A person’s salvation depends on prayer, for this is what, unites him to God and brings him near to God. When he is near God, it is natural for him not to deviate from the right and moral road because he pays attention to every step he takes…
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We should humbly contemplate in our heart the following thoughts: I now enter the house of the Lord God, the place of His great and holy Glory… Here, great mysteries are accomplished by which manifold gifts of Grace are freely granted to all… Here, upon the Holy Altar, the very Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ are offered and we are called to partake of them: “Take, eat…” …Here, the Lord of Glory Himself, our Lord Jesus Christ, is present and hearkens unto the supplications of those that believe on Him… Here, the Virgin Theotokos stands before us in Church and with the choirs of Saints invisibly prays to God for us. Here, Angels worship with Holy Hierarchs, Apostles rejoice with Prophets, interceding for us before the Throne of God… Here, we receive the gift of Eternal Life, freedom from sin, reconciliation with God, deliverance from eternal death and, in short, every good and blessed thing which our heart truly desires
(From Orthodox Life, Vol 5, 1997. pg. 24.)
St. Andrew, by the Spirit enlightened, and the first-called Apostle of Christ, proclaimed the Lord day after day, and baptized the people with the Cross. Like a gardener in his own garden, through village and town he walked, and skillfully grafted wild trees, watering them with Living Water, until he came to the end of his days, and saw the Cross awaiting him. Joyful Andrew said to the Cross: “Greetings, O Cross! God sanctified thee, Christ sanctified thee with His body. O Cross, be thou my resting place. From the dust of the earth, take me; to God in the highest, raise me up, and let Christ take me from thee – The very Christ Who, because of me, was crucified on thee.” Disciple of the holy Baptist, and apostle of Christ the Savior, O Andrew, first called star, by your prayers, help us.
In the late 1800′s a candy maker in Indiana wanted to express the meaning of Christmas through a symbol made of candy. He came up with the idea of bending one of Ms white candy sticks into the shape of a Candy Cane. He incorporated several symbols of Christ’s love and sacrifice through the Candy Cane. First, he used a plain white peppermint stick. The color white symbolizes the purity and sinless nature of Jesus. Next, he added three small stripes to symbolize the pain inflicted upon the Lord before His death on the Cross. There are three of them to represent the Holy Trinity. He added a bold stripe to represent the blood Jesus shed for mankind. When looked at with the crook on top, it looks like a shepherd’s staff because Jesus is the shepherd of man. If you turn it upside down, it becomes the letter J symbolizing the first letter of the Lord’s name. The candy maker made these for Christmas so everyone would remember what Christmas is about.
(Taken from The Mustard Seed.)
“Is not that which is best, above all, and surpassing all, and that which by preference is most worthy of our love, the Very Lord, our Savior Jesus Christ Who created us, adorned us with blessings, Who gives life to all, sustains everything, and nurtures and loves all?…Should we not then love God above everything and desire Him more than anything?…Let us at least promise ourselves that from this day and from this very hour we will strive to love God more than anything else and labor to fulfill His Holy will…”