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Food for the Soul

Lk 13:10-17 (Gospel reading on the 25th Sunday after Pentecost)

Behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus healed on the Sabbath; and he said, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."

The miracle of this Gospel story provides us with a message of hope. First, the woman isn't healed because she asks for it, or has any great demonstration of faith. Instead, Christ simply pulls her out from the crowd and heals her.

This is reassuring for us because very often we fall into a spiritual illness in which we don't feel we have the strength to "raise" ourselves up and ask God for His help. We might even get so depressed that it is difficult to lift our heads to greet another person with a smile. When this happens, God often steps in and sends us just the right person or event to brighten our day and lead us into His light and life.

The second reason that this Gospel is reassuring to us is because Christ heals the woman on His own terms, not according to the current rules of the synagogue. The ruler of the synagogue is a person who has ignored the real power of God in order to promote the routine, the expected, the normal. Jesus shakes up the synagogue by performing a miracle. He challenges the expectations of the so-called "religious" people who would prefer Jesus to fit into their own version of how things should be done. Because of their limited idea of the power of God, they are not open to receive His blessings. Through this act Christ tells us that we need to be open to God at all times, and not try to force Him to conform to our idea of Who He should be, what He should do, or how He should do it.

Both reasons teach us that God cannot be put into a neat little box. He acts as He wills, not as we necessarily want or expect Him to act. He sends us what we need and shows His love in surprising ways. Now that we have entered the Christmas fast, we can begin preparing for Christmas by looking at our lives and seeing where and how God is acting.

Something to think about:

• What are my spiritual infirmities -- those things that keep me down and prevent me from experiencing God's love in my life?

• What are ways by which God has entered into my life to heal me from these infirmities?

• Are there ways in which I have acted like the synagogue ruler and tried to keep God limited in my life?

• What are the gifts that God has given me for which I need to thank Him?

Consider each of these questions carefully as part of the Advent fast. As winter approaches, we often like to stay inside and even hibernate. Our "winter lent" is a chance to go inside our souls as well.

"Lord, please help us, save us, and have mercy on us, even when we are too weak to lift our hearts to You. Stir our souls with awe and wonder in You, opening the eyes of our hearts, healing our souls and bodies, and making us able to share in Your heavenly Kingdom. Amen."

For more information on the Saints of Alaska and North America see www.oca.org/Feasts-and-Saints and follow the link to lives of North American Saints.

CD: New Radicals

With the video for their pop hit You Get What You Give on MTV's top 20, the New Radicals have the potential of becoming a regular voice on the pop music scene. Combining elements of techno, rock and r&b with their own musical originality, they've created a new sound that is sure to influence future artists. Their debut album You May Be Brainwashed Too has a good sound with a definite social viewpoint.

On the up side:

• Overall the CD challenges listeners to confront and resist the economically driven society of the 90s. It condemns the trends of materialism, commercialism, and the use of subliminal messages for treating people as possible revenue instead of human beings.

• The song You Get What You Give preaches the old "golden rule" (treat others as you want to be treated) and warns young listeners that there are many people out there trying to "sell" them on ideologies based on selfishness and greed. The song affirms to listeners that even though some people will treat them poorly, they "have the music" in them.

• The song I Hope I Didn't Give Away the Ending along with some others champions the belief that no one is self-sufficient.

On the down side:

• Overall the CD represents religion as something oppressive. Society as a whole generally views religion in this way, often because of how religious bodies represent themselves. This should not be seen as antagonistic toward the Church, but as a sign that people need to know the Orthodox understandings of Christ and His Church.

• There is a certain amount of bad language in various songs on the CD. While in some recordings it is used to emphasize certain points, in this CD it seems out of place and awkward. In several cases it seems that it was used just to make sure that people didn't think the group was too "clean."

• Some of the songs can be interpreted as advocating drug use for fun or in order to deal with or avoid life issues.

