in general, do nothing
because of stubbornness or ego, but do all for the
love of God and with a desire to contribute to
the glory of His holy name. In other words, to
deny yourself is to be dead, indeed to sin, but
alive unto God. As Saint Paul has explained in Romans
(09:53):
chapter six, verse eleven, Blackwise, reckon ye also yourselves to
be dead, indeed onto sin, the the live unto God
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Then it is necessary for
a disciple and follower of Christ to take up his cross.
You don't take up the Lord's cross, you take up
(10:13):
your cross.
Speaker 3 (10:15):
The cross means.
Speaker 2 (10:16):
The various difficulties in sorrows associated with the Christian life.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
Crosses are external and internal.
Speaker 2 (10:24):
To take up your cross means to tolerate everything without complaining.
Speaker 3 (10:30):
Isn't that hard to do? I know a lot of
people that.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Like to complain, and they are so much fun to
be around, regardless of how unpleasant things might become. For example,
if someone has insulted you, or laughed at you or
provoked you, bear it all without anger or resentment.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
Likewise, if you help someone.
Speaker 2 (10:53):
And that person, instead of showing gratitude, made up deceitful
tales about you, or or if you wanted to do
something good but we're unable to accomplish it, bear it
without despondency. We should have no expectations of other people
because that all leads to disappointment, and then all the
(11:16):
passions come to bear upon you of anger, resentment, and
how could that person do that to me?
Speaker 3 (11:25):
And so forth.
Speaker 2 (11:26):
But we're supposed to give it all to God. And
I'm going to tell you how we're going to do that.
You live enough on this earth, you're going to find
out maybe some misfortune befail you.
Speaker 3 (11:38):
Did someone in your family become ill.
Speaker 2 (11:41):
Or despite all your efforts entire slabor, did you repeatedly
suffer failure or repeat sims as some other thing or
other person oppressed You bear all with patience in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Do not can consider
yourself punish on justly, but accept everything as your cross.
(12:06):
To bury your cross means not only to accept patiently
all difficulties that befall you, but also to strive for
spiritual perfection, as their scripture teach us. And that spiritual
perfection is called holiness. And the Lord says, ye holy,
for I am holy. So we need to be like
(12:26):
our Lord Jesus Christ. Is that possible? Well, yes, because
why would he say that to us? For example, we
must do good to others, work for the prosperity of
our perish, Visit the sick and go to the jail
the imprisonment, help the needing, collect money for the poor,
and assist in spreading the gospel of.
Speaker 3 (12:48):
Jesus Christ for his commandment.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
In other words, we must seek out tasks which will
lead to the salvation and welfare of those around us,
and then, with severance and meekness, strive in that direction
by our actions, words, prayer, and advice from our spiritual Father.
Should the prideful thought arise that you are better or
(13:14):
smarter than others, quickly cast it aside, because it will
undermine all of your good efforts and your virtues. Remember
what cast Lucifer out of heaven was pride, as the.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
Lord says, I will share my glory with no one.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
And Lucifer fell like lightning to the earth, and his
name was changed to Satan. Now, blessed is he who
carries his cross with prudence and humility, because God will
never allow such a person to perish, but will guide
and strengthen him.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
With his Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (13:50):
The Holy Spirit is the comforter, and Greek we call
it a pedoclet. He's the comforter, He helps us, he
leads us into all truth.
Speaker 3 (14:01):
In following Jesus Christ. It is not enough to carry
only an outward cross.
Speaker 2 (14:07):
Indeed, external crosses are born not only by Christian but
by everyone. There exists no person person free from one
another or more sorrows. He who wishes to become a
true disciple of Christ must also carry his own cross,
and inner cross.
Speaker 3 (14:26):
Comes more readily than the outer one.
Speaker 2 (14:29):
In the state of repentance, you need only to direct
your thoughts inwardly, to study your soul, and instantly.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
A multiviudo crosses will appear.
Speaker 2 (14:41):
For instance, reflect on how you were created and what
is the purpose of your life? Are you living according
to Christ's teachings? Are you accomplishing something good? Are you
growing spiritually? Meditate about this in some depth, and soon
you will come to realize that you are failing in
(15:01):
many important areas. God created you so that with all
your good works, life and being, you should contribute to
spreading the good and the strengthening of His kingdom through
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You, however, have not only
failed in this, but by your sins you have rejected
(15:23):
and even insulted our Lord Jesus Christ, reflect on what
awaits you beyond the grave, and on what side you
will find yourself at the last judgment, with the righteous
or with the evil doers. And we call that the
sheep goat judgment. The sheep will be on the right
and the goats will be on the left. And the
(15:43):
goats don't have a nice future, but the sheep do.
