Praying in the Rain

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Fr. Michael Gillis reflects on the inner life of Orthodox Christians. Drawing on the wisdom of both ancient and contemporary Church Fathers, Fr. Michael ponders the struggles, the ironies, and the disciplines of the spiritual life.

Fr. Michael Gillis and Ancient Faith Radio


    • May 24, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 14m AVG DURATION
    • 417 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Praying in the Rain

    Thoughts, Passions, Gardening

    Play Episode Listen Later May 24, 2024


    Someone recently asked me about how to understand the evil thoughts they experience.

    Death Does Not Come for Coffee

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2024


    What will we finally say when death visits us - and not for coffee?

    The Problem With Vainglory

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024


    One of the problems with vainglory, according to St. Isaac the Syrian, is that “it hands that person over to” either fornication or pride. But before we can talk about how vainglory hands one over to either fornication or pride, we need to understand what vainglory is. Nowadays the word vain means to have a high opinion of oneself, but that is not what it originally meant, nor what it means in the Bible or in the hymnology of the Church. This is why many English-speaking Orthodox Christians have no idea what vainglory means.

    The Art of Humility

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024


    There is strength in humility.

    The Art of Humility

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024 10:14


    How Could God Allow…

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 11:34


    "How could God let his representatives get away with such things?"

    How Could God Allow...

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024


    "How could God let his representatives get away with such things?"

    Same Sex Attraction and Three Desert Fathers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023


    We live in a generation that has been taught to tie their personal identity to their imagined sexual preferences. Consequently, it is difficult to help people who struggle with sexual passions to find hope and repentance. However, the teaching of holy fathers such as St. Isaac the Syrian and St. Barsanuphius of Gaza provide a very helpful alternative to the world's way of thinking about such passions. For these saints, same-sex attraction is a passion like any other. It is not part of one's identity, but is a parasitical passion, resisted and struggled against as all other passions are.

    Same Sex Attraction and Three Desert Fathers

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023 10:46


    We live in a generation that has been taught to tie their personal identity to their imagined sexual preferences. Consequently, it is difficult to help people who struggle with sexual passions to find hope and repentance. However, the teaching of holy fathers such as St. Isaac the Syrian and St. Barsanuphius of Gaza provide a very helpful alternative to the world's way of thinking about such passions. For these saints, same-sex attraction is a passion like any other. It is not part of one's identity, but is a parasitical passion, resisted and struggled against as all other passions are.

    A Bit on Illumination

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2023


    "We have to read with discernment and humility."

    A Bit on Illumination

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2023 14:32


    Forgiveness on a Snowy Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023 13:28


    Just about any discipline that has to do with the body, if you really think that discipline is important, is mostly just a matter of making yourself do it; but forgiveness is not merely a bodily matter. Forgiveness is a matter of the soul, of the heart. Forgiveness is not so easy. On its most basic level, forgiveness means that you will not seek revenge. It means that you are letting go of your right to get even. When you forgive someone, you stop punishing them in your mind. It means that you stop rehearsing in your mind how much they hurt you.

    Forgiveness on a Snowy Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2023


    Just about any discipline that has to do with the body, if you really think that discipline is important, is mostly just a matter of making yourself do it; but forgiveness is not merely a bodily matter. Forgiveness is a matter of the soul, of the heart. Forgiveness is not so easy. On its most basic level, forgiveness means that you will not seek revenge. It means that you are letting go of your right to get even. When you forgive someone, you stop punishing them in your mind. It means that you stop rehearsing in your mind how much they hurt you.

    Theosis: Women Vs. Men

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022 11:58


    Is there a difference between men and women in regard to theosis? Short answer: No. Long answer: Every human being is unique. Gender is part of that uniqueness.

    Theosis: Women Vs. Men

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2022


    Is there a difference between men and women in regard to theosis? Short answer: No. Long answer: Every human being is unique. Gender is part of that uniqueness.

    Prostrations and Depression

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022


    Acknowledging the ugliness in our heart is like taking out the garbage. When we pretend it's not there, it doesn't go away. It just festers. But when we confess our sin by acknowledging before God the ugliness of our heart, a ray of light shines there and we take a step toward healing.

