The Life Giving Springs

Rule for Life 9 - Almsgiving, Obedience and Thanksgiving w/ Dcn. Ed

The final class in a series on a Christian “Rule for Life,” and it introduces three closing themes: almsgiving, obedience, and gratitude. Fr. M explains that the class is intentionally pastoral and introductory rather than a full theological treatment, aiming to spark deeper study and connect with future homilies and reflection.

 

In the section on almsgiving, the document draws from the Gospel story of the widow’s offering and teachings from St. John Chrysostom and St. Basil to emphasize that true charity is measured not by amount but by the disposition of the heart. Almsgiving is presented as inseparable from prayer, repentance, and love for Christ, and it includes not only money but also time, labor, service to the parish, visiting the sick, and praying for others. The speaker also stresses that discernment matters in giving and that acts of mercy bear fruit only when offered freely rather than grudgingly.

 

The section on obedience and living in community presents obedience as a foundational Christian virtue for all believers, not only monastics. Rooted in Christ’s obedience to the Father, it includes obedience to God’s commandments, the Gospel, the Church, spiritual elders, family responsibilities, and one another in Christ. The speaker also reflects on the importance of a spiritual father as a guide for confession, prayer, fasting, and a personalized Rule for Life.

 

In the final section on gratitude, thanksgiving is described as central to liturgical and spiritual life, flowing from the recognition that everything is a gift from God. The document encourages practical habits of daily thanksgiving, especially in morning prayer and even in times of suffering, as a way of cultivating endurance, humility, and awareness of grace. Overall, the class closes by presenting almsgiving, obedience, and gratitude as essential habits that shape a faithful and spiritually grounded Christian life.

 

Homily - Sunday of the Holy Fathers of 1st Council of Nicea

Jn 17-1-13

Homily - Ascension of our Lord

Rule for Life 8 - Spiritual Formation

 

“Rule for Life – Spiritual Formation,” is building on a previous session about sacramental life. It argues that spiritual formation must be ongoing catechesis, especially for adults, and critiques the common pattern where formal faith education effectively ends after 8th grade. The author stresses that this drop-off is harmful—particularly during the high school and college years—because it leaves young people without guidance when they most need it. Spiritual growth, should never be treated as something “completed,” but as a lifelong process that begins at baptism and is modeled first and foremost by parents, then supported by parish life, teachers, and clergy.

 

Spiritual formation is not meant to be passive learning but a call to self-assessment and gradual life change—small, steady steps toward deeper commitment to Christ. It frames study as discipleship: gathering around a spiritual teacher to learn not for “intellectual enrichment” alone, but for transformation. Fr. M emphasizes that the deeper a person grows in love for God, the more God reveals, and that reading and applying the teachings of the saints (“Holy Fathers”) naturally reshapes one’s life. Formation is presented as multi-faceted: participation in classes and retreats, attentive listening to homilies, and especially developing a daily habit of Scripture reading as a living encounter with Christ.

 

Finally, Fr. M highlights two main pillars of formation: daily Scripture and the writings/lives of the saints. He quotes the Catechism—“Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ”—and urges consistent daily reading (Gospel and Epistle of the day, psalms, and when possible the Old Testament), arguing that even 20 minutes yields spiritual benefits unmatched by worldly activities. It also strongly promotes reading the saints as a “medicine chest” for the soul, offering guidance for specific struggles (anger, lust, judgment, etc.) and teaching believers how to interpret the Gospel rightly rather than twisting it to personal preference. Practical recommendations include reading the Synaxarion or Prologue, learning from contemporary saints, and building a spiritual library—choosing writings suited to one’s vocation and seeking discernment with a spiritual father to apply teachings wisely.

