Be Transfigured Ministries - Live a New Life in Christ!: November 2013

Saturday, November 30, 2013

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True Reverence for Christ

Today’s topic for the 40 Days of Blogging is St Andrew, the First-called Apostle and founder of the Church in Constantinople. Andrew traveled, among other places, to the port of Byzantium and established a Christian community there. He ordained Stachys as the first bishop of Byzantium. Today’s Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew is the 270 successor to the St Andrew. Here is a list of the successors to St Andrew in Constantinople. St Andrew is commemorated on November 30^th each year with grand celebration in Constantinople as he is the patron saint of the Ecumenical Throne.

A brief synopsis of the life of Saint Andrew is worth reading, but I want to highlight just a single moment of inspiration from his devotion. According to Holy Tradition, when it came time for Saint Andrew to be martyred, he was to be crucified, but he did not consider himself worthy to be crucified in the same fashion as our Lord. At his request, he was crucified using a “X” shaped cross (depicted on Holy Icons), which can be venerated at the Church of Saint Andrew in Patras Greece. I cannot imagine a reverence for Christ so profound so as to refuse the same method of execution.

Sort of makes me wonder about my life and how much I show reverence for Christ. As a Christian (let alone as an Orthodox Priest) I am supposed to imitate Christ. I am supposed to live as He lived. I am supposed to love as He loved. I’m not always proud of the progress I am making in these categories of my Christian journey.

I find most people would be honored to be compared to Christ; in fact it is often considered a badge of honor to be compared to Jesus Christ. Of course it SHOULD be an honor. I wouldn’t suggest that we should stop being (or at the very least trying to be) LIKE Christ. What I’m trying to express today is not whether or not we are trying to imitate Christ. Rather, what are we doing to show the sort of reverence for Him that Saint Andrew showed, EVEN at his own martyrdom?

As we travel the next few weeks preparing for Christmas, we Christians we have myriad opportunities to show our reverence for Jesus Christ, AND TO IMITATE HIM, as we encounter our fellow human beings at mall stores, gas stations, street corners, airports, bus stations, AND at Church. Will we, following the example of Saint Andrew, show our devotion and reverence of Jesus in our dealings with others, or will we accept the praise of others for “being such good Christians?”

Just a thought…

This post is written for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers Institute. You may find other blogs participating in this challenge. I hope you enjoy this year’s Advent journey.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Support Orthodox Christian Charities with Your Christmas Cards

With Thanksgiving behind you, have you made preparations yet for your Christmas Cards? Why not support Orthodox Christian charities while sending your Christmas Cards this year? My wife, and author of the also popular blog "In Service and Love," sells Orthodox Christian greeting cards at www.shop.vscardbox.com and donates 10% OF ALL PROCEEDS to Orthodox Christian charities. Please consider supporting charities while you send your Christmas cards this year.

What to do with all those Black Friday Bargains?????

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 15 (Reflections on Mark 12-16)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

Today is “Black Friday” so I wanted to keep my comments on the readings somewhat connected. If you read me earlier post today, “If you need it, buy it; If you can’t afford it, WAIT FOR IT,” then you already know my feelings about “Black Friday” so I won’t repeat them here. Today I want to reflect on a conversation I had last week, and Mark 14.3-9.

And being in Bethany at the house of Simon the leper, as He sat at the table, a woman came having an alabaster flask of very costly oil of spikenard. Then she broke the flask and poured it on His head. But there were some who were indignant among themselves, and said, "Why was this fragrant oil wasted? "For it might have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they criticized her sharply. But Jesus said, "Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work for Me. "For you have the poor with you always, and whenever you wish you may do them good; but Me you do not have always. "She has done what she could. She has come beforehand to anoint My body for burial. "Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial to her." (Mark 14.3-9)

The other day, I had a conversation with someone about, as I was told, wasting money in decorating the Church. I’ve had this conversation MANY times before, so it doesn’t faze me, but it ties well into today’s readings. Have you ever noticed when people complain about “wasting money” in decorating the Church, they defend their affront with, “God doesn’t need money!” In my personal experience with this topic, the one with the affront is not at all financially struggling. In fact, they are fairly well off.

Although today’s reading in the Gospel of Mark doesn’t make reference of Judas’ intention in filing HIS affront, other sources do. “This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.” (John 12.6) I’m not suggesting the person with whom I had my conversation last week was a thief, merely that I’m not quite sure the affront was as pure as I was led to believe.

God has directed that His Temple be decorated with the finest materials; gold, fine linens, precious stones, etc. You can read about the construction of the Temple in Exodus 25-31. Why did He command this if He didn’t desire it? The point is the value WE place on those precious items. WE place a value on gold, and therefore we gild items that are of precious value to us, OR to show high social status. When we decorate God’s Church with golden items, it is because we place a value on those items and we wish to honor the highest social status that God deserves. When we pretend to be affronted by the money spent decorating God’s house, and then proceed to spend “Black Friday” filling our shopping baskets with items we don’t even need, how much affront is genuine?