    Prostrations and Depression

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 15:11


    Acknowledging the ugliness in our heart is like taking out the garbage. When we pretend it's not there, it doesn't go away. It just festers. But when we confess our sin by acknowledging before God the ugliness of our heart, a ray of light shines there and we take a step toward healing.

    For Beginners Only: Building Our Spiritual House

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022


    For those of us who are still working on getting that first few rows of stones around the foundation of faith, focusing on acquiring a little bit of every virtue helps us to keep picking up the stone (of virtue) that is needed at a given moment and putting it down at the correct place in our spiritual house. Baby steps for baby Christians. May God grant that we are all found to be children in His Kingdom.

    For Beginners Only: Building Our Spiritual House

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2022 15:22


    For those of us who are still working on getting that first few rows of stones around the foundation of faith, focusing on acquiring a little bit of every virtue helps us to keep picking up the stone (of virtue) that is needed at a given moment and putting it down at the correct place in our spiritual house. Baby steps for baby Christians. May God grant that we are all found to be children in His Kingdom.

    Faith and Moral Freedom

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022


    Just as surely as there is a time of sowing, there is a time of reaping. God changes us and touches the hearts of others through our prayers, our giving and our service to others. Seeds become trees and trees change the environment. Sowing is hard. Trees grow slowly, almost imperceptibly. It requires faith and often tears.

    Faith and Moral Freedom

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2022 9:59


    Just as surely as there is a time of sowing, there is a time of reaping. God changes us and touches the hearts of others through our prayers, our giving and our service to others. Seeds become trees and trees change the environment. Sowing is hard. Trees grow slowly, almost imperceptibly. It requires faith and often tears.

    The Interactive Work Of The Holy Spirit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022


    The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives always takes place on two levels, both on the level of what is outside us or what comes to us, and on the level of what is within us or how we receive what comes to us.

    The Interactive Work Of The Holy Spirit

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022 12:03


    The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives always takes place on two levels, both on the level of what is outside us or what comes to us, and on the level of what is within us or how we receive what comes to us.

    Family Life and Spiritual Warfare

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022


    Fr. Michael Gillis answers the question of “how to overcome thoughts of pride in our hearts that inevitably come after labouring on good works for our families and people around us.”

    Family Life and Spiritual Warfare

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 16:15


    Fr. Michael Gillis answers the question of “how to overcome thoughts of pride in our hearts that inevitably come after labouring on good works for our families and people around us.”

    Good's Disfigured Face

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022


    Fr. Michael Gillis reflects on the life and writings of 20th century Catholic author, Flannery O'Connor. "Good in this broken world is always something under construction. The grotesque—physical, moral and spiritual—that presents itself to us as the terribly deformed face of a cancer ridden child very often hides from us the Grace of God at work constructing good in that person's life. How many people have I dismissed because I have connected the visible cancer of a terribly confused and broken moral or spiritual life with the “grotesquerie of sin”? How often have I failed to see, failed to even look for the good under construction, the glimmer of Grace at work in a life disfigured by the brokenness of sin? Truly the thought of this question overpowers me sometimes."

    Good's Disfigured Face

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2022 16:39


    Fr. Michael Gillis reflects on the life and writings of 20th century Catholic author, Flannery O'Connor. "Good in this broken world is always something under construction. The grotesque—physical, moral and spiritual—that presents itself to us as the terribly deformed face of a cancer ridden child very often hides from us the Grace of God at work constructing good in that person's life. How many people have I dismissed because I have connected the visible cancer of a terribly confused and broken moral or spiritual life with the “grotesquerie of sin”? How often have I failed to see, failed to even look for the good under construction, the glimmer of Grace at work in a life disfigured by the brokenness of sin? Truly the thought of this question overpowers me sometimes."

    Take Heed: Part Five

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022


    Fr. Michael examines Jesus's exhortation to "take heed that you do not despise the little ones."

    Spiritual Zeal: What It Is and What It Isn't

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022


    Fr. Michael talks about the difference between inwardly-focused spiritual zeal and outwardly-focused emotional zeal.

    Arguing

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022


    In St. Paul's famous passage about spiritual warfare in 2 Corinthians 10, he specifically mentions arguments as one of the high things that must be cast down because they exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. Arguments, St. Paul tells us, along with every other “high thing” must be brought into obedience to Christ. Forcing myself to turn away from the argument in my mind and to return to Christ in my heart is the only way I have found to recapture the peace which fled when I accepted the devil's bait and began to argue.

