HOLY UKRAINIAN AUTOCEPHALIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

Homily by Archbishop Haralambos

Let's begin the service with a prayer. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Let the words of the Holy Spirit speak forth Lord, use your vessel clearly, purely, for your will and your glory. We ask this in the name of the Trinity; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The evil of self-righteousness. It would seem as though I am moving around in different directions. I pray the Holy Spirit and I invoke it upon you that it would enlighten you and bring you to understand what the message is. I would like to begin with what Daniel saw in one of his visions. He saw the promise of the Savior.

Self-righteousness means that you can conduct for yourself the work of God. You superimpose and eliminate the Lord. The pronoun "I" comes into effect. If self-righteousness were a pathway to the Holy Spirit God the Father created in us; if that were our destiny, if that was our methodology brought to His presence, then it would be fine. But we're to try to understand that we're not only human but that we're prone to error. Therefore, nothing can be done by itself. Not only are we helpless from the beginning of time, and I read Daniel's verses here, we need to see how helpless we are and the need for a Savior.

Self-righteousness eats into the glory of God like cancer. In fact, it even removes the human emotion of humility. Humility in itself means you know you fall short from the glory of God. More importantly you underline the words of Daniel in his prophecy of the Savior, in admitting to God your need for Him.

What has happened to the doctrines of Christ? We have removed the provisions of Christ and supplanted in face, substituted doctrines and God's methodology of executing His provision for His people. You have to understand God's love is so intense that you actually intercept and remove God's demonstration of His power and His love.

You in fact substitute and say, "Because of my pursuit and my belief of the Holy Spirit within me I therefore am going to try to perfect myself so that I can be acceptable and brought into the kingdom of heaven." That is the best way to eliminate yourself from the kingdom of heaven. Because if in anyway you believe that it requires you in any manner then you join the five "I am's" of satan.

Daniel saw a vision. He had visions at night. "I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed"

The Lord didn't have to take on the cross, to spill His blood, to have His body pierced, in order to realize the vision of Daniel and the dominion He is going to have. But because He's a loving God he wants us to be with Him. To share in a sense out of the joys of our hearts to see him the King of all kings.

We're invited since the beginning of time to be a part of this. That is the predestination that is so misunderstood, is that God really wants to fill His house. He wants much and if not all of His creation to be part of His crowning and His claim to which seems to be the center of His universe and that's earth. I really don't know of any other planet that is experiencing what we are. So, I can't relate to that and I haven't been there. Personally, I have only been as close to God as a very bright light and it was an out of body experience. At least I thought it was. What it was I don't know. Except He did say, that as far as your time is concerned (I'm commenting there) His exact words were, "I could take you now." I wasn't troubled. But, God spoke clearly and there was a very, very, very, bright presence protected by what looked to me like a pearl that was in a six shaped object , call it what you like, a spaceship.

Whatever it was it seemed a form of transpor! tation that He was revealing to me but He was behind it so I couldn't see Him. But I clearly heard the words. Like one other time when I saw fluttering wings in a dream or I thought it was a dream, I thought I was sleeping. And out of the fluttering wings came a beautiful voice, it was a beautiful voice it said, "Be careful." And the only thing I can remember distinctively about that dream or vision because it was during the day I believe, was that I was eating a pear. And I fell backwards as the wings came over me and that I still held the pear and I was still savoring that fruit.

The time of the outer body experience was a little more dramatic because after the Lord said, "I could take you", it seemed as though He sent me back and as I came I could hear this rumbling sound. It was like the rumbling of motors or engines or some type of mechanics, maybe from the ship that I saw. But as I came down, I thought to myself, is that rumbling? Was I dreaming or what was this? I came to what I thought was the end of the pool and I looked toward what is my bedroom and I saw myself laying in bed. It was like an awakening. And I awoke and I saw myself in bed and I thought it must be the rumblings of the pool pump. But it wasn't. And as I seemed to be connecting again with my body, which seemed to be like a double awakening and then I awoke from this dream after seeing myself enter and raised up out of bed like almost a second time. The only thing strange about that is that I believe that message was to be shared with everyone that God could say to you, "He could take you now." Would you have everything completed that you would want completed for the Lord? I suppose you could look at the time clock and count the candles on your birthday cake and decide, well, I have more time.

