Fatherhood and Faith - A Divine Partnership

“A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence.” (1 Timothy 3.2-5)

Summer comes along and the thought of spending time outdoors with our families and friends brings a warm feeling to our hearts. It’s no surprise that in June, then, the beginning of the “official summer season” we take time to honor our fathers since grilling and outdoor activities have come to symbolize men in general but fathers more specifically. For weeks leading up to Fathers’ Day, advertising seems to center around dad, mom and kids around the grill enjoying quality family time. My memories of spending time with my father enjoying the outdoors still bring a smile to my face. But is that all there is to honoring fathers on Fathers’ Day? Sadly, for many families, this is the limit to Fathers’ Day.

We cannot speak about fathers without also speaking of our Heavenly Father, Who loves us so much that “He gave His only begotten Son.” (John 3.16)  His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, then established His Church as “His Body” (Ephesians 1.23) to be the Ark of our salvation. We were baptized into His Body becoming one with the Lord Who gave us “the right to become children of God.” (John 1.12) Our real, albeit mystical, union with God is what leads us to understand, or at least appreciate, the connection between family, church and heaven. When one is united to God, one cannot help but discuss every aspect of life from the perspective of union with God…whether we are grilling in the back yard or receiving the Eucharist in Church on Sunday.

When Saint Paul outlined the requirements for a bishop, he was expressing this truth; that leading the Church was not a separate function of men, but a function of fathers and husbands leading their families to God. Although today our bishops are ordained from within the celibate clergy, this was not always the case, but we’ll leave that topic for another day. There is much more to understanding Church polity that is beyond the scope of this article. How then is it that our fathers, physical and spiritual, lead us to God? Let us begin with the first statement of Saint Paul, by replacing the word “bishop” with “father.”

A father then must be blameless – Saint John Chrysostom said, “Every virtue is implied in this word. [The father’s] life should be unspotted so that all should look up to him and make his life the model of their own.” Rather than asking whether or not our fathers are unspotted, since nobody is without sin, maybe we should ask, “Are they striving to be blameless?” The true role model for families is a life of repentance and confession when we don’t always live up to the standards God has for us. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” (2 Corinthians 5.17) In Christ our fathers are constantly becoming blameless.

A father then must be the husband of one wife – In an era of “no fault divorce” and “common-law marriage” this requirement may seem antiquated or out of touch. It goes without saying that divorce has become too prevalent in our society AND Church, but “From the beginning it was not so.” (Matthew 19.8) Divorce, while being unavoidable at times, and then only for certain reasons, cannot and should not become the norm in our Churches. We must strive for marital chastity and a father must be dedicated to healing and building a marriage and family whenever possible. In fact it reveals greater character to repair a marriage than to flee from it, which serves a greater model to our children and families.

A father then must be temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach – How our fathers relate to others reveals the condition of their hearts. “Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.” (Matthew 7.17) Our actions reveal our nature. In fact the fruit of our behavior indeed teaches our children and others. We are all able to teach. The real issue is WHAT we are teaching in our actions. If we desire our children to be temperate, sober-minded and of good behavior, fathers must model this in their own lives and their children will follow.

These are the character traits that fathers must possess. Saint Paul then includes what fathers “must not” possess in their character.

A father must not be given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, not quarrelsome, not covetous – I have never met anyone who desires a drunk, violent, greedy, feisty, selfish father. And yet, I have met many people who are all or some of these. What happens between what we desire and what we receive? As Saint Paul reminds us that, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3.23) We each are engaged in a battle to subdue our passions. Some are more successful than others, but all fall short….all. If all continue to fall short, is there any hope for fathers and families?

A father must rule his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence – What makes a father great isn’t whether or not he has always succeeded in keeping Saint Paul’s commandments. What makes a father great is his willingness to lead his family (and therefore the Church) toward God with all reverence.

The only true model of a father is The Father, Who even though His children and His Bride (the Church) disobeyed Him and continue to disobey Him, has never faltered in His dedication to leading us toward Heaven. Since that first moment in the Garden, God has been working to restore us to Himself. Our Father in Heaven is blameless, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence…of course God is perfect…

If we, as fathers, strive to live these traits in our lives, then we shall be perfect, just as our Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5.48) And that is something worth honoring this Fathers’ Day.

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The Holy Spirit + Truth = The Church

And Jesus said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20.22)

And Jesus said, “When He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth.” (John 16.13)

More than two thousand years ago, “When the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2.1-4)

My dear brothers and sisters this is the month of Pentecost so it seemed only appropriate that I offer some assurance as to the claims by the Church to possess the fullness of the Truth as revealed by God. On the first Christian Pentecost, after Jesus had returned to His Throne in Heaven on the Feast of Ascension, He sent the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort the Church. This was anticipated since on the Jewish Feast of Pentecost (prior to His Passion) Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture [Old Testament] has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7.37-38) The Gospel continues by stating, “But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” (John 7.39)

It is clear from the evidence of Scripture that Jesus Christ sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within the Church and guide and comfort the Church. This historical reality should not be taken lightly. When we speak of the Apostles and the earliest Church Fathers (those we refer to as the Apostolic Fathers) we MUST (if we are to trust Scripture and Christ’s guarantee) believe that the Holy Apostles taught from by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and not their own opinions. We must have faith that they spoke the truth…the fullness of the truth.

