Spiritual Contemplations for those who serve the Lord |
While on earth, our Lord Jesus Christ sent out two missions. One to be conducted by the twelve disciples and the other by the seventy apostles He later on had chosen. Before sending those missions out in the field of service He established very important precepts which were to be followed by the first disciples and apostles and by the church up to this present day. God is the Caller "You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you" (John 15:16). These words, from the blessed mouth of our Lord, confirms that service is a calling from the almighty that needs subsequent joyful and willing compliance, obedience and submission. Two by Two The Lord instructed His disciples to go out in pairs. The number two has its significance in both the old and new testaments. In this particular incident, number two signifies solidarity, support, encouragement, empowerment and uplifting. Although our Lord openly contended that "the harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few" (Matthew 9:37), which would logically make single mission more economical and productive; yet our Lord at that point in time was more concerned about the quality of service rather than quantity believing that God is capable of sending more workers to His field. A Compensatory Plan Sending His disciples out in couples reduced by half the coverage area of service. Knowing the vital indispensable need for more servants would not be met except by prayers, "Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'" (Matthew 9:37-38). This command was not given to the disciples only but to the Body of Christ throughout the centuries. How many times do we remember to pray for more faithful servants? Required Consecration An answer to God's calling to serve must be followed by consecration of one's life. This consecration can be either:
Qualifications for the Calling Meekness The first prerequisite is meekness in order for the mission to succeed. Our Lord realized how rough and crude the road would be but also knew the landmarks on those rough roads. "Go your way; behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves" (Luke 10:3). His words presupposed the preexistence of wolves to which the lambs would be sent. Safety and security of the lambs were not promised. However, conversion of the wolves into lambs was feasible. Christ's followers should not lose their meek nature in the midst of ungodly people but trust they will certainly affect the unruly and change their nature. The Master of the game is our Lord Himself and we are to learn directly from Him, "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls" (Matthew 11:29). Readiness The second prerequisite, readiness for service, is manifested in the willingness to sacrifice personal comfort, time, money and even life. St. Paul laid it down clearly when he said, "As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.'" (Romans 8:36). The ceremony of bishop ordination symbolizes very vividly this concept of laying down the self. The bishop to be ordained gets escorted by two other bishops who pull him by the end of his sleeves up to the altar thus indicating what persecutions, pain and sufferings await him just like his Master who like a sheep taken to slaughter did not open his mouth (Isaiah 53:7). Joshua, son of Sirach says, "My son, if you draw near to serve the Lord, prepare your soul for temptation" (Sirach 2:1). A true servant's role is to carry the others' burdens, weaknesses, infirmities and sins causing them to become his, and after that struggle and strive before God in order to be healed from them. St. Paul says, "We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves" (Romans 15:1). During the Divine Liturgy, the priest prays in the inaudible prayer of preparation, "Receive this sacrifice on behalf of my sins and the ignorance of my people" thus calling what people committed as ignorance and his, as sins. That is the epitome of submission and readiness to suffer on behalf of the others. Another symbolic item is the crosses on the priest's tonic. For while the back cross is smaller than the front to signify the sins of the congregation, the front one is bigger to stand for his own sins. Rejection of the earthly Materialism is a big hindrance to service. Our Lord's instructions in this area were loud and clear "Carry neither money bag, knapsack, nor sandals; and greet no one along the road" (Luke 10:4), thus indicating the need for complete liberation from concern about material needs. His cross examination of the disciples after coming back from their mission was whether they needed anything "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7). Since He is the provider, get preoccupied and concerned about the Provider and stop worrying about the provision. A church that relies on her richness and monetary funds puts her faith at risk. Depending on money as a primary source for spreading the Word of God is against our Lord's teachings. It is quite surprising to see