Food for the Soul: A Renewed Spiritual
Life
It is a new civil year and many of us are making goals for
how to improve our lives. In the Archpastoral Message of His
Beatitude Metropolitan Herman at the beginning of the New Year,
His Beatitude challenges us as Orthodox Christians to rethink
these “resolutions.”
He asks, “Do we see the beginning of a new year as an occasion
to pursue frivolous or meaningless resolutions, focusing exclusively
on ourselves with little concern or compassion for others? Do
we honor it as an occasion to recommit ourselves to discerning
God's will for our lives in this world, so often filled with
sorrow, and in the world to come? Do we welcome it as an opportunity
to grow spiritually, to give thanks with every breath while
striving to reveal in word and deed the hope that Our Lord offers
to all who embrace and treasure it?”
A new year, like every new moment, is an opportunity to recall
the fundamental principles of the Christian way of life and
to strive to understand and face the unique temptations which
confront us. It is a time to rededicate ourselves to the service
of God and our fellow men in the place where God has put us,
striving to be faithful to our divine calling.
The starting place for this effort is not in a gym, or some
kind of self-help book. We begin by immersing ourselves in the
Tradition of the Church, the life filled with the Holy Spirit,
the very Giver of life. The Tradition of the Church is the life
that has led millions of souls to salvation over hundreds of
centuries and has been passed down to us, so that we can have
life and have it abundantly. When we enter into this life, we
follow the fathers and imitate the saints. The new year, and
in fact everyone moment given to us by God, is the time to enter
into a life of prayer, study of the scriptures, participation
in the sacraments, and witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ
in every aspect of our life whether it be school, work, service,
or simple fellowship with friends and loved ones. Our first
and fundamental task is to discover and remain faithful to what
God has given us through Christ and the Holy Spirit in the Church.
Prayer
If we are not successful in our prayer we will not be successful
in anything, for prayer is the root and ground of everything
in the spiritual life. This is the teaching of our faith. The
purpose and goal of prayer is simple: to be one with God in
order to do His will. To pray is to enter into union with the
Blessed Trinity in adoration, thanksgiving, petition, lamentation
and perpetual service. In prayer, we strive for simplicity,
clarity, silence, quiet, and calm. In prayer we make every effort
for perfect integration and harmony of body and soul in joyful
union with God through Christ.
As we seek to pray, the Church teaches specific things that
we should and should not do.
• First we are taught that we must pray simply and humbly, in
secret, without ostentation or pretensions, without using many
words and without looking for the praises of men.
• We are taught to pray briefly and frequently, regularly and
constantly, using the words inspired by God and revealed in
the Bible and the prayers of the Church.
• We are taught to have specific times of prayer, and also to
pray without ceasing by having the remembrance of God continually
in our minds and the Name of Jesus constantly on our lips and
in our hearts, doing all things to the glory of God for the
good of others.
• We are taught to use the Lord's Prayer and the psalms and
the prayers of the saints in order to learn how to pray, for
what to ask and thank and to glorify God. This helps us to be
free from the narrow and petty interests and concerns of our
own limited experiences as well as the vain imaginations of
our own minds and hearts that so often consume us, even in our
prayer.
• And we are taught to integrate all this and pray to God in
our own words, and even in silence with no words at all, opening
ourselves in all things to the will of our Father in heaven,
and being guided by His Spirit within us from Christ.
Gaining Strength from the Worship
of Christ’s Church
In the spiritual life our personal prayer must be connected
to our corporate prayer in the liturgy of the Church. People
who pray only when they attend church services will be very
weak in their prayer and will receive very little from the common
prayer of the Church in its liturgical gatherings. In like manner,
people who only pray by themselves do not have a full relationship
with Christ since it is He that tells us that "where two
or three are gathered, there I am in the midst of them” (Matthew
18:20).
Regular participation in the holy Eucharist, the sacrament
of sacraments, is normal and regular for all members of the
Christ’s Holy Church. It must be the rule, and not the exception,
that the faithful come to prepare themselves and come forward
at the Divine Liturgy, with fear and love, to receive the body
and blood of Christ for the sake of their salvation and inspiration
in the faith. It is the Lord Himself who invites us, for He
Himself has said: “Take, eat, this is my body! Drink of it,
all of you, this is my blood! He who does not eat of the Lord's
body and drink of His blood with faith and devotion does not
have eternal life abiding in him.”