And what did the Holy Apostles teach? (See The Teachings of the Holy Apostles to the Nations)

1.      We must believe in Jesus Christ as the Incarnate Word of God – fully God and fully Man

2.      We must be baptized in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit

3.      We must receive Holy Communion (at least) every Sunday

4.      We must fast Wednesdays and Fridays

5.      We must live according to the Commandments to love God and our neighbor

6.      We must avoid sinful actions and confess our sins when we fail

7.      We must care for the poor

8.      We must avoid false teachers

9.      We must be obedient to our Bishops

10.  We must financially support the ministers and the work of the Church

Most importantly the Holy Apostles taught: “Watch for your life's sake. Let not your lamps be quenched, nor your loins unloosed; but be ready, for you know not the hour in which our Lord comes.” This is the Truth of Orthodox Christianity and our entire Orthodox lifestyle from the Holy Sacraments to daily spiritual disciplines reflects these ten points.

I invite you to join me in a journey toward God living the Orthodox Lifestyle…the rewards of living this journey are eternal.

What Do You Drink When You're Thirsty?

We have all heard that water quenches thirst better than any other beverage. In fact, drinks like coffee, tea and soda actually makes us thirstier, so why do we still drink these drinks instead of water? Many of us, in spite of our better judgment, ignore the advice of doctors and physical trainers when it comes to satisfying our desires. The same thing is true when it comes to our spiritual desires.

The Lord said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7.37-38) The Lord is offering to quench our thirst for peace and love by coming to Him and believing in Him. In fact, just like water, the only thing that will truly quench our thirst for peace and love is being in communion with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. But, in spite of our better judgment, we ignore Jesus call for communion and try to quench our desires using other resources such as fishing, hiking, camping, sports, alcohol, drugs, sex, money, power, authority, food…just about anything BUT being in communion with Jesus Christ.

Just as we find ourselves thirstier when we drink coffee or tea, we will be thirstier when we use other things to quench our desires beside Jesus Christ. If we really desire peace and love, the only way to quench this desire is to approach Jesus Christ and live in communion with Him. This is accomplished IN CHURCH for the Divine Liturgy and other Holy Services of our Church. Then He will give us His Holy Spirit that will not only quench our thirst but become a gushing fountain from our hearts. This is the promise of Pentecost.

Are you thirsty for peach and love? Then come to Church and approach Jesus Christ and live in communion with. Invite Him into your heart and welcome the Holy Spirit to gush from your heart and you will find peace and never thirst again.

Our Mother

On the second Sunday of May each year we honor mothers. We honor them with luncheons, flowers, gifts and praise for their dedication and love. But what do we offer our “common” mother, the Mother of God? The Ever-Virgin Mary whom we call Mother of God, is also our mother. This honor given to her is not just symbolic, but a real relationship she maintains with us as her children.

Consider this…

·         The Mother of God, exercising her free will, gave God permission to enter into His creation through her when she said to the angel, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1.38)

·         The Mother of God, expressing her love, asked Jesus to perform His first miracle during the Wedding in Cana when she said, “They have no wine,” and then turning to the wine steward said, “Whatever He says to you, do it!” (John 2.3,5)

·         The Mother of God, showing her devotion, became OUR mother when from the Cross our Lord said, “Woman, behold your son.” (John 19.26)

·         The Mother of God, knowing her role for future generations said, “All generations will call me blessed.” (Luke 1.48)

How will you honor our Mother for Mother’s Day in exchange for all she has done for us, most especially allowing our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ to enter into His Creation through her? Don’t you think it deserves some honor?

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With Healing Comes Great Boldness

We hear in the Gospel of John (5.1-15)of another healing by Jesus when He was in the Temple for the Feast of the Jewish Pentecost, or the Feast of Weeks when the Jews celebrate the giving of the Law to Moses. We hear of a man paralyzed for thirty-eight years with nobody to assist him or care for him. As he was healed Jesus said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” (John 5.8) This was met with very stern interrogation by the Jewish elite. “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” (John 5.10)

The man who was healed responded with great boldness, never once excusing his behavior. “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk,” and again, “It was Jesus who had made me well.” (John 5.11, 15) In both cases the man chose to stand up for the truth of Christ, even in the face of possible punishment by the Jewish elite, rather than making excuses for his breaking the law. He had been healed which was a much greater thing than to be caught carrying his bed on the Sabbath.

We have been healed by Christ’s glorious resurrection. We have been healed and allowed to walk freely rather than be chained down by sin and death. What is our response? What will we answer if someone demands a response as to why we don’t bow down to public pressure to live according to the flesh rather than living a life of peace and love, confessing God.

