His Eminence Metropolitan SABA Archbishop of New York and Metropolitan of All North America         His Grace Bishop Alexander

Pastor: Fr John Vazquez| fatherjohnvazquez@gmail.com | stgeorgealbany.org | 1 St George's Pl Albany

Office Hours: Mon/Fri 10am-5pm/Confessions: After weekly services or by appointment

Parish Council Leadership: Chair—Michella Rizk, Treasurer—Ranya Palmer, Secretary—Daniel Palmer, Vice Chair—Linda Grady

Beloved,

The mystery of salvation belongs to those who desire it not to those who are forced to submit to it.

This line from St Maximos the Confessor is profound. We must desire salvation to be brought into its living reality. In other words, if we do not choose to seek union with Christ we will never understand the things of the Church, the Scripture, ourselves or God. Sure, there are lots of explanations about these things: books, podcasts, YouTube videos, gurus etc etc but unless we truly desire to live a certain way all that knowledge will remain external to us and ultimately foreign. 

If, on the other hand, we do desire union with God—which is freely offered to every person—we will find the mysteries of the Church, the Scripture and ourselves unveiled. This unveiling—or rather, experience of Christ—can have the end result of affecting all who come into contact with us. 

Truly, this union with God—which ripples through the whole world—is something worth pursuing. What then does "desiring" salvation look like? To desire something fervently means that we give our whole self to the object of our desire; it means that make use of all the tools available to us; and it means that we seek guidance from others who are trying to walk this path or who have walked this path. 

Do you desire salvation—make no provision for the flesh to fulfill its lusts (Rom 13.14)

Do you desire to become a son of God—pray, fast and give alms (Mt 6)

Do you desire union with God—go to a righteous man for his prayer availeth much (James 5.16)

God's mercy and strength for each of you this week.

With love in Christ,

Fr John