So here is a challenge for you, specifically during this shopping season. How about you take the money saved on GREAT BARGAINS and bring it to the Church? This would be consistent with Saint John Chrysostom’s urging to take money saved during fasting periods and giving it to the poor. It might also help keep things in perspective for the Christmas shopping season. If we focus on spending the savings on ourselves, or worse, MORE SHOPPING, then we really haven’t benefited at all.

Until tomorrow…..You’re right! God doesn’t need money….but you probably don’t need that extra stuff you’re buying on sale either.

If you need it, buy it; if you can’t afford it, WAIT FOR IT!

Today’s topic for the 40 Days of Blogging is avarice, which is the love of money. I guess the topics fits well with Black Friday. Today is “Black Friday” which was originally designated because it represented the day on which most retails stores FINALLY were in the black for the year. The holiday sales continues to be the “make-it-or-break-it” for most retails centers.

I’m not a big fan of “Black Friday” madness, especially with the many riots and chaos lately at area malls. Having said that I won’t begrudge someone for taking advantage of a sale price for an item that he needs. I’ve already blogged about my feelings on Thanksgiving Day shopping and on rushing out to buy more stuff the day after we are supposedly thankful for the stuff we already have. So, today I won’t beat that bush. Rather I will presume you already have made up your mind to shop today. That probably also means you will be reading this AFTER you return from a long day of shopping.

For me the issue isn’t whether or not we can get a good price on something, but whether or not we need the item in the first place. I’m sure most would agree that the Christmas frenzy has achieved irrational levels lately. I remember a day (that expression makes me feel old) when getting new socks, a pair of pants, a couple of shirts, and new pair of shoes make the bulk of our gifts, along with a few toys. We needed the clothes as children. Our parents took advantage of Christmas to “bulk up” our present count by wrapping each item separately. NOW, parents wrap countless toys and throw in a token article of clothing. Long before our children return to school in the New Year, the new toys are either already broken, lost, or they have grown bored of playing and go digging for last year’s toy.

So this year, go ahead and take advantage of store sales – they’re there for a reason – and find the best sale on the items you NEED. That new pair of shoes your son has needed since soccer season ended; those new socks to replace the hole”y” socks your daughter wore out at gymnastics practice. Put them away and wrap them up for Christmas. Then sit back and take inventory of your finances before going back “out there” to the mall. What else does your family REALLY need this year? Don’t allow the sales to talk you into purchasing something just because it’s a good deal. A good deal is no longer a good deal when it sits abandoned in the corner collecting dust.

I want to add one more thing about Christmas shopping. Americans are more in debt now than ever before. It seems we cannot discern the difference between needs and wants. If anything, I think it shows a society that has grown more and more impatient. We would rather pay HUGE amounts of credit card interest than wait a few months to purchase our stuff. That is where a simple dose of fasting would help, by the way. It would help us learn to do without and tame our urges. I’ve written on fasting and its benefits to cure just this very problem before.

So I invite you to adopt a new slogan this Christmas shopping season…

“If you need it, buy it; if you can’t afford it, WAIT FOR IT!” You’ll be much happier, and a much less in debt. You can thank me later.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Giving Thanks to God as a Nation

If you have followed my blog for any length of time, you will know there is no love lost between myself and politicians. I don’t trust them. I don’t believe their motives are pure. I don’t think they have the best interest of our nation in mind. They care about themselves above the nation. I do pray for them. That’s just how I feel, so when the question of giving thanks to God as a nation is given as today’s 40 Days of Blogging topic, it causes me to pause………..

…

Ok, that’s long enough. To be brutally honest, I don’t believe our nation understands the meaning of the word thanks. We use the word, but I don’t see the action in the society that correlates to gratitude, to anyone, let alone God. I also, by the way, don’t believe America has EVER been a Christian nation, but that’s for another blog.

I believe thanks is a concept that rests (literally) in contentment. If you are thankful for anything, then you understand that things can be much worse and someone has helped either hold you up or lift you up to a higher level than you were before. But if you are constantly not satisfied with where you are or what you have, are you really thankful? Or is it more of an acknowledgement that someone has helped you achieve something? And is your “thanks” really just a calculated act to secure future benefits?

In fact, many treat their relationship with God in that way. “If I don’t say thanks to God, then He won’t bless me with more of what I say I want.” My evidence for this theory is the popular phrase, “God answered my prayers!” But this NEVER means He didn’t give me what I ask for. I’ve NEVER heard, “Praise God! I didn’t get that job promotion and raise!”

That being said, what about Thanksgiving Day? Watch the parking lots tonight and tomorrow and you will see just how many are truly thankful or just wanting more. The evening news will likely report riots and violence over that “perfect toy” or other sale item. Is the action of a nation filled with thanks for the blessings from God? Or is a nation that just wants to “cover its bases” and acknowledge the loot will only keep coming if “someone” is given credit? Time will tell….