a congregation standing crippled before the advancement of their church service because of money. "We do not have the money for it." Such people do not realize the power that exists in this lack. In a similar situation, St. Peter's answer to the crippled man "Then Peter said, 'Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.'" (Acts 3:6). Preoccupation with the Spiritual message The message: "The kingdom of God is near" is the core of service. Advancing the Lord's kingdom and leading people to repentance and reconciliation was the disciples' major concern according to the Lord's directions. After the disciples service had extended, and fearing getting too much involved in what was beyond their scope and focus, they decided to delegate others to carry on with the social part of service including caring for the widows and the poor (Acts 6). What to Expect on the Journey When sending His disciples out on their first mission, our Lord gave them instructions not to take with them any provisions but to trust to have their needs met "And remain in the same house, eating and drinking such things as they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not go from house to house" (Luke 10:7). Every city they entered they were to eat and drink as they were given them; for the laborer is worthy of his wages. "Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you" (Luke 10:8). He forewarned them against rejection and gave the solution. "'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.'" (Luke 10:11). While refusing to take anything from such people who rejected them, they were still to relay the spiritual message that "the kingdom of God is near" and that people should repent and confess their sins. The message for us today is that the church still remains open in spite of people's hard heartedness and resistance. Meeting Needs and Expenses When the disciples returned back, He rhetorically asked them whether they lacked anything. Our Lord wanted to hammer in the need for faith in God the provider. The church does not put any burden on people except that of love and sharing the good news of Salvation. However, it is in people's advantage and blessing to contribute with their financial resources towards building churches and supporting service. St. Paul expressed this concept clearly saying, "Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account" (Philippians 4:17). Also that explains the church's stance from money that comes from sinful gain or worldly resources. A sinner's donation is a defiled one. In 1 Chronicles 21:18-26, King David refused free service for God. "Then King David said to Ornan, 'No, but I will surely buy it for the full price, for I will not take what is yours for the LORD, nor offer burnt offerings with that which costs me nothing.'" (1 Chronicles 21:24) asserting the fact that it is the congregation's duty to meet their church's needs and finance their projects without relying on outside sources. It is sad to say that nowadays many churches are no more houses of God preaching the message of repentance and reconciliation. Many church buildings have been converted into places of social or business activities. Attending to Other's Needs In order for God's message of Salvation and Reconciliation to make sense and be accepted, attention must be directed to their physical needs. In order for people to listen, they must be healed first of their infirmities. That was our Lord's command, "And heal the sick there, and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.'" (Luke 10:9). Even if total physical healing does not take place, yet praying with a sick person matters much and alleviates at least psychological pain. St. Paul went about performing healing miracles while he himself was denied one and the Lord told him, "And He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me" (2 Corinthians 12:9). The Content of the Message
The Outcome of the Mission Joy As expressed in the disciples words "Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, 'Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.'" (Luke 10:17) and recognized and admitted by the Lord Himself "And He said to them, 'I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.'" (Luke 10:18). However, the secret of Christ's true joy is to see all His sheep having arrived safely to the shore without damage of straying "And again: 'I will put My trust in Him.' And again: 'Here am I and the children whom God has given Me.'" (Hebrews 2:13). Eternal life "Do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10:20). More important than the joy incurred by the gifts of the Spirit and success in service is the fact that our names are written in heaven because of the work of Salvation in us. While the first may put us in danger of perdition because of pride or too much trust in the gifts and the self, the second grants us everlasting life and permanent Salvation and Redemption. St. Paul was cautious of this truth about the risk of losing one's salvation. So, he decided to "But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27). Conclusion Service is not only for priests and deacons. There are different types of service. Any Christian person believing in Christ and having renewed his life and put on the new man is called for consecration and service. Consecration can be total or partial. Service has a price tag that comes with it. Our Lord said "But Jesus said to him, 'No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.'" (Luke 9:62) but bear the cross and follow Him looking forward to the honor and glory that awaits those who serve with patience and faithfulness. *article by HG Bishop Youssef www.suscopts.org
