May 27, 2027

From my devotional reading today

HOW TERRIBLE THE PRESENT,
COMPARED WITH THE PAST

Psalms 77:10-11 LXX 78:10-11

They did not keep God’s covenant,
And they did not desire to walk in His law;
And they forgot His good deeds
And His wonders He showed them

A Quote from St. Basil of Caesarea (350-379 AD)

In our part of the world, most honourable brothers, everything is in a feeble condition. The Church has fallen before the non-stop attacks of her enemies, like some ship in the middle of the sea, pounded by continual batering waves. O that there might be some swift visitation of God’s mercy…

The teachings of our godly fathers are scorned. What the apostles have handed down is vilified. The inventions of modernisers are fashionable in the churches. Instead of being theologians, men are now fabricators of devious new systems of belief. The glory of the cross has been rejected, and the wisdom of this world wins the top prizes. The shepherds are driven away, and in their place dreadful wolves come in, hounding the sheep of Christ. The houses of prayer stand empty; mourning crowds have retreated into the desert. The older folk weep when they compare the present with the past. The younger folk are to be pitied all the more, for they don’t even know what they’ve lost.

All these things are sufficient to arouse compassion in those who have learned the love of Christ. However, my words fall woefully short of the true condition of things. “If there is therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels of mercies” (Phil. 2:1), be awakened, O brothers, to help us! Let zeal for godliness inspire you to save us from this storm! May that celebrated doctrine of our fathers always be confessed among us with outspoken courage…

From The Early Church Fathers, edited by Nick Needham, 2021, page May 27

Here we are again fighting the battle for the true church against heretics trying to reshape it in their nationlist image. Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy! Lord, have mercy!