In the face of possible persecution by the Jewish elite, the paralytic said, “It was Jesus,” confessing his faith in the power of God. What will our confession be in the face of the American elite? Will we confess our faith and loyalty to Jesus Christ? How bold will we be?

It Requires Courage and Determination to Grow the Church

Early in the morning of the first Pascha, before the sun had risen, the Myrrhbearing Women revealing great courage and determination journeyed in the darkness of early morning to the tomb of Christ to anoint His sacred body with spices. They were courageous because, not only was it before sunrise but there was fear that after Christ had been crucified, others might also be killed by the Jewish elite. But the women did not allow fear to hold them back. They were determined to carry out their responsibility to anoint His sacred body. Their courage and determination was rewarded by God when He first appeared to them and told them the Good News of His Resurrection.

The early Christians living in Jerusalem also revealed courage and determination when they were faced with a growing Church that lacked organization and resources. “There arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution.” (Acts 6.1) Because of the large numbers of believers entering the Church, some were being neglected, not intentionally we can be sure, by the Apostles. Rather than not allowing new believers to enter the Church, the Apostles showed courage and determination and GREW the ministry of the Church by ordaining the first seven deacons saying, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6.3-4) Their courage and determination was rewarded by God, “and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6.7)

Now it’s YOUR turn to show courage and determination and grow YOUR faith in Christ. If you are looking for a Church to attend google your local Orthodox Church XYZ City and make plans to visit the Church for worship or Bible study or classes or just to meet the Clergy. If you already attend a local Orthodox Christian Church, consider growing your commitment and attend a special lecture or study session. Call the priest and schedule confession. It’s only with courage and determination that you will be able to grow closer to Christ – the church in your heart.

From Fear and Doubt to Faith and Wonders

In the evening of the first Pascha, the Apostles had locked themselves in a room because they were afraid of the Jewish elite, when Jesus appeared inside the room and said to them, “’Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (John 20.21-22) But Thomas was not there and doubted the story the Apostles told when he arrived saying, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” (John 20.25) Eight days later, Thomas had his chance when Jesus appeared again in the locked room. After seeing Jesus with his own eyes, Thomas said, “’My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’” (John 20.28-29)

We are those about whom Jesus speaks. We are those who have the chance to believe even though we haven’t seen with our physical eyes because we have the Church to stand as a witness as John wrote, “These are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20.31)

In less than two months (after Pentecost) the Apostles had gained so much faith that many miracles were accomplished them and thousands of people believed in the Risen Lord. “Through the hands of the Apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people….so that they brought the sick out into the streets so that at least the shadow of Peter passing might fall on some of them…and they were all healed.” (Acts 5.12-16)

We have celebrated the Resurrection of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ less than a week ago. In our Holy Baptism (our personal Pentecost) we received the Holy Spirit. Now is our chance to reveal our faith in Jesus Christ and accomplish wonders today so that many more people can come to believe and have faith in Jesus Christ. NOW is our chance to leave doubt and fear behind and embrace faith and wonders for the glory of the Risen Lord.

Christ is Risen!

What Does is it Really Mean to Love as a Christian?

There is a lot of pain in the world and I’m not talking about physical pain, although there is that pain too. I’m talking about emotional pain mostly caused by hurt feelings and abuse by others. Today in Florence, South Carolina, it was announced that a murderer was convicted and sentenced to more than 80 years in prison. Immediately the comments on Facebook started…..by reading some of the comments you might have thought the murderer was the devil himself, but I know the comments come from pain rather than hate.

If it’s one thing I have learned, it is that pain causes us to speak out in ways we would never have otherwise commented. During labor this is called “transition” and attending fathers are warned not to take personally what their wives “say” to them during this stage because, “It’s the pain talking.” In other circumstances, like today’s murder conviction, pain breeds frustration which brings more pain and anger, both acted out with what we hear as hate speech, especially from family members and friends of the victims. Such violent crimes bring increased pain on a society if no other reason than the feeling of hopelessness for a safer neighborhood or worries that “it could have been us in the store,” etc.

But this is where the rubber hits the road for Christians. We are called by our Lord to love our neighbors as ourselves and to love our enemies. Did Jesus really mean for us to love the person who violently killed our best friend? And if He did, what is that love supposed to look like?

Now let me just say I don’t believe loving a convicted murderer means letting him run free through society. All sin carries a price, both spiritually AND in society. I think that is where we allow our anger and pain to get out of control. We represent society so we feel it is our duty to inflict pain and suffering, sometimes even death, to convicted murderers. Some people even quote the Holy Scriptures where Saint Paul said

Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God's minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil. Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing. Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. (Romans 13)

I don’t believe it is a coincidence that Saint Paul speaks of being subject to authority in the same context as he commands us to love. If we all loved more, there would be no need for courts and prisons; that’s for sure. We return then to how this love is to look?