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This is our present Festival; it is this we celebrate today, the coming of God to man, that we might go forth, or rather that we might go back to God that putting off the old man, we might put on the new, and that as we died in Adam, so we might live in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:22), being born with Christ and crucified with Him and buried with Him and rising with Him. For I must undergo the beautiful conversion, and as the painful succeeded the more blissful, so must the more blissful come out of the painful. "For where sin abounded, grace abounded much more" (Romans 5:20); and if a taste condemned us, how much more does the Passion of Christ justify us? Therefore let us keep the Feast, after a godly sort; not after the way of the world, but in a fashion above the world; not as our own but as belonging to Him who is ours, or rather as our Master's; not as of weakness, but as of healing; not as of creation, but of re-creation. And how shall this be? Let us not decorate our porches, nor organize dances, nor adorn the streets. Let us not feast the eye, nor enchant the ear with music, nor enervate the nostrils with perfume, nor prostitute the taste, nor indulge the touch, those roads that are so prone to evil and entrances for sin. Let us not be effeminate in soft, flowing clothes, whose beauty consists in their uselessness, nor with the glittering of gems or the sheen of gold (Romans 13:13) or the tricks of color, belying the beauty of nature and invented to do despite to the image of God. Not in rioting and drunkenness, with which are mingled, I know well, in fornication and wantonness, since the lessons which evil teachers give are evil, or rather the harvest from worthless seeds is worthless. Let us not set up high beds of leaves, making shrines for the belly of what belongs to debauchery. Let us not toast with fragrant wines, the specialties of cooks, the great expense of perfumes. Let not sea and land bring us as a gift their precious refuse for this is how I have learned to estimate luxury and let us not strive to outdo each other in intemperance (for to my mind every superfluity is intemperance and everything which goes beyond absolute need), and this while others, who are made of the same clay and in the same manner, are hungry and in want. Let us leave all these to the Greeks and festivals of the Greeks, who call by the name of gods beings who rejoice in the stench of sacrifices, and who consistently worship with their belly evil inventors and worshippers of evil demons. But we, the object of whose adoration is the Word, if we must in some way have luxury, let us seek it in word, and in the divine Law, and in histories, especially those that are the origin of this feast, so that our luxury may be akin to and not far removed from Him Who has called us together. Or do you desire (for today I am your host!) that I should set before you, my good guests, the story of these things as abundantly and as nobly as I can, so that you may know how a foreigner can feed the natives of the land, and a rustic the people of the town, and one who cares not for luxury those who delight in it, and one who is poor and homeless those who are eminent for wealth? We will begin from this point; and let me ask you who delight in such matters to cleanse your mind and your ears and your thoughts, since our discourse is to be of God and divine, so that when you depart you may have enjoyed delights that really do not fade away. And this same discourse shall be at once both very full and very concise, so that you may neither be displeased at its deficiencies, nor find it unpleasant through excessiveness. * Adapted from Oration 38, On the manifestation of God in the birth of Christ - St Gregory Nazianzus
