Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Congratulations with the feast of the Resurrection of the Lord, as well as the after-feast of the Transfiguration!

Today’s Gospel reading ties together that which we celebrated earlier and that which we are to celebrate in the near future. The events about which we heard today took place immediately after the Transfiguration of our Saviour, and following them the Lord Jesus Christ began to make His way to Jerusalem to suffer there on the Cross, be buried in the ground, and to resurrect on the third day. On Friday we celebrated the feast of the Lord’s Transfiguration, while next weekend we will mark the Dormition of the All-Holy Theotokos, which of course is not simply a remembrance of the repose of the Virgin Mary, but also an image of the death and Resurrection of our Saviour and a foreshadowing of the general resurrection of all mankind. At the end of the Gospel reading we heard that devils, i. e. our passions and sinful habits, are driven out through fasting and prayer. Notice how wonderfully today’s Gospel reading dovetails with the Dormition fast!

Today we heard how a certain parent brought his ill son to the Lord, so that He could heal the boy. This father can become for us a good example; therefore, let’s learn from him to care for the spiritual health of our children. Despite the fact that the apostles could not return the boy to health, his father did not fall in spirit, did not give up, but instead gathered his courage and came to Christ Himself and begged for His help. How good it would be if every parent acted in such a manner. We are all, including our children, spiritually ill. Christ is the one capable of healing us and our children of this malady, and therefore it behooves us to constantly turn towards Him. Soon a new school year will begin with lessons, homework, and after-school activities. It is easy to become immersed in this to the detriment of our church life. Let us hope that today’s Gospel reading reminds us of what is most important and lets us lead our children to the Lord.

In a practical sense, this could mean the following:

Perhaps the most important thing to do is to regularly, i. e. weekly, bring our children to the church services. Here it is important to engage them in the service. This isn’t difficult to do. With the youngest children it is enough to show them the icons or point out the different liturgical movements taking place (this has to be done quietly and calmly so as no to disturb the other parishioners). The older children can be encouraged to serve in the altar, to sing and read on kliros. Of course, it is good for them to regularly come to confession and Communion.

Daily pray together at home. It is better to have a short prayer rule with singing, but to do it regularly.

Participate in the church school. This is important not so much to learn, but to build friendships with other Orthodox children and to interact with the priest.

Read Holy Scripture and the saints’ lives with them and then discuss what was read.

Show them a good Christian example, in your own personal and family life. If parents sin or live a dishonourable life, it will be extremely difficult to lead children to Christ.

If you will act in such a manner, God willing, Christ and the memory of Him will always be present in your lives and the lives of your children. You will become like that father from today’s Gospel reading who brought his son to Christ. With God’s help, in such a manner not only they, but you as well, will be restored to spiritual health by the Lord.

priest Alexis