The holy Eucharist is the center and focal point of the spiritual
lives of true Christians. It is the inexhaustible source and
unalterable goal of all that we are and all that we do as servants
of God and members of Christ's Church. It is our unique and
certain means of communion with God the Father through the Son
in the Holy Spirit, with the Holy Theotokos Virgin Mary and
all the angels and saints. It is our deepest and most perfect
means of communion with one another, the whole Church of God,
all mankind, and the whole of creation.
Participation in confession, the sacrament of reconciliation,
must also be regular and frequent. It must become once again
an abiding element in the lives of the faithful and be revitalized
as the most common and normal of actions of a people continually
united and reunited with each other and with God. It is something
for which we must prepare through prayer, fasting, reading of
scripture, and courageous self-evaluation , reflection, and
disclosure.
Baptisms and chrismations, marriages and funerals, the services
of healing through the anointing of the sick are to be understood
and experienced as corporate acts of worship and praise. They
are not private devotions or simple cultural social celebrations.
They are to be placed in the center of our corporate spiritual
lives. They are the communal actions of the Church as the mystical
body and bride of Christ; the common liturgical actions of the
whole people of God; witnessed, celebrated and accomplished
by all.
Let Us Commend Our Whole Life
Rooted in prayer and grounded in the sacramental mysteries of
the Church, we are called then as Orthodox Christians to go
forth into the world to do the work of God and to accomplish
our mission, each one of us in his or her own way as guided
by the Spirit of God.
Each human being is created in the image and likeness of God.
Each human person is unique and irreplaceable as a servant of
Christ and a living temple of the Holy Spirit. Each man, woman,
and child has his or her own place and duty in the building
up of the Church in this world. Each one of us must sanctify
the actual life given to us by God within the conditions of
life which are ours. Each one of us must use his or her unique
talents and gifts, according to the measure of grace and faith
which God provides, for the fulfillment of God's will in the
service of others.
The first and fundamental task of every Christian is to flee
from the temptation of enslavement to the things of this world:
the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the lust of
pride (1 John 2:15). This means, first of all, that each one
of us must strive to be free from the love of money, which is
the root of all evil, and from the constant desire for earthly
possessions which is idolatry. The Lord Jesus Christ, with all
of His prophets apostles and saints, is severe in His warnings
to those who are foolish enough to lay up treasures on this
earth which only corrupt and enslave their possessor. The Lord
is strict without compromise in His teaching that those who
desire to be rich will lose their own souls in the process and
will be deprived of the Kingdom of God.
Christ explicitly tells us: Blessed are you poor! Blessed are
you who give, asking nothing in return! Blessed are you who
trust in God to care for you as He cares for the flowers of
the fields and the birds of the air, if only you trust God and
obey His commands! We can and must trust God to care for us
and provide for us as we strive to do His will in our sharing
with others. And let us always recall His holy words, “You cannot
serve God and mammon” (Luke 16:13).
As we strive to be liberated from the things of this world
which choke the Word of God in us and quench His Holy Spirit
within us, let us also flee from vainglory and pride, from the
desire for praise and fame. So often we become captivated by
our own egos. So often we are ruled by the passion to have the
praise and honor of others, and do not seek after God’s praise.
So often we seek appreciation and thanks for the little good
that we do. So often we look to exercise power and authority
over others. All this, however, is contrary to Christ, the true
Servant of God and the whole of mankind, who says in the Gospel,
“I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:27). And also, “He
who will be the greatest among you will be as the least; he
who will be first will be the servant of all (Matthew 23:11).”
There is no Christian life, no God-like life, where there is
not the will and desire to deny our self, to take up our cross,
and to give our self fully in sacrificial service and love for
each other and the “least of the brethren” (Matthew 25:40).
This we must do meekly, humbly, secretly, silently, and with
gratitude and joy in our hearts understanding that God has blessed
us to be His children in Christ, the servants of humanity.
We must strive as well for purity of heart, for purity of mind
and body and soul. The pure will be blessed to see God, Christ
has said, while the fornicators and adulterers and the slaves
to carnal lusts will lose their lives and be deprived of God's
kingdom. There is no dignity and freedom in the carnal person.
There is no true life, peace, and joy for someone constantly
seeking to satisfy the lusts of the flesh. For such there is
only constant dissatisfaction, continual frustration, and lack
of fulfillment in the vain longing to please the carnal senses.
We must flee from such foolishness which destroys the image
of God in us. We must take every day to reject the ways that
lead to death.
While fighting every evil passion within us, we are also called
to strive for the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which draw us ever
closer to God: love, truth, peace, joy, patience, kindness,
purity, gentleness, humility, meekness, faithfulness and self-control.
Denying the lusts of the flesh, we must seek rather for the
virtues of God. In this way each day for us becomes a joyful
struggle to strive for what is life-giving and reject that which
is soul-destroying.
