The way to open our hearts to others is by receiving afresh the grace of God and appreciating what it means: seeing our own need of Christ; coming to receive His mercy; sensing how undeserved His love for us is; remembering how He has also opened His heart to those whose hearts are closed against us. Then we will see that the heart which is too narrow to receive a fellow Christian is too narrow to enthrone the Lord Jesus Christ. But the heart that is opened to receive the grace of Christ will learn to welcome all those whom Christ Himself has welcomed.
Sinclair Ferguson

JERUSALEM

φωτίζοο^ φωτίζου.

Thou New Jerusalem, arise and shine!
The glory of the Lord on thee hath risen
Sion, exult! rejoice with joy divine,
Mother of God! Thy Son hath burst his prison.

O Heavenly Voice! O word of purest love!
“Lo! I am with you alway to the end.”
This is the anchor, steadfast from above.
The golden anchor, whence our hopes depend.

O Christ, our Pascha! greatest, holiest, best!
God’s Word and Wisdom and effectual Might!
Thy fuller, lovelier presence manifest
In that eternal realm that knows no night!

-ST. JOHN DAMASCENE.