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Who Can be Saved?

When the Disciples were faced with the ultimate command of God, given to a certain rich man, “Sell all that you have and distributed to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.” (Luke 18.22) they couldn’t anticipate ANYONE would EVER get to heaven. Jesus gave one of the most popular statements, while being the hardest to swallow, “’For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ And those who heard it said, ‘Who then can be saved?’” (Luke 18.25-26) While it might be impossible for man…..it is not impossible for God. All you need to do is be WILLING to separate yourself from the comforts of the world, and God can take care of the rest.

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2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 13 (Reflections on Mark 1-11)

Reading so many chapters of the Gospel of Mark, you can’t really blog on any single theme since so much is covered in eleven chapters. But while I was reading it occurred to me to expand upon my thoughts yesterday about how people understand God differently.

In today’s readings, we see Jesus teaching in the synagogue and many were amazed. “And when the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, ‘Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands?’” (Mark 6.2)

The other day I was reading an article (I can’t remember where or I would link it for you) in which the author was bewailing the teachings of Jesus as nothing more than a collection of teachings from other rabbis, and therefore not enough “credentials” with which to attach grand claims of His Divine Nature.

That’s what hit me today. Since Jesus is God and in complete communion with the Father, also God, and the Holy Spirit, also God, wouldn’t it be EXPECTED that His teachings had also been heard in the Prophets and other righteous men of the Old Testament? THEY all received their wisdom from HIM, right? So we believe as Christians, anyway.

This also helps to interpret today’s astonishment. They had only heard such wisdom from the Prophets before, and they had only been taught by the greatest Rabbis before. NOW, in One Man, Jesus Christ, they heard it all wrapped up into One. I suppose I would be astonished also.

Then I returned to our contemporary reality of more than 25,000 denominations of Christianity, alluded to in my post yesterday. In today’s readings, Jesus said, “For he who is not against us is on our side. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.” (Mark 9.40-41)

On the surface, every denomination “is the same” as I was told yesterday. But clearly they are NOT the same. Some even speak against the Orthodox Church, declaring us pagans. So there must be a place for other denominations, who proclaim Jesus Christ as the Only Begotten Son and Word of God, at the table, so-to-speak. I NOT talking about the Holy Table, NOR about receiving Holy Communion. The Church wrote the Creed for a reason. It outlines HOW the original Church, founded by Christ and led by the Holy Apostles, understood Jesus Christ. We are able to rationally discuss with our brothers and sister in other denominations how they understand Jesus Christ and how we understand Jesus Christ.

This is where doctrine has a role, but I won’t get into doctrine today. I just wanted to reflect a moment, provided I don’t end up rambling, on how much still is the same in the way people experience God. I suppose if such a discussion helps bring someone closer to understanding Jesus Christ (since He alone reveals Himself to us), it will be a blessing.

Until tomorrow…..

The Giving of Thanks

Since the beginning of humanity, we have made an offering to God to show our gratitude for His blessings. From the first harvest and first flock of sheep recorded in Genesis, the practice of bringing an offering to God was established.

“Now in the process of time Cain brought a sacrifice to the Lord from the fruits of the ground. Able also brought a sacrifice from the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. The Lord respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his sacrifices. So Cain was extremely sorrowful, and his countenance fell.” (Genesis 4.3-5)

And from that moment human beings have been offering to God, some with a pure heart, some with a selfish heart.

Fast forward to Noah and the Flood…The FIRST thing Noah did after leaving the Ark was to make an offering to God.

“The Noah built an altar to God, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered whole burnt offerings on the altar.” (Genesis 8.20)

Fast forward to Abraham and his victory over the king of Sodom…The FIRST thing Abraham did was celebrate the Divine Liturgy with Christ.

“Now Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. He blessed Abram and said, ‘Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hands.’ Then Abram gave him a tithe of all.” (Genesis 14.18-20)

Fast forward to the reunion of Jacob and his brother Esau…The FIRST thing Jacob did once he pitched his tent was to make an offering to God.

“He then bought a parcel of land where he pitched his tent from Hamor, Shechen’s father, for a hundred male lambs. There he set up an altar and called on the God of Israel.” (Genesis 33.19-20)

Fast forward to Moses and the Temple…You get the idea, right? With a tradition of making an offering to God to express gratitude for blessings and salvation, it was only natural that Moses would establish a beautiful system of sacrifice offerings in the Temple. You MUST understand; each offering was made AFTER God had blessed or saved the offerer. The offering was NOT made to secure God’s loyalty, NOR as payment on some grand deal.

Fast forward to Jesus Christ on the night of “The Last Supper”…Jesus turned to the Holy Tradition of our Fathers and made an offering of Thanks and combined it with an offering of communion, thus sealing what we call Holy Communion (Holy Eucharist from the Greek Θεία Ευχαριστία) in which WE combine our thanks to God for the blessings AND salvation while uniting ourselves to Him.