But, I think the sad part about being born is certainly the sad part of facing our Savior is to not be able to say to God, thank you for the many years and thank you for the opportunity of serving You. And thank you for fulfilling the things I would like to do and as far as I'm concerned, the only meaningful thing you can do that lasts forever as Christ Himself said on earth are the treasures you store in heaven. And it seems like we are so busy storing treasures for earth. And though it's great to have them, I admit I enjoy each and every one that God blesses me with, but they don't go with you - they remain for someone else to enjoy. So, it's meaningless, it certainly has no connection with heaven whatsoever.

I saw the night vision. As I read earlier from Daniel 7:13-14, now, that we know is a prophecy and a promise of the Savior ruling the world, ruling His kingdom. But what happens in the interim? You hear Daniel saying, "And I behold and the same horn made war with the saints. I beheld and the same horn He saw a horn rise up and made war with the saints and prevailed against them. They won. Now isn't that strange that we know the self-righteous of our Christianity proclaim all this great victory.

There is only one victory and that is Christ. And with the victory of Christ, you can share His victory. You have absolutely none to call your own, and there comes in that self-righteous spirit because it belongs to satan and the five "I am's". Because satan believed he could war against the saints and prevail forever, but Christ, God the Savior, said "No, my creation I will share and have my creation and many who will come to know that I am their salvation. But what happens in this interim period? I refer to Daniel 7:25-27, "He shall speak great words against the Most High and shall wear out the saints of the Most High. And think to change times and laws and they shall be given into his hands until a time and times and a dwindling of time. But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion to consume and to destroy it to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of t! he Saints of the Most High, whose kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him."

Daniel 7:28 - "Hitherto is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my cogitations much trouble me, and my countenance changed in me, but I kept the matter in my heart." The point is the saints do win in the end, because they win in Christ's victory, not on their own. And self-righteousness prevails and has a foundation if you believe honestly and sincerely that you can work out your salvation without God and Christ; or even without the Church, for the Church is the group of saints who began with the announcement to Mary.

I love the part where in six months if you can believe, if you took communion today, an Angel from the Throne of God, what an honor, was sent from God into a city of Galilee named Nazareth. To a virgin who was espoused to a man who had been married. I don't know what happened to his first wife, but I know he had a family and he was named Joseph of the house of David, and the virgin's name was Mary.

Now, why would scripture put such an emphasis on the fact she was a virgin and that the fact that the Holy Spirit of God produced God in the Flesh? Unless it was for us to understand and believe that not only was she a virgin, but from the womb came God. And no other touched that womb ever. It was the holy passage that went from heaven to earth for us. It is blasphemy; it blasphemes the Holy Spirit using the womb of Mary to believe that she had sex after Christ was born. There is a reference in scripture that she did not know him as her husband until after the birth; she remained isolated and protected by Joseph whom for the angel of God kept telling him exactly what to do.

It is the devil who wants to desecrate that very womb. That's why you cannot say the word, "knew" means sex. It means that she didn't even particularly honor him in any manner as a husband until she started serving the Child as their baby.

Now we know, if you ever had a child, that a woman cannot have sex immediately after giving birth. But I believe that Joseph knew and Mary knew explicitly that she bore the Savior. That she became totally dedicated to raising God. Because Joseph was more interested in hearing the angel and escaping to Egypt to save the Child. We know that murder of children - all children of the age of two - went on in cities.

So why is it important for us to believe she wasn't just a common woman? Because we also know that an angel came to her and said, "Hail, thou art highly favored." Now why would we believe saints became celibate after they accepted God, but we can't believe because of a self-righteous spirit that Mary could develop celibacy? She said, "I knew no man, how can I have one? You think then she said, "Hot dog, I gave birth to God let me go have all the sex I can. I rightly can do so because I have a husband and it's all right."

Can you honestly believe that the mother of God, whose blood pumped His blood through her body for nine months was being sanctified? But you, you self-righteous spirit of hell want to believe that we could come and received the Blood of Christ and she couldn't? So you have to defame and bring her down to a level where she would not be a Theotokos, a God birth giver? Now, unless you can show me another woman who has given birth - and I don't mean by artificial insemination - but without sperm - would God allow a desecration?