The goats will be dismissed to the abyss, but the
sheep will be transported to the heavenly Kingdom to be
with Christ forever. And if you seriously reflect on this,
you will naturally become distressed and will regret your many
words and deeds. And these painful feelings and the desires
(16:06):
for repentance will become your intercross. Remember in our Divine
Liturgy it says repentance is the means of salvation.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
If you continue attentively to.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
Study yourself, you will find many other innercrosses. For instance, Hell,
which you have so carelessly avoided considering until now, will
suddenly appear.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
To you as a real threat in your life.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Now, Paradise, which the Lord has prepared for you, and for.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Which has barely crossed.
Speaker 2 (16:38):
Your mind, will vividly present itself to you as it
really is, a place of eternal and pure joy from
all which you have deprived.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
Yourself by your careless way of life.
Speaker 2 (16:51):
In other words, that what I'm saying is wake up
and not smell the coffee, but wake up, do not slumber.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
Your soul is eternal.
Speaker 2 (17:00):
If in spite of the inner turmoil brought about by
such reflections, you firmly resolve to repent and mend your ways.
And if, instead of consoling your earthly enjoyments, you diligently
pray to the Lord to save you, and you decide
to surrender yourself totally to the Lord's will, then the
(17:23):
Lord will reveal to you more clearly the state of
your soul, so that you may be totally healed. And
this we call our journey in salvation into repentance and
salvation is called theosis, is a Greek word.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
It means that journey that we are on.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
Remember that Jesus Christ is the healer of our souls
and our bodies.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
Our problem is that.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
The actual condition of our spiritual sickness is hidden from
us under a thick mantle of self love and passions
that are fallen.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
That we're falling.
Speaker 2 (18:02):
Our passions were fallen when Adam and Eve made some
bad choices in.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
The garden of Eden and were cast out.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Our news, which is our way we connect with God,
that's called the eye of the soul, was darkening, and
only Jesus Christ can illuminate that news. Only on occasionally,
thanks to our conscience, do we get a glimpse of
our major and most obvious spiritual wounds. Usually, the devil,
knowing how good it is for us to recognize our
(18:31):
moral illness, uses all of his wiles to prevent us
from doing so and tells us that all is well
and there's no need to worry, which is the biggest
trap that the enemy has and as personal demons that
go out too and do that work for the devil
(18:51):
to keep us from focusing on Christ in the salvation
of our souls. But when he sees that we are
really serious about becoming true Christians with God's health, are
on the way to restoring our spiritual health, then the
devil uses craftier means.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
He presents to us our internal illnesses.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Such as the hopeless condition that we become bewildered and
despair of our salvation. If the Lord permitted the devil
to use this trick on all, few of us would
find the strength to continue with this struggle. However, the Lord,
as a wise physician, protects us from despair. He heals
(19:32):
our spiritual ulcers and encourages us as we heal.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Therefore, as the Lord restores.
Speaker 2 (19:39):
Your spiritual sight, you will begin to comprehend more clearly
that your heart is corrupt, and that your passions obstruct your.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
Path to God.
Speaker 2 (19:48):
You will begin to understand also that the little good
that you have to your credit so far to damage
by your selfishness and conceit, which fuels our ego. Then
you will certainly grieve, and you will become frightened and saddened.
Frightened because you are in danger, in danger of perishing forever,
(20:09):
sadden because you have declined for so long to listen
to the gentle voice of God who is calling you
to salvation. And sadden because you have accomplished so little good.
Although these inner crosses present themselves as burdensome, do not despair,
and do not think.
Speaker 3 (20:28):
That the Lord has abandoned you. No, he is.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
Always with you, and then visibly it sustains you even
when you forget him, He will not burden you with
chrials beyond your capacity. Fear nothing, but with total humbleness
and devotion, bear your cross and pray. And whilst we
need the help of the most Holy theotokis the Mother
of God. So when we ask for intercessions, see is
(20:55):
there quickly to help us. I think of Saint Mary
of Egypt in the desert, and she had her spiritual
battles going on because she lived the really horrible life
of he'll repute.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
But then the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (21:11):
Led her out into the desert to live the rest
of our days, and she had the help of the
Mother of God, the Holy Theatropius to be victorious. So,
our Lord, we did celebrate the Father's Day. But the
true Father is our father in heaven. He is the
gentleness of the Fathers that we could be wished for
(21:32):
if on occasion he allows us his faithful service to
be tempted. It is only to remind them of their
feebleness and to completely cleanse their.
