Interior Landscaping
Posted: February 15, 2016 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: Eucharistic life, finding beauty, imitation of Christ, Mystical Supper, St. Paul, thanksgiving, transformation Leave a commentRare is the person who cannot appreciate the beauty of nature, especially in its wild, untouched forms and settings. It is blindness when the beauty of a creature cannot be appreciated. Such beauty exists in the flower 
, the forest, the mountain, the stream, and the animal. There is the harsh beauty of the desert, and, I suppose, of the arctic as well. Nature’s gifts of beauty are to be found in all climates, temperate and tropical. Just step outside, open your eyes and marvel at the creation around you!
There is also a “natural” beauty that is created by human endeavor. An idea or vision can transform the natural landscape of creation into works of art. Here, we have the cultivation of something previously barren, or wild, into something habitable and enjoyable, and equally pleasing to the senses.
“It’s Just Human Nature…”
Posted: January 27, 2016 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: confession, consequences of the fall, Eucharistic life, prayer without ceasing, real human nature, St. Paul Leave a commentIn the attempt to excuse any and all sorts of bad behavior, the phrase, “it’s just human nature,” is invoked. We all have heard it after the dust has settled from an outburst of anger, mischievous behavior, or perhaps something far worse. It’s an excuse used to make us feel better about ourselves. We don’t want to be seen as a monster. Rather, we just succumbed to “human nature.” Read the rest of this entry »
Our Heroic God, Our Fantastic Mission
Posted: November 10, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: Doxacon, Eucharistic life, thanksgiving Leave a commentClergy keynote address of Doxacon Seattle 2015:
A look at God and our Christian life as Hero and Mission. Christ is the victor in the cosmic dimension. We are enchanted (enabled) to live out our lives Eucharisticly. Read the rest of this entry »
By This Sign Conquer!
Posted: September 14, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: dying to self, Elevation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, Eucharistic life, spiritual power, transformation Leave a commentSeptember 14 commemorates the Elevation of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, or commonly known as the Feast 
of the Holy Cross in the western church. In short, Emperor Constantine sent his mother, Empress Helen, to the Holy Land to find the Cross of Christ in Jerusalem in the year 326. The site was nearly forgotten due to the shameful desecration at the hands of previous pagan emperors. But, by Helen’s actions and those of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, St. Macarius, the site was located and the Cross of Christ was identified. Once again the Cross of Christ was elevated, but now to be venerated by the faithful.
However, St. Constantine had his own encounter with the Cross when he was a younger man, and not yet a Christian. Read the rest of this entry »
…And Become Thankful.
Posted: September 7, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: Eucharistic life, prayer without ceasing, St. Paul, thanksgiving, transformation Leave a commentIn his letter to the Colossians, St. Paul writes,
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which [peace] you were also called in one body: and become thankful [kai eucharistoi ginesthe]. (Colossians 3:15)
Being thankful and having the peace of Christ go hand in hand. Though it may seem an afterthought in the above verse, St. Paul likely puts emphasis on thanksgiving. In fact it can be argued that with thanksgiving first being given, peace comes with it, and both will reside in one’s heart in unison. Read the rest of this entry »
A Commentary on a Prayer for the Eucharistic Life
Posted: August 15, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: Christ the High Priest, Eucharistic life, prayer, St. Paul, thanksgiving, transformation Leave a commentFather, I pray this day I would be living the eucharistic life which is in accordance to your will for me in Christ Jesus. Thus, by the Holy Spirit may I be giving thanks in, with, and for all things, in order that I might bear Christ to all and all things, and that I might bear all and all things to Christ Jesus; that I might be self-giving and other-receiving; that I might live as broken bread and poured out wine for the life of the world and the sake of all things to the praise and glory of your name.
1 Thes 5: 18 reads, “Give thanks in all things: for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” St. Paul writes in all things (en panti) in the Greek dative case. The dative case, essentially, shows relationship. Read the rest of this entry »
A Prayer for the Eucharistic Life
Posted: August 10, 2015 Filed under: The Eucharist and Living the Eucharist | Tags: Eucharistic life, prayer, thanksgiving 1 CommentFather, I pray this day I would be living the eucharistic life which is in accordance to your will for me in Christ Jesus. Thus, by the Holy Spirit may I be giving thanks in, with, and for all things in order that I might bear Christ to all and all things, and that I might bear all and all things to Christ Jesus; that I might be self-giving and other-receiving; that I might live as broken bread and poured out wine for the life of the world and the sake of all things, to the praise and glory of your Name. Amen.
Father Irenaeus Williams 