Contemplate about the creation look above, below you, at your right and at your left. You will see various creatures and an unlimited number of beings. All these were created from nothing, and the day will come when they will all go back to nothing once more Now that you have seen these strong bodies and beautiful eyes, wise tongues and gorgeous faces, the fast-moving feet and hardworking hands, remember that all these will cease one day. They will all turn to dust, for from the earth it was taken, and it shall all turn into dust "In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread. Till you return to the ground, For out of it you were taken; For dust you are, And to dust you shall return.” (Genesis 3:19) Wherever you look, or whatever you think about, if you contemplate about everything in the universe, you will discover that nothing will ever last for long, for "vanity of vanities! All is vanity... All is vanity and a chasing after wind" (Ecclesiastes 1:2, 14). The world is but a green rod; its freshness and its beauty delight the eyes. Even if you break it. you will find it hollow and senseless - just like the empty jar: once you knock on it you will hear its emptiness, the same is true about the world; once you experience it and try it, you will see its vanity. All what's in the universe will pass away: greatness, magnificence, riches, glory splendor, and everything else that cause human beings to boast and brag. They will all come to an end because they are all chasing after wind. The world will pass away and vanish, and man has to leave it willingly or unwillingly...so everything is vain. It is vain to depend on the world. to find honor, to seek reputation. Everything existing has to vanish and go, for "the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed (2 Peter 3:10). Where are our fathers? Where are the kings that lived in palaces? Where are the philosophers and wise men? Where are the scientists and inventors? Where are the great leaders and heroes who conquered and killed? Where are the great empires and old nations? All have been grasped by the abyss and vanished. Did any of them take or carry any of their riches from this world with them? Can the king who is seated on his throne say at his deathbed, "Come with me . O my palace, which I used to live in, and let my glory and honor be my companions while traveling to the path of eternity?" Who of the rich ones took a penny with them, or one of the slaves with them? Gain what you want, and be pleased with your riches, but let it be known that one day you will leave this world with an empty hand. "Naked I came from my mother's womb. and naked shall I return there (Job 1:21). “For we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it" (Timothy 6:7) "As they came from their mother's womb, so they shall go again, naked as they came; they shall take nothing for their toil, which they may carry away with their hands" (Ecclesiastes 5:15). Time in its past, present and future does not feel its endurance, but surely it will pass away and vanish. The past was swallowed up in a big sea of vanity, where there is no existence. The future is unknown. The present is temporal, and if it lasted an hour it changes after that. Blessed are those who despise everything for the sake of Christ and seek the path of salvation! Happy is the man who keeps his hands clean of the world, and leaves everything and lives as a stranger on earth. It is beneficial for the man to be poor than rich, to be simple than great, and to be humble than boast. Those who have a clear and pure conscious are far better than those who, with pride and boastfulness, know the deepest secrets and every intricate detail, O man, why do I see you worried with things that will vanish, while being inattentive to the permanent and lasting things? Enough of his pride and slander. Open your eyes, which have been shut by sin, and wake up from the vanity of this life. Consider everything as something vain, as if it is nothing. *Adapted from an article written by St Habib Girgis
In the Old Testament church, it is observed that spiritual revival was related to praise. Whenever there was not much praise, people would get busy with war and diverge to worshiping idols. Then the Levites would seek their daily living and the outcome would be general spiritual sluggishness. It is also observed that some intermittent consecutive spiritual revivals had occurred. For, we read that during the period of Asaph, the people had entered into a covenant with God and swore to the Lord, the God of Israel with a great voice, shouts and the blowing of pipes and horns and all the kingdom of Judah rejoiced. After that there was resurgence during the reign of Jehoshaphat under the leadership of a man called Jahaziel son of Zachariah from Asaph and there was a great joy on the earth and the Levites and the sons of Kohat praised the Lord of Israel in a very powerful voice. Thus, one can say that every spiritual revitalization took place because of the return to praise. As it is written, Jehoshaphat stood in holy ornament and caused the singers to sing praising and saying “Praise the Lord for His mercy endures forever” (2 Chronicles 20:21). It is worth noting that when they returned to God with praise, they had victory over their enemies as is written, they constructed ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir (2 Chronicles 20:22). Their enemies were defeated and the people returned happily because God gave them victory and they entered Jerusalem "with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the Lord" (2 Chronicles 20:28).
