In my last article I spoke about the Church and how it is a place of love where we experience family and the comforts of home. That is the hope of every church community that they exhibit a welcoming, warm place for visitors and members alike. In this community of believers, called the Church, it is also a place where our Christian pathway is experienced and strengthened. It is a place where we can strive for our humility and grow in love for all people. Without the liturgy, without the sacraments, and without the community, it is difficult to traverse through this earthly existence and focus our eyes on Christ.
Seeking Humility in Our Journey
I have been reading the book, An Extraordinary Peace - St. Seraphim, Flame of Sarov by Archimandrite Lazarus (Moore). The following excerpt struck a chord with me this past week. I underlined the sentence "What is the Lord doing this very moment to humble me?" For me, there are several issues in my life where I could say, "Ohhh, this is a chance for me to humble myself." Truthfully, it is not always easy to understand but the following helps me to put some of it into perspective. Carefully read the following:
Certainly no one in the world is abandoned by the Lord Who cares for the salvation of all; but there is no salvation without humility. And therefore we must watch attentively and ask ourselves: What is the Lord doing this very moment to humble me? And this lesson of God must be at once accepted, without waiting for another, without rejecting it, and without devising one's own seemingly better ways of salvation. The Lord surely knows best what is best for us sinners at a given moment. And what we plan ourselves is usually only the enemy's red herring to draw us away from the work of God. (p. 203)
The Lord cares about the salvation of everybody! On our journey towards salvation, we must acquire humility. It can be difficult to be humble when we know we are right! Or, so we think we are right! However, if we accept God's nudging and lean on Him and not on our own understanding, this road we are on will get us to our destination.
The Church as Our Rest Stop on the Journey
The Church helps us on the journey to our destination as it provides guidance in the liturgy, nourishment through the sacraments, and the community of believers to walk, run, or crawl together to the end. It's not always easy. We may cross over each other's paths, we may travel in tandem at times, or take the roundabout way. Wherever our roads take us in the world, the Church is a meeting point - a rest stop, so to speak, where we can rejuvenate before carrying on.
Each of our paths to Christ is different and also the same because we are all in this together, as a community of believers. We are being led to the same destination together. Our paths may be different, yet they are the same. (GoArch Sunday Sermon Series, June 2025)
As we travel this road, keep in mind and ask - What is the Lord doing this very moment to humble me? And remember, the Church is the place where you can strengthen and grow your relationship with Christ. This strength will help you on your pathway.
In His Love, Paisia
In His Love,
Paisia
 Originally published in the Holy Apostles E-bulletin. Subscribe here.