Oh, there are some self-righteous people who preach that, well, sex is not bad. No, it isn't. Sex is basically for procreation, and this is procreation of God in the Flesh, a very holy thing that started with Daniel and came into centuries ago and even till today. The angel said, "Fear not, Mary, for thou has found favor with God." It was Gabriel speaking for God who said, "The Lord is worthy, blessed art thou among women. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of thy father David and He shall reign over the House of Jacob forever and of His kingdom there shall be no end. And of His kingdom there shall be no end. Which God is inviting us through our church to be part of that kingdom. Is that not so?

Now, let's try to identify the enemy who tries desperately to desecrate. The enemy declared his war against God long before the birth of Christ. Let me read to you what happened. The epitome of self-righteousness. The perfect definition of self-righteousness. Isaiah 14:11. "Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, (and) the noise of thy viols, the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee."

Lucifer became disfavor to God because of self-righteousness. The worst evil that could prevail on earth. To believe you can do it without God and His Church and what He began. How many times have you heard people say, I have learned Christ by myself? They want to use St. Paul. They want to use this one. They want to isolate out of context certain special teachings of God to certain men, special men who God picked.

As it is written in Isaiah, 14:12-14, "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [how] art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High."

That's what brought him down. Comparing himself in a self-righteous mode that he could be like God. Instead of humbling and knowing that although he was the star of God, he was not God. The spirit of self-righteousness prevails, if you have ever been in certain Pentecostal churches. They believe that they have the Holy Spirit and therefore that Holy Spirit in them makes them able to do it. Which excludes the saints, the church, the organization that St. Paul spoke about, that Christ taught him in order so we know how the church is to be conducting its business, its organization, through its prophets, apostles, teachers and preachers. You cannot do it without God and God provides it. And that's why He says, "Come not against my anointed."

As I move on, it is in Isaiah in Chapter 9:14-16. What does God do and what does God plan to do to a nation that becomes self-righteous? "Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail; and that prophet that teacheth lies, he (is) the tail."

Brothers and sisters in Christ, God has a plan to end the era of self-righteousness in all nations. And God declared this in Isaiah. "For the leaders of this people, cause them to err." God does not exclude them because they err. And they that are lead of them are destroyed. See, that's what happens to the self-righteous spirit. It absolutely brings you to where you go to hell because you follow the same path of Lucifer and it's a clean path. Maybe I'm getting a little too deep for you.

Let's turn to Isaiah 9:17, "Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one [is] an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still." See, it doesn't go on forever. God will have a perfect victory.

Let's move on to Mark 14. And I hope I haven't lost you all because some of you look like you're falling asleep, but let your spirits awaken now because it's an extremely important correction you need to make in your spirit because self-righteousness is the easiest disease to catch. It's like a common cold.

Are you telling me, Brother Bishop, I know I am a sinner? But do you know that you're totally helpless in your entire life without God? Who really is in control in spite of you? Because if He is going to save you, He's got to get you out of this delusion that you've been in and certainly the influence you've been in from listening to - family, friends, self-righteousness which seems to and does prevail outside the kingdom.

What were Jesus' words? Jesus looks at anything that is not in truth as a betrayal. Now, I don't know about you, but that's the last thing I want to hear from God when I face Him that I betrayed Him. I sinned, yes, I fell short from your glory, yes I probably didn't accomplish all that you wanted me to do, but Lord, I did not betray you as Judas did. And what does God say. In Mark 14:19-21, he says, "And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, [Is] it I? and another [said, Is] it I? And he answered and said unto them, [It is] one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish. The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born." He continues in Mark 14:24-25, "And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I dr! ink it new in the kingdom of God."

I haven't lost you have I? Are you following this? Let's go to Romans. In Romans, it's pretty clear how God looks at being judgmental. Self-righteousness doesn't operate without you being judgmental. They go hand-in-hand. I normally get up here and let the Holy Spirit go, but there are verses in scripture that I need to substantiate what the Lord is saying to us. God speaks about this predestination work of His. In Romans 8:29, he said, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." He predestinated the fact that there was going to be a rebellion. He predestinated that not all would remove themselves from self-righteousness and being judgmental. He predestinated that there would be a removal of our reliance, and the word is reliance on us being salved by Him. To be conformed to the image of His Son. That's why He came in the flesh, to let us know and to connect wi! th us and let we human flesh have a connection with heaven.

