My dearly beloved brothers and sisters! This is the teaching of the Orthodox, the teaching of the Apostles, the teaching passed down by the Saints. Every day when saying prayers one should analyze his own words and actions, its correlation with three Christian virtues - faith, hope and love. And I hope that on the rock of your faith (Mt 7:24), on the way of hope you will be able to realize, that the glory of this world is too short, years of our life is like flower and as grass. We can live healthy lives for 70 or 80 years, our lives then will be accompanied with labor and sorrow. As for the days of our life, they contain seventy years, Or if due to strength, eighty years. Yet their pride is but labor and sorrow; (Psalm 89:10). Our future life in heaven will be life of ease, flowers of love will give us good fruits, carry out virtues. But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. (James 4:16). My fellow Orthodox, I pray to God for the strengthening of your faith, for realization of your hopes, and for perfection of your love. I wish you health and longevity, to follow the true way, and I ask you to pray God for me, an unworthy servant of the Lord. Christ is in our midst. Amen.
Priest Nikolai Li Xunyi (text)
August 27, in the year of the Republic of China 37
|
In the year of the Lord 1948 In the year of the Republic of China 37 |
expanded reprint | ||
|
Printed with the blessing of Archbishop John of Shanghai eparchy Priest Nikolai Li Xunyi (Notes) Believer Shi Guoliang (printing) |
|||
|