    Arguing

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2022 12:29


    In St. Paul's famous passage about spiritual warfare in 2 Corinthians 10, he specifically mentions arguments as one of the high things that must be cast down because they exalt themselves against the knowledge of God. Arguments, St. Paul tells us, along with every other “high thing” must be brought into obedience to Christ. Forcing myself to turn away from the argument in my mind and to return to Christ in my heart is the only way I have found to recapture the peace which fled when I accepted the devil's bait and began to argue.

    Two Rich Men

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2022


    To begin with, we must remind ourselves that salvation is a mystery, and that discerning principles and rules in the scriptures and self consciously applying them to ourselves is no guarantee that we will find salvation. In fact, it seems that this approach to seeking to discover and apply the correct formula or law to his life is exactly the approach used by the ruler who fails to find salvation.

    Two Rich Men

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2022 11:38


    To begin with, we must remind ourselves that salvation is a mystery, and that discerning principles and rules in the scriptures and self consciously applying them to ourselves is no guarantee that we will find salvation. In fact, it seems that this approach to seeking to discover and apply the correct formula or law to his life is exactly the approach used by the ruler who fails to find salvation.

    The Muskox Response to COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022


    Fear and anger, however, seem to trump common sense and faith in God. Fear and anger open in us a floodgate of animal passions making it seem appropriate to demonize (or de-humanize) those we disagree with. Fear and anger release our inner muskox ready to trample those who are less clear thinking than we are, less concerned for liberty or the common good than we are, less eager to create a just and safe society than we are—or at least that's how it appears to us. And we don't have time to listen, truly listen, to one another. Fear and anger create urgency so that we don't have time to listen, we don't have time to care, we don't have time to be Christians.

    The Muskox Response to COVID-19

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2022 10:54


    Fear and anger, however, seem to trump common sense and faith in God. Fear and anger open in us a floodgate of animal passions making it seem appropriate to demonize (or de-humanize) those we disagree with. Fear and anger release our inner muskox ready to trample those who are less clear thinking than we are, less concerned for liberty or the common good than we are, less eager to create a just and safe society than we are—or at least that's how it appears to us. And we don't have time to listen, truly listen, to one another. Fear and anger create urgency so that we don't have time to listen, we don't have time to care, we don't have time to be Christians.

    Self-Importance

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2021


    Self-importance is a tricky disease to diagnose, not in others, but in oneself. The problem lies in the fact that often (but not always) those who suffer from the spiritual sickness of self-importance are in positions that are actually important. Those of us who teach and/or lead in the Church or in politics or in education or in medicine or in business are indeed in positions of importance. However, it's not the fact that we are in positions of importance that causes us to suffer from self-importance, but being in such a position does make it much harder for us to diagnose our disease.

    Self-Importance

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2021 17:04


    Self-importance is a tricky disease to diagnose, not in others, but in oneself. The problem lies in the fact that often (but not always) those who suffer from the spiritual sickness of self-importance are in positions that are actually important. Those of us who teach and/or lead in the Church or in politics or in education or in medicine or in business are indeed in positions of importance. However, it's not the fact that we are in positions of importance that causes us to suffer from self-importance, but being in such a position does make it much harder for us to diagnose our disease.

    Love and Self Righeousness

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2021


    I want to make clear to everyone that we will not be asking anyone about vaccination status. As in almost all matters, so with government health mandates, it is possible (probable) that very godly, intelligent and well-meaning people will disagree. Let's not let self righteousness—and her children, fear, anger, and judgement—keep us from loving one another and believing the best of one another, even if we don't see eye to eye on this or any other political or medical matter.

    Love and Self Righeousness

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2021 10:41


    I want to make clear to everyone that we will not be asking anyone about vaccination status. As in almost all matters, so with government health mandates, it is possible (probable) that very godly, intelligent and well-meaning people will disagree. Let's not let self righteousness—and her children, fear, anger, and judgement—keep us from loving one another and believing the best of one another, even if we don't see eye to eye on this or any other political or medical matter.

    On Discernment

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021


    Here's the problem: We so often set ourselves up for failure by thinking our best must mean that we should do what someone else, probably a saint, is doing or has done. And so, without discernment, we force ourselves to complete a rigorous prayer rule or fasting discipline, or to sleep very little, or attend copious church services, or to volunteer at every opportunity—all without discernment, often motivated by a pride that thinks that all we have to do is force ourselves and we will attain the spiritual heights others seem to have attained.

