A Strong Lent

One can have little doubt Lent is much different this year for all of us. In years past, we enjoyed the blessing of a wealth of extra church services and fellowship with members of our parish families. Always a joy and comfort in our journey through the Lenten period. This year however our beautiful worship spaces, filled with the sights of beautiful icons, sounds of our glorious choirs and rich scent of incense are closed to us. We miss the embrace of our fellow Christians and the sharing of the communion cup.

 

Within these days, as we are sheltered in our homes, there is a renewed clarity for the preciousness of our faith and our brotherhood with each other. We long for each other and our communal worship but we do not despair. It also serves us as a reminder that above all things, our relationship with our God is also one on one. This time of seclusion will pass, and even if it extends days or years, an end will come. For certainty, we will reach the point where we stand together before our Lord and God whose kingdom shall have no end.

 

In our love for others, we have a heightened sense of what life must be like for those who live in areas where no church is available for them. Their ache and longing we are only beginning to understand. Perhaps we can add to our prayers, alms and good works the vision and hope for more parish communities to spring up. Remembering with shared tears not only those challenged by distance from services but especially those living in parts of the world where the decision to worship God may cost one’s mortal life.

 

For myself, I am comforted knowing that each of us remember each other in payer. We are physically more apart, but spiritually closer than ever. I am grateful to each of your and this special Lent, which is making us stronger than ever. May your Lenten journey continue to be richly blessed.

Sunday of Orthodoxy

It is the first Sunday in Lent, and today we commemorate the Triumph of Orthodoxy. The traditions of this day are lovely, and I especially enjoy the children who have brought their favorite icons with them to parade around the church. The little ones, so precious, pure innocent love for our Lord!

 

Beyond this precious tradition, it is worthwhile to perhaps reflect on the meaning of this day. Last evening, amidst caring for the icons in my own home, I also pondered the relevance of this day of memorial. What was it that we are remembering today? It is the confirmation of value of icons as an integral part of Orthodox worship. This is not minor point as many martyrs sacrificed their lives in defense of the importance of icons. One could ask why would a person be willing to embrace death rather than forego possessing and loving icons. I think this occurs for numerous reasons, but two which come to my mind are:

 

1. HOW ICONS ARE CREATED: Icons are not simply ascetics. Beautiful pictures of our Lord are a treasure, but there exists within them is so much more than this. They are so much more than art. Icons are not created by man, but rather they are the Holy Spirit working through humble hands of Christians who have emptied themselves to be used as no more than a tool. These images are given to us as creations of the Holy Spirit. There exists among us, holy iconographers able to submit to this on a regular basis. I as a sinful woman can not be counted among these, but I have on a few occasions been granted the experience of this process. While this is impossible to clearly state in words, I once documented the writing of my first icon, if interested at https://thepaintedhawk.wordpress.com/writing-an-icon) )

 

2. WHAT ICONS REPRESENT: Icons stand as physical reminders of the truth that God himself took on human flesh visible to us. We can portray Christ because of this fact. It might be important to note here that in the Orthodox faith we never portray God the Father. We know of Him only through His Son. Christ humbled himself to become as one of us, created beings formed in the image of God. He revealed to us our own true form, created in the image and likeness of God. A form that sin has sullied and we have so often forgotten. Some of us, those we refer to as saints have approached the return to this state and we also have icons to represent them as our models or heroes to emulate.

 

I am sure each of you have even more reasons to treasure this day, the first Sunday in Lent, celebrating the Triumph of Orthodoxy. Perhaps you will share these. For myself, I am grateful that the church sets aside this day each year to reflect on these things, and I wish all of you a blessed feast!

God is our Father, The Church is our Mother

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day, and just like many of you, I am thankful to my own biological mother for raising me in safety and good health. If you know me personally, you realize how much patience that required. God Bless you Mom!

However, my thoughts today are reflective on the Church, our spiritual mother. It has been my great blessing to find my way home to the church of the apostles, becoming a member of the ancient church, the Orthodox Christian faith. In parishes, small and great throughout the world, we are one family in every aspect of our lives. We follow Christ together, pray together, fast together and celebrate the life cycle of the church in unison.

I can go anywhere, and find my family. We are one body with Christ and our family is eternally united. Truly, that is huge compared to our earthly lives. Of course, we have our quirks just as any family but the connection created and blessed by God is indescribably beautiful, complete and whole.

Therefore, for my family, the church on this Mother’s Day, I love you and am overwhelmed with gratitude for what you mean in my life. I thank you and give glory to God especially for his gift of love from each of us to one another. Have a Blessed Mother’s Day.

A Sunday Journey

A few days ago, a close friend shared that perhaps the great majority of our society do not know Christ, and in the end will suffer at the last judgment. Scripturally, this is true:

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in there at: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”  ~ Matthew 7: 13-15

Because of this fact, Christians work very hard to follow that narrow way. Sometimes we stumble off the path, but God in his grace reproves us and sets our feet aright. How rarely do we truly appreciate His faithfulness to us? On occasions, we even become prideful of our walk, forgetting that it was by grace that we heard of the way and our hearts yearned to enter that narrow gate.

Therefore, today in the middle of Lent, I did something rather rash. I skipped worship service and went for breakfast at a local restaurant. While it is not true that all Christians attend Sunday morning services, I thought the odds would be in favor of my goal to look into the faces of the lost and consider their plight.

The faces look just like our faces. They enjoy taking time to dine with family and friends. Most are kind, and enjoy the good things life has to offer. In fact, it is quite hard to spot a distinguishable characteristic that would differentiate believers from non-believers. Perhaps, this is the most alarming result of this morning’s observational research.