And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. (Matthew 26.26-28)

So when the Holy Apostles, in the manner of Moses before, established the Way of Life for the early Church, and building upon the Holy Tradition of their Fathers, established the Eucharist as the weekly and ULTIMATE way to give thanks to God.

Now concerning the Thanksgiving (Eucharist), thus give thanks. First, concerning the cup: We thank you, our Father, for the holy vine of David Your servant, which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory forever. And concerning the broken bread: We thank You, our Father, for the life and knowledge which You made known to us through Jesus Your Servant; to You be the glory for ever. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was gathered together and became one, so let Your Church be gathered together from the ends of the earth into Your kingdom; for Yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ forever. But let no one eat or drink of your Thanksgiving (Eucharist), but they who have been baptized into the name of the Lord; for concerning this also the Lord has said, Give not that which is holy to the dogs. Matthew 7:6 (Didache Chapter 9)

So how will you give thanks to God tomorrow on Thanksgiving Day? Will your heart be pure or selfish?

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Take a Moment and Wonder

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 11 (Reflections on Acts 16-28)

Have you ever wondered how so many witnesses to Jesus and the early Church miracles could have refused to believe in Him and join the Church? I have. Have you ever wondered what it would take for the entire world to believe in Jesus and join the Church? I think I have. Have you ever wondered why YOU believed and joined (or remained in) the Church? I have.

Reading the closing chapters of Acts, and hearing of the back-and-forth of prison-release-prison-trial-attempted release-prison-death, it occurred to me that I have been Orthodox all my life and, save a few moments as a teenager when I asked, “What if it’s not all true,” I have never really doubted my faith in Jesus Christ. I haven’t always been the most “faithful attendee” while I was in college, but my faith has never really been challenged. So today I wondered why…

Taken at face value, the stories of Jesus and the early Church sound fascinating at first and doubtful if forced to comply with our miniscule understanding of the universe. People have many times challenged me to prove the veracity of the Bible, and I have always said, I didn’t have to prove it. It wasn’t a cop-out; rather it was what I felt in my heart. As long as I believe it, that works for me. But I also know that doesn’t work for everyone. If it did I’m sure Acts would have been written a bit different.

The Book of Acts, among other benefits, provides a glimpse into the heart and soul of the early Church. Apostles not seeing eye-to-eye; believing Jews not seeing eye-to-eye with non-believing Jews; “insider” Jews not wanting “outsider” Gentiles to have the same benefit of membership (so-to-speak) as themselves. And we haven’t YET gotten into Saint Paul’s pastoral letters yet to the Churches and certain leaders.

So I really shouldn’t be surprised today when I see so much turmoil and confusion among those who believe in Jesus Christ. I absolutely believe, and teach as objective history, that the Orthodox Christian Church is the original Christian Church, but I shouldn’t be surprised when other Churches claim to understand Jesus Christ differently. There is most defiantly historical precedence for that.

Are there other ways to understand Jesus Christ? I suppose there might be, but this one saying has kept me Orthodox this long….

“Good enough for the Apostles who walked and talked and ate and slept with Jesus, then good enough for me!”

Until tomorrow….take a moment and wonder why. I hope this will help with the answer.

Vestments

As a general rule of thumb, I don’t spend a lot space on my blog dealing with deep theological issues, as they tend to distract from living the faith. It isn’t that I don’t believe they matter; they DO matter. They matter at a level I don’t normally have as the focus of my blog. Today’s topic, as given for the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge sponsored by the Preachers’ Institute, is vestments. I’m quite sure there are many other more talented bloggers who can fill your brain with the details of exactly which piece of vestment symbolizes what and from which scripture quote. Again, I believe these things matter, but I’m not in that sort of mood today.

MOST people look at a member of the clergy and think one of two things…

Either “WOW! Where can I get me some of those cool duds?”

Or… “Why do they wear such funny clothes in this Church?”

Some MIGHT say, “I wonder why they dress like that.” (which is why I’m writing about the finer details)

But I’m sure NOBODY says, “Oh, that reminds me of heaven!” (and this is why I AM writing about the essence of clergy vestments)

When God established His Temple, and instructed Moses how to construct it, how to furnish it, how to decorate it, and how to operate it, He also instructed Moses to have the clergy dress in a certain fashion. For all these details, I suggest reading Exodus and Leviticus. God didn’t go such extreme lengths just for fun. He ALWAYS has a purpose for what He asks us to do. The Temple, and therefore temple worship, décor, and operation was to remind His people of Heaven. God has always had one thing in mind for us humans; to be with Him in Heaven. So the next time someone asks what Heaven will be like, tell them to visit an Orthodox Church (since there is no more Jewish Temple and we Orthodox Christians have inherited the fullness of the Temple Tradition) and watch the Orthodox Christian worship in action.

You see Orthodox Christian worship in and Orthodox Christian Church, and you see Heaven. The clergy attire was all part of this “foreshadow” of heaven. You can read for yourself in Isaiah 6 and Revelation 1. In both instances, we get a glimpse of God being worshipped in Heaven.