Certainly the Holy Spirit promoted, conducted and brought into the world flesh that was holy. And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God and to them who are called according to His purpose. So we each have a purpose in God's plan. For whom did He foreknow He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, that he might be the first-born of many brethren. So there's a plan beyond saving us, isn't there? But you are not in the flesh when God is doing this. Listen to these words. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

So, then how come in the flesh we can even use any excuse for self-righteousness? But you are not in the flesh but in the spirit if so be that the spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man have not the spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And I am talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is life because of righteous, not you. Do you get the difference? It's because the Holy Spirit is in you and came into your life and tries to confirm you to being part of the kingdom, certainly through the blood and partaking. And when you reject the only holy thing that's flesh, which is Christ, when you reject the only holy thing that is holy, which is Christ, when you reject the only holy thing that is holy, which is His Blood, you reject the consummation between you and heaven in trying to purify that self-righteous evil flesh because the only thing that is worthwhile in you is the Holy Spirit, if you belong to ! Christ. Am I beginning to penetrate to you why Orthodoxy is the only faith all over the world that says the only way to salvation is to work it out in the church?

And all this is satan saying you don't need God. Likewise, the spirit also helps our infirmities, which I speak for myself are many. For you know not what you should pray for as we ought but the spirit itself makes intercessions for us with groanings which can't even be uttered. You don't really know what's wrong with you. You really don't know where the pain comes from. You really don't understand the workings of God.

So, the only thing that can work in you is if you can go to sleep and forget yourself and let the Holy Spirit take over your life and prepare you. I know that's a deep thought, that's a very heavy understanding, but that's what makes the Orthodox Church different. Because we say the prayer we should pray at all times is kirie eleison (Lord have mercy) three times if nothing else. Lord, have mercy, for I am in command and I don't need to be in command but you need to be in command, your Holy Spirit needs to work in me. And where does that take us?

Let's go to Galatians 5. Stand therefore and stand fast Orthodox Christians. Orthodox Christians stand fast. Stand fast therefore in the liberty, not the slavery of the self-righteous spirit. "Stand fast, therefore in liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not tangled again with the yoke of bondage." The Spirit of God has freed us not anything we had done or can do. And be not entangled again with the yoke of other Christian anti-christos bondage.

Because any other that deviates from the truth will put you in bondage. As St. Paul wrote in Galatians 5:2-4, "Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."

Whosoever of you are justified by the law you have fallen from grace. For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness. Here is the key. We of the Spirit and through the Spirit wait for the hope, the hope of what? The hope of righteousness by faith.

No self-proclaiming program or road can you take that will put you in the righteousness of God. Do I need to remind you the Lord's parable about the sinful man in the corner who couldn't raise his eyes even up to heaven and say I'm not justified? God, I'm not worthy to raise my eyes to even look upon you.

And there was a holy self-righteous, almost, whatever he was, and all these things I've done this, I've done that, I fast, I do this, I do that, and God said the sinful, humble man is more justified. And that's the bottom line of this whole concept of being saved. It is to be justified before God and it seems to me it's kind of clear. Christ says, admit you're unworthy, admit you're a sinner, admit you need me and without me you're nothing. Admit your flesh is rotten to the core. At least admit the only decent thing about you is that I'm speaking in you and I'm present in your life and want more and more of your life to make you more and more justified. "For in Christ, Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith which worketh by love."

To conclude this, th e Lord had me to the Second and Third Epistles of St. John. This is to put the dot and underline something that hopefully will give you peace and more importantly will make you realize by faith that you are on right road by receiving your communion. Because God, by receiving communion, will cleanse your body, which is full of sin and your spirit. It's the only method that God gave and it's called a commandment. And we all know and let me give you the words of our beloved St. John: And rejoice greatly that I found of the children walking in truth. If you're not in truth, you're not walking with love.