Hezekiah the righteous king who did what was good in the eyes of the Lord just as his father David did was said to have made the Levites stand in the house of the Lord "with cymbals, with stringed instruments, and with harps" (2 Chronicles 29:25) and his days were days of spiritual restoration and joy. The Levites and the priests would praise the Lord and thank him daily and the same would happen during the days of Josiah the righteous king. After that the people passed through a degraded spiritual state of praise till it reached its summit during their exile in Babylon when all praise had stopped completely “how do we praise the Lord in a strange land?” It is difficult for someone exiled to sing the praises of joy. Throughout the exile period no praise would be heard of. However, some prophets prophesied that God would return joy and praise once again. In that respect, Isaiah said about the men of Jerusalem that during the feast Her gates shall lament and mourn (Isaiah 3:26) but he turned around and 2 prophesied about the redemption and the joy for the return of praise saying “the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing” (Isaiah 51:11). We find that Ezra and Nehemiah who in stages brought the people back from exile established choirs of praise. It is said that Ezra counted the people and discovered there were one hundred and twenty-eight singers from Asaph while previously there were four thousand of them. In the book of Ezra, it is written that he made the priests stand in their clothes and their horns and the Levites with their cymbals to praise the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever. The people would shout with praises to the Lord and read in the book of the law half the day and during the other half they would worship and praise the Lord their God. At the anointing of the gate Nehemiah said “So I brought the leaders of Judah up on the wall, and appointed two large thanksgiving choirs” (Nehemiah 12:31). This was the first occasion to have two choirs and that is what the church does now “East and West”. To bring back the glory of praise, he exempted the choirs of praise from paying taxes and gave them salaries just as it were in the days of Solomon. “In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah all Israel gave the portions for the singers and the gatekeepers, a portion for each day” (Nehemiah 12:47). In the days of Nehemiah, people got busy with worshiping and they sang new songs like David and Solomon and distributed the responsibilities among the Levites. There were head singers and lots of songs and praise for the house of the Lord. This order of things continued until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. However, although everything was in order yet it lacked spirit and understanding. For, there were many types of religious people like the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Levites who were very meticulously keeping the form but lacking the spirit and that is why Jesus Christ would rebuke them. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself practiced the offering of praise as it is written that on the Holy Thursday “they worshiped and then went out to the Mount of Olives”. Also after the Resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit, the apostles used to go to the temple not to offer the blood offerings that were annulled by the Cross offering but to present a praise offering with psalms and hymns. When they were cast out of the temple they went out carrying the most precious treasures, the praises and passed them down to the New Testament church. In summary, the glory of the church and her regeneration depends on the revival of praise and worship. The father monks are separated for this work and this preserves to the church her glory and power; and with the monasteries becoming open to the churches, praise has spread wide among the youths and even among children. In the Garden of Eden and before the fall, Adam worshiped; but after the fall praise stopped and Adam’s relation with God would be based on blood offerings. In Moses’ days worshiping through blood and incense was established. In David’s days, blood, incense and praise were to be found. In the New Testament church there is no blood offering except the offering of the Eucharist, Christ, along with incense and praise. However, in heaven there is to be found praise only, “full of incense, which is the prayers of the saints” (Revelation 5:8). That is why those who love praising and practice it are qualified to be called “earthly angels or heavenly humans” because they are practicing the life of heaven on earth. Finally, praises are not just good voices and synchronized tones but are most importantly spirituality and understanding “I pray with my spirit and mind and with emotional understanding of the words and music." Worshiping in church is not mere performing church duty. May the Lord grant us David’s life of joy and worship as well as his mind. Amen! *Adapted from HGBY monthly Clergical letters - January 2013