So, the next time you see an Orthodox Christian clergyman, dressed for worship, you will know that God has blessed you with a glimpse into Heaven. What remains is whether you are living with the understanding of that blessing or not.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Be Zealous for Christ

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 11 (Reflections on Acts 5-15)

I pray the New Testament Challenge has been as edifying for you, as is has been for me. It does take a certain about of commitment to read every day. The added pressure to blog every day, somehow inspired by the readings, has also kept me going this year. As much as I enjoy reading scripture, something always seems to find its way onto my “list” which forces me to choose.

We choose between one priority and another constantly throughout the day, especially the work day, but how much time do we really place on those choices? Ok, some choices might seem mundane. What to eat for breakfast might not be a life-changing choice, but it does have a place in our Orthodox Christian journey. Since arriving in the South, my breakfast of choice has become eggs, grits, toast, and bacon. I never knew the intricacies of preparing grits….but I digress.

Today, I was moved to consider the dedication of the early Church again revealed in Acts. The Apostles were bold preachers. The followers were bold believers. The result was a bold expansion of the Church beyond the Jewish “inner circle” to the Gentiles. But their boldness was not always rewarded by the fellow Jews. They were persecuted, and YET the maintained their faith.

And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. – Acts 4.31

I’ve noticed lately one really significant difference between the ancient Christian zeal and modern Christians. The ancient Church stood strong and demanded faithfulness to Christ and His Church, but they made a distinction between IN the Church and OUTSIDE the Church. Unfortunately, the modern “zealot” spends (it seems) more time trying to force those OUTSIDE the Church to comply with the way of life of those IN the Church. The conclusion normally is neither faithfulness within the Church nor outside the Church, too often because of high profile stumbling.

It was the willingness of the ancient Christians to remain faithful IN the Church, expressed in the loving and fair manner they lived their lives OUTSIDE the Church. If Christians spent more time living righteous lives and treating others with dignity, more would find the Church palatable and we might once again see “the number of the disciples multiply greatly” (Acts 6.7)

Until tomorrow….be zealous for the Faith, but keep it to yourself!

A Fitting Example for Young Women

Today the Church commemorates the Great Martyr and All-Wise Katherine. I was thinking about how our society portrays women. These women, through all venues of the media by default, become the role models for our young women and girls in our Church communities. Here is a brief description of St Katherine taken from the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese Website.

Saint Catherine, who was from Alexandria, was the daughter of Constas (or Cestus). She was an exceedingly beautiful maiden, most chaste, and illustrious in wealth, lineage, and learning. By her steadfast understanding, she utterly vanquished the passionate and unbridled soul of Maximinus, the tyrant of Alexandria; and by her eloquence, she stopped the mouths of the so-called philosophers who had been gathered to dispute with her. She was crowned with the crown of martyrdom in the year 305. Her holy relics were taken by Angels to the holy mountain of Sinai, where they were discovered many years later; the famous monastery of Saint Catherine was originally dedicated to the Holy Transfiguration of the Lord and the Burning Bush, but later was dedicated to Saint Catherine. According to the ancient usage, Saints Catherine and Mercurius were celebrated on the 24th of this month, whereas the holy Hieromartyrs Clement of Rome and Peter of Alexandria were celebrated on the 25th. The dates of the feasts of these Saints were interchanged at the request of the Church and Monastery of Mount Sinai, so that the festival of Saint Catherine, their patron, might be celebrated more festively together with the Apodosis of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos. The Slavic Churches, however, commemorate these Saints on their original dates.

Contrast this woman – wise, beautiful, chaste, faithful – to the example of women which our society has elevated to the rank of superstar…

The Top 5 Highest Paid Female Musicians for 2013. I will spare you the vulgarity of their photos, and encourage you to rather dwell upon the image of Saint Katherine.

Madonna

Lady Gaga

Taylor Swift

Beyonce

Jennifer Lopez

While this list is not exclusive to who the society considers a superstar, it does represent the most popular women that “have access” to our young women through the purchase of music, and therefore a strong influence on the lives of young women today. Obviously there have always been “bad influences” in our society, just as there have always been “good influences” for our young women (and men) to live. The Church has already identified those women (and men) who lived exemplary lives for us to consider as life examples. These Saints were from all walks of life including doctors, philanthropists, kings, queens, mothers, fathers, children, and “all-wise” as was Saint Katherine. I think Saint Katherine, and the other great Saints of our Church serve as much better examples for our young women. Unfortunately most people today do not know about their own patron Saint let alone the myriad others the Church honors. And with our Faith stubbornly becoming comfortable as a “Sunday-only” Faith, since the Saints are commemorated oftentimes during weekday liturgies (as today) our youth will only come to know these great Saints if parents, godparents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, clergy, and friends share these inspiring stories for all to know.

All-wise and Great Martyr for Christ, Katherine, interceded for us!