You cannot say you love God, not the Lord Jesus God, and not be in truth. It doesn't work. It's an antithesis and therefore there becomes the justification of the division by God, Himself. It's not an ongoing thing that you could say you love God and Christ and sing praises to God and not be walking in truth. So, where are we? Either we are in the true doctrine that we follow and then our hearts can accept love. It's the fallacy and a great ugly cloak that satan has put over Christianity and got them to believe that they are saved without the commandments, following the love of God. It doesn't work. You can't have it both ways.

St. John said, I rejoice greatly that I found of the children walking in truth as we have received a commandment, he includes himself, from the Father. See, if comes from the Father, it doesn't come man and let the spirit move. Now, I beseech thee lady not as thou wrote a new commandment to thee but that which we had from the beginning that we love one another.

You see, it promotes love of one another by having the proper spirit. "And this is love." Here comes the greatest definition of love in all of scripture; "that we walk after His commandments." It is impossible to say you love God and you love the Lord if your Buddha, if your Shintuism, if you claim you're a Christian, if you claim you're a Muslim, it is impossible to say you're addressing God and that you belong and that you love Him and not walk after His commandments.

And this is the commandment, "as you have heard from the beginning you should walk in it." They had it from the beginning. They never lost it. "For I rejoiced greatly when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee even as thou walkest in the truth." "Beloved follow not that which is evil but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God but he that doeth evil has not seen God."

"If there come any unto you, and I say this in the 20th Century, 21st Century, 2001, the 23rd, if any come unto you and bring not this doctrine, and I speak forth with the Spirit of Elijah, in this age, and I will speak a truth to you right now, "If there come unto you and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house neither, bid him God speed. For he you biddeth him God speed is a partaker of his evil deeds." These are pretty tough words aren't they? How many times have I not only brought them into my house, I find out where their house is and go there. But, by the grace of God, I guess the Lord's warning to me is, "Be careful." Be careful of stubbing my toe or be careful of a car running me over? Be careful of a gunshot wound? Be careful of what? Be careful of the evil of the world when you say God speed. You are endorsing their position in Christ. What does that mean? Do we isolate ourselves unless they are Orthodox; unless they come and take commun! ion with us? No.

But you do have a very important, what does it say, profess not with your mouth, God hears, every word you say, be very careful what you use your mouth for when it comes to talking to apostasy and to the self-righteous 'I ams' that are in satan's camp. Be very, very, careful, and that includes everyone.

Now, I know it says bring them not into your house, but that means you know, don't have an open door policy, a swinging door policy that you let Buddha come in. In fact, I've heard it so many times. Oh, we all believe in the same God. No, we don't. Well, at least we believe in Jesus. No, we don't. There's only one Lord Jesus, the Christ, the Messiah. And he does not allow error and untruth with those He is saving. He brings them out of it. So, really it's not even your work, It's your work to stand fast and say I believe in the doctrine in the First and Second Epistles of St. John. I cannot welcome you into my heart of all hearts in faith. I cannot say I share the same faith with you because that's God speed. I can say that we are separate and apart. We may be of the same flesh we may even come from the same mother, we might even come from the same father, and father and mother, and sister or brother, but we are not of the same, what? FAITH.

That is how you stand. And you say it with love and you'll get the opportunity. You'll get the opportunity I promise you because its God's will that all be saved.

And if we don't stand with Him in truth and doctrine, when the opportunity arises, then eventually we will fall away ourselves. See, it's a form of falling away. You are putting your own doctrinal beliefs and your own salvation in jeopardy. And don't think for a minute you can't fall away because you are rejecting the truth of where you stand because either bashful, you're shy, you don't want to offend anyone, and you don't want persecution. So, basically you are endorsing that self-righteous spirit that says fine. I have my relationship with God, I have a personal relationship with Christ. I don't believe you can have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and reject the Holy Communion.

