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!

On the 7th Day of Christmas we anticipate Theophany

During the Royal Hours of Christmas we sang:

Today is born of a Virgin, he who holds creation in the hollow of his hand (three times).
As a mortal he is wrapped in swaddling rags, he who in his being cannot be handled.
God lies in a manger, who of old established the heavens in the beginning.
He is nourished with milk from the breast, he who rained Manna on the People in the desert.
He summons Magi, the Bridegroom of the Church.
He accepts their gifts, the Son of the Virgin.
We worship your birth, O Christ (three times).
Show us also your divine Epiphany.

This hymn was sung in the same style as “Today is hung upon a tree” from Holy and Great Thursday evening during the Lord’s Crucifixion.

The Nativity of Christ LEADS to something. It leads to the Lord’s revealing (thus the term Epiphany or Theophany) His Divine Trinity to us on the Feast of Theophany also known as His baptism in the Jordan by John the Baptist. Today the Church begins liturgically to look forward to that event. Today is the Saturday before Theophany and the readings are established to direct our attention toward God’s revelation of Himself.

Everything the Lord has done since the Fall of Humanity (and is still doing) until now has been leading us toward Him to reconcile us to Himself. The same must be true for our daily spiritual walk. Everything we do must in some direct way have the purpose of leading us closer to God. From our daily prayers to our daily chores, our entire life must be centered upon Christ.

There can be no room in a Christian’s life for tomorrow. Our Church hymns are always in the present. “Today is born…”, “Today is hung upon a tree…”, today…today…today… Don’t put  off to tomorrow what the Lord desires for you today, a true relationship with Him. Find a Church and begin your journey today to a closer relationship with our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ.

Christ is born; Glorify Him! Christ is come from Heaven; Encounter Him!

On the Sixth Day of Christmas I began to look forward

Tomorrow is New Year’s Eve and we all turn our attention ahead to a new year while glancing back at the past year with mixed emotions. In my case 2011 is the year I lost my mother but it is also the year in which my (Christ’s really as I am just a servant) ministry has begun to flourish with attendance at Church services (all services) and Bible studies on the rise. I will remember 2011 as a year of sorrow and joy as our parish buried two founding members while making plans to celebrate our golden anniversary (50 years of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ). A year of mixed emotions is really a year of total experience. Life cannot exist as joy without sorrow. In Orthodoxy we call this “joyful-sorrow” and it signifies our spiritual journey of struggle hand-in-hand with victory. The Christian life IS a life of joyful-sorrow.

So while we look ahead to the next year we MUST, if we are dedicated Christians, look forward to moving closer to God. In his letter to the Hebrews Saint Paul writes, “here is the bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” (Hebrews 7.19) Our Lord came to earth on Christmas (this is only the 6^th day of Christmas after all) so that we could be drawn closer to Him through physical communion with Him. This closeness is accomplished in the Eucharist (Holy Communion) which is encountered in the Divine Liturgy.

I invite you to look forward to 2012 with a new dedication to growing closer to God in the Eucharist and the Orthodox Church. You may be reading this blog wondering if you would be “happy” attending an Orthodox Church or you may be reading this blog as a faithful Orthodox Christian wondering how you can grow closer to God. For both I invite you to embrace the spiritual struggle that IS Orthodox Christianity. Read Holy Scripture every day. Fast every Wednesday and Friday, and the other fasting days of the Church. Bring a tithe (10%) of your income to the Church to express your thanks to God and give alms to charities that uphold the Christian love. Above all be in Church as often as you are able.

Christ is born; Glorify Him!

On the fifth day of Christmas and the world rejoices

Well the world, most of it anyway, has already forgotten about Christmas. That is, all except for the nightly news which continues to report on the Christmas SHOPPING season, as if that is what really matters. It’s no wonder so many people accuse me of being “down on society” all the time. I don’t think I’m down at all. I believe I’m just willing to call it like I see it.