Turkey

Turkey is more than just for Thanksgiving Dinner.

In case you thought turkey WAS for Thanksgiving Dinner, I might suggest popcorn and toast

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Another Rich Man; Another Challenge

Again this week, the third time in four weeks, the Gospel lesson includes a “certain” rich man. As in other weeks, the rich man thought he knew what was important in life. Now, for the third time we hear the words of Christ, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18.27) In each of the three lessons (Luke 16.19-31, Luke 12, 16-21, Luke 18.18-27) wealth is a stumbling block to heaven. In each case, it seems the rich man desires salvation, but is instead tormented because he cannot look beyond his wealth.

The Lord knows our struggles and He knows our limitations. But beyond everything else, He knows our heart. We can say with our lips, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 18.18), but unless our hearts are tuned toward God, we will turn away, choosing our wealth over salvation. The rich man obeyed all the rules since he was a young boy, but Jesus said to him, “’You still lack one thing. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow Me.’ But when he heard this, he became very sorrowful, for he was very rich.” (Luke 18.22)

It wasn’t enough that the rich man obeyed the commandments because his heart was selfish. It makes you think about your life, or the life of the Church. We can obey all the commandments of God and the Church, but if our heart is cold toward the needs of others, we will turn away from God sorrowful. God doesn’t desire our obedience, He desires our love. Where is your heart?

Saturday, November 23, 2013

A RestLESS Sabbath

Since the 40 Days of Blogging Challenge had assigned Sabbath as today’s topic, and I already wrote on Sabbath for the last “Bloggers Choice” I can’t just NOT blog today. Please read my post earlier this week on the Unseen Benefit of the Sabbath for my thoughts about the Sabbath. I wish only to make this additional comment.

Soccer, Football, wash the car, clean the gutters, cut the grass, paint the fence, vacuum the carpet, wash the windows, repair that hole in the upstairs bedroom, and don’t forget SHOPPING! These are just a few of the things people work into their Saturday, so many times when Sunday comes around, they are too tired to come to Church for Divine Liturgy.

“Sunday is the only day we have to sleep in…” We’ve all heard this and other excuses, and some we’ve even used ourselves, because we didn’t get any rest on Saturday - the ACTUAL Sabbath. When we don’t take advantage of the Sabbath and REST, we turn Sunday into a day of rest, because we couldn’t POSSIBLY take time away from work during the week to get these projects finished. (sarcasm)

There isn’t only an unseen benefit to the Sabbath. There is also an obvious benefit. We human beings need rest. God gave us the Sabbath to rest our bodies and souls so that we could continue in our mission to live in communion with God. Tomorrow is Sunday, and EVERY Orthodox Church has Divine Liturgy, unless there isn’t a priest assigned to that particular Church. Did you spend today getting EVERYTHING on your list done so you’ll be too tired for Church tomorrow? Well, how about taking the rest of this evening for prayer and preparation for Holy Communion? It’s not too late, it never is, to live a new life in Christ.

Friday, November 22, 2013

How are YOU a witness to the Gospel of Christ?

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 7 (Acts 1-4)

Today our challenge opens the Book of Acts, which is a continuation of Luke’s Gospel, with the earliest witness of the Church to the world. We are given the example of Apostles and Disciples, filled with such fervor for Christ, who spoke boldly in the public square about the Gospel of Christ.

The bold and courageous witness of the early Church resulted in thousands coming to Faith in Jesus Christ. The faith they possessed was complete enough that “those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did they say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.” (Acts 4.32) They took seriously Jesus’ command to deny themselves, take up their cross and follow Him. They were willing to do without wealth and comfort for the benefit of their “new” brothers and sisters.

I can only imagine what the world would be like if we had such faith today. We live in a world where poverty is extreme and wealth is excessive, and the gap between the two seems to grow ever wider. I don’t believe people actually suffer more today, just that the poverty-wealth gap continues to widen. It seems to me (I’m not an economic history expert) that the so-called developed world has become enslaved to comfort that, while poverty is still “just” poverty, it might SEEM people are suffering more today than ever before. After all….the poor don’t have flat screen TV’s or internet access to read this blog!

Sometimes I close my eyes and dream of what the world might be if we could live with the same fervor our Christian ancestors expressed. Sometimes, I must admit, I think even a fraction of their faith would dramatically change the world today. That is exactly what happened in the past. It was the faith of Christians, organized through the Church, that allowed for hospitals, orphanages, hospice care, etc. With all the hype about the “health care system” and poverty in the world, maybe the REAL solution is for Christians to mobilize, hopefully at the urging and blessing of the Church, to step forward and once again offer the service of compassion to those in need.

It will go a long way further than some government program AND people will feel the love of Christ. THAT would be a witness of Christ’s Gospel…

Until tomorrow….ask yourself, “How am I witnessing to the Gospel of Christ?”

Don’t Be a Fool!

