Today the orthodox church commemorates Saint Gregory Palamas

 Happy Second Sunday of Great Lent!

Every time I have (virtually) attended Saint Demetrius this year, I have been very inspired and impacted by the sermon. I highly recommend attending a service; virtually or in-person. 
Here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIoY39bECYNuUTUT1PZMT2w 

and here: https://www.saintdemetrios.com/

Today we commemorated Saint Gregory Palamas who, we learned, was advocating for a life of stillness to reconnect and redirect the intellect to ourselves. He was an opponent of a humanist and philosopher Barlaam of the time who, like many, didn't believe that God would or did become a man. 

What I learned today is that Saint Gregory came up with 4 steps to directing your intellect to yourself and therefore reconnecting to Christ. These are:

1. Self Condemnation
   Not self-deprecation. Not despair. Not self hatred. Not a lack of self compassion. Simply recognizing that we will always mess up, and are called to always strive to be better. What are the ways that you messed up? Take responsibility for them. Write them out. Remind yourself that you are not perfect. Don't get comfortable in your errors and mistakes when they take you away from God. This is self-condemnation.
2. Confession of Sins

Confessing sins is an art. And a science. It is extremely healing and releasing. Recharging. It is the act of asking God for forgiveness, and receiving it. Confessing sins must happen to Christ God and not to others. Priests traditional role is to be a witness who can encourage or provide guidance. But confession is between your soul and God and is about letting-go and moving onward.

        3. Making a Promise to God to discard evil ways. 

            To discard the ways that you make mistakes. This is the act of saying "I am going to try better and here is how". The more concrete, the easier to follow. God knows that there are some things that take decades to change. It is important to both be reasonable and gentle to yourself, and also to not skip over this step "because it's too hard". The ability to understand the need to change while still respecting your human inability to change anything permanently overnight is important. This is why:

        4. Pray

            Pray! Ask God for help. Our God wants to be bothered by us. He wants us to want Him. It is significant that the last step is not an "end" nor a "perfection" or some sort of redemptive state. Instead, it is the reasonable and realistic goal and notion of continuing growth and effort. It does not mimic a fantasy or a false notion that humans can achieve a perfect or complete or flawless state on our own. Instead, it emphasizes the need for us to continually ask for God's help and guidance and presence in our life. Remember, the grass would not grow and our stomachs would not digest food if it weren't for God and His design. To be without God is to be not just dead, or nothing. Death implies life first. Without God there is no life first; there is just nothing for us. 

More resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palamism

Psalm 18, NJKV

The heavens declare the glory of God;
The firmament shows the creation of His hands.

Day to day utters speech,

And night to night reveals knowledge.

There is no speech nor language

Where their voices are not heard.

Their proclamation went forth into all the earth,

And their words to the ends of the world.

In the sun He sets His tabernacle;

And it rejoices exceedingly

Like a bridegroom coming forth from his bridal chamber,

Like a strong man to run a race.

Its rising is from one end of heaven,

And its circuit runs to the other end;

And nothing shall be hidden from its heat.

The law of the Lord is blameless, converting souls;

The testimony of the Lord is trustworthy, making children wise;

The ordinances of the Lord are right, Rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is bright, enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring unto ages of ages;

The judgements of the Lord are true, being altogether just.

More to be desired are they than gold and a very precious stone,

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

For indeed Your servant keeps them;

In keeping them there is great reward.

Who will understand his transgressions?

Cleanse me from hidden sins,

And spare your servant from unnatural sins;

If they have no dominion over me, then I shall be blameless,

And I shall be cleansed from great sin.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

Be always pleasing before You,

O Lord, my helper and my redeemer.