Food for the Soul: Divine Revelation
For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which
was preached by me is not man's gospel. For I did not receive
it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation
of Jesus Christ" (Galatians 1:11-12).
(From the Epistle reading of the Sunday After the Nativity
of Our Lord Jesus Christ).
Saint Paul addressed this message to the group of churches
in the Roman province of Galatia in the years between 49-56
AD. His words were in response to their doubts concerning the
integrity and relevancy of the Gospel's saving message. While
the Galatian community had initially accepted and believed in
the gospel of Jesus Christ, at the time of the Apostle Paul's
writings, they had begun to return to the teachings of the Old
Covenant.
Though St Paul spoke these words more than 1900 ago, their
meaning is just as powerful and relevant to our lives today.
Nowadays, we are confronted with daily temptations which may
cause us to stray from the Gospel's precepts. We may begin to
ask ourselves if the Bible is useful in today's world. While
we may recall our Sunday School lessons, in the height of temptation,
a Christian life could seem to be such an unattainable goal.
"How," we ask, "can the Bible apply to us in
this era?" "Life was simpler back then", we rationalize.
"It was easy for those men to write those things."
As St. Paul teaches us, however, man did not simply write those
words. A church school teacher from my home parish likes to
say: "You guys, I'm not making this stuff up! This is what
Jesus tells us!"
God sent his Son into this world to be our Savior. The message
our Lord brings is a life of self-denial, but our reward for
accepting this life is life eternal, in his Kingdom. The Bible
was not written simply to keep the people of that time "in
line." The apostles were chosen by God to advance the gospel,
and thus become an extension of our Lord Himself. Through the
divine revelation which St Paul spoke, the apostles were chosen
to spread our Lord's message.
When confusion and temptation takes over in our lives, St Paul's
words comfort us. If we seek the will of God and adapt the teachings
of Holy Scripture to our life, it is easier for us to discern
how these words were intended. In faith and with prayer, we
will know that with God in our lives we are never alone; we
are no longer orphans in a world which has grown dark and cold.
(Soul) Food for Thought:
- If I am wondering how to react to a certain situation,
do I ask myself, "What does God desire from me?"
- Do I adjust my actions based on what I perceive God desires?
- If what God wills for me is not easy, do I still put forth
the required effort to follow Him?
- When I am making decisions, do I put God first?
An Orthodox Look:
Movies:Love Actually
The commercials were amusing, the critics were raving about
it, and friends were proclaiming it worth seeing - "Love
Actually" came highly recommended. I knew the gist of the
plot, many story lines with a central plot tying all the characters
together through association. Sort of a "Six Degrees of
Separation" meets "It's a Small World After All"
type of theme. It sounded interesting. The main thought I could
not imagine was how so many story lines could all manage to
capture the essence of love. With many characters, how could
they focus on any long enough to develop a plot that involved
an emotion as complex as love? I wondered, in fact, if "Love
Actually" was truly about love at all.
After viewing the movie, I think a more appropriate title would
have been "Love Not Really."
On the upside:
- The movie is quite funny. Although it is a bit long, it
moves quickly. The actor's lines are delivered in a crisp
and comically well-timed way.
- The plot, even with its many characters loosely woven together,
is surprisingly uncomplicated.
- Many types of relationships are examined. Husband and Wife,
Stepfather and Stepson, Boy and the Girl he just met, Little
Boy and the Little Girl he likes from afar, Woman and the
Man she works for … The list goes on.
On the downside:
- The movie is not about love. If "love" is defined
as adulterous behavior and lust, then it is very aptly named.
However, if we follow the love which Christ teaches (agape)
and calls us to live our lives by, this movie is inappropriately
titled. Much of the movie portrays a rather broken and sad
perspective on how our culture views love.
- Offensive language is used by the majority of characters,
most disturbingly by an eleven year old boy. He was an adorable
little boy, and hearing language coming from someone with
such a sweet demeanor and temperament was shocking and very
out of place.
- Sexual situations were present throughout the movie.
On the Calendar:
- December 27-31,
2003
OCF College Conference (East Coast and West Coast)
- January 16-18th,
2004
F.O.C.A. YOUNG ADULT WINTER WEEKEND GET-TOGETHER
- February 6-8,
2004
Orthodox Youth in Belgium Weekend
December 27-31, 2003
OCF College Conference (East Coast and West Coast) - Theme:
Obey Your Thirst for God.
The College Conference is held yearly December 27-31. There
is one on each coast to accommodate more participants. These
Conferences are open to college students, high school graduates,
and young adults. Both conferences will include a variety of
enlightening workshops, daily services and many different social
events. These conferences of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship
aim to promote unity among Orthodox young people and to renew
them in their individual journeys to salvation. You won't want
to miss it!
