I have stated before and do so again that the most important two hours of the entire week
is the matins service on Saturday evening. In it we take time out to stop all other
distractions of life, and try to learn of the things of God, where the scriptures, the
commandments and the way of life is expounded. . The Divine Liturgy is the center of
our liturgical life, but it cannot be fully appreciated or understood without the entirety of
our life being liturgical. If we wish to understand the scriptures, we must not only read
them, but also worship with them and follow them.
Luke 10:5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this
house. 6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it
shall turn to you again.
For many years this verse was a puzzle to me. How can our peace return to us again?
Now after many years, it is clear: in all things we should bless and be bringers of peace.
This describes a way of life, an attitude which we should bring to every encounter.
There is no trace of cynicism in this way of life, and neither is there simple mindedness.
We are to be Á-°harmless as doves and wise as serpentsÁ-?.
This passage tells us that we will never lose our peace, no matter how it is received. We
must, give the Á-°benefit of the doubtÁ-? to every man, in every situation. If our teaching, or
help is rejected, our peace returns to us, and we are no poorer, but only if our efforts
were accomplished in the spirit of peace. I have learned the hard way that nothing in my
ministry has ever been successful unless I first said Á-°Peace be to this houseÁ-?, and then
proceeded.
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