As we approach Theophany, the Church asks us to look honestly at how we come to worship. A story from Saint Basil the Great tells of angels writing the names of those who entered the church with prayer and zeal, while others passed unnoticed. The lesson is not about judgment, but about the state of our hearts. Do we come because we are hungry for healing, or because it is simply our routine?

We live in a time of comfort and freedom. That is a blessing, but it can quietly weaken our zeal. When faith costs us nothing, it becomes easy to treat it lightly. We see children come to church with excitement and wonder, while adults often come tired, distracted, or simply going through the motions. The danger is not persecution, but indifference.

The Feast of Theophany reminds us what true zeal looks like. Christ enters the waters not because H ...