As we consider the spiritual life in our time and in our life
we quickly become aware of the fact that much of our contemporary
society stands against the aspirations and desires inspired
in us by God. Not only are the values and goals of a secular
life radically different from the values and goals of the Church,
but the power of ungodly conditions tempts us to weakness and
fear. We can become tempted to say, “Yes, I would be Christian,
but it is impossible today. Perhaps it could be done in other
times and other places, but it cannot be done today in America.”
Such an attitude is plainly wrong. It is born of the devil and
actually blasphemes God. Now is the time of salvation as much
as any other. God is with us here and now as much as He ever
was in any time and place. What we must do today is what lovers
of God are always called to do. Nothing in the world of flesh
and spirit, of angels or men, can stop us from doing this, if
only we want it.
It is correct, however, to anticipate that we will suffer if
we follow Christ. The sufferings of Christians are real and
strong. Christ suffered. The prophets and apostles suffered.
The martyrs and saints suffered. If we will seek to be children
of God, we will suffer as well. We should know this. Christ,
Himself, told us (Matthew 5:10-12). This becomes part of who
we are and how we live. We even wear on our breasts and place
on our bodies the image of Christ crucified.
But the sufferings of Christians are not morbid and sad. They
are not bitter and joyless. The true Christians rejoice in sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces
character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint,
since God's love has been poured into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit that has been given to us (Romans 5:3-5). Christ
Himself, it is written, was made perfect through suffering (Hebrews
2:10). It will not be different for us. However, if we suffer
with Him, and in Him, and for Him for the sake of God's love
of mankind, then we will certainly find true life, peace, joy
and righteousness and will reign forever with Him in the Kingdom
of God.
Temptations Facing Us
All of the rituals of the Church, in her liturgy and piety,
are truly from God. They exist to express and convey the Orthodox
faith and the Orthodox way of life. We believe the are inspired
by the Holy Spirit of God. Over the centuries they have been
developed and cultivated, growing and changing as the Church
lives through human history. They are not merely the result
of the creativity or imagination of men. They are not formed
by decree or initiated by committee. They are organically formed
by the action of Divine Grace working through God's holy people.
We, however, must be very careful that we do not idolize them.
We must be careful not to keep the traditions of our forefathers
in such a way that allows us to overlook, or even deny, the
substance and power of the Gospel of Christ. We must be diligent
not just to follow the forms of our faith while rejecting its
reality, its power, and its divine truth and grace.
Living in such a pluralistic society as ours, we are also often
tempted to believe that, while we may foster our beliefs privately
and in our own parish communities as much as we desire, these
beliefs are exclusively our own and are not intended by God
to be for all people, in all times, and in all places. We are
tempted to believe that we should understand the Faith as but
one of the many possible religions which may differ externally
- in customs and forms - but which society says are, in essence,
really the same.
The truth is all people of all races, cultures, and creeds
are called to enter Christ’s Holy Orthodox Church. As Orthodox
Christians, we must never have any other gods than the one true
and living God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. We must
never agree that the Orthodox Christian Faith is only for ourselves,
for our own people and parishes, and not for everyone.
Another temptation is to believe that the genuine spiritual
life that we are discussing is just for bishops, priests, deacons,
and monastics of the Church. Rather, every member of the Body
of Christ must continually struggle for growth in the Spirit
of Christ. Every man, woman and child who lives in the Church
must be making the constant effort to overcome that which is
evil and to do that which is good according to the commandments
of God. Every member of God’s own people is to live a life of
prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Every member of the Church
must be perpetually striving to cooperate with God's grace so
that the works of God's righteousness might be present and powerful
among us.
Conclusion
The Lord Jesus Christ will come at the end of the ages to render
to every man according to his works. Our task today in America
as Orthodox Christians is the only task which is given to all
human beings by God: the task to become by God's grace all that
God Himself is by nature, following His Incarnate Son Jesus
Christ, the Perfect Man, in the accomplishment of goodness and
truth, in self-emptying love for the sake of all people. Taking
the words of our blessed Father Herman of Alaska, may this year’s
goal for our life be “From this day forth, from this hour, from
this minute, let us love God above all.” From there our life,
as well as the lives of all the people we touch, will find true
meaningl, joy, and fullfilment.
On the Calendar:
-
February 13, 2005 - NYC SYNDESMOS Event in recognition
of the International Orthodox Youth Month and World Day
of Orthodox Youth
-
May 27-30, 2005 - 100th Anniversary of Founding of Monastery
of St Tikhon of Zadonsk in South Canaan, PA
-
June 18-24, 2005 - St Vladimir Seminary Youth
Institute
-
July 17-22, 2005 - 14th All-American Council
-
August 9, 2005 - 35th Anniversary of the Glorification
of St Herman of Alaska
Celebrate the World Day of Orthodox Youth and International
Orthodox Youth Month!