Speaker 3 (21:41):
Hearts from pride.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
And that's why we have confession and repentance to help
the wipe the slate clean and begin anew with Christ.
Don't I when you fall, get up if you fall,
get up. And the problem is if you fall and
stay down, the devil.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
Winds, But if you get up, the devil loses and
Christ wins.
Speaker 2 (22:03):
In our hearts is where he intends to resign with
his son and his Holy Spirit.
Speaker 3 (22:09):
He stands at.
Speaker 2 (22:10):
The door and knocks, but you have to open the
door of your heart for him to come in. Now
in the time of sorrow, do not seek comfort from people,
because they're probably blind too. Most people are not experiencing
the fears of salvation and can be poor advisors, not all,
but Unstine's some. But make the Lord your only help, me,
(22:32):
the comforter, the tutor, the teacher, and from him alone
asks for help, and he will not disappoint The person
to whom the Lord sinds. Affliction is blessed one hundredfold
because it is afflictions that cure are sin, sick souls.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
In enduring sorrows.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
The Christian's life, and to Jesus Christ, who suffer for us,
we should consider sorrows a gift from the Lord and
of his care for our salvation. If you bury your
cross with perseverance and seek comfort only from Him, then He,
through his mercy will not abandon you, but will touch
(23:13):
your heart and will impart to you the gifts of
the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 3 (23:18):
It is then that you will feel.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
An indescribable delight, a wonderful inner piece, and joy such
as you have never experienced before. And at the time
you will feel an influx of spiritual strength. Prayer will
become easier and your faith stronger.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Then your heart will be kindled with love of God
and all people.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
All these gifts are to come from the Holy Spirit
of God. When the Lord decides to honor you with
such gifts, do not consider them as rewards for your labors,
and do not think that you've attained perfection, because that
is another trap of the enemy.
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Such thoughts come from pride.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
The comforts and grace of the Holy Spirit are not rewards,
but gifts of divine mercy.
Speaker 3 (24:08):
This is to help us in our journey to salvation.
Speaker 2 (24:12):
Occasionally, the Lord allows us to get a fortes of
our future blessings so that we will put forth a
greater effort in seeking His eternal kingdom. Finally, a disciple
of Christ must follow him. This means that in all
deeds and actions, we must try to be like our Lord.
Jesus Christ in his virtues.
Speaker 3 (24:31):
He demonstrated that to us when he dwelt among us.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
When he called the twelve Apostles the Chosen, he brought
him in and they walked with him during that three
years of his public ministry, and they saw all the
Christ's virtues were on public display.
Speaker 3 (24:49):
He showed that the apostles how to live with virtue.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
We must strive to live and act as he lived
and acted.
Speaker 3 (24:57):
For example, Jesus.
Speaker 2 (24:59):
Christ always thanks his heavenly Father and constantly prayed to him.
Thus we also should constantly thank God and pray to
Him in all circumstances, whether good or bad, whether its
successful or difficult. Jesus Christ honored his mother and submitted
to the lawful authority, the Jewish law. Thus we also
(25:21):
should honor our parents and educators. We too should respect
those in positions of responsibility, provided their request or not.
In conflict with God's commandments. Jesus Christ fervently and with
love performed the task for which his father sent him to.
Speaker 3 (25:40):
Be the savior of the world.
Speaker 2 (25:43):
We should also conscientiously and zealously perform the duties which
are laid upon us by God. And also the civil authorities.
Jesus loved everyone and did good to all that did
not sin. He said, with sinners and tax collectors, but
he did become like them. What he did is he
(26:04):
led them out of their sin to live a holy,
righteous life. So should we love our neighbors and do
good to as many people as possible. Jesus Christ did
everything possible for the salvation of mankind. Sol must we
do good to others, not sparing our own well being
and trime. Jesus Christ voluntarily suffered and died for us
(26:28):
on their cruel cross at Golgotha. Therefore, we too must
not grumble when some unpleasantness befalls us, but be ready
to make sacrifices with humility and our devotion to God.