As an Orthodox Christian Priest I will never suggest that God desires us to be violent to each other. The commandment to love one another is clear enough. He does however expect us sometimes to show “tough love” by having consequences for our actions. In the Old Testament Law, often misquoted by the way, “An eye for eye,” was a limitation to vengeance rather than a suggested response. It was only permissible to go as far someone had done to you, but no further. The same is the basis for many criminal codes in our country.

But Jesus clarified this when He said, “You have heard it said, ‘An eye for eye and a tooth for a tooth,’ but I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.” (Matthew 5.38-39) And besides....who exactly is the victim?

We tend to take on the role of victim in our day quite readily but all sin is against God. The psalmist said, “Against You only have I sinned and done evil in Your sight; that You may be justified in Your words, and overcome when You are judged.” (Psalm 50.6) If we are not the victim, then “an eye for eye” bears no weight in our defense.

So we are once again back to what does this love look like? I think the best way we can love, even the most vicious criminals is to pray for them. After all, God loves them too, and no less than He loves us. Isn’t that worthy of a little mercy? There can be no room for death sentences for a Christian. Life in prison is sufficient for the protection of society AND it gives the criminal a chance of repentance.

I suppose it wouldn’t hurt if jail wasn’t perceived as a hotel stay either. I’ve heard from prison chaplains that prison, no matter what we might hear, is not a pleasant place to be.

I’ll close by admitting that I have never lost a close friend or relative in a violent crime so I do not know that level of pain, nor do I pretend to know. I’m just a priest trying to bring a little peace to a world full of pain.

Have a blessed Pascha (that’s the Christian Passover for you non-Orthodox readers out there)

Behold, your King is Coming!

The arrival of any King or political leader is often met with fanfare and accolades from crowds of onlookers. For many people, meeting such a powerful person is an “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity and few, even when they dislike the leader, pass an opportunity to meet him or her. This was even more valid in the time of Jesus Christ. Meeting the King or Emperor was just one step below meeting God Himself.

So when Jesus rode through the gates of Jerusalem on a donkey, the people recognized Him as their King as they called out, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! The King of Israel!” (John 12.13) The people had been waiting their entire lifetime for a military king who would defeat the Romans and restore the Kingdom of Israel. For these pious Jews, the time had come to finally bring freedom. And Jesus accomplished this but many didn’t fully understand His mission as King.

In ancient times a King entered the city riding high on a white horse as a symbol of his victory and strength over the enemies. When Christ entered on a donkey, a humble seemingly weak animal, He was teaching that His Kingdom was not one of political, war-like strength, but peace and humility. Christ DID come to defeat the enemy, but the enemy was a spiritual one rather than political. And many just didn’t understand His mission as King.

Today is our chance to finally understand His mission as King. Today is our chance to declare Him as OUR King. His mission for us is to live in communion with God for all eternity in Heaven. If we declare Him as our King, He will claim us as His servants and protect us and care for us as a Good and Faithful King.

Come! And follow the King of Kings and enter Heaven! Join your voices with the voices of the crowd from so long ago…. “Save, now! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. The King of Israel!” and then let’s follow our King.

Blessed is He Who Comes in the Name of the Lord

These words shouted out on the first Palm Sunday to Jesus Christ some two thousand years ago by thousands of believers, just days before He would be arrested, convicted and put to death, reflects the trend of our fallen human nature. One moment we are praising God; the next moment we are ignoring Him.

When Jesus Christ took on human flesh for our salvation that meant we no longer were held captive by the devil and his shenanigans. With the announced coming of God into the world, as we just celebrated a few weeks ago with the Feast of Annunciation, He declared war on the devil and we were freed from death. It’s no surprise that the people cried such praises to God, but something changed in the people.

On that first Palm Sunday, those believing Jews were expecting Jesus Christ to rise up and finally put an end to the Roman occupation. They were expecting a military messiah but they received a spiritual savior who would save them from eternal death, by Himself dying and raising from the dead. Suddenly when they realized the reality of His impending death, they also realized they would be required to stand up for their faith in God and live a new life even risking being shunned or killed for their belief in Jesus. Many just could not show such faith.

In 2012 we run the same risk as those first believers my brothers and sisters. Many of us have been expecting a messiah who would make life easy if we believed in Him. He would take away all sickness if we believed in Him. He would bless us with nice homes and good jobs if we believed in Him. He would protect us from suffering if we believed in Him. Some refer to this as the Gospel of Prosperity. There is only one problem…..God never promised an easy ride.

We encounter the same need to stand up for our faith in God and live a life even risking being ridiculed and persecuted by those who either don’t believe in Him or by those who believe in the messiah that would make life easy. Just days after shouting out “Hosanna in the Highest!” many turned their backs on Jesus as He ascended the Cross. On Palm Sunday we will join our voices with those of the past and cry out, “Hosanna in the Highest!” Let us not turn our backs on Him.

This year, let’s take the opportunity of Great and Holy Pascha and rededicate our lives, individually and as a Parish Community, to keeping our eyes on Christ. Let’s not just “call” Him Lord, let’s actually treat Him as Lord as we will join our voice on April 15^th with…

Christ is Risen! Χριστός Ανέστη! Христос Воскресе! Hristos a înviat! Al-Masih-Qam! Cristo ha resucitado! ქრისტე აღსდგა! Truly He is Risen!

