The message of Pentecost: "I will give you an heart of flesh ...and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God." A quick exegesis of the three Vespers Old Testament readings for Pentecost, with much lingering on the last, from Ezekiel 36:24-28. Herein is the message (result) of Pentecost: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. …and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.” ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tRgh0Kj4RI

Things turned out better than I feared. ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwT2UkY0VYw

Fr. Nicholas discusses the Gospel reading about Jesus and the rich young man who wanted to know what he had to do to inherit eternal life. Jesus tested the young man by challenging him to a more perfect commitment to the commandments of God, but the young man went away confounded because, as the Gospel says, he had “many possessions.” Fr. Nicholas elaborates on the importance of these commandments, and the inner meaning that connects them all. Ephesians 5:8-19 Luke 18:18-27 ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_x7g3pcYS40

AUDIO: http://www.orthodox.net/catechesis/catechism_2023-10-01+ephesians-3.mp3 VIDEO: https://youtu.be/8u5XMSAktaY Partial Timestamps: 0:00 – 1:24 Chuck Norris was just ordained a priest…. 1:24 – 2:44 Letter from Abbas Arsenia 2:44 – 5:18 Letter from Abbess Arsenia – Is anything by God’s allowance, or is everything by His will? 5:18 Discussion about God’s allowance vs God’s will 6:22 - 8:00 God is never passive, and you should never be passive about ANYTHING! 10:24 – 11:12 If you have any addictions, never be passive about any of them! Fight actively! 11:12 The difference between the two kinds of men – the one who saves his life, and loses it, and the one who loses his life, and is saved. 14:57 The story about 1:00:06 GREAT advice for those who are distracted with their small children, and cannot pray with attention in church! 26:23 Beginning of Exegesis of Ephesians 3 1:02 The best Baptist Joke! ... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8u5XMSAktaY