SYNDESMOS NYC Regional Celebration (February 13th, 2005 - Sunday)
Sunday February 13th at 2 PM
Place: Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation 302 W. 91st
Street - Manhattan 212-724-2070
The event will include:
- Fellowship with Orthodox Young Adults from New York and
beyond
- Special Remarks by Fr. Michael Anderson (Director - OCA
Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministries)
- Refreshments
- Inter-Orthodox prayer service
All participants are asked to please bring a “Gift of the Heart”
Health Kit to Help Victims of the Tsunami Disaster.
For more information about the event or to RSVP
Email the regional representative at: syndesmos_america@yahoo.com
Or phone the parish office (212-724-2070), Pantelis Kostoulas
(610-715-3216), or Florence Givelis (973-838-0766)
Instructions to make a “Gift of the Heart” health kit:
1. Buy a one-gallon plastic bag with a zipper closure and fill
it with the following items:
- One hand towel
- One washcloth
- One comb
- One metal nail file or nail clipper
- One bar of soap (bath size)
- One toothbrush
- One tube of toothpaste (4-7 ounces)
- Six Band-Aids
2. Secure the bag and pack it in a box. Secure the box with
packing tape.
3. Clearly mark the outside of the box with the words "Health
Kit"
100th Anniversary of Founding of Monastery of St Tikhon of Zadonsk
in South Canaan, PA (May 27-30, 2005)
Established in 1905 by Saint Patriarch Tikhon during his years
as archbishop in North America and Archimandrite [later Archbishop]
Arseny, the monastery is North America’s oldest,” said the Very
Rev. John Matusiak, OCA communications director. “Over the past
century, countless pilgrims have passed under the landmark arch
at the monastery entrance to find spiritual comfort and strength,
to gather with other Orthodox Christians in prayer and fellowship,
and to reaffirm their commitment to Christ and His Holy Church.
The centennial celebration will mark yet another important milestone
in the Church in North America’s spiritual heritage.”
Rooms have been reserved for pilgrims at the Comfort Inn, Hamlin,
PA, a short drive from the monastery. Special activities are
being planned for youth. In view of the unprecedented number
of pilgrims expected to participate in the pilgrimage, it is
advised that reservations be made early by calling the Comfort
Inn at 800-523-4426 or 570-689-4148.
St Vladimir's Seminary Youth Institute (June 18-24)
St Vladimir's Seminary in Crestwood, NY is now accepting applications
for the summer 2005 Youth Institute for High School Juniors.
Each year, six qualifying high school juniors, three males and
three females, are chosen from a pool of applicants and given
full scholarships to attend. Except for travel to and from the
seminary, all expenses are covered by the scholarship. Held
from June 18–24, 2005, the program coincides with the Liturgical
Institute of Music and Pastoral Practice for adults. Participants
in the youth institute join in some of the facets of the adult
institute, but break off into their own discussion groups and
take special excursions.
This years' institute will explore the relationship of the
Orthodox Church to our surrounding culture. "Teenagers
challenge this year's institute theme in a singular way,"
says Prof. Albert Rossi, who helps lead the youth in this program.
"They must live in a world of corporate and political corruption
at high levels, violence of every sort, and at the same time
try to live a life in Jesus Christ and His Church. My expectations
of teens today are higher than ever. The stakes are high and
the battles are ferocious. Teens must reach down deeply and
choose their battles. I have seen the commitment of some teens
to high values and I look forward to their contribution at this
year's summer institute."
All high school juniors who are active in their faith and motivated
to spend a week of their summer in this fun but challenging
program are encouraged to apply. More details are available
in the events section of the seminary's website, www.svots.edu,
along with a downloadable application form. Inquirers may also
e-mail Fr Steven Belonick, the program coordinator, at belonick@svots.edu,
or call him at (914) 961-8313, ext. 328.
14th All-American Council Youth and Young Adult Activities (July
17-22, 2005)
As the Orthodox Church in America perpares to gather in Toronto,
ONT, Canada for the 14th All-American Council this July 17-22,,
2005, the OCA Department of Youth, Young Adult, and Campus Ministry
is preparing another full slate of exciting activies for youth
and young adults.
"Department members are hearing that parishes are planning
to send their entire youth groups, with some even planning to
rent buses, " said the Rev. Michael Anderson, OCA Youth
Director. "Many parishes are hold fundraisers throughout
the year to cover expenses."