East Coast:
Keynote Speaker: Fr. Stephen Powley - Prison Chaplain, Canyon
City, CO
Location: Antiochian Village - Bolivar, PA
Hosted by: University of Texas - Austin OCF
Questions: Mary Kaim at east_CC@ocf.net
West Coast:
Keynote Speaker: Fr. Dan Suciu - Pastor, Saint Sophia Greek
Orthodox Church, San Antonio, TX
Location: St. Nicholas Ranch - Dunlap, CA
Hosted by: University of Arizona OCF
Questions: Molly Abrahams at west_CC@ocf.net
Registration: Begins October 21, 2003
Cost: $180 all inclusive price
Additional Information: You can always find more information
by contacting the OCF National Office at
800-919-1OCF or info@ocf.net,
or go to its web site at www.ocf.net.
January 16-18th, 2004
F.O.C.A. YOUNG ADULT WINTER WEEKEND GET-TOGETHER - Trevose,
PA
Come and spend the weekend with fellow Orthodox Young Adults.
See the sights of Philadelphia and attend the 67th Annual Novogodny
Ball!
Schedule of Events: Friday, January 16th- Arrival – Social in
the Hotel
Saturday, January 17th – Morning sightseeing tour of Philadelphia
and lunch in the city
Late afternoon free to swim in the hotel’s indoor pool
Ball- Doors open at 8pm , dance to begin at 9 pm (dinner option
at 6 pm)
Sunday, January 18th -Attend Divine Liturgy at St. Stephen’s
Orthodox Church
Cost:
Rooms $75/night (not based on per person)
Reservations must be made no later than December, 30, 2003
Tickets for the Ball $29.00/person
***Ticket reservations must be postmarked by January 9, 2004
How to Make Reservations:
Call the Hotel (Radisson Hotel Philadelphia Northeast) directly
at 215-638-8300 (state you are attending the Novogody Ball)
Tickets: Send ticket money to:
Greg Kuzmenchuk
27 Pickney Drive
Coatsville, PA 19320
For Weekend Information Call: Michael and Allison Steffaro
732-698-1952 or email at michaelsteffaro@comcast.net
For Novogody Ball Information Call: Paul Fedoronko at 610-328-6911
or email at: pfatsgd@aol.com
February 6-8, 2004
Orthodox Youth in Belgium Weekend
The new board a.i. of the Orthodox Youth in Belgium (OJB-JOB,
former Syndesmos-Belgium) has the honour to invite you to the
Tenth Weekend of, for the Orthodox Youth in Belgium from Friday
evening February 6 till Sunday afternoon February 8, 2004, in
Hingene (between Mechlin and Antwerp), a pittoresque village
on the River Scheldt.
The weekend is open to all Orthodox youth between 16 and 35
years old. Youth between 16 and 20 get priority at subscription.
The keynote speaker at the weekend will be Bishop Kallistos
(Ware) of Diokleia, a prominent Orthodox bishop from England.
He is well known by his lectures and by books such as “The Orthodox
Way”.
Who - 60 Orthodox youth
When - February (6-)7-8, 2004
Where - “Het Laathof” (www.hetlaathof.be)
at 2880 Hingene
Language - Dutch (NL), French and English
Costs - Aged 16-18: 50 euro; Aged 19-25: 55 euro; Aged 26-35:
60 euro
Contact:
Address: ”Secretariaat OJB-JOB”
IJzerenmolenstraat 24/222
3001 Leuven
Belgium
e-mail: secretarisojb@yahoo.co.uk
tel: 0(032)485 10 67 55 = Kor Verleyen, chairman a.i.
Love and Dating: Courting
Question:
What role should an Orthodox parish play in the courting
and dating of young Orthodox Christians? In our parish, there
are no social activities, not even a coffee hour after Divine
Liturgy. Our priest says that boys and girls should not meet
alone before they are married, yet no one in the parish provides
any support.
Ours is an ethnic Russian parish which causes me to wonder
what role the Church played in courting before the Bolshevik
Revolution (1917). Is it just a spiritual courthouse where a
couple receives blessing for their marriage, or should a courting
couple develop their whole relationship in the church?
Your advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Answer:
It is very important that God and the Church be central in
all our relationships. God should play a central role in all
aspects of our lives, including dating. The Church can guide
us toward making decisions that are good and pleasing to God.
Dating these days is extremely difficult and your question has
no easy answer. It can be difficult to follow your priest's
suggestion if indeed there are no venues through which you can
meet a potential mate and interact with them in a Christian
group setting. Please understand that many others are in a similar
position, wanting to court someone of the same faith, but finding
it difficult to do so because there are few youth within their
age at church and no organized social events.
Keep in mind, you are not without options.
Perhaps God is calling you to start something within your church.
If you see this as a need, and if there are young people in
your parish, consider starting a young adults group with the
blessing of your parish priest. This would be a good opportunity
to socialize with other people your age. If this is not possible,
you can research whether or not other Orthodox parishes in your
area have a young adults group you can join.