There is no place for liars in the kingdom of heaven as it is written, “But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie” (Revelation 15:22). As people consider the servant to be the representative of heaven on earth, they expect him to be adorned with all heavenly virtues including the virtue of credibility. There is no a single person on earth who had not been hurt, at least once, by lack of others’ credibility. Many had completely lost their trust in others due to their incredibility. Nevertheless, the last person on earth they expect to be incredible is the servant. He is the man of God about Whom it was said, “For He who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:23). Therefore, people expect the servant to be faithful like His Master whom he serves. Credibility has many types: (1) Speaking the truth: It is inconvenient for a servant to lie, manipulate, and prevaricate under pretext of wisdom. “This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic” (James 3:15). (2) All the truth: Pope Shenouda wrote an article about “Half-truths” saying, “There is no in half-truths any fairness towards truths. Although they seem credible, yet they do not give a comprehensive concept about truth as it is”. Many servants use half-truths as a way to avoid a certain embarrassing situation. When he is asked about someone or something, he doesn’t reply with the entire truth but with only a part of it. A servant cannot be blamed if he abstains from answering a certain question, but he would be blamed if he gives a half answer that gives a wrong impression to the one who asks that this is all about that matter. People can understand well a servant’s abstinence from answering as a part of keeping confidentiality, yet they do not forgive his incredibility, and they even become offended by it. (3) Keeping promises: St. Paul was so keen to keep his word to the Corinthians realizing that taking things lightly i.e. not keeping his promises would lead him to lose their trust in him. Hence, he wrote to them saying, “Therefore, when I was planning this, did I do it lightly? Or the things I plan, do I plan according to the flesh, that with me there should be Yes, Yes, and No, No? But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us” (2 Corinthians 1:17-20). Examples of situations in which a servant does not keep his promises are the following: promising to pray for a certain matter, promising to visit a certain child, promising to call a certain person and check on him, promising to intervene in a certain problem…etc. (4) Consistency: Inconsistency is one of the things that make people offended the most by a servant. He, for example, may attend a meeting with his fellow servants and agree with them about certain arrangements and after they start going in the direction they agreed together upon, he suddenly changes all what he said before. This would leave them confused, frustrated, and losing trust in his credibility. (5) Credibility of deeds and avoiding hypocrisy: St. Paul speaks about people departing from faith in latter times saying, “speaking lies in hypocrisy…” (1 Timothy 4:2). This means that hypocrisy is a type of lying. Pretending is also a type of lying. Jesus Christ Himself rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees for their hypocrisy. Therefore, a hypocrite priest who would pretend to be righteous and holy would lose his credibility not only in the eyes of his people but also in the eyes of his fellow priests and his father the bishop. The most thing that offend people from the part of a priest is finding him doing the totally opposite of what he preaches. (6) Using accurate words with neither exaggeration nor hastening: Pope Shenouda speaks about this saying, “An accurate person is accurate in his words. He weighs every word before uttering it. He evaluates its meaning and convenience for the listeners in advance. The one who talks and then regrets what he said is described to be inaccurate in his speech. Also, the one who is blamed by others for what he says and pretends that he didn’t mean it is an inaccurate person. An accurate person says what he means, and means what he says. Hastening in speaking is among the causes that lead to inaccuracy. We mean by hastening either hastening in giving an opinion, hastening in judging people, or hastening in becoming angry. The one who takes his time, weighs each word before uttering it is the most accurate person. He has a balanced way of thinking that allows him to choose the convenient words, and to calculate the possible reactions to them. He cannot be blamed for a single word he says”. (7) Credibility of teaching: A servant must not pretend to know matters he did not study. He must not hasten to answer a question before being sure of its answer. He must not attribute a quote to a certain saint he is not sure about. Being inaccurate in teaching may lead the servant to lose his credibility in the eyes of people who do not trust him anymore. *Adapted from HGBY monthly Clergical letters - September 2017