Most people don’t really want to hear the truth about their actions or desires. Let’s face it. The Gospel is full of stories where Jesus was just calling it like He saw it, but the Pharisees and the society elite didn’t want to admit their reality. They would do just about anything to cover up how they really believed and lived. Has anything really changed in our society today?

Just tune in to for a few brief moments to the weekly talk shows on cable or radio and you hear a constant buzz of excuses and redirecting comments away from reality. When a man is accused of having an affair, he is declared incapable of being president – EVEN THOUGH the reality of sexual chastity and marital faithfulness continues to dwindle in our nation. How is it people think their own lack of sexual morality make them qualified for what they do every day but not someone else’s lack of sexual morality. That is really just one example.

There are others where greed is the governing moral. After all, isn’t our nation’s class struggle nothing more than just greed? The poor want something they don’t have and the rich want more of what they do have. Before you jump down to the comment button hear me out on this one….An objective evaluation of poverty I believe reveals a subjective practice. What is too rich for one is not rich enough for another. What is poor for one is wealthy for another. Wealth is a matter of perspective for sure, but Saint Paul and the early Church Fathers spoke about being content with the blessings our Lord gives us. If we are poor (and I must admit I am not but I don’t think that excludes me from speaking a spiritual truth) with cable TV and cell phones, are we really poor? I don’t mean to suggest that people don’t suffer. I see them with my own eyes, but there are many more whose suffering is brought upon by poor decisions and an overall lack of disciple. BUT THE WEALTHY ARE NO BETTER! There are millions (quite literally) who have been blessed by God beyond what they need and are still demanding more. They are not satisfied with what they have. Most people rarely are I suppose.

Anyway, since today is the fifth day of Christmas (the day of FIVE GOLDEN RINGS) I suppose it’s appropriate that I made mention of greed. “They” say money makes the world go around, but I learned something different in geology. “They” say that hard work pays off, but I have learned that many hard working servants never get ahead. Christmas isn’t about money; it’s about life – life in Christ.

Christ came down from heaven and put on flesh for our salvation so He could unite us to Him. When the times comes for us to join Him, will we bring our wallets or our hearts?

On the fourth day of Christmas and I’m feeling a bit reflective

I was blessed to attend a funeral yesterday of a young 22 year old man, the son of a local clergyman associate of mine, who died tragically a few days before Christmas and I have become a bit reflective about my own blessings. During the funeral the presiding priest kept stating, “This is why Jesus had to die…” I’m not sure I agree with that since not only were we celebrating Christmas, but the Orthodox Church has a different view on the death of Christ. He didn’t die so much because of “my personal sin” as much as He desired to be totally human and all humans must die. For Orthodox Christians the death of Christ is an act of pastoral love, not recovering some penalty of sin. Although “the wages of sin is death,” (Romans 6.23) when we dwell upon the cruel verdict of an angry God who demands death in exchange for sin, we lose sight of His absolute love.

That love is what has helped me this year. This year has been a very challenging year for me personally with my mother succumbing to cancer in April. It was our first Christmas without her and the busyness of a full house of cousins helped me. I am very blessed to have such a dedicated and loving family. My mother will be missed, as I’m sure the young man whose funeral I attended will be missed. It is because of Christmas that I am assured we will see each other again. That is reason enough to glorify God.

On the third day of Christmas I feel like I ate three French hens

In addition to Church services and opening presents, for many people Christmas is also a time to eat…and eat….and eat. I think that may have been the reason for the three French hens. After all the turkey and stuffing and potatoes and pie and (at least in every Greek home) spanakopita and feta cheese, I’m looking forward to a quick workout this morning to burn some of those extra Christmas calories. It sort of makes me wonder….if we keep eating and eating just because it’s Christmas, why don’t we have a desire to keep going to Church?

Did you know that last week there were Church services for three days leading up to Christmas like a “mini” Holy Week? Did you know that next week there will be Church services leading up the Feast of Theophany (Epiphany) like a “mini” Holy Week? The number of Church services associated with a Feast is a direct response to the importance of the Feast.