I look forward to seeing you in Church during Holy Week!

+ Father Athanasios

Why March 25th is a Celebration for ALL Generations

Growing up Greek in America I was never without my opportunities to share with my friends what makes “us Greeks” different from the rest of the world…but it got a little old explaining why “Greek Easter” was later than everyone else’s Easter. It was refreshing as I got older and began to have a better understanding about what it meant to be Greek in America, and even more refreshing when I finally understood the importance of March 25^th – The Annunciation of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

For many Greeks in America (or Americans of Greek descent as some prefer to be known) March 25^th was, and continues to be, the celebration of Greek Independence Day when the mighty Greeks stood up to the Ottoman Turks in 1821.

But as history teaches us, the Greeks CHOSE March 25^th as the official celebration of Greek Independence because that date meant something in their lives – (as Saint Athanasios said) God became man so that man could become divine. The celebration of that “Good News” is celebrated by the entire Christian Church on March 25^th. There could be no better date to celebrate freedom from the oppressive Ottoman Empire than the same date when we celebrate freedom from the oppressive demons of hell.

For those of us Greeks who gather in Churches and Courthouse stairs to celebrate Greek Independence Day, it is our duty and blessing to share with the world the Good News and hope for ALL generations. In announcing His coming birth, God is announcing our future life with Him in heaven. Just as announcing freedom from the Ottoman Empire signaled hope for a better life for the Greeks, freedom from death and gates of hell signals our hope for our eternal future.

The Christian Way – The Original PDF

PDF is a term most people recognize as a term for a document that has been prepared to share over the internet. Long before computers or even paper and pencil, Jesus Christ established the original PDF when He said, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” He also said, “For whoever desires to save his life with lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8.34-36) The Gospel of Christ is meant to be shared with everyone who desires to know about God and how He wants us to live.

We cannot live in communion with God AND the world. We must make a choice. Either we chase after wealth and prestige which the world teaches, or we follow Christ. The way of the world is selfish and dedicated to pleasing our bodies. The way of Christ is dedicated to pleasing God. The best part is that God doesn’t force us to follow Him. It’s our choice. It’s our freedom. But we must make a choice. Do we choose wealth and prestige now or heaven later?

If you choose heaven, then it’s easy to remember….PDF

P – Pick up your cross. Every time you struggle to do the will of God you are picking up you cross. With the cross comes suffering, but the suffering is nothing compared to the joy God has waiting for us in Heaven. We learn to embrace the suffering by prayer.

D – Deny yourself. Every time you give up your will to God and His Church you come closer to understanding that life isn’t about pleasing yourself but pleasing God. We learn this by fasting.

F – Follow Me. Following Christ means ACTION. We cannot just watch Christ if we are following Him. We must be doing as He does and living as He lives. We learn this by treating others as Christ would treat them – with love and respect. This is almsgiving.

So, Whom are You Bringing to Christ?

As Christ traveled from town to town many sick and suffering were brought to Him for healing. Once in Capernaum Jesus was speaking at a home filled to capacity by listeners when four men carried arrived carrying their paralyzed friend. The house was so full of people the four men couldn’t even get in the door for Christ to help their friend. They were so dedicated to helping their friend that they climbed up on the roof and lowered their friend in to see Christ. Without the efforts of these four friends, this man would still be standing outside waiting for a chance to see Jesus. “When the Lord saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven you.’” (Mark 2.5)

When we take the time to bring our friends to the Church to meet the Lord, we should our love for our friend and our faith in God. During this Lenten season we are invited by the Church to strengthen our relationship with Christ. Just a few weeks ago we heard Jesus clearly state that our judgment was based upon how we treated others and cared for their needs. The best way we can care for the needs of others, whether our neighbor, friend, or blood relative, is to invite them to join us in Church so they can experience the Love of Christ for themselves.

The nice part is we don’t have to climb up on the roof and let them down on a rope. We can simply invite them to join us sitting in the pews. In Capernaum Jesus was teaching and many came to hear Him. Every Sunday in our Church Jesus speaks to us through His Gospel and the Divine Liturgy and we are gathered to listen and be inspired by His Holy Wisdom. There is only one thing missing….our friends.

What Should I Give Up for Great Lent?

I hear this discussion so often that I am more convinced that most do not understand fasting from the Orthodox Christian point of view. First and most importantly fasting should not be considered purely as an act of self-denial. “I must give up something I really enjoy. God sacrificed His life for me; at least I can sacrifice sweets for Him.” Although fasting is about our relationship with God, it is more about self-control rather than self-denial. Self-denial emphasizes the concept of punishment rather than loving control.

The central aspect of fasting is to place our will (our desires and wants) as second to the will of God. The benefit of fasting is to die to ourselves and allow God’s will to control our will. Indeed this is one element of self-denial BUT when we choose what we will “give up”, in truth we don’t release any control. WE choose what WE want to give up? How is this self-denial?