Last month’s article, the first part of this topic, included an introduction to the problem and danger of spiritual slackness on a servant’s life. The two main reasons mentioned previously were: 1. Lack of love for God. 2. Loss or Deformation of the goal This article discusses some other obvious reasons: Forgetting or Forsaking Repentance Repentance is a perpetual life fortified with the spirit of mortification, contrition and remorse before God, accompanied by perpetual remembrance of one’s weaknesses and feeling of utter need for grace, protection of the Holy Spirit and God’s defense. Despite the forgiveness procured for his renowned sin and the assurance granted by God through Nathan, “So David said to Nathan, 'I have sinned against the Lord.' And Nathan said to David, 'The Lord also has put away your sin; you shall not die.'” (2 Samuel 12:13). David continued to remember his sin and weaknesses saying, “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me” (Psalm 51:3), hoping for repentance, contrition, alertness and steadfastness in order not to fall again or lose his spiritual fervor. An assertion of this concept is St. Anthony’s favorable quote “if we forget our sins, God will remind us of them. If we remember our sins, God will disregard them.” Hence, it is dangerous to lose emotional sensitivity to self scrutiny as well as to the need for self reprimand. It has become essential for us to renew the feelings of repentance through atoning prayers as the ones listed in the Agpeya “Yes, Lord, grant us in that Hour to be without fear, anxiety or condemnation; and do not judge us according to our iniquities” (The Absolution of the Midnight Prayers). It is hazardous to enter into a spiritual comfortable zone that leads to feeling rich and self satisfied with our spirituality. All these are deluded and deluding feelings against which the Holy Book or Revelations warns us saying, “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see” (Revelation 3:17-18). It is good to recite St. Makarious' words, “Blessed is the one who sticks to Repentance until he meets the Lord.” It is strange to see people leave themselves for long periods without repentance, self search or confession. Thus the required measuring norms of self analysis will eventually lose accuracy. As a result the person will continue to do wrong, taking refuge in excuses, and justifications to errors in order to absolve the self. All these are dangerous slimy ways by Satan that lead to spiritual apathy. Loss of Discipleship A life of discipleship assists us in becoming quickly aware of the precipice and danger of gradual spiritual weakness. Adopting discipleship willingly and submissively will provide supportive and protective counseling and advice that will safeguard against slackness and the drifting away from principles. A perpetual life of discipleship can be likened to a censor full of glowingly ignited coal waiting to be fanned and incense to be added so that the coal may remain hot and the incense filling the spirit with the sweet smell of the expensive perfume of repentance. How odd it is to see a servant rejecting discipleship because his ego has been quieted with the honor of teaching. To such servants, St. James says, “My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:1-2). Discipleship is a powerful weapon against spiritual dryness. Superficiality of Worship It is dry ritualistic worship void of spirit, satisfied with to-the-letter performance and mere external movements without experiencing the fervor and awe of grace. Such type of worship creates boredom and weariness. This in turn brings about repulsion and rebellion against religious environment, spiritual values and literally all the corners of worship. Therapeutic practices for this type of spiritual sluggishness:
Appearances and Egoism The self is a big hindrance before spiritual growth. A servant might be tempted with the thought that he/she is indispensably important in church and that without them service would not advance, having forgotten that from stones God can get sons to Abraham and that he had chosen his disciples from common uneducated fishermen to make them fishers of men. A very clear example of God’s preferences is what He did with Elijah after his victory. For after he had killed the prophets of the Baal, God told him “Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place” (1 Kings 19:16). It seems that God wanted to exempt Elijah from the danger of feeling great in his own eyes. Likewise, St. Paul was given a thorn in his flesh so that he might not grow conceited because of the many revelations. We, also, if we live with God’s word as the Holy Bible says, we will arrive at implementing the words of St. Gregory’s the Great, “When you read the Word with awe, the soul will wake up to its hidden folds. Then a sword of sorrow and pinches from the conscience will pierce it leaving it with no choice but to weep and wash its sins in its tears.” …“Look into yourself to see God united in you… If you get to see Him, snatch yourself from your sight to see God alone living all the time in you.” So the essence of this truth is that you see in yourself…snatch yourself from your sight. Contrary to the life of appearances and superficiality is a life of depth, circumspection and closeness to God in the depths of the heart. That is the requirement for expelling all spiritual dryness. An outward person finds joy in external movements and appearances because this is his only measuring stick for service and activities. On the other hand, an in-depth person seeks his own salvation and that of others. * Adapted from HGBY monthly clergical spouse letters - September 2013
