Monday Inspirations 01/19/26
Posted January 19th, 2026
Inspiration to Start the Work Week
The Youth and Young Adult Ministries page had a beautiful prayer and reflection for MLK Day tying in with St. Athanasios whom we celebrated yesterday. I share it below.
Here are some more quotes on thankfulness from the Saints as well to follow up on yesterday's gospel and sermon.
Have a beautiful day and a blessed week!
Love in Christ,
Fr. Paul
1. St. Paul the Apostle
"Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
2. St. Basil the Great
"When you sit down to eat, pray. When you eat bread, do so thanking Him for being so generous to you. If you drink wine, be mindful of Him who has given it to you for your pleasure and as a relief in sickness. When you dress, thank Him for His kindness in providing you with clothes. When you look at the sky and the beauty of the stars, throw yourself at God’s feet and adore Him who in His wisdom has arranged things in this way. Similarly, when the sun goes down and when it rises, when you are asleep or awake, give thanks to God, who created and arranged all things for your benefit, to have you know, love and praise their Creator."
3. St. Maximus the Confessor
"Every genuine confession humbles the soul. When it takes the form of thanksgiving, it teaches the soul that it has been delivered by the grace of God."
4. St. Anthony the Great
For it is absurd to be grateful to doctors who give us bitter and unpleasant medicines to cure our bodies, and yet to be ungrateful to God for what appears to us to be harsh, not grasping that all we encounter is for our benefit and in accordance with His providence. For knowledge of God and faith in Him is the salvation and perfection of the soul."
St. Nikolai Velimirovich
"For if God does not for a moment tire of giving us good things, how can we tire of thanking Him for these good things?"
Y2AM - Orthodox Christian Youth and Young Adult Ministries
St. Athanasios, whom we as the Church honored yesterday, stood fearlessly for truth when the world around him bent toward convenience and compromise.
Today, as we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we see that same unwavering courage echoed in a different age and a different struggle. Both men remind us that defending the image of God in every person is not optional. Rather, it is the work of every Christian. The prayer we offer today calls us to that same path of justice, mercy, and reconciliation. It challenges us to resist division, to speak truth with humility, and to love even when it costs us something.
As this new week begins, it becomes a moment to reset our hearts and realign our intentions with the Gospel. Let this Monday be more than a holiday. Let today be a recommitment to walk in courage, compassion, and clarity. May we carry the witness of St. Athanasios and Dr. King into the days ahead and live the truth we proclaim. #ResetMonday #MLK #Prayer #Orthodox
