Monday Inspirations 01/26/26
Posted January 26th, 2026
Inspiration to Start the Work Week
The Youth and Young Adult Ministries page nicely tied together inspiration from St. Gregory the Theologian and the gospel reading. I share that below.
First, here is an excerpt from The Year of Grace of the Lord commenting on the Lord's encounter with Zacchaeus and what it means for us.
Have a beautiful day and a blessed week!
Love in Christ,
Fr. Paul
Our Lord having caught sight of Zacchaeus, says to him: 'Make haste, and come down; I must abide at thy house'. Jesus's words to Zacchaeus remind us of those from Revelation which are so moving: 'Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.' Jesus is saying to us what he said to Zacchaeus: he wants to come to our home, into our soul - not in a few days's time, or tomorrow - but at this very instant, 'today I must abide at thy house...'. Why postpone the inner change which could make Jesus our guest? Through an inner act of repentance and of consecration, I can this moment open the door to the Lord. Let me lose no time, nor allow an opportunity to slip by which might be exceptionally favorable, and which might not come again. 'Make haste, and come down'. I shall indeed hurry - and I shall come down.
Y2AM - Orthodox Christian Youth and Young Adult Ministries
St. Gregory the Theologian stands as one of the greatest voices in the Church, a man whose words shaped how we understand the Holy Trinity and what it means to truly know God.
Today, paired with the Gospel account of Zacchaeus climbing the sycamore tree, we’re shown what it looks like to seek Christ with courage and intention. Zacchaeus rose above the crowd to see the Lord, and St. Gregory teaches us to rise above distraction, pride, and noise so our hearts can become places where God is known.
As we step out of the Divine Liturgy, we’re invited to climb our own “sycamore trees.” We are invited to take real, practical steps toward Christ this week. Maybe that means guarding our thoughts, praying with more honesty, or choosing humility when it’s hardest. Christ sees us when we seek Him, just as He saw Zacchaeus. Let’s leave church today with that same eagerness, ready to welcome Christ into our homes and hearts. Through the prayers and wisdom of St. Gregory, may we keep climbing. #StGregory #Zacchaeus #Orthodoxy