Jesus Christ not only forgave his enemies they're ingratitude and animosity,
(26:49):
but he even wished them well. Remember at the cross,
when they crucified the Lord, he said to them, Father
laid out the sin.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
Upon them, for they know not what they do. Could
we do that?
Speaker 2 (27:02):
So we also must forgive our enemies, and that's a
tough one. Without the Holy Spirit, and without the Holy
Spirit we can't do it. Even with this Holy Spirit.
It's a struggle. We have to forgive our enemies, repaying
them with good for their evil upon us, while blessing
those who revile us.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
We are not to respond to.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
These people as the world, but as Christ taught us,
to bless them, and by doing that they'll see that
we are different. And by being different, you may leave
these people to salvation. Jesus Christ, taking of heaven and earth,
lived in poverty and obtained his daily necessities to his
(27:43):
own labor. So we must also be industrious and content
with what God has given us, not to be consumed
with the desire for riches for their own sake. In
the words of our Savior, he said, it's easier for
a camel to go through the eye of a needle,
then for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.
And that's Matthew nineteen twenty four. Jesus Christ, being meek
(28:07):
and humble of heart, never strove for ambulation, but directed
all towards the glory of his heavenly Father. We also
must not parade ourselves or seek recognition. For instance, do
you help your neighbors, do you give alms? Do you
live more piously than those around you? Are you wiser
than your friends? Are you in some way way above others?
(28:31):
Don't brag about it. Remember that all your praise with
the attribute are not yours, but the gifts of God.
Following Jesus Christ means accepting with faith and submitting to
all that Jesus Christ taught without question, with simplicity of heart,
total trust. In other words, put all of your eggs
(28:52):
in one basket, which is contrary to the world's thoughts.
As I thought about this that if you follow the world,
world will give you a grave, but if.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
You follow Christ, he will give you a kingdom. So
which one you want? Your choice.
Speaker 2 (29:07):
He who accepts Jesus Christ's words becomes his disciples, but
he who fulfills his commandments with complete devotion becomes.
Speaker 3 (29:15):
His true and devoted follower.
Speaker 2 (29:19):
This is the meaning of denying yourself, taking up your.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Cross, and following Jesus Christ.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
This is the only straight path into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Christ walked this path and calls us to follow him.
There never was, and never will be, any other path
to salvation but this one shown to us by Jesus.
I am the Way, I am the Truth, I am
the Life, and no one comes to.
Speaker 3 (29:45):
The Father, but through me saith the Lord.
Speaker 2 (29:48):
Now to the beginning, this path may seem too narrow
and steep, But it seems this way only because our
understanding of divine blessing and happiness has become distorted. And
as I talk about, our news was dark and because
of Havm and Eve, but is illuminated through the holy
(30:08):
mysteries of baptism and chrismation. Many of us regard the
bitter as sweet, and the sweet and bitter. However, as
we come closer to God, much of what seemed difficult
or bitter before will become easy and sweet, and what
seemed to please before it will.
Speaker 3 (30:25):
Become boring and harmful.
Speaker 2 (30:28):
Of course, there will be trying periods in our life
when the path of ascension towards God will seem exceptionally difficult.
Then we should think that for every step taken there
is a thousand rewards being prepared. Sufferings along this path
are momentary, but the rewards are eternal. Therefore, do not
(30:49):
fear the path of Christ, for a smooth and wide
path end in health, but a thorny and narrow when
that leads to heaven. Remember the song by leads up
a stairway to heaven.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
Stairway to heaven. They go up, one step at a time.
Speaker 2 (31:05):
It's a work, it's a struggle, but it's a stairway
to heaven. But then a seeing DC came out with
a song called Highway to Hell. And so you choose
on which side you want to be. You want to
be on a high highway to hell or.
Speaker 3 (31:19):
A stairway to heaven. It's all based on our choice.
Speaker 2 (31:24):
No, I didn't God make the path of the Kingdom
of Heaven light and pleasant. Only God knows this, and
who we question his divine wisdom. He saw that the
narrow path is what we need because we are really
creative for struggle.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
Always compare it to a roller coaster.
Speaker 2 (31:40):
If the roller coaster was smooth and flat, call me
would ride the roller coaster. But I tell you I
don't like him. But some people love the roller coaster.
They go up, and they go down, they go around,
they walk say down, they go in the tunnels.
