The hope we are given

Unusually for me,

I stayed home to continue my recovery,

instead of going to Sunday Liturgy.

It is, however, good to rest,

knowing that I have my spiritual father's blessing to do so

and that the prayers of the church were going on.

Read this beautiful quote:

"As the unborn babe in his mother's womb is not at once fashioned into a man,

but the image is formed by degree and born, and even then is not full grown,

but takes many years to develop and become a man;

and again,

as the seeds of barely or of wheat do not rot the moment they are put into

the ground, but cold and wind pass over them,

and then in due time the ears form;

and the man who plants a pear tree does not at once

partake of the fruit; so likewise in spiritual things, where there is so much

wisdom and delicacy employed, it is only little by little that a man

grows and comes to a prefect man, to the measure of stature

(Eph 4:13), not as some say, "Off with one coat, and on with another."

-Saints Barsanuphius and John

(from the 2007 Daily Lives, Miracles and Wisdom of the Saints

and Fasting Calendar for November 1st).

Also today, I read this by St. Nikolai Velimirovic,

about Holy Communion:

"Children take milk from their mothers, which is the mother's

flesh and blood, and by that food their bodies grow.

Similarly, we are taking Christ's flesh and blood in communion,

and by that food our souls are growing and ripening."

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What blessings and hope God gives us in the Church!