On the Calendar

Christmas Time Events for Youth and Young Adults

St Vladimir's Seminary Annual College and Youth Christmas Retreat
December 28-30, Crestwood, NY

This year's theme is "Christian Vision and Television: The Uses and Abuses of Television in the Christian Life"

For more information see the seminary website at www.svots.edu/Events or contact Fr. Michael Arbanas at +1.914.961.8313, or by e-mail at events@svots.edu.

North American Orthodox College and Young Adult Conference
December 26-30, Ligonier, PA

This year's theme is "Through the Eyes of Faith..."

For more information contact: the Antiochian Campus Ministry Office at +1.724.238.9565

To advertise your event here send information to: youth@oca.org

In the News

60 Minutes Broadcasts Kevorkian Assisted Suicide

The recent CBS 60 Minutes' broadcast of Dr Kevorkian euthanizing Thomas Youk, a 52-year-old patient with Lou Gehrig's disease, has brought the debate on physician-assisted suicide to a new fevered pitch. The broadcast has forced a confrontation on two issues: the premeditated broadcasting of a real death on network television, and the right to die.

Both medical and religious organizations are denouncing the event. CBS is being accused of voyeurism and sensationalism to increase ratings during "sweeps week" -- the period of time in which advertising fees are determined based upon ratings. Dr Kevorkian, on the other hand, is being condemned by his peers for using the suffering of Mr Youk to further his own beliefs about euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. While CBS has had few consequences from its action, Dr Kevorkian was arrested and is facing charges for first-degree murder. Dr Kevorkian has vowed to go on a hunger strike to draw more attention to the debate.

FYI:

• Approximately, two-thirds of Americans believe that terminally ill people should have the right to end their lives prematurely

• Dr Kevorkian has had a role in approximately 130 suicides since 1990

• The Church teaches that all life is sacred, that through His death on the Cross, Christ has transformed suffering so that people can draw closer to God and others through it, and that people who kill themselves prematurely are rejecting the power and love of God

Real Questions, Real Answers!

Suicide

Q. (from AC from IL)

I have a question. The other day my friends and I were talking about what happens when someone commits suicide: does he/she go to heaven or hell? I mean, if he/she was Christian, would God forgive him/her, or not? I have thought about this for a long time and was just wondering, thanks!

A.

That is quite a loaded question, AC! It leads to hundreds of other questions about God, humanity, suffering, and the very purpose of life. It comes at an interesting time, given the events currently going on with Dr Kevorkian. Within your question are the assumptions that God forgives some people and not others; that those He does not forgive, He sends to Hell. The truth of the matter is, if someone commits suicide it is he who refuses to accept His forgiveness. (Check out the question and answer on judgment and hell in the Oct 1 issue (#17).)

As Christians, we believe that God is the Source and Giver of all life. We also believe that God is Love (1 Jn) and has created us to love Him and the people around us. People who kill themselves take complete control of their lives and block out God and every other human being. For this reason the Church sees it as the ultimate act of selfishness -- distinguishing it from martyrdom.

A martyr allows himself (or herself) to be killed in order to show others that with Jesus we no longer need to fear death. It is an act of love wanting to connect with God and with the people around him or her. Someone who commits suicide is completely self-absorbed and rejects the possibility that God can take his/her problems and suffering and transform them into something positive or that his/her act will effect the people around him/her.

As we mentioned in the October 1 issue (#17), the Church teaches that everyone comes face to face with God -- the One Who is love -- when he/she dies. Those who want love will experience this as Heaven, and those who reject love will experience this as Hell. By definition, a person who commits suicide has rejected life and love. He/she can't bear to be near life and love. It is for this reason the Church teaches that those who commit suicide will live eternally in Hell, not because God has looked upon them disapprovingly and pronounced them "guilty," but because they bask in the loving forgiveness of God and don't want it.

Now there are a hundred other questions related to this one, from the issue of suffering to the issue of committing suicide during a clinical state of mental illness. We won't even try to address them all here. We will, however, answer any questions you submit to us on this and any other topic. Send them to youth@oca.org. We promise to do our best to answer them clearly, concisely, and honestly.

Readers Write ...

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