This idea, of “cafeteria style” Christianity, where we choose what we want from a menu rather than allowing the Church to guide us, is a symptom of our selfish desire to always remain in control. It is also present in our moral decisions every time we choose whether or not a teaching of the Church has any value or truth.

So if we want to give something up for God during Great Lent, we should begin by fasting according to the teachings of our Church. I assure you that if you don’t already fast, following the established guidelines of the Church will not only show God you love Him but it will also be more successful in training us to sacrifice our will for the will of God.

Remember one thing when it comes to eating….Adam and Eve chose for themselves what they would eat.

Does it Really Matter Where I Go to Church?

In our contemporary American society, with thousands of Christian Churches on every street corner, I often hear the comment, “It doesn’t matter where you go to Church as long as you go to Church.” I have heard this from many of our own parishioners so I thought it was a good time to address the question since Great Lent is again upon us and we are called to a higher level of commitment to the Church and attending Church services.

First allow me to address the most obvious error in this question. If it didn’t matter where we went to Church there wouldn’t be thousands of Churches in the first place. The fact that so many different expressions of faith in Jesus Christ exist, each declaring their own version of the truth of Christ, should cause us at the very least to question why so many versions of the truth exists – or more importantly how so many versions of the truth could exist. Truth is truth and it simply isn’t possible that everyone is correct.

This is the first truth proclaimed by the Orthodox Church on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. We believe that we are the historical Church, established by the Holy Apostles of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We know the Holy Apostles were guided in all truth by the Holy Spirit (see John 16.13). We follow a way of life taught by Christ and passed to us by the Holy Apostles. Our faith that the Holy Apostles established the Church in truth is a matter of faith in Christ’s guarantee. The Holy Apostles established the Church and spoke very strongly about remaining united to that Church.

Second allow me to comment on the general theology found in other Christian Churches. During the Divine Liturgy we recite the Nicene Creed, a doctrine of what we believe about Jesus Christ. When we enter into any other Church that does not share this same doctrine we have found ourselves in a Church that preaches a different theology than the Orthodox Church. Listen to the hymns and carefully read the prayers offered. Do the prayers express a different understanding of who God is? Do the prayers begin or end “in the name of Jesus” or, as our Holy Orthodox Tradition since the beginning, “in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit?” We must remember the importance of HOW we understand Jesus since it is Jesus who saves us from death.

Third and most important is our ability to receive Holy Communion. WE CANNOT RECEIVE Holy Communion in any other Church but an Orthodox Church for the reasons I have just stated. If we cannot receive Holy Communion then, as Jesus says in the Gospel, we have no life in us. “"Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6.53)

On Sunday, March 4^th we will celebrate the Sunday of Orthodoxy with these words:

X  This is the faith of the Apostles!

X  This is the faith of the Fathers!

X  This is the faith of the Orthodox!

X  This is the faith which has established the Universe!

This is why it DOES MATTER where we go to Church. I pray I see you in Church during Great Lent as we prepare to celebrate the Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Loving Father

As the old saying goes, “If you love someone, let them go. If they return to you, they are forever.” Nothing has been more true, especially in light of the Gospel and the Parable of the Prodigal Son. The younger son (of two brothers) demanded his early share of his father’s inheritance then went away and wasted the money on sinful living. All the while the father waited for his son to return. “He arose and came to his father. When he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him.” (Luke 15.20)

The image of the father standing at the door morning and night waiting for the first glimpse of his son’s return is very powerful. This is the same love and devotion God has for us when we turn away from Him. He loves us enough to let us go, and then He waits for us to choose to return. When we do return to Him, He welcomes us with His warm embrace and love restoring us to our original status as His children. “The father said to his servant, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat it and be merry, for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and now is found.” (Luke 15.22-24)

This love of The Father is waiting for us to “come to ourselves” as the young prodigal son had done.  It is never too late for us to return to God in repentance for the life we have chosen to live away from Him. We may not even realize, as of now, that we are living a life away from Him, just as the prodigal son was enjoying his life. It was in the face of suffering that he realized where he was. It would be a shame for us to wait for such suffering to occur in our life. We should return now before we suffer any more.

God is standing at the gates waiting for us to turn and begin our journey toward Him. Let’s not waste another day.

To Whom is the Lord Speaking in His Gospel?

The Gospel is read aloud at every Divine Liturgy and many other services in the Church but rarely do we find the need to question to whom the Lord is speaking. But I think it is interesting that on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the Church excludes an important verse from the public reading. It remains in scripture of course, but for those who do not read the Holy Scriptures privately, this important verse may never be heard.

It was the sinful Publican (tax collector) who wept in shame of his sins that the Lord blessed that day in the Temple when He said, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18.14) Who is “the other” man but each one of us when we praise ourselves or elevate our own standing ahead of others no matter who the others may be.