No matter how ordinary our life might be, nobody likes being called a fool. In fact, we would consider it an insult from any of the most important people of society. So, when Jesus calls a certain rich man FOOL in Luke 12.13-34, it causes one to reflect. Are you a fool from the Lord’s point of view? What made the rich man a fool was focusing his attention on hording his wealth (characterized by a great harvest) rather than using the harvest for others. The worldly logic is foolish. Don’t be a fool!

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Canned Food

We used to use a lot of canned food especially for vegetables “sides” at dinner. Open a can of corn or green beans and you’re good to go. THEN I read, Pandora’s Lunchbox! WOW! Halfway through the book, I said to Presvytera, “Either I have to stop eating or I have to stop reading!” Thankfully, I did neither. Here is the Amazon description:

In the tradition of Fast Food Nation and The Omnivore’s Dilemma comes a fascinating and cutting-edge look at the scary truth about what really goes into our food. If a piece of individually wrapped cheese can retain its shape, color, and texture for years, what does it say about the food we eat and feed to our children? Former New York Times business reporter and mother Melanie Warner decided to explore that question when she observed the phenomenon of the indestructible cheese. She began an investigative journey that took her to research labs, university food science departments, and factories around the country. What she discovered provides a rare, eye-opening—and sometimes disturbing—account of what we’re really eating. Warner looks at how decades of food science have resulted in the cheapest, most abundant, most addictive, and most nutritionally inferior food in the world, and she uncovers startling evidence about the profound health implications of the packaged and fast foods that we eat on a daily basis. From breakfast cereal to chicken subs to nutrition bars, processed foods account for roughly 70 percent of our nation’s calories. Despite the growing presence of farmers’ markets and organic produce, strange food additives are nearly impossible to avoid. Warner digs deep into the ingredient lists of purportedly healthy foods, and what she finds will change the way readers eat—and how they feed their children. Combining meticulous research, vivid writing, and cultural analysis, Warner blows the lid off the largely undocumented—and lightly regulated—world of chemically treated and processed foods and lays bare the potential price we may pay for consuming even so-called healthy foods.

Around the same time, Presvytera was revitalizing her blog In Service and Love and we began working with better food options. We rediscovered the taste and ease of frozen veggies. I remember my parents always having frozen in the house when I was growing up, but for some reason we had slipped into the pattern of canned. Can you say S O D I U M? We’re back to frozen and not only are they tastier, they end up being healthier.

That reminds me…..since we’re fasting, I’ll be enjoying some bean soup this weekend. YUM

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Judgment is coming - don't be caught off guard!

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 7 (Matthew 25-28)

Today’s readings speak a great deal about the final Judgment. While yesterday Jesus commented on how eternal life will “feel”, today we hear how He will judge. At first glance, it seems a harsh and vengeful act of God, but it deserves a closer look. YESTERDAY’s readings (Matthew 18-24) featured the anguish in the hearts of those condemned. Today’s readings feature not only the regret of those condemned, but the finality of God’s judgment.

“Kingdom of heaven shall be…” is the series in which we see God quickly, and without notice, putting an end to creation. For those who were prepared and spent their life in harmony with God, the quick judgment is a blessing. “For the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.” (Matthew 24.22) It is the swift and final reality that their hearts are cold that seems so tormented.

"Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open to us!' – Matthew 25.11

And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.' But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. – Matthew 25.25-27

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? – Matthew 25.44

Don’t find yourself being caught off guard. Don’t find yourself shut out of the wedding feast. Don’t find yourself full of regret. Life a new life in Christ TODAY!

Until tomorrow….remember “The “Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

You are “A” Holy of Holies

Today is the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos (Bearer of God) in the Temple. According to the Holy Tradition of the Church, when she was about three years old she was brought to the temple by her aged parents Joachim and Anna to live. You might compare this practice to the Virgin Mary becoming a “Temple Virgin” and living among the other virgins within the Court of Women. Upon entering the Temple, according to the ancient Holy Tradition, she dwelt within the Holy of Holies and was fed by the hand of the Archangel Gabriel. Much of this story is included in the Protoevangelium of James, commonly attributed to Jesus’ half-brother, a son of Joseph. I encourage you to read the whole selection. You will be inspired. Most, including so-called cradle Orthodox, are not totally aware of the depth of the Holy Tradition about the Holy Virgin, most of which, though not Scriptural, helps us better grasp the awesomeness of the “Christmas Story.”

So the Most Holy Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, entered into the place reserved ONLY for the High Priest (and then only once per year) to offer the Atonement Offering. It was within the Holy of Holies that, by the grace and permission of God, humans and God could commune. It was only natural that the Most Holy Virgin, who was chosen by God as the first human to physically commune with God through the mystery of the Divine Incarnation, would be welcomed into the Holy of Holies.

But YOU too are a Holy of Holies of sorts. When you were baptized (if you have been) you became the Temple of the Living God. (2 Corinthians 6.16) Since that moment, God has lived in you through His Holy Spirit. Every time you receive Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, you commune physically with the Incarnate Word of God.

