PHILOKALIA MINISTRIES

John the Baptist and the terrible freedom of decreasing “He must increase, but I must decrease.” — John 3:30 There is something almost unbearable about where we find John the Baptist in this Gospel. The man of the wilderness is no longer in the wilderness. The voice that once cried out beside the Jordan is confined behind walls. The crowds are elsewhere now. Another is preaching. Another is healing. Another is gathering disciples. John cannot even go to Jesus himself. He must

On the Holy Poverty of a Life That Has Not Taken Shape “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was to go.” — Hebrews 11:8 There is a peculiar temptation that comes when a life begins to fall apart. We immediately begin trying to understand what God is building from the ruins. Something has ended, and almost before we have allowed ourselves to grieve it, we ask what is beg

The good way may not be another path forward, but the ancient poverty of standing before God without needing to become anything “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls.” — Jeremiah 6:16 There is something easily overlooked in Jeremiah’s words. Before the walking comes the standing. Stand by the roads, and look. We are often too frightened to do this. When one road ends, we immediately se