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iEcclesia Season III Episode 64: Love of Power and Idle Talk: The Greedy Babbler
iEcclesia ...From Canada to the World
A Blessed Great Lent! Καλή Μεγάλη Τεσσαρακοστή!
Hope guides the sinner along the way of repentance to the mercy of God. - St. Ephraim the Syrian
Program Information
Our sixty-forth broadcast features host Lia Tsotsos and guest John Kapsalis as discuss the second set of vices from the prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian: Love of Power and Idle Talk.
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Episode Summary
iEcclesia continues with the second podcast of its annual Great Lent series.
O Lord and Master of my life, give me not the spirit of sloth, idle curiosity/meddling, lust for power and idle talk. But grant unto me, Thy servant, a spirit of chastity, humility, patience and love. Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see mine own faults and not to judge my brother. For blessed art Thou unto the ages of ages. Amen. With these words, St. Ephraim the Syrian places in front of us the greatest vices to be fought, along with the greatest virtues to be attained. This Prayer is one that is especially prayed during the divine services of Great Lent, as Lent is a time of spiritual reflection and renewal, as we walk towards the Cross and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. This year, iEcclesia will be featuring this great Prayer as the centre of our Great Lent podcasts – the vices and virtues of Christian Life, and how these influence our journey to the Kingdom. Last week, we began our Great Lent series with the words of St. Ephraim the Syrian and the Prayer that is so famous amongst Orthodox believers, heard at many services throughout the period before Holy Week and Pascha. Analyzing the vices and virtues of Christian Life, and how these influence our journey to the Kingdom, these podcasts are here to take a second look at these so-called “small sins” and “non-essential virtues”, and seeing how they are truly the bedrock of Orthopraxia, ‘acting in an Orthodox way’ in one’s life. While last week we dealt with sloth and idle curiosity, iEcclesia sits down this week with a return guest to discuss, “Love of Power and Idle Talk: The Greedy Babbler”. The program begins with the first vice, Lust for power. Our host Lia asks why do people want to always be in charge and why do they “lust for power”? Next, our guest discusses what new obstacles we have today in stopping this very bad trend. The program continues with a thought on the many role models that push us to “lust for power” and which role models are there to combat the Donald Trumps of the world.The second half of the program deals with the second vice, Idle talk. In Proverbs 26:22, we read, “Gossip is so tasty! How we love to eat it up!” Host Lia asks John the obvious question: why do we gossip? Gossiping can lead to so many problems and our guest describes some of these. Next, John clarifies whether “αργολογία” or “idle talk” is simply gossip. and provides solutions for these vices both for Great Lent and in our everyday lives. The program concludes with final thoughts.
Guest Information
John Kapsalis
- A native of Montreal, Quebec - Bachelor of Arts, Hellenic College (Boston, Massachusetts) - Master of Theological Studies, Holy Cross Orthodox School of Theology (Boston, Massachusetts) - Professor of New Testament Studies, Toronto Orthodox Theological Academy - Sunday School Teacher, St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (Toronto, Ontario)
Lia Tsotsos, Host
- Born in Toronto - Vice President - Ontario, Metropolis Youth Board - Graduate of Kinesiology and Health Sciences for my undergraduate degree at York University. - Currently enrolled in the PhD program in neuroscience, McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario)
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Broadcast
date: Friday
February 26th, 2010