It is impossible to be in Christ and reject the Holy Communion; or to call it anything but what it is, because that is the foremost and greatest commandment of God. Because it is your love for Him that you admit you need it and you want it. To reject it, to reduce it to something else, what you have done is reduce and rejected the commandment, you have rejected yourself as being a true lover of Christ, and you've joined the five 'I am's"

of satan. And you can never be part of the kingdom ever, ever, ever. And you'll take on strange doctrines. You'll start saying that Mary had intercourse with her husband because you believe "knew" means knew because it said somewhere else he knew someone. But in that case, was she not a special person that was separate and apart from womanhood and motherhood? Was she not chosen by God to receive His sperm from heaven? Would He contaminate it from with the sperm of man? Does that make sense or do we have to spell it out? Because the problem is your heart is not right to accept the truth, and you need to pray not only forgiveness, but to ask God to keep you in purer thought. And that's why, we in Orthodoxy, revere her. We don't worship her, we revere her. That is the greatest woman that ever lived. That is the most perfect beautiful woman I wish I could have. Excuse me, I don't mean this derogatory, have a wife like that, perfect. Not self.

I don't think she caused Joseph one ounce of trouble. I don't think she was a nagging fishwife. I don't think she did anything but be a nearly perfect person. That is why God chose her from the beginning when she was born from Anna and that's why we believe that her heart was in the right place from day one till her presence with her Savior and with her Lord. And that's why God allows her to come in visions to us today because she was a nearly perfect woman. And the only reason she wasn't perfect when she was on earth is because she had flesh too. But the flesh never overcame her spirit for she accepted with her mouth let what the angel Gabriel, let what you have to say from the throne of God, enter my life. She accepted God and Savior in total forever or did you think after the birth, well now, I'm going to do my thing? Because I'm a woman and I'm allowed to go here and there. And I have a husband who should work and support me. No.

That's why we know in Orthodoxy, don't we bishops, that when she passed what happened to her? She was taken. Oh, we can believe Elijah was taken, but not the mother of God, because that's too close to the truth in Christianity. That's why the Protestant Church is all wet and not the Church of Christ. It's a very dangerous thing to pick on her spirit and her presence on earth, very dangerous. You're getting so close to the five "I am's" declaring yourself as being the holy one. Be on the side of caution. If you think, I don't know bishop, your doctrine seems kind of Orthodoxy or something, I don't know what it is about you, but there's something about it. You'd be safer over here than over there. Because I don't think God is going to penalize you in heaven because you loved His mother so dearly and you revered yourself to her, you built a shrine for her, you ask her to intercede for healing, you light up her shrine at night so it's bright. God, you are participating ! and showing your love for Him and for her.

You show you love Him and certainly show love to me, so how can you love Christ and not love his mother? And that's why I personally love the fact she adopted me. She didn't give birth to me but, she did adopt me. And I love that adoption because she made me earn it, a little bit by fasting and so on for the Order of Carmel. Why, I wear the brown scapula, it's because I'm an adopted son of hers. And I think I'm in pretty good company…being adopted by her because I really find a lot of fault in anyone else who can say they're my mother except for my mother loving her more and more even while she's gone because I see some of the treasures that she had hidden and like these tapes I just found yesterday. No wonder she stayed in that house all the time. She was listening to the most beautiful hymns. Her hymns even Brother Petros doesn't have them. And I'm listening to them and I'm listening to her liturgies that she was hearing.

The only thing I regretted was that I didn't have a few more strengthening, whatever, to go over and say, "whether you like it or not I'm offering you this Communion from next door." Because she didn't particularly like St. Catherine's later in life. But I do take it for her now. I did this morning out of your mouths. So, there is a connection. Brothers and sisters in Christ don't let your family and your mother's decease and go onto the other life and not have some residue in and something in your heart I stood for the truth Lord. Repeat the words I spoke to them. Because I believe even in the hereafter. I don't know how long it takes to go to judgment and neither do you. But somehow I believe God never gives up, that He can say: "Do you accept the words of Haralambos?" "Do you accept the Spirit of Elijah?" "Do you accept my words of truth?"

Even when they aren't in the flesh because He did go to hell to free. Did He not free.. But some of them didn't go. They stayed locked up, they didn't want to believe in the Messiah. Let's don't condemn anyone, let's not judge anyone, and above all remember the foundation of your Orthodoxy and your Christian faith is not only the love of Christ and following his commandments but that you aren't in any form in a self-righteous mode. That you believe you are totally dependent on the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.