So here we are in the midst of the Twelve Days  of Christmas (ending on the Feast of Holy Theophany) when the Church celebrates the coming of the Lord into His creation for our Salvation. Let’s start acting like it…

On the second day of Christmas my friends were all burned out but I’m just getting started!

So many people day returned to work. Some even have undecorated their homes already. What a shame that our society has devolved to such a level as to turn Christmas into a month long party leading up to the feast. It can so much more than that if we want it. So this year why not take your life back and spend the next few days reading the Christmas story in the Holy Scriptures and contemplate what parents of the Holy Innocents (martyred infants by Herod) experienced during their first Christmas.

Some in the world react to the news of Jesus Christ with violence; some react with praise and prayer; some react with a nonchalant attitude of self indulgence. Which are you this year?

Christ is Born; Glorify Him! Christ is come from Heaven; Encounter Him!

Christ is born; Glorify Him! Christ is come from Heaven; Encounter Him!

These simple words bring our minds to what really matters today, Christmas Day. Our preparation is complete. Our fasting is over. Our gifts are wrapped and have been opened. Our homes are filled with family and friends. Our children are suffering from “new toy overload”. Our stomachs are full. Our hearts are warm. Christmas has arrived and our joy is fulfilled because Christ is born!

Tomorrow will be another day…another day of work…another day of chores…another day to praise the Lord. What, praise the Lord you say? The reality is that many will wake tomorrow morning to most of these while forgetting to give praise to God, who’s birth we just began to celebrate. Many will forget that the past several weeks have been about preparing for Christmas and now is the time for celebration.

In the Orthodox Church we celebrate Christmas for twelve days not just one day. We begin our celebration with Christmas, not end it. Why not make this year the year you make a change and spend the rest of your days praising God rather than worrying about where our next toy. Take this year’s Christmas as a chance to reorient your life toward Jesus Christ and Encounter Him! Begin a relationship with Him. Get to know Him. Read His Word. Attend Divine Liturgy in an Orthodox Church regularly. Live a new life in communion with the Creator of the Universe.

Christ is born; Glorify Him! Christ is come from Heaven; Encounter Him!

The End

New Testament Challenge – Day 40

Revelation 12-21

As a society we seem to be obsessed with The End. Countless “prophesies” have come and gone and the Earth is still spinning and humans are still struggling to live day-to-day. What our annual New Testament Challenge can offer us is to ultimately understand that in the end, “There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21.4)

Christmas is a celebration of beginnings. It is a celebration of new revelation – specifically the new revelation of Jesus Christ as God-Man. But being a beginning simply means there will be an end and we must be loyal to the very end in our devotion of God.

If all things are going to pass away, and we rest our hope and intrinsic value in our things which will pass away, where will we find hope and peace in the end? Peace is only found in God who came for our salvation, taking flesh from a virgin, living as mere mortal, was crucified, died and was buried, and rose again on the third day. If we suffer, we should be comforted knowing that God also suffered. If we hunger, we should be comforted that God hungered. God became like us in every way except for sin so that He could reunite Himself to us but not everyone believes.

“He came to His own and His own did not receive Him.” (John 1.11)

Do you believe? If you believe or if you have questions about Jesus Christ and the Feast of Christmas or any other doctrine or celebration of the Christian Church, contact us at Be Transfigured! and by the grace of God the Church will help. Merry Christmas!

Visions of Heaven

New Testament Challenge – Day 39

Revelation 1-11

As you know if you are a regular reading of this blog, I don’t make it a practice to write about or preach about the Book of Revelation. I do this because the Church has removed it from public reading due to its deep allegory and imagery. Since it is a book about the end why would I be so bold as to preach about the end prophecy? Jesus says, “but of that day no one knows, not even the angels of heaven.” (Matthew 24.36) So each year on these two days of the New Testament Challenge I choose rather to write about how we have been blessed with a glimpse into heaven through Revelation.

