Some Choose to be Blind

On the Sunday of the Blind Man, the sixth Sunday of Pascha, the Church once again offers a chance for us to see and believe in the power and majesty of God. Unfortunately many of us choose to remain consumed in our own reality and blind to the truth of God. We say we believe, but we do not live as if God is real in our life. We remain blind to our own sinfulness thinking instead about our self-righteousness. We have seen the Light; now we should live by it instead of remaining blind.

There is a Purpose

As we begin to wind up Great Lent, the Church reminds us of the actual purpose for Pascha. “Thus says the Lord: ‘I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Jesus is the Light. He is the Light that will reach the end of the earth. The world can be a dark place, but with light even the darkest places can be conquered. If you have lost sight of the purpose of Great Lent and Pascha, lucky for you there is still time.

Today’s readings from Isaiah remind us that no matter how dark the world may seem, we have a savior. Take a moment to read today’s readings and consider whether you have forgotten the purpose of Christ and Pascha. If you see your challenges listed by Isaiah, be comforted also by the promise that “the Lord who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Today’s Old Testament Readings:

Isaiah 49:6-10 (RSV) - Thus says the LORD: "I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."  Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the servant of rulers: "Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."  Thus says the LORD: "In a time of favor I have answered you, in a day of salvation I have helped you; I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages; saying to the prisoners, 'Come forth,' to those who are in darkness, 'Appear.' They shall feed along the ways, on all bare heights shall be their pasture; they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall smite them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them.

Genesis 31:3-16 (RSV) -  Then the LORD said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you."  So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was, and said to them, "I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me.  You know that I have served your father with all my strength; yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not permit him to harm me.  If he said, 'The spotted shall be your wages,' then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, 'The striped shall be your wages,' then all the flock bore striped.  Thus God has taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.  In the mating season of the flock I lifted up my eyes, and saw in a dream that the he-goats which leaped upon the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled.  Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob,' and I said, 'Here I am!'  And he said, 'Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that leap upon the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.  I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go forth from this land, and return to the land of your birth.'"  Then Rachel and Leah answered him, "Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father's house?  Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has been using up the money given for us.  All the property which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children; now then, whatever God has said to you, do."

Proverbs 21:3-21 (RSV) - To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.  Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin.  The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but every one who is hasty comes only to want.  The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a snare of death.  The violence of the wicked will sweep them away, because they refuse to do what is just.  The way of the guilty is crooked, but the conduct of the pure is right.  It is better to live in a corner of the housetop than in a house shared with a contentious woman.  The soul of the wicked desires evil; his neighbor finds no mercy in his eyes.  When a scoffer is punished, the simple becomes wise; when a wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.  The righteous observes the house of the wicked; the wicked are cast down to ruin.  He who closes his ear to the cry of the poor will himself cry out and not be heard.  A gift in secret averts anger; and a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.  When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers.  A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.  He who loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.  The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, and the faithless for the upright.  It is better to live in a desert land than with a contentious and fretful woman.  Precious treasure remains in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.  He who pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honor.

Have You Noticed the Color Change?

If you attended any Church service this week, and I pray you took advantage of your parish service schedule, then you should have noticed the colors in the Church have changed. When you were in Church Sunday morning the colors and the lights were bright. During the Vespers on Sunday evening the colors and lights began to change. During the weekdays (Monday through Friday) of the Great Fast, the Church is veiled in dark colors either purple or black and the lights are dimmed if not completely dark. The hymns are not as festive and the overall atmosphere is quite and penitent. Tonight something changes again....I hope you’re paying attention!

The use of color and light in the Church is never just for mere decoration. Light reminds us of the presence of God in the darkness. During the Great Fast the Church makes an extra effort to remind us of the darkness of the world and the need for The Light, Who is Christ. Too many Orthodox Christians grow up thinking our traditions are just empty custom, but here at Be Transfigured Ministries it is our goal to share the meaning behind what we do.

Once you understand there is purpose behind the traditions of the Church, then you are better able to understand the benefit of allowing the life of the Church to shape your life. The Great Fast will change the way you look at the world (repentance) if you allow it, and the use of color and light can go a long way to helping your view. Keep your eyes open over the next several weeks and ASK QUESTIONS.

Here are today’s readings....

Old Testament Readings: Isaiah 3:1-14 (RSV) - For, behold, the Lord, the Lord of hosts, is taking away from Jerusalem and from Judah stay and staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water; the mighty man and the soldier, the judge and the prophet, the diviner and the elder, the captain of fifty and the man of rank, the counselor and the skillful magician and the expert in charms.  And I will make boys their princes, and babes shall rule over them.  And the people will oppress one another, every man his fellow and every man his neighbor; the youth will be insolent to the elder, and the base fellow to the honorable. When a man takes hold of his brother in the house of his father, saying:  "You have a mantle; you shall be our leader, and this heap of ruins shall be under your rule"; in that day he will speak out, saying:  "I will not be a healer; in my house there is neither bread nor mantle; you shall not make me leader of the people."  For Jerusalem has stumbled, and Judah has fallen; because their speech and their deeds are against the Lord, defying his glorious presence. Their partiality witnesses against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom, they do not hide it.  Woe to them!  For they have brought evil upon themselves.  Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds.  Woe to the wicked!  It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have done shall be done to him.  My people -- children are their oppressors, and women rule over them.  O my people, your leaders mislead you, and confuse the course of your paths. The Lord has taken his place to contend, he stands to judge his people.  The Lord enters into judgment with the elders and princes of his people:  "It is you who have devoured the vineyard, the spoil of the poor is in your houses."
 Genesis 2:20-3:20 (RSV) -  The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper fit for him.  So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh; and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man.  Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."  Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.  And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed. Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden'?"  And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'"  But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die.  For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."  So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, and he ate.  Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.  But the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"  And he said, "I heard the sound of thee in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."  He said, "Who told you that you were naked?  Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?"  The man said, "The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."  Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?"  The woman said, "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate."  The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above all wild animals; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.  I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."  To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you."  And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth to you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.  In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.
 Proverbs 3:19-34 (RSV) - The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke forth, and the clouds drop down the dew. My son, keep sound wisdom and discretion; let them not escape from your sight, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.  Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble.  If you sit down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.  Do not be afraid of sudden panic, or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.  Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. Do not say to your neighbor, "Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it" -- when you have it with you.  Do not plan evil against your neighbor who dwells trustingly beside you.  Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.  Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways; for the perverse man is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence.  The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the abode of the righteous.  Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he shows favor.

