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/

Proper reception of the eucharist should be had, not in an individualistic, selfish manner, but in a manner where one is open up to others in a communion of love: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/08/selfishness-detracts-from-communion/

Authority is to be used for the sake of serving others, for the sake of the common good, and not only oneself and one’s own personal desires: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/08/those-who-would-claim-authority-must-serve/

Hello,

I grew up in an area with no Byzantine churches, but ever since the beginning I’ve wanted to be Byzantine it’s just been something I want to do. When I’m out of college I literally plan to go somewhere with a eastern Catholic Church (even before this idea I swear) but would it be extremely looked down apon to become eastern Catholic then become a married priest? I want to say, i genuinely am not joining because I want to be a married priest, please don’t hate because I swear I want to on my own will because I love the tradition and the liturgy and the history behind the tradition. And even if I wasn’t allowed to become a Byzantine priest I would still likely change rites just because I want to.

But I guess I am wondering is this even a possibility? Or would I be denied to change rites even if there is a chance I would do that? I am mostly asking because when I want to become eastern Catholic I want to know if I should even keep it as an idea to be a married priest or just scrap the idea. Thanks guys don’t be too judgmental please.

When things are tough, that is when our faith can be challenged, but we need to put our trust in God, our trust in the one who has shown us, in and through Jesus, that God will do what needs to be done to make all things new and reward all our faith: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/08/trust-in-god/

"Wherefore, clothing yourselves with meekness, be renewed in faith, that is the flesh of the Lord, and in love, that is the blood of Jesus Christ. Let no one of you cherish any grudge against his neighbour. " (Epistle of Ignatius to the Trallians)

"My love has been crucified, and there is no fire in me desiring to be fed; but there is within me a water that lives and speaks, saying to me inwardly, Come to the Father. I have no delight in corruptible food, nor in the pleasures of this life. I desire the bread of God, the heavenly bread, the bread of life, which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who became afterwards of the seed of David and Abraham; and I desire the drink of God, namely His blood, which is incorruptible love and eternal life." (Epistle of Ignatius to the Romans)

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While the feast of the Dormition of Mary commemorates the death and assumption of the Mother of God, it must also be understood to be a Christological event, for Christ is the one who is active in her assumption, but also, it is because of her intimate connection to Christ that Christ gives her this special honor: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/08/the-dormition-of-the-mother-of-god/

One of the things Jesus tells us is not to go out in the world judging others; rather, we should be focused on our own imperfections, working to better ourselves: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/08/we-need-to-focus-on-ourselves-not-others/

The rich young man who met with Christ thought he was religious, thought he was doing what was needed, and wanted Jesus to confirm it. Jesus showed him, instead, where his heart truly lay: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/08/the-idol-of-the-rich-young-man/

At the transfiguration, the glory of God shines through Christ, the glory which is his by nature, a glory which he is willing to share with : https://www.patheos.com/blogs/henrykarlson/2024/08/the-transfiguration-and-the-eschaton/