Like arrows in the hand of a warrior Scotland Youth Conference

United or brought to desolation  But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. Matt 12:25

Parents and Children  Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. Ps

(St. John Chrysostom) On ps  The arrows are terrifying, but not in themselves, but when the bow is held by a strong hand. So were the apostles sent forth by the Lord!

The Lord is the Worrier  For I have bent Judah, My bow, Fitted the bow with Ephraim, And raised up your sons, O Zion, Against your sons, O Greece, And made you like the sword of a mighty man.” Then the Lord will be seen over them, And His arrow will go forth like lightning. The Lord God will blow the trumpet... Zech 9:13,14

Plants and Pillars  That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; That our daughters may be as pillars, polished after the similitude of a palace (temple); Ps 144:12

Liturgy of St Basil  As it was, and shall be, from generation to generation, and unto the ages of all ages. Amen.

David and Solomon  Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the vestibule, its houses, its treasuries, its upper chambers, its inner chambers, and the place of the mercy seat; and the plans for all that he had by the Spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, of all the chambers all around, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries for the dedicated things; 1 Chr 28:11,12

From generation to generation  One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. Ps 145:4 (ESV)

St. Augustine  The Mighty Warrior who aims His arrows by His hand to the whole earth, is the Savior Himself, to whom is said: “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession” (Psalm 2: 8).

True Life Begins with the Trinity Charles Irvin Senior priest, Diocese of Lansing, Michigan Founding editor of Faith Magazine  Jesus told us that heaven begins here on earth. The kingdom of heaven is here, among you, he told us. We are not far from it. The life of God begins to be experienced here. Heaven is not a carrot dangled in front of us. Heaven isn't the reward at the end of a road of pain, trial, and suffering. Heaven begins when we discover ourselves, when we discover each other, when we begin to live a Trinitarian life with others, when we begin to live in the communion with others that is God's. Isn't that what Holy Communion is all about?