Assuming that people by nature desire truth and look to find it, how then will they know where to search? Christ commanded, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Are our candles hidden under a bushel, rather than placed on a candlestick to give light to all?

I spend much time fighting to conquer my own passions, and have neglected the important work of going forth and shining for others. Please forgive me, and pray that I learn how to be a better servant so others may see the narrow way and glorify God.

The Walking Dead – An Analogy

Have you watched the television show “The Walking Dead”? A small band of characters fight their way to survive in a world filled with zombies. These un-dead are around every turn, and cluster at gates and entrances attempting to claim the living.

The show is science fiction, but there is also a fearful reality in the theme. The “walkers” are remarkably similar to the unseen demons that try to attack us as we go through our lives. Fallen spirits, desiring to feast on the life that is in us, and if we fail in our battle to resist them, we will lose our own humanity. We become cold, driven by self-gratification and lose our ability to look to God and grow in his image.

It is Lent, we are in the season of repentance and with God’s grace conforming ourselves to His will. We must smeller sweeter for the fallen spirits cluster at our gates. Lord, please give us strong walls, and sharp swords, for we need your strength to win the battle.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving is special. It comes to our entire nation without the distractions of presents, or chocolate bunnies. It is a day, when even those who are only beginning to seek the Creator turn their thoughts towards heaven and if only for a brief moment before their meal, remember to be thankful to the One who gives all life’s blessings. Today, no matter where you are on faiths road, we all rejoice together. Happy Thanksgiving Day to all of you!

Lifting Up Holy Hands

“I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.”~ 1 Timothy 2:8

Years ago, before learning about the Orthodox Church, worship services included raising our hands up in praise as we sang songs of thanksgiving, submission, and praise. It was always an emotional experience, a physical expression of offering oneself to God as Lord. Few Orthodox practice the raising of hands during an Orthodox liturgy. Even so, it is less vibrant in form, with hands raised to a bit less than shoulder height, and lasting only about 15 seconds.

I missed this often since becoming Orthodox, but in reflecting about the loss, I began to understand more than I imagined. The word holy means set aside for God. If our hands are holy, then they are set aside especially for God’s purposes. Resting hands relax by our sides, on our laps, or draped on a convenient armrest. When it is time to put them to work, we lift them.

To lift holy hands is to put our hands to use for God’s purposes. Working for him, without wrath or doubting makes more sense in this context than it did in that of a praise service. Imagining praise with wrath is too challenging to imagine.  Therefore, teach us Lord to pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands serving You without wrath or doubt, and thank You for Your lessons as You mold us in your image.

Why Fast?

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”

― Ernest Hemingway

It is only the second day of the Advent Fast, and the journey has begun. The reasons for fasting are much more important than overcoming the challenges of vegan meal planning, or resisting cravings. Satisfying our physical desires at will, or not to do so is an ongoing choice for the next 40 days. It is to weigh the desire to be fully Christ’s servant in contrast to ruling our own lives. We practice giving up our selves for him, just as He did for us.

The enemy finds a battleground in our fasting, and he works to encourage us to give up the fight. He knows the rewards we gain, how enriched our lives are with Christ. In pressing forward, we gain strength and blessed wisdom and charity.

It is a blessed time, as we become skilled warriors trained by God, humbled, learning more about him, and practicing charity so it might become the essence of our own nature. It is appropriate to greet one another wishing them a “Blessed Fast!”  May your journey be one that matters!

Death to the World

“Death to the World” is a phrase and precept deeply embraced by Orthodox Christian. It is the initial step of the Ladder of Divine Accent, written by John Climacus. This joyous phrase of devotion to our Lord makes our hearts glow but may not be entirely apparent to the secular mind.  It could be interpreted as threat of violence and perhaps make those outside of the church just a bit nervous.

We forget that sometimes the truths revealed to us are a struggling block to others. It seems this has always been so. We read in the gospel of John (6: 63-66) the Lords words “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” resulted in many of his disciples turning back, and walking with him no more.  Even so, some, the blessed in the kingdom remained with him, answering him “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life”.

The premise in “Death to the World” is not unlike this. We look out into the world, notice the destitute and helpless and this changes our behavior. We react but in ways beyond sending in a small donation from our excess. We come to realizing that a luxurious lifestyle itself is at the expense of the needy. Therefore, we strive to eliminate the excesses in our lives. We work to make our diet simpler, at least for half of the year; keep our clothing simple and modest, and reduce the unnecessary goods and services in our budgets.

It is a challenging but very rewarding path, but one full of grace and immeasurable rewards. As one who keeps stumbling while journeying this road, there is nothing but thankfulness for your fine example and lead. Let us rejoice in our travels together. Death to the World…Indeed!

Where the Mind’s Eye Wanders

My husband started a new blog this week, and I realized I have neglected my own little blog for almost a year. Why is this? To be honest, it has not been from lack of reflection but rather believing that sharing the thoughts permeating my days would not be valuable to any of my readers.

Living as a citizen of the Ancient Church, one hears the glorious saints and martyrs who have given all as members of the Church Militant and are now members of the Church Triumphant. While the world slips further and further into darkness, I look for those who are leading as modern day examples and pondered if the Church Militant has gone into hiding, or in other words has become the Church AWOL (absent without leave).

I am the worst offender in this absence. If the fields are ripe for harvest, then should I not extremely busy reaping? Yet, I am not certain where or even how to begin. Therefore, my burden for souls instead of driving me into action, leads to a good number of tears and frankly a few too many glasses of wine.

Obviously, this is not beneficial to anyone. I want to transform my focus on what the world can become rather than despairing as they run further and further from their Creator. It is not always easy to transform one’s thoughts, so I appreciate prayers on my behalf.  With God’s grace, I strive now to follow the good guidance of Paul in his letter to the Philippians:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8