Every Christian has their own unique gifts and calling, and they should discern is so as to find their focus in life: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/finding-our-focus/

Embracing the spirit of thanksgiving, finding something to be thankful for, looking for the good in the midst of all the suffering we experience, will give us strength and hope: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/thanksgiving-and-hope/

We are called to be peacemakers, but that also means, we must work for justice, and fight against our temptations: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/peace-and-the-spiritual-battle/ 

Too many Christians follow after Judas, thinking  they glorify Jesus as they betray his teachings, such as those working to bring the world to the edge of destruction:  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/judas-apostle-friend-and-lover-of-christ/

Most Catholics, despite what some try to say, know what the eucharist is; what they don’t properly realize is the purpose of the eucharist: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/the-purpose-of-communion/

I’m very curious, I will soon go visit a Byzantine Church and figure out myself if they have there own Gift Shops but question to all of you Eastern Catholics here is what kind of Books do they carry in there shops other than Icons and Prayer ropes…

Do they have there own Eastern Catholic Books or they have most books that are in the Eastern Orthodox or do they vary both ways???

St. Gregory the Wonderworker, speaking on Origen and gratitude towards Origen, points out the way we should also have gratitude for those who helped us come to and understand our faith, which is not to say we need to elevate them as if they were perfect:

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/st-gregory-the-wonderworker-reminds-us-to-be-grateful/

I have a question to all of the Eastern Catholics here, I’m on RCIA to a Noves Ordo Catholic Church but I would like to switch my Catechism to Eastern Catholic how can it be possible for me to switch and if the Byzantine Church does the RCIA as well???

Jesus said we should let the dead bury the dead, which means, we should be focused living in the present, taking care of our own present needs and the needs of those around us: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/care-for-the-living/

Christ gives us freedom, true freedom, so that we can embrace our innate goodness, and act out of love; but just because we have been given it does not mean we will act on it:  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/true-freedom/

Those Christians who treat the faith merely as some sort of intellectual enterprise are easily led, not only to error, but to accept and do all kinds of great evil, as they deem their actions unimportant. They have  lost sight of the foundation of the faith: love.  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/11/our-engagement-with-our-faith-must-be-holistic/

Sadly, the Christian faith is often treated as some sort of legalistic enterprise, leaving no room for grace: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/10/works-and-grace/

The righteousness of James can be seen in the way he promoted the welfare of the poor over the rich: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/10/the-righteousness-of-james/

Legalism cuts us off from growth, not allowing change or development, as it tries to reify and force one (external) form of the good, while grace always seeks to have us transcend ourselves and the good of our past: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/10/legalism-liturgy-and-paul-being-open-to-grace/

Ecumenical councils do not just provide dogmatic declarations, they also deal with practical concerns, creating canons to deal with them; though the canons might change due to changing times and places, we should take the principles behind them seriously. Nicea II, for example, can be seen dealing with clericalism: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/10/clericalism-and-the-canons-of-ii-nicea/

Human freedom is guaranteed because of God’s love, for God willingly abandons control and allows us to make for us what we will, and yet, in the end, God’s plan for us will not be thwarted: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/10/freedom-kenosis-and-love/  

Yes, I like to have my own over-arching understanding, my own theological system, but I have learned to keep it open-ended and realize the limitations involved in any theological system:   https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/10/prs-xxi-recognizing-the-limitations-of-theological-systems/

Pursuing fame and honors can lead people astray, as they will begin to do and promote what is expected of them from their followers instead of pursuing what is good and true, which is not always popular: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/10/the-challenges-of-fame/

The Christian faith, the Gospel, is more than what can be found in a book, and so must not be confused with what is merely found in any particular book or theological exploration. Those who want to teach the faith must show they know more than some rote memorization of particular teachings, they  must confirm their faith by showing fidelity to the whole of the Gospel: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/10/confirming-representations-of-the-faith/

What we apprehend of the absolute truth will transcend even what we can put into words, so that, when we speak about it, we must realize something will get lost in translation: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/09/translating-the-truth-into-words/

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help translating this? Much thanks.

When Jesus told us to look to Jonah, that he would give us a sign, the sign of Jonah, he meant more than he was going to die and raise again in three days, but that God can and will forgive, even those who seem to be on the path towards perdition: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/09/we-should-learn-from-the-story-of-jonah/

God’s love and mercy towards sinners, far from making God an agent of sin,  is the means by which God triumphs over sin: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/09/god-is-not-an-agent-of-sin/

St Pachomius knew that anger is a danger to us all,  so that even if it is justified,  he understood following it blindly would lead him astray:  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/09/the-temptation-of-st-pachomius/ 

The birth of Mary, the Mother of God, shows us the way God often blesses those the world ridicules, as God blessed Anne and Joachim with a special child after years of childlessness: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/09/the-nativity-of-mary-the-mother-of-god/

A desert father said that instead of criticizing each other, we should learn how to praise each other, for that will help us get to know each other better: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/09/knowing-others-through-praise/

Faith in Christianity is more than just some intellectual assent to some written doctrine, it is about being faithful to God and God’s way of love: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/09/faith-fidelity-and-love/

In the Byzantine tradition, September 1 is the start of the new (ecclesiastical) year, and with it, we are reminded we can begin again with God and God’s graces: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/09/new-year-new-life/

The precepts of St Moses the Ethiopian give us a hint of the spirit behind his spiritual practice; while they were spoken to fellow monks to help them in their vocation, we can still admire and learn from the wisdom in them:  https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/08/precepts-of-moses-the-ethiopian/