When God commanded Moses to construct His Holy Temple, He commanded that only the finest materials be used. The Temple was the dwelling place of God where humans and God would interact. It was a place of reverence and holiness. You can read about the construction of the Temple in Exodus 25-31.

If God commanded respect and reverence for the Temple made of stone, how much more should we care for the Temple not made with hands? We seem to forget that our bodies ARE temples of God. Would we desecrate the Temple of God with graffiti? Would we use the Temple of God to store tools for cleaning out sewers? Yet, every time we treat our human body with anything but the utmost respect, we are desecrating the Temple of God – the Holy of Holies.

Something to think about…

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

2013 New Testament Challenge – Day 6 (Matthew 19-24)

Every year I participate in a special effort called the New Testament Challenge sponsored by a priest of the Orthodox Church in America. He encourages Christians to spend the Christmas Fast, also known as Advent) reading the entire New Testament as a preparation for Christmas. Each year I have done this, it has been blessing to me and I pray this year will be no different. As part of the New Testament Challenge, I endeavor to blog a bit about the reading for that particular day. I may miss a few, but I pray for those who follow this blog (NOW ALSO ON FACEBOOK) it will be a blessing.

Last year, our weekly Bible study at the Church was focused upon Genesis. Each week we witnessed the mercy and love of God, as He allowed His children the freedom that only comes from God. Each week we witnessed just how much His children disobeyed Him and turned away from Him. Each week we witnessed the decline of humanity to such a low…..and then….He saved them.

Adam and Eve declined to death when they ate from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and God saved them at the last moment before it was too late.

Then the LORD God said, "Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever" -- therefore the LORD God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. – Genesis 3.22

And God gave Adam and Eve, and through them all humanity, a fresh new start to live in communion with Him.

Then again, we witnessed the decline of humanity, all except Noah and his family.

Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. So the LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping thing and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them." But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. – Genesis 6.5-8

And God gave Noah and his family, and through them all humanity, a fresh start to live in communion with Him.

The Tower of Babel also reveals the same pattern. (Genesis 11.1-9)

Every time we humans get “bigger than our britches” God comes to the rescue.

This reality gives me comfort nowadays as I read/listen to the news. It seems obvious to me that humanity is following a pattern so many times before experienced by our ancestors. In today’s readings we heard,

For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the Ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. – Matthew 24.38-39

For some the coming of the Lord is terrifying. I prefer to be comforted knowing that EVERY time we humans have declined to such lows as, and many would agree with me here, we are now, the Lord has come to our rescue. Of course the next time will be the last. But for me that news is comforting. I suppose it’s because I believe and love the Lord. And God will give US, all humanity, a fresh start in a new Creation, a new Heaven.

Until tomorrow….take comfort in knowing the Lord will return before it’s too late!

The Glory of the Lord

According to my concordance (an “old fashioned” reference book that locates each word in the Scriptures) the word “glory” appears 379 times in the entire Old and New Testaments. I decided to look up the word in my dictionary because I realized “glory” is one of the words we use quite often, but we never really define it. It reminds me of a story I heard the other day. During a conversation between a youth worker and a child, the child said, “Fellowship is that religious word that means have fun.” What does glory mean?

Some of the words associated with glory are:

fame, admiration, honor, praise, majesty, splendor, beauty

Some “dated” expressions associated with glory are:

Expressing surprise, shock, dismay, or pleasure (as in GLORY BE!)

In a state of great happiness, satisfaction or triumph

It quickly becomes clear why translations and the art of translating the prayers and Scriptures of the Church is not only so difficult, but time-consuming. So, what does the Church mean when we say, “Glory?” In reading some of the citations, (I encourage you to look it up and read the different references) no single definition is sufficient.

But you quickly notice something curious. It seems the glory of the Lord is, in addition to the words I found in the dictionary, something physical.

Then Moses said, "This is the thing which the LORD commanded you to do, and the glory of the LORD will appear to you." Leviticus 9.6 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of meeting, and came out and blessed the people. Then the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people, 24 and fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. Leviticus 9.23-24 Now the glory of the LORD appeared in the tabernacle of meeting before all the children of Israel. Numbers 14.10

So the glory of the Lord is something that can be physically experienced, so as to fill the temple, cover a mountain, and surround a people. This expression of Glory is not used in association with men, while the other uses (fame, admiration, etc) are used. This should reveal something to our hearts. What seems to express itself in the honor and admiration of human beings has it’s root in the fullness of God.

It helps us remember that we are created in the image, according to the likeness of God. What God IS by nature, we show as a reflection. SO….when we honor a brother for a great accomplishment, we are honoring the “glory” of God being lived out in our brother. This reality has all sorts of corollaries in Holy Icons (the halo is a reflection of the glory of God in the life of the saint) and the veneration of the Saints.

The key is to REMEMBER the root source of that glory. To think any amount of glory has its source in us is to deny our true human nature as God’s children and image.

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