After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this." Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: "Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!" Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying: "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." – Revelation 4.1-11

The worship of God is not something to be taken lightly, nor is it something that can be invented or tampered with. The angels, “do not rest day or night” in heaven to praise God and at every opportunity the residents of heaven (that will be us some day) fall down and worship God. This is the basis of Orthodox Christian worship which I fear has been totally lost by most Christians. The other day I heard one person say they “just didn’t get much spiritually out of Orthodox worship” so they attended another Church.

What does it mean to get something spiritual out of worship? Where in John’s vision do we hear of the participants receiving anything for their worship of God? Worship is something we GIVE to God, not something we receive. If we are thirsting for something spiritual “inside” during our worship then we must evaluate our hearts rather than the worship of the Church.

During Orthodox Christian worship, we are blessed and made Holy by God by virtue of being in communion with Him. If we don’t live in communion with Him, then we feel as outcasts in the Kingdom. The same will be our experience in Heaven, where worship of God is constant.

Make this Christmas the moment when you realign your life with God and begin preparing to spend eternity with Him in Heaven. We will all be there. The only difference is….will we want to be there?

Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines – Hebrews 13.9

New Testament Challenge – Day 38

Titus, Philemon, Hebrews

In today’s selection, among the numerous teachings of faithfulness and hope, Saint Paul reminds us that we must remain loyal to the true doctrine of Jesus Christ.
To the Hebrews he wrote, “Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.” (Hebrews 12.9)

To Titus he wrote, “But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine.” (Titus 2.1)

It was clear 2000 years ago, and it remains clear by virtue of the thousands of different Christian doctrines in the world today, that there will be people who attempt to lead believers astray from the truth of Jesus Christ. The Church has taken this role quite seriously since the beginning as Saint Paul also said, “We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat.” (Hebrews 13.10) Here he is speaking of Holy Communion which the Church, by commandment of the Holy Apostles did not share with nonbelievers.

With the myriad expressions of so-called Christmas traditions that do not make the slightest mention of attending Church, I suppose we the world hasn’t changed all the much. There are Churches which teach that Jesus was not always the Incarnate Word of God from the womb of Mary. There are Churches which teach Holy Baptism grants no grace. There are Churches who declare Orthodox Christianity just another pagan religion.

As your Christmas celebration this year, consider what your Church teaches about the Nativity in the flesh of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ. Is it in keeping with the ancient Apostolic teaching? If it is not, consider the words of Saint Paul.

Love one another - John 15.12

New Testament Challenge – Day 37

John 15-21

With Christmas just a few days away most Christians are frantically going about looking for that last shopping deal or for that last minute gift for that last minute guest who decided at the last minute to come for Christmas. The last few days before Christmas are any BUT peaceful for so many these days so I thought I would offer a few words to remind us really why we’re going through all this trouble.

First allow me to say that banquets and gift-giving isn’t sinful this time of year. The truth is that everything we share our love with each other good things takes place. It’s no surprise that age-old feuds have been healed during Christmas supper for this very reason. We have learned, most of us, to put our disagreements aside for Christmas and enjoy our celebrations. That’s good.

But we also know that putting on a good face JUST for the sake of Christmas has its risks as well. When we don’t really forgive someone then we begin to associate Christmas with a holiday of burden rather than love. We get along with our enemies not because we want to, but because we HAVE to. And that’s not so good. Jesus said:

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.” John 15.9-13

God’s desire is for us to live in unity and love until He returns. Christmas is about His love expressed in His willingness to leave His Throne for 33 years and live as a mere mortal man. He did this NOT because the Law required a sacrifice but so that He could reconcile us to Himself. Without Christmas there would be no Pascha, and without Pascha there would be no Resurrection. Without the Resurrection there would be possibility for us to be reunited to God. Isn’t that worth forgiving someone, not just for a day, but for good?

This Christmas give the gift of love and forgive those who have offended and hurt you or your family. Call them up today and apologize for your part in the situation because we all know every disagreement has two parties. No excuses, just apologies. That would a be much better use of the next couple of days than frantically shopping for the last minute sale.