The Pharisee lived an otherwise righteous life of prayer, fasting, and tithing, and followed the Letter of the Law. But he did so without love in his heart for his neighbor. He said, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector.” (Luke 18.11) Unfortunately he was blind to the PURPOSE of the Law which was meant to shape his life more in the image of God by loving others.

What is the missing verse? You’ll  have to look that one up yourself… Luke 18.9.

Ancient Humility for the Modern World

In the Gospel of Matthew 15.21-28, (also in Mark 7.24-30) our Lord teaches just the sort of humility He expects from us when a woman approaches Him for a miracle. “He answered her not a word.” (Matthew 15.23) Only after she persisted did He answer, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.” (Matthew 15.26) And this He said only after she begged Him a third time to heal her daughter. Most of us would have left feeling alone after being ignored the first time. Almost all of us would have left feeling dejected after being told, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Matthew 15.24) But after the final blow of being called a “little dog” I doubt any of us would have stayed to beg for someone else. But this woman did just that.

Her faith was so great that she was able to swallow her pride and accept that she wasn’t worthy of God’s time. And in fact she was not worthy, nor is any of us for that matter. All she desired was a “few crumbs” of His time to heal her daughter. She did not ask for herself but for her daughter. She called out to the Lord, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.” (Matthew 15.27)

She wasn’t putting herself down. She wasn’t beating herself up. And she didn’t argue that she was worth His time. Nor did she suggest she was special and demanded better treatment. She was accepting her place in total humility to the Lord and she heard Him say, “O woman, great is your faith!” (Matthew 15.28)

In today’s world we would likely stand boldly and declare that we deserved better. We, being urged by our social surroundings, would be offended that anyone, “let alone God” would dare to call us little dogs. But this woman didn’t…and God blessed her. That’s something to think about.

Jesus is Coming and I’m Fixin’ to Get Ready for Him

Christmas is past now and the decorations have been put away. Our children have already grown tired of their new toys. Life goes on…until tomorrow. That’s right; life does go on, sometimes even without our realizing it.

In just two weeks we will enter the Triodion Period, a season of preparation for the Holy and Great Fast, and the Church brings us together to hear the story of Zacchaeus who “sought to see who Jesus was.” (Luke 19.3) This man, short and filled with sin, “ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.” (Luke 19.4) He wanted to experience for himself who Jesus was. We can presume from this story that he heard about Jesus because His Name was gaining great fame. But Zacchaeus also knew he had to be ready for Jesus, so he made plans.

The Triodion Period of the Church is a time when we can prepare for our Great Lenten Journey. But today we are looking ahead and asking what we need for that journey. Zacchaeus knew he needed to run ahead and climb up high to be ready.  If we want to see who Jesus is, we also need to get things ready. We need to check our calendars to make sure we have time to attend Church services and time set aside for personal prayer. We need to check our grocery list and pantry to make sure we have enough Lenten food to eat. We need to find our Bible and have it ready for the extra readings. (We might even want to start reading it now to get a head start…) If we want to see Jesus, we can’t wait until He arrives. Otherwise we will be filled with distractions and another Lenten season and Holy and Great Pascha will pass right on by without us.

Jesus honored Zacchaeus’ preparation and said, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.’ But when they saw it, the all complained.” (Luke 19.5,7) Jesus honored the work and preparation of Zacchaeus and He will honor our work and preparation. Some might complain about us, but we will hear the words of our Lord, “Today salvation has come to this house.” (Luke 19.9)

How do you Give Thanks?

There are so many ways to say thank you. You can call. You can send a card or email. You can Facebook it. You can even Tweet it! But what’s the best way to say thank you to someone who has given you more than you ever imagined? How do you say thank you to that special person who gave you life? And I’m not talking about your mother.

How do you say thank you to God for everything He has done for you? Is a card enough? Is it enough to list your Facebook status as “thanking God today for my blessings,” which I must admit I read almost every day? In the Gospel of Luke we hear of 10 men who were healed by the Lord of a horrible disease. Jesus commanded them to “’Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.” (Luke 17.14) By showing themselves to the priests, according to the Law, these men were to offer an offering (sacrifice) of thanks. From the ancient times of the Old Testament (affirmed by our Lord in this story) offering a sacrifice of thanks to God for healing was considered an integral part of the healing process.

But there was more thanks to be given. “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.” (Luke 17.15-16) The Lord blessed Him for this while asking, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” (Luke 17.17) This is the complete and total gratitude that is blessed by God.

We may not have Leprosy, but we have been blessed by our Lord. Why not choose to offer God the thanks He deserves? If you really want to offer thanks to Him for your blessings, you will hear this Gospel and follow the example of the one single man. Bring your offering of thanks to the Church in your weekly Stewardship and then stay and worship Him. By living this way you will hear the words of our Lord directed at you, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17.19)

The Faith-Life Disconnect

One main purpose of this blog is to inspire readers to put their faith into action.