Speaker 3 (31:56):
I mean, some people get a real blast out of that.
But they on the ground. Not ever, they not do that.
So the Lord said, the narrow path is what we need.
We who are.
Speaker 2 (32:06):
Below see only bits and pieces but He who is
above all creation caes or lies from the standpoint of eternity. Now,
isn't that amazing? God sees us as citizens of heaven. However,
though not completely understanding the plans of our creator.
Speaker 3 (32:22):
Let us consider these following notes.
Speaker 2 (32:25):
One, the Kingdom of Heaven is the highest beatitude and
exhaustible wealth. If great efforts are necessary to obtain meager
and temporary earthly advantages, then how can it be possible
to obtain such a great and eternal treasure without any effort.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
It takes effort here to make a buck, doesn't it.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
Well, it's going to take effort to make heaven to
be that sheep of God at the Great Judgment seat.
Number Two, The Kingdom of Heaven is the most coveted reward.
Where else are rewards given freely and foreign? You know,
talk about the Kingdom of Heaven. There's no rust, No
(33:06):
thieves are breaking.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
In, none of that here.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
We got to worry about criminals robbers. We lock our doors,
we have security. We hope that nobody's going to break
in and steal our stuff up in heaven. That's not
going to happen.
Speaker 3 (33:21):
Now.
Speaker 2 (33:21):
If we struggle to get temporary benefits so much more
should we struggle to obtain the eternal reward of being
in heaven with Christ. Three, we must bear our cross
because we want to be with Christ and to participate
in his glory. If Jesus Christ, our master and teacher,
(33:41):
gained heavenly glory through suffering, we did not be shameful
for us to share his glory when we faintheartedly.
Speaker 3 (33:48):
Shone and trials our sorrows.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Besides, lifelong crosses are not the lot of the Christians alone.
Everybody carries across. Both Christians and Pagans, they all carry across.
The difference is that for some there are crosses serve
as a means of attaining the Kingdom of heaven, while
for others they bring no such value. For the Christian
(34:11):
the cross has gradually becomes lighter and more joyful, while
for the non believer of the pagan it becomes heavier
and more burdensome. Why is this because where the one
carriage across with faith and devotion to God, the other
carries that.
Speaker 3 (34:26):
With grumbling and anger.
Speaker 2 (34:27):
Therefore, Christians do not shun your lifelong cross, but on
the contrary, thank Jesus Christ that he.
Speaker 3 (34:34):
Honored you to follow and imitate him.
Speaker 2 (34:38):
If Christ had not suffered and died, then none of us,
no matter how much we suffered and struggled, would enter
the Kingdom of heaven. For then we would have to
suffer as slaves, and slaves deserve no rewards. Now, however,
we suffer as sons for our own salvation.
Speaker 3 (34:55):
Old merciful Lord, How great is thy love for us?
How great are thy.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
Benefits to us that will bend this evil itself for
our benefit and salvation? Christian gratitude alone to Jesus Christ,
your benefactor, obliges you to follow him. Christ came down
to earth for you. Can it be possible that you
would prefer some worthy thing to him? For you, Jesus
(35:20):
drank the cup of suffering. Can it be that you
would refuse to suffer a little while for him? Even
Saint James and his epistle says, our life is mere vapor.
It appeared through a little while, then it's gone. Jesus Christ.
Number five. Jesus Christ redeemed us by his death, and
therefore by the right of redemption we belong to him.
(35:42):
I must do all that he wills God Christ Christ,
God wills only one thing, that we should attain eternal
bliss and holiness and be like him.
Speaker 3 (35:54):
And number six.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
Finally, we cannot avoid the narrow path into the Kingdom
of Heaven, since every person has sin, and sin in
itself is an ulcer that cannot be cured without strong medicine.
Suffering can be the medicine which God uses to cure
our souls. When somebody is ill, then, regardless of its surroundings,
(36:16):
even though he is in the most magnificent of palaces,
he will still suffer, such as.
Speaker 3 (36:23):
The fate of every sinner. No matter where he.
Speaker 2 (36:25):
Settles, even in Paradise itself, he will suffer because of
the elements of Hell reside within him. Likewise, a righteous
person can be as happy in a shack as in
a palace.
Speaker 3 (36:39):
When a heart is filled with the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
Wherever we may find ourselves, we will always feel joy,
since Paradise is inside of us. And so if you
wish to attain the Kingdom of Heaven, you cannot bypass
the path taken by Jesus Christ.
