“Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy” (Psalm 126:5)

The world mined in a mass of guile is not a pleasant place. Its sphere crammed with harm, evil, enticement, and deception, traps humans in the devil’s nest. All the delicious food, trendy clothes, and luxury residences with their fancy livings we watch through the lives of elites or in the media, tempt people to desire worldliness. The public is drawn to the world of globalization aiming to encircle the goal of enemy Satan, in driving human beings into eternal fire. Aware or unaware, we are drawn towards his evil nest.

Life on this earth has become mischievous, deceptive, and confusing for we would not be able to acknowledge all the deceit the devil lay upon us. This is due to our failure in spirituality, mainly our bodily longings are the faults. If it were not for the consumption of foods in or out of fasting seasons, comfort and leisure times during prayers, and ignorance of our soul food, we would not have been facing these difficulties in our families, neighborhoods, or communities. So many of us have sobbed with tears while watching the globe hit by plagues in killing thousands, tribal wars, massacre killing, burning down neighborhoods and rescinding socie

Father Gabriel Bilas of Saint Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church's sermon on October 20, 2023 (EU.C) explains how seeds grow into fruit just as our spiritual life is baring fruit.   “We know, that in our gardens, if we put a few tomato seeds into the ground, it will eventually produce plants which bear tomatoes.  If we spread seeds for Green Beans, you will have green beans by the end of the season.  According to the laws of nature, depending on the seeds you sow and how much of them you plant, you can have a pretty good idea of what kind of harvest will come out of the ground.

There is a popular expression, “You reap what you sow”, and Saint Paul reminds us today that this doesn’t just happen in nature.  (2 Corinthians 9:6) It also happens within our lives!  Whatever seeds we implant into our hearts, it is easy to see what kinds of fruits will come forth.  If we plant seeds of anger and contempt for the world and for each other, we reap a life full of difficult situations, enemies, and hatred.  If we are too attached to our possessions, we sow the seed of greed, which brings forth a lifestyle that is consumed with jealousy towards others and a constant worr