 

Hand Out  - The Vision of Elder Sophronius (a disciple of St Paisius Velichkovsky)

https://iconandlight.wordpress.com/2016/11/16/the-benefit-of-reading-spiritual-books-the-vision-of-elder-sophroniusdisciple-of-st-paisius-velichkovsky/

 

Book Studies: 

 

The Field by Fr. Miron Sr.: https://artofspirituallife.podbean.com/category/ignatius-brianchaninov 

 

St. Isaac The Syrian by Fr. Charbel:  https://philokalia.podbean.com/2016/10/ 

Evergetinos by Fr. Charbel: https://philokalia.podbean.com/?s=evergetinos 

 

 

Homily - Man Born Blind

Jn 9-1-38 

Rule for Life 7 - Sacramental Life

"Rule for Life” series focused on the Church’s sacramental life. It opens with a Paschal greeting and a brief link back to the prior topic of repentance, then frames sacramental participation—especially worship services—as essential to renewing both personal faith and parish life. Drawing on examples from Romanian Orthodox renewal (including Patriarch Daniel), it argues that revival begins with self-examination and daily cultivation of prayer, fasting, and repentance, not as performance to “earn” blessings but as a way to become spiritually fruitful and live in constant union with God.

 

The core of the talk emphasizes the Divine Liturgy and Holy Eucharist as the heart and “heartbeat” of the Church, calling believers to active, prayerful participation rather than passive attendance. It explains the meaning of “liturgy” as the Church’s shared work with Christ as the primary agent, highlights preparation for Communion (reconciliation, confession, prayer, fasting, and abstaining from food), and briefly outlines the main liturgies used throughout the year. It then surveys the other sacraments (Baptism, Chrismation, Confession/Reconciliation, Ordination, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick), stressing their purpose as Christ’s presence and sanctifying action in believers’ lives—especially correcting misunderstandings that reduce anointing to “last rites.” The latter sections encourage participation through additional church prayers and blessings, faithful observance of feast days and the liturgical calendar, and consistent personal prayer at home as the “water” that keeps the heart receptive so sacramental worship bears lasting fruit.

 

Rule for Life 6 - Repentance

 

The last week’s discussion on fasting answers two practical questions: how to fast when caring for someone who cannot, and how to fast before receiving Holy Communion. In both cases, the main guidance is to speak with a spiritual father/confessor, since fasting should be adapted to a person’s responsibilities, work, and health. Fasting is presented not as rigid rule‑keeping but as a tool to simplify life, reduce distractions, strengthen prayer, and fight sinful passions over the long term.

It then turns to repentance, described as a “forgotten medicine” essential to a strong spiritual life and closely connected to prayer and fasting. Repentance (metanoia) is defined as a change of mind and an ongoing, lifelong turning toward God—not merely guilt, but active transformation and healing of habitual sins. The text warns that neglecting repentance hardens the heart and harms spiritual life, critiques self‑justification and “once saved always saved” thinking, and stresses frequent examination of conscience and regular confession (to a priest) as key aids, alongside Scripture, the Church Fathers, and wise guidance from a consistent confessor/spiritual father.

 

Podcast: https://lifegivingspringspodcast.podbean.com/category/confession 

 

Books mentioned: 

 

The Forgotten Medicine by Archimandrite Seraphim Aleksiev: https://www.sainthermanmonastery.com/The-Forgotten-Medicine-p/fm.htm 

 

The Life of Repentance and Purity by Pope Shenouda III: https://a.co/d/0bliYhnO 

 

The Salvation of Sinners by Monk Agapios: https://a.co/d/0bYxEZIC 

 

 

 

 

 

Homily - St. George

Jn 15-17-16 -  St. George

Rule for Life 5 - Fasting

“Rule for Life – Fasting” teaches that fasting and prayer are inseparable disciplines in Christian life, rooted in Christ’s teaching that certain spiritual struggles are overcome only through “prayer and fasting,” and it frames fasting not as punishment but as a therapeutic “medicine” for soul and body that exposes our weaknesses, strengthens reason, and heals the passions—especially gluttony, described by the Fathers as a “gateway” that opens the door to other sins.

 

It critiques a minimalist approach to church fasting rules, urging believers to grow gradually out of love for God beyond bare minimums, and explains that fasting includes restraint not only from certain foods but also from excess in drink, entertainment, social media, and speech. Practically, it outlines the four annual fasting seasons (Great Fast, Apostles’ Fast, Dormition Fast, Nativity Fast), several strict fast days, the traditional “ideal” fast, and three progressive levels of practice that add meal restriction, services, prayer, and charity.

 

The conclusion emphasizes that true fasting must be joined to repentance, purity, obedience, and rejection of evil, and it counsels seeking guidance from a spiritual father because “the fast is for the person, not the person for the fast.”

 

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Mk 15-43-47 - Ointment-bearing Women

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