    On Discernment

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2021 12:57


    Here's the problem: We so often set ourselves up for failure by thinking our best must mean that we should do what someone else, probably a saint, is doing or has done. And so, without discernment, we force ourselves to complete a rigorous prayer rule or fasting discipline, or to sleep very little, or attend copious church services, or to volunteer at every opportunity—all without discernment, often motivated by a pride that thinks that all we have to do is force ourselves and we will attain the spiritual heights others seem to have attained.

    Assurance about the Vaccine?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021


    Our assurance must be in God Himself. Our assurance cannot be in being right, for we are human. Yes, being right is important, and we should strive for orthodoxy (ortho is Greek for ‘right'). We are the Orthodox Church, after all. However, we are also human. We are limited, do not know everything and are easily deceived. Our trust has to be in God, not in man.

    Assurance about the Vaccine?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2021 23:31


    Our assurance must be in God Himself. Our assurance cannot be in being right, for we are human. Yes, being right is important, and we should strive for orthodoxy (ortho is Greek for ‘right'). We are the Orthodox Church, after all. However, we are also human. We are limited, do not know everything and are easily deceived. Our trust has to be in God, not in man.

    Thanksgiving

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2021


    Isn't it strange how much easier it is to thank God when you have almost nothing, than it is when you have much more than you need? I have noticed this in myself. I am very thankful to God when I have a little bread (when I might not have any), but when I have bread going mouldy because I have so many other things to eat, I forget to give thanks. When we have abundance, we have to force ourselves give thanks, otherwise we won't.

    Thanksgiving

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2021 8:29


    Isn't it strange how much easier it is to thank God when you have almost nothing, than it is when you have much more than you need? I have noticed this in myself. I am very thankful to God when I have a little bread (when I might not have any), but when I have bread going mouldy because I have so many other things to eat, I forget to give thanks. When we have abundance, we have to force ourselves give thanks, otherwise we won't.

    Aceticism: Facing The Sun

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021


    Keep nurturing the disciplines and activities that tend to produce the fruit of the Spirit, and work to avoid the activities or relationships or situations that stir up your passions. This is what the Church calls asceticism.

    Love in a World of Uncertainty

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2021


    Today we live in a time of uncertainty; but really, today is no more uncertain than yesterday nor the day or year or century before. Certainty is a kind of delusion. It is a delusion that conveniently forgets that there is much, much more going on in the world than we know and can see. How, then, can we live in peace when our life is enveloped in uncertainty? How do we escape the fear of uncertainty?

    Love in a World of Uncertainty

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 1, 2021 9:09


    Today we live in a time of uncertainty; but really, today is no more uncertain than yesterday nor the day or year or century before. Certainty is a kind of delusion. It is a delusion that conveniently forgets that there is much, much more going on in the world than we know and can see. How, then, can we live in peace when our life is enveloped in uncertainty? How do we escape the fear of uncertainty?

    Aceticism: Facing The Sun

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2021 7:45


    Keep nurturing the disciplines and activities that tend to produce the fruit of the Spirit, and work to avoid the activities or relationships or situations that stir up your passions. This is what the Church calls asceticism.

    Peace in Chaos

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2021


    There are many kinds of waves in the chaotic world we live in. Sometimes the waves are pushing to the left. Sometimes the waves push to the right. Really, there is no rhyme or reason to it. In fact, part of what can drive you crazy is how unreasonable life in this world is. Like the waves on the ocean, it all depends which way the wind is blowing. And the wind that influences the political and social realities of this fallen world is the spirit of the age, the spirits of wickedness that dwell in the air (Ephesians 6:12).

    Peace in Chaos

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2021 11:03


    There are many kinds of waves in the chaotic world we live in. Sometimes the waves are pushing to the left. Sometimes the waves push to the right. Really, there is no rhyme or reason to it. In fact, part of what can drive you crazy is how unreasonable life in this world is. Like the waves on the ocean, it all depends which way the wind is blowing. And the wind that influences the political and social realities of this fallen world is the spirit of the age, the spirits of wickedness that dwell in the air (Ephesians 6:12).

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