From Darkness to Light

In just a few days the Orthodox Church will celebrate the Feast of Theophany, often also called the Feast of Lights. In today’s Gospel reading we hear about a man who came to Jesus in the dark. He came because he was seeking the Kingdom. As Nikodemos encountered Jesus and had a dialogue with Him, he was being led from darkness to Light. Consider today’s reading:

Gospel Reading: John 3:1-15 (RSV) - At that time, there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nikodemos, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nikodemos said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' The Spirit blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, and you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nikodemos said to him, "How can this be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen; but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

The comparison between darkness and light is common the Scriptures. The darkness represents the world and light represents God and heaven. The only way to make it out of the darkness is to have an encounter with God. Light shines in darkness and exposes truth. As the Church today begins the celebration of the Feast of Theophany, the Feast of Lights, I invite you to consider whether you desire to remain in darkness or desire to journey toward the Light. 

Light Shines on Good and Bad

We often think about how a light shines in the darkness and we are comforted. From a young age light was the source of comfort and safety. As little children we begged our parents to leave the light on as we fell asleep. We were sure the light would keep monsters away from nibbling on our toes during the night. Growing up, the light always was a sign of good things. But light is not always a sign of something good. It can also reveal sin and evil. Consider today’s Gospel Reading:

Luke 8:16-21 (RSV) - The Lord said, "No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him for the crowd. And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

Light shines on our Churches. It shines on the good and the bad. When a Church is an example of love and faithfulness to God, the light reflects God’s light and others are drawn to the Church. When a Church is an example of sin and selfishness, the Church no longer reflects God’s light but is exposed with sin, and others who seek the Lord are driven away.

If your Church is not growing, one thing to consider is how the life the Church members is reflected in God’s light. Is the life of each member drawing others to Christ or away from Him? Nothing that is hid shall not be made manifest.....something to think about when it comes to Church growth.

Share the blessings God has given to you

Today the Church commemorates the memory of Saint Joachim and Ana, the parents of the Virgin Mary. According to Holy Tradition, the parents of the Theotokos were elderly and childless, which in the ancient days was considered to be a sign of unrighteousness and punishment by God. They prayed fervently to God that He would allow them to give birth and eventually the Panagia, the All-Holy Virgin Mary was born. The Church celebrated her nativity yesterday.

The Gospel lesson for today is quite telling... Gospel Reading: Luke 8:16-21 (RSV) The Lord said, "No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light. Take heed then how you hear; for to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away." Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him for the crowd. And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you." But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

The Nativity of the Theotokos can be viewed as a lamp being lit. Joachim and Anna had the choice to cover that lamp, by keeping their new daughter “to themselves” or they could share the Light and offer her to God for His glory. They dedicated her to the temple (celebrated November 21^st each year) and God’s Light shined for all the world to see in the eventual birth of our Savior. We should be thankful to Saints Joachim and Anna for their willingness to share the light with the world.

The next time you receive a blessing from God, consider how you can share that blessing as the light of God for others to see His glory. Has God given a talent to you? Offer that talent to God through His Church so others can see His glory. You don’t know when the blessing you are willing to share with others will be to the glory of God.

Follow the Light

As the Church celebrates the Feast of Epiphany, Light has
come into the world to lead us out of darkness. The problem is that the world
is filled with obstacles that obscure our view of the Light, and we often find
ourselves lost in the darkness. Thankfully God has provided us with His Church
to help remove the distractions and obstacles so we can see the Light and
follow the light. Having Light shining in the darkness only helps if we can see
it, but if we don’t follow the Light of the Church we will remain in darkness
and lost forever. 

We Have Seen the Light

In every Divine Liturgy, following Holy Communion, we sing the hymn, “We have seen the Light, the true Light, we have received the heavenly Spirit; we now have found the true faith, by worshiping the undivided Trinity, Who has saved us.” This declaration of faith is a confirmation that Jesus Christ is the same Light that God has promised His people. We hear in the Gospel that Jesus traveled to Galilee after John the Baptist was arrested. There is a direct reference to Jesus, Who is the Light, being seen in the darkness. This was prophesied by Isaiah (see Isaiah 9.2)

We live in a world surrounded by darkness and temptation, no differently than those in Galilee at the time of Christ or Isaiah. With the celebration of the Feast of Theophany (God Revealed), the hymn from the Divine Liturgy makes more sense, but only if we allow the Light to illuminate our path. Having light shine in the darkness only has value if it leads out of the darkness. This was beautifully expressed during our candlelit celebration for Theophany last week. The Altar was filled with light while the faithful were in darkness with lit candles symbolizing the Light in the darkness. As we approached for Holy Communion, we approached the Light and left the darkness behind.

With the New Year and New Year Resolutions still lingering, we have an excellent opportunity to act upon the words of Christ. The Gospel sets a beautiful image set in Galilee, as a light in darkness. Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4.17) Now is the perfect time to follow the Light out of the darkness. Start the New Year with repentance and leave the darkness behind.