The Old Testament is replete with many prophesies that promise the coming of the Christ of God, born of a virgin, despised and rejected, and fulfilling the hopes of Israel. The Psalms of David and the prophets offer multitudinous promises of hope for the Kingdom of God where every pain and sorrow is wiped away, every sin and iniquity destroyed and every injustice is made right. Prophecies of the Virgin Birth, the miracles of Christ, his crucifixion and resurrection fill the pages of the Old Testament…

The faithfulness of God and the truthfulness of God inspires and challenges us to be honest in our words and fulfill our promises and commitments. The extent to which the current climate of honesty and faithfulness in keeping promises is in crisis, cannot be exaggerated. On a worldly level the dishonesty in reporting in the media leaves many of us unable to trust hardly anything that is reported. This includes both sides of any given question. It leaves many unable to make informed decisions because of countless breeches of trust and honesty. This is not an excuse for us to lie or make false promises. Having come through 10 years of building projects in the monastery, we took for granted, the honest contractors who made promises, signed contracts and fulfilled those promises. We hear more and more of contentious situations where promises are not kept on both sides. We understand that a contract is only as good as the integrity of the ones who make the contract. The legal contract means nothing if the heart and mind are full of deception.

– From the Talanton of the Monastery of St Gregory Palamas