One must be firmly rooted in the "Tree of Life"

[Rich]

One must be firmly rooted in the "Tree of Life"

When Jesus calls himself the true vine he makes clear that no one can
grow in spiritual fruitfulness and moral goodness unless they are
rooted in God and in his life-giving word. Religious affiliation or
association with spiritually minded people is not sufficient by
itself--one must be firmly rooted in the "Tree of Life" (Revelation
22:1-2, Genesis 2:8-9) who is the eternal Father and his only begotten
Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus makes a claim which only God can
make--he is the true source of life that sustains us and makes us
fruitful in living the abundant life which God has for us. It is only
through Jesus Christ that one can be fully grafted into the true
"vineyard of the Lord".

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May 3rd – SS. Alexander & Antonina, Holy Martyrs

Saint Antonina hailed from the city of Krodamna (Asia Minor). For
being a Christian they brought her before the governor named Festus,
who urged her to worship the pagan gods, promising to bestow upon her
the esteemed title of priestess of the goddess Artemis. But the saint
bravely confessed Christ and she urged the governor to renounce the
worship of demons in the form of idols. Festus gave orders to strike
the saint on the face and lock her up in prison.

The martyress spent all her time at prayer, she ate and drank nothing,
but then she heard the voice of God: "Antonina, fortify thineself with
food and be brave. For I am with thee". When they again led her before
the governor, the martyress continued firmly to stand up for the
Christian faith and to denounce the pagans. The governor decided to
give the holy virgin over for defilement by soldiers, but the Lord
inspired one of them, Saint Alexander by name, to save the martyress.
He sought permission to go in to the virgin, on the pretense that he
might sway her to fulfill the will of the governor. Saint Alexander
then suggested that the martyress don his military attire and flee.
Saint Antonina was afraid, but the Lord ordered her to agree. Having
put on the garb of a soldier, and recognised by no one, she emerged
from her imprisonment. The soldiers sent by Festus found Saint
Alexander alone. To the questions of the governor he answered not a
word, and he was given over for torture and mercilessly beaten.

Through the inspiration of the Lord Jesus Christ, Saint Antonina also
came to stand before Festus. For the both of them they cut off their
hands, they then smeared them with pitch and threw them into a pit,
where a fire was burning. When the fire went out, they threw snakes
into the pit, so that Christians should not be able to gather up the
bones of the martyrs. Returning homewards, Festus became numb, and was
able neither to eat nor to drink, and after seven days of terrible
torments he died.

The holy Martyrs Alexander and Antonina died on 3 May 313. But in the
Prologue their memory is placed under 10 June. The relics of the
saints were transferred to Constantinople and placed in the Maximov
monastery.


Kontakion Tone 2

Let us bless godly Alexander and Antonina,
/ spiritual kinsmen in Christ and of one mind in holiness;
/ receiving their struggles and wounds as fragrant myrrh
/ He has glorified them.

Saint Quote:
In all your actions seek in the first place the kingdom of God and His
glory; direct all you do purely to His honor; persevere in brotherly
charity, and practice first all that you desire to teach others.
-- St. Bernardine of Siena

Bible Quote:
Fear ye not, neither be ye troubled from that time I have made thee to
hear, and have declared: you are my witnesses. Is there a God besides
me, a maker, whom I have not known? The makers of idols are all of
them nothing, and their best beloved things shall not profit them.
They are their witnesses, that they do not see, nor understand, that
they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, and made a graven thing
that is profitable for nothing? [Isaiah 44:8-10] DRB


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A prayer before bed, of St. Alphonsus Ligouri:

Jesus Christ my God, I adore Thee and thank Thee for all the graces
Thou hast given me this day. I offer Thee my sleep and all the moments
of this night, and I beseech Thee to keep me without sin. Wherefore I
put myself within Thy sacred Side and under the mantle of our Lord, my
Mother. Let Thy holy Angels stand about me and keep me in peace; and
let Thy blessing be upon me.