If travel is possible, the Orthodox Christian Fellowship (OCF)
campus ministry program holds an annual College Conference for
college age young adults the week between Christmas and New
Year's Day. To combine service, education, worship, and fellowship,
consider a 'Real Break' trip, a week-long service trip which
is scheduled during college and university's annual spring break
(February-March). The Orthodox Church in America (OCA) also
schedules an annual service trip to Alaska each summer. These
events will allow you to meet new people. More importantly they
allow our young adults to live the Gospel through service to
others in need. Additional information on the Alaska trip is
available in the November, 2003, YO-Mail.
The OCA youth
web site provides information on upcoming events in different
regions across North America; while the OCF web site <www.ocf.net>
lists information regarding events sponsored by the Orthodox
Christian Fellowship. Consider as well adding your name to the
FOCA (Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in America) young adult
database by contacting Lara Herzak at lherzak@yahoo.com.
You will be notified of upcoming events sponsored by FOCA.
It is important to remember that if each of us desires to meet
other Orthodox Christians, then we have to put ourselves in
situations where we can meet them. God's will and our will act
in accord with each other.
Your are to be commended for staying true to the faith and
for trying to live a life that is pleasing in the sight of God.
Pray to God that His will be done. May our Lord bless and honor
all your good intentions. Peace be with you.
Real Questions/Real Answers: Does God
Hear Our Prayers?
Question:
Does God hear our prayers? If so, why doesn't He answer
them?
Answer:
To answer the first part of your question, does God hear our
prayers - YES! Turn to Scripture and read:
"The Lord is far from the wicked, but he hears the
prayer of the righteous" (Proverbs 15:29).
God hears those who call out to him in faith. Jesus assures
us that with faith, a primary condition of prayer, our prayers
will be answered.
"And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive,
if you have faith"
(Matt 21:22).
Yes, God does hear our prayers. The second part of your question
however, is a bit more complicated and difficult to answer.
First, ask yourself, what are you praying for? This is not
intended to be a trick question, or the infamous "answering
a question with a question." Rather, the goal of this is
to discern whose will you are seeking to be done, yours or God's?
Jesus instructs us on how best to pray:
"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the
door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father
who sees in secret will reward you. And in praying do not
heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that
they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them,
for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray
then likes this: Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be
Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as
it is in heaven" (Matthew 6:6-10).
It is important to note whose will is ultimately to be done
- God's. It is only His will that we should seek in our lives
as Christians. "My will be done", though it may rhyme,
is not part of the equation.
When we were children, we would ask our parents for many things.
I would often ask mine for a puppy. I REALLY wanted a puppy.
After they said "no" many times, I asked God for a
puppy. I figured if my parents weren't willing to go along with
my plan, God should intervene. Surely, God could get me a puppy.
Months passed - no puppy. Christmas came and went - still no
puppy. WHY, I wanted to know, had I still not received a little
dog? Looking back, I know the answer was simply that my parents,
knowing what was best, had said "no." (The fact that
my father was horribly allergic to dogs probably played a very
large role in their decision, but that's not an easy concept
for an eight year old to grasp).
Just as our parents answered "no" to us as children,
so does God answer "no" if we are praying exclusively
for our will to be accomplished. My parents had seen the bigger
picture, as God does in every instance.
God's answers are all around us. The answers He gives may not
be what we initially had in mind. However, can we at all pretend
to know more than God? If we do not get exactly what we want,
and at times fervently pray for, then we must faithfully accept
that what God has granted us IS the answer whether we approve
or not.
Once our hearts are opened to God and we desire and seek His
will, we can more clearly know His answers. In spite of our
best efforts to understand Him, at times it may seem like God
is silent. The story of Lazarus (John 11) tells us that Jesus,
though He knew Lazarus was sick, did not go to him until after
he died. He loved Lazarus, yet he still waited, later bringing
him back to life after being dead in the tomb for four days.
It was not that Jesus "missed his chance" to heal
Lazarus. Rather, God's answer was to wait and show Himself in
a wondrous manner - "so that the Son of God may be glorified
by means of it" (v.4) - allowing Lazarus to be a part of
an even greater miracle than he had ever known before. God's
will is oftentimes beyond our comprehension, but discerning
His will is that alone which we should be seeking and constantly
praying for. Only with prayerful attentiveness, silence, and
faithfulness, will we hear God's answer to our prayers. May
God help us to accept and fully embrace His will.
"Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything
by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests
be made known to God" (Phil 4:6).
"Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation,
be constant in prayer" (Romans 12:12)
Readers Write:
Don't forget!
Here is your chance! We know you have great stories to tell,
and honest opinions to share. We know amazing things have happened
to you and you were just wondering, "Now, HOW can I share this
with others?" Well, the section IS entitled "Readers Write,"
so what better venue than right here?
You're a reader, so…. You know
the next step. Send us something you've written and would like
to see in a future issue of YO-Mail. Commentary on YO-Mail is
welcome, as is anything that is pertinent to our lives as Christians.
Send it in to yomail@oca.org
and we will put it here.
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