Metropolitan Andrew

Today we gather to celebrate the birth in the flesh of the Son of God.  Angels sang, shepherds came from their fields to worship and Magi journeyed a great distance to adore a Babe laid in a manger poor, cold and in swaddling bands, this tiny Babe Who is Lord of all creation.  And what caused Him to empty Himself and take on our lowly human form? His inexhaustible love for His creatures.  Man had disobeyed, had gone after false gods and rejected Him; and yet His love for us is so great that it causes Him to become incarnate and to labour and suffer all that He did, that He might bring us back to the Father.  He has bestowed on us incalculable riches, which we can gain if we but strive to live in accordance with His commandments. The beauty and depth of our services are beyond compare. The means of acquiring grace are constantly with our reach. Every phase of our life has a blessing attached to it.  And all this started in that humble cave and lowly manger.  Let us hasten there in spirit to worship with the shepherds and with the Magi offer gifts to the new born King: a loving and humble heart, a grateful disposition and fervent prayer for one another.

May the Light of Christ shine in our hearts during these joyful days, blessing us and those around us. I wish you all a Happy Christmas filled with every blessing.

In Christ,
Andrew, Metropolitan of Toronto

 

July10/June 27. 2020
St. Sampson the Hospitable

Beloved Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Bless!
I greet you with the feast of the Chiefs and Princes of the Apostles Sts. Peter and Paul. One denied the Saviour thrice and the other was a great persecutor and yet by repentance they attained the Kingdom of H

eaven and are renowned throughout the world.

St. Peter was the leader of the Apostle. He was the first to confess the Saviour to be the Messiah and was given the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven and the power to bind and to loose. Now what was given to Peter was later given to all, as Augustine says, since he represents the whole company of the Apostles, throughout the Gospels. Having been so graced by God, he yet fell in to cowardice and denial. He who had seen such miracles was found wanting at the moment of trial. And what was he asked in reparation for so grave a sin? For his three denials he was asked for three affirmations of love. O what love and mercy from God towards sinful man.

St. Paul was a fierce persecutor of the Christians until he encountered Christ on the road to Damascus and was changed from a persecutor to a zealous preacher of salvation. He traversed the known world preaching and strengthening the faithful and suffering greatly for love of Him Whom he had persecuted. Complicit in the death of St. Stephen, he now rejoices with him in the glory of Heaven.

By repentance and struggle these two weak and sinful men became vessels of election and the joy to all Christians everywhere. May their prayers cover us and make us zealous for the Orthodox Faith and piety; that on the great and final day we may be found in their company, praising God unto the ages.

In Christ

+Met. Andrew