Our Lord says:

If you love Me, keep My commandments….If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. (John 14.15,23)

Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. (John 21.15-15)

When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 'I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.' Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 'When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 'Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.' Then He will also say to those on the left hand, 'Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 'for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 'I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.' Then they also will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?' Then He will answer them, saying, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.' And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life." (Matthew 25.31-46)

In a recent article (http://www.abpnews.com/content/view/7053/9/) Jim Denison calls us out as Christians. He asks, “If Christians are so engaged in our culture, why is our culture in the shape it's in?” This question SHOULD hit us right between the eyes as Christians. I believe our society has long since gone off the deep end when it comes to Christians living their Christianity, but I can’t really blame the average believer. The fault lies partly with those who call themselves (and I include myself here) Clergy/Pastors.

American Christianity has become more selfish and more pleasure driven over the years. Church attendance has become ‘where we feel comfortable’ vs. where we are formed by the Church into how God wants us to live. As Saint Paul asks, “Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" (Romans 9.20) YET! Every day in Churches throughout the world, we hear statements like, “Well, God made me this way,” or “I’m not a saint, you can’t expect me to live that way,” or “If I use those sorts of ethics in my business, I’ll lose all my customers.” Christianity has become an institution where surveys and needs assessments govern ministries and policies rather than the Gospel.

In a recent poll, (http://www.barna.org/congregations-articles/556-what-people-experience-in-churches#.Tws3ZHWykFc.facebook) it is said that fewer than 50% of Church attendees (those who actually attend Church on a somewhat regular basis) believe that Church actually effects their lives greatly. I don’t see why this should be a surprise when just about every trend in society makes its way into the Church from worship styles to moral ethics. If today’s trend is for rock-n-roll praise bands playing for gay marriage receptions, then tomorrow is likely to be séances at funerals. Let’s face it, most Christians don’t allow the Gospel, let alone the Church, to guide them in their daily lives, and then complain that a disconnect exists between church and life.

Orthodox Christianity is about shaping our lives to conform to the Lord. In 2012 America, with teachings such as the Prosperity Gospel and an overall attitude of “since this is how I was made, it must be ok,” we will more and more be viewed as counter culture. But to this I invoke the words of the great Saint Paul when he challenged the Romans, “do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12.2) And he said this as a challenge to how a Christian ought to be living after Baptism.

How are you living daily life? Does your faith in Jesus Christ affect the way you live your life? If it doesn’t, consider stopping by an Orthodox Church and discover the ancient Christian Church. Orthodoxy is a way of life….not just a doctrine. You won’t find perfect people, but you will find the Truth.

Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand – Matthew 4.17

Immediately after His baptism by John in the Jordan and being tempted by the devil for forty days and nights in the wilderness, our Lord’s first public sermon was just a few words, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4.17) Could the message of Christ’s Gospel be so simple? What did He mean by telling us to repent? Are we doing something wrong? Are we sinning? Are we ignoring God? And what did He mean by, “the kingdom of heaven is at hand?” If we don’t ask these questions when we hear these words, then we’re not listening.

When our Lord speaks in the Gospel we are expected to listen and take note. It is no coincidence that the clergy proclaim, “Wisdom, Let us be attentive,” before each reading of the Holy Scriptures. The reading is not just for fun, it is meant to call us to action and it demands a response from us….that is of course if we are listening.

Most of us in 2012 hear the Gospel proclaimed but never consider the words are meant for our ears. We sometimes think that the stories we hear are just nice stories about the past, but we never stop to consider what the words would mean if they were meant for us. Well the words are meant for us. God in His wisdom inspired the Evangelists to write down the basic elements of Christ’s story so that we could hear from their point of view what God wanted us to know now in 2012.

So what does it mean to repent? Repentance is “to change one’s mind or point of view or direction.” Taken spiritually, that would mean to change our mind to become more like Christ’s mind; to change our point of view to become more like Christ’s point of view; to change our direction toward God rather than away from Him. Let’s take first things first this new year…..let’s change the way we listen to the Holy Scriptures and let’s practice hearing the words as they were meant to be heard….directed toward us and expecting some sort of response.

You may be asking why the urgency? Well, that’s the rest of His first sermon. “The kingdom of heaven is at hand.” It is now, not later, that Christ has established His kingdom. If we want to be with Him in heaven, we need to get ourselves ready NOW, and not wait any longer. Just because God hasn’t returned in over two thousand years to claim His Bride (the Church) doesn’t mean He isn’t coming tonight. And if He does come tonight, wouldn’t you want to be ready for Him?

On the Eighth Day of Christmas Our Lord has a Name, Jesus

At that time, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him. Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom; and when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, but supposing him to be in the company they went a day’s journey, and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances; and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. After three days, they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions; and all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when they saw him they were astonished; and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” And he said to them, “How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying which he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man. – Luke 2.20-21,40-52

As I have already mentioned our Lord’s birth was a beginning rather than an end. Immediately the Gospel teaches us of His ability to teach and astonish the crowds. At the age of twelve He had to be in His Father’s house (the Temple) but still He was obedient to His mother. That sounds like a pretty good New Year’s Resolution – spend more time in God’s House and be obedient to our parents.

Happy New Year!