Speaker 3 (36:56):
Indeed, all the prophets, the apostles, mar.
Speaker 2 (37:00):
The saints, and counless other righteous ones walk along this path.
There is no other some might object saying, how can
we were as sinfle in we be like Jesus Christ
or the saints, that is, through holy baptism and holy chrismation.
Holy baptism is the illumination of our soul or news,
(37:24):
and chrismation.
Speaker 3 (37:25):
Is the ceiling into the Holy Spirit and then.
Speaker 2 (37:28):
Receiving, receiving of the holy mysteries of God, the Holy Communion,
the body and Blood of Christ. Being full members of
the Orthodox Church, we live in the secular world and
have families in many responsibilities that Christ must be pre
eminent in our lives. By Christ being pre eminent in
our life, he will bring total perfect balance to all
(37:53):
our relationships.
Speaker 3 (37:55):
The saints like us.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
We're not sinless at first, but anticipated in worldly affairs,
labored and had various obligations and families took care about.
Speaker 3 (38:06):
But they repented.
Speaker 2 (38:07):
So the definition of a saint is it's a sinner
who has repented. So we all can be saints. All
we got to do is repent and be like God,
which we can do through.
Speaker 3 (38:19):
The power of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
The saints that have gone before they were not perfect
in everything. They had their share of temptations and low moments.
Notwithstanding this, living in circumstances similar to ours and having
their ups and downs, they steered through the main objective.
Speaker 3 (38:36):
Of their life, the Kingdom of Heaven.
Speaker 2 (38:39):
Undoubtedly, we also, if we truly desire to, can be
good citizens, faithful spouses, loving parents, and simultaneously good Christians.
Speaker 3 (38:51):
Christ will bring bounds to our lives.
Speaker 2 (38:53):
But we must worship the Lord Jesus Christ in spirit
and in truth.
Speaker 3 (38:58):
For he is truth.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
Our faith will not be an obstacle, but on the contrary,
will aid all.
Speaker 3 (39:05):
Our good undertakings.
Speaker 2 (39:07):
The essence of Christianity is pure and selfless love, which
is inspired by the Holy Spirit. Therefore, brethren, if you
wish to attain the Kingdom of Heaven, follow the path
which Jesus Christ took, and he the all merciful One,
will help you in every step of the way. As
(39:28):
I said at the opening of this show, you've got
to deny yourself, and I give you a complete definition
of how to deny yourself. You must take up your cross,
and I've told you exactly how to take up your
cross and the external cross. And we must follow Jesus
Christ and all his teachings and all of his commandments.
(39:49):
Which are many, and probably the biggest one is love
one another. And by loving one another, you will show
the world that you are a disciple. And finally, I'm
going to read verses out of Matthew chapter six, Verse
thirty one says, therefore, do not.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
Worry saying what should we eat, what should we drink?
Or what should we wear? Or?
Speaker 2 (40:12):
After all these things the gentile seekret for your heavenly
father knows that you need all these things. But seek
first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all.
Speaker 3 (40:24):
These things will be added to you.
Speaker 2 (40:26):
Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry
about its own things sufficient, for the day is its
own trouble. For what man is there among you? If
his son asks for a bread, lelly give him a stone.
Or if he asked for a fish, will he give
him a serpent? If you, then, being evil, know how
to give good gift to your children, how much more
(40:50):
will your father, who is in heaven, give good things
to those who ask him.
Speaker 3 (40:56):
So that is the.
Speaker 2 (40:57):
Code of how radio show I did on this subject.
Speaker 3 (41:02):
Finding the Kingdom of Heaven. But now I have explained to.
Speaker 2 (41:05):
You in this radio show the way into the Kingdom
of Heaven. Listen to the show intently and follow follow
the commandments of Christ, and you will find that way
as it said it can be. It's a narrow path.
Why is a path that leads to destruction, but narrow
(41:26):
is the path that leads to heaven where Christ is
seated on the throne with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
May God bless you on this journey and understanding of
finding the Kingdom of Heaven and the way into the
Kingdom of Heaven and the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Speaker 3 (41:47):
Amen.
Speaker 1 (41:58):
Thank you for listening to Some Light podcast. We hope
this program is encouraged you to fight the good fight
of faith and walk in the accordance with the commandments
of our Lord. May God bless you on your journey
to salvation.
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