What Should I Be Doing to Get Ready for Pentecost?

May 31, 2017

For those of you who are keeping track at home, it’s now been 46 days since Easter Sunday. While that may not mean much to you, it certainly means a lot to me. Why? Because that means that we are in one of my favorite seasons of the entire Church year – the period after the Ascension of the Lord Jesus into heaven (40th day after Resurrection), but before the descent of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (50th day after Resurrection).

One of the best things about the Orthodox church is the balance that it gives to our spiritual lives through the various seasons of the year. There’s a season for fasting and a season for feasting! A season for focusing on repentance and a season for focusing on rejoicing! A season for solitude and a season for mission!

Ascension? Where’s the excitement?

June 6, 2014

“I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2-3)

Growing up just like any other child, I used to be over the moon at the thought of Christmas or Easter being around the corner. You could just feel the excitement walking around in the streets.

Those who were lucky enough to come from a blessed family would be thinking of what gifts they were expecting that year. Those who came from a poor background would also count their blessings because they would at least get to enjoy that special holiday meal with their loved ones. Even the homeless had something to celebrate because they would have generous groups of people coming to visit them, usually carrying food.

Excitement filled the air!