Activities are being planned in five age groups
- Ages 6 and under
- Ages 7-9
- Ages 10-12
- Teens
- Young Adults (18+)
The schedule will include dynamic educational sessions, trips
to several area attractions in Toronto, a youth choir, a service
project for young adults attending the Council, and much more.
"Since 1995, participation of youth and young adults at
the All-American Council has double at each subsequent Council,
reaching a peak of over 400 participants at the 13th All-American
Council in Orlando, FL in 2002," Fr Michael added. "From
what I am hearing during my travels, the council has become
the even in which yout and their parents look forward to participating
- the perfect place for youth to renew their commitment ot Christ
and His Church as they build friendships that can span thousands
of miles and many years."
More information will be available on the OCA website at www.oca.org
in the coming months.
If you would like to be placed on an e-mail list to receive
regular updates please contact the Youth Department at yyacm@oca.org
with your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address.
35th Anniversary of the Glorification of St. Herman of Alaska
(August 9, 2005)
As one of the 15 autocephalous Orthodox Churches throughout
the world with the responsibility to glorify saints for the
veneration of the faithful, the Orthodox Church in America will
celebrate the 35th anniversary of North America's first saint,
St. Herman of Alaska, on August 9, 2005.
Each year pilgrims from across North American and around the
world gather in Kodiak, AK for the four to five day pilgrimage
which includes akathists to St. Herman, vigil for the feast,
Divine Liturgy, veneration of the relics, and a pilgrimage by
boat to Spruce Island where St. Herman resided and fell asleep
in the Lord.
More information about the pilgrimage will become available
in upcoming months. Be sure to keep checking the OCA website
at www.oca.org.
In the News: Metropolitan Herman
Participates in Presidential Inauguration and March for Life
This month, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Herman Archbishop of
Washington and Metropolitan of All America and Canada took part
in two important events for the citizens of the United States
of America.
His Beatitude was among a number of national religious and
civic leaders present on the steps of the US Capitol here for
the inauguration of President George Bush and Vice-President
Richard Cheney on Thursday, January 20, 2005. Also attending
the inauguration ceremonies was His Eminence, Archbishop Demetrios
of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America.
Metropolitan Herman participated in a number of other activities
associated with the inauguration. On Friday, January 21, the
morning after the inauguration, Metropolitan Herman and Archbishop
Demetrios were among representatives of the nation's various
faith traditions who attended an inaugural prayer service in
the National Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Paul. Metropolitan
Herman read 1 Timothy 2:1-3, which calls for "supplications,
prayers, and thanksgiving" for all men, including those
in authority, as is "acceptable to God." At the conclusion
of the service, Metropolitan Herman congratulated President
Bush and Vice-President Cheney and their wives on behalf of
the faithful of the Orthodox Church in America. He also greeted
former President George Bush and his wife, Barbara, and other
dignitaries.
In addition, on Monday, January 24, 2005, His Beatitude, Metropolitan
Herman once again led Orthodox Christians in the annual March
for Life in Washington, DC. Despite the crippling snowstorm
that covered the east coast on the eve of the March, Metropolitan
Herman, His Eminence, Archbishop Job of Chicago and the Midwest,
and nearly 500 Orthodox Christians braved the elements to join
in the annual public demonstration in support of the sanctity
of life.
At the pre-March rally, the Metropolitan Herman addressed an
estimated 100,000 pro-life demonstrators who filled the Ellipse.
He offered words of encouragement and spoke of the sanctity
of human life and the need to protect the rights of unborn,
created in the image and likeness of God. He also called for
a victory march in the years ahead, predicting the day when
the infamous 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision will be
overturned. In his closing comments, he publicly thanked US
President George W. Bush for his leadership and pro-life position.
After the rally, Metropolitan Herman, Archbishop Job of Chicago,
and the Orthodox Christian marchers joined the procession which
made its way along Constitution Avenue to the US Supreme Court.
On the steps of the court, a Service of Intercession and a Memorial
were celebrated by Metropolitan Herman and the Orthodox marchers.
“As Metropolitan Herman entoned ‘Memory Eternal’, it began
to snow again,” said the Very Rev. John Kowalczyk, who has accompanied
Metropolitan Herman to the March for some two decades. “Each
snow flake, unique and different, was symbolic of one of the
millions of children who had been aborted – each one unique,
different, and loved by God.”
As Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, Metropolitan
Herman serves as Archbishop of Washington, DC. The OCA's Saint
Nicholas Cathedral is located within blocks of the National
Cathedral.
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