Spiritual tepidity and dryness is a big problem, even more serious when it finds its way to servants because it is destructive to life as well as service if succumbed and resigned to it. Spiritual indifference creeps in stealthily and gradually attacking even those who have chosen to walk the spiritual walk. The fight against it requires extra efforts, striving and repentance in order to avoid spiritual degradation and eventually loss of the crown of heaven. The Holy Book of Revelations expressed the danger of spiritual apathy in the message to the angel of the church in Laodicea. “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot] I will vomit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16). It is not an exaggeration to say that this whole present generation suffers from different forms of spiritual degeneration which have penetrated life, worship and service. It is sensed in confessions wherein individuals express their struggle against this dangerous enemy. For, there is the one suffering from tremendous weakness in prayer; another suffers from lack of enthusiasm in reading the Holy Bible. A third worships and serves in superficiality and dividedness. In this respect it is necessary to investigate the cause of this spiritual weakness and the means of combating it with the God-given weapons along with our alertness, struggling and fighting. What, then, are the causes of a lukewarm spiritual life? Lack of Love for God
Love is the source of the saying by the Fathers, “Love God and do whatever you want to do.” This saying sprang from a strong love for God from a pure heart. “ Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart” (1 Peter 1:22). This type of love for God protects against faltering and breaking the commandment. “ There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). The Fact of the Matter: a spiritually cold person is someone who has not yet matured in his love nor does he/she proactively practice love towards God. Remedy: + Providing chances of meditating on the cross and what the Lord has done for us will fill the heart with love for God and appreciation for His initiated unconditional love. “We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). + Living in an environment of meditative life-giving prayers in the person of Jesus Christ and all His attributes (praises, psalms, memoirs of the saints). + Uttering frequently the name of Jesus Christ as a sweet precious melody. + Residing in a surrounding of brotherly love, hastening to do good works and merciful acts. “put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12). This perpetuates the flow of love and dissipates all coldness, weakness and stiffness of feelings. + Singing to your God with psalms and spiritual songs. “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19). “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16). Loss / Deformation of Goal
If the spiritual goal gets lost, the result will be confusion in understanding and deviation away from the core of the kingdom. Turning towards self-glorification and honor causes spiritual callousness and defilement of the walk resulting in scarcity of fruit in spiritual life and service. Therefore, a servant should have a genuine spiritual goal extending its purity and clarity from heaven as expressed in St. Paul’s word, “I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14). Thus it can be deduced that the absence of an absolute spiritual goal from a servant’s heart, mind and conscience will lead him into a distractive dilemma ending up in spiritual dryness and beating the air as St Paul said, “Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26).
Clarity of goal grants self-control. “ And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown” (1 Corinthians 9:25). Let us remind ourselves with the goal for which we were called to serve and worship. ....... to be continued. * Adapted from HGBY monthly clergical spouse letters - August 2013
Flexibility is one of the traits of the mature personality. It is defined to be the person’s ability to cope with change. Its linguistic meaning is the ability of something to be bent without being broken. Opposite to the flexible personality is the rigid one, and it is the personality which resists change even if it is minor and holds strongly upon what she got used to regarding patterns, manners, attitudes, relationships, persons and places. The Holy Spirit and one's flexible personalityA person whose personality is flexible is the place where the Holy Spirit finds rest because such person is ready to easily and smoothly accept the Holy Spirit forming of him and of all his life’s events like the clay in the hands of the potter (Jeremiah 18:6). As for those whose personalities are rigid, they are the most resistant people to the work of the Holy Spirit within them. In such case, God, who is the clever physician of souls, is pushed many times to hand them to different tribulations so that they come out of these tribulations delivered from every rigidity and severity. The story of Job is a clear example of that. The furnace of tribulation fulfilled its role in melting all hardness present within him and lead him finally to proclaim, “I will question you, and you shall answer me” (Job 42:4). Opposite to Job’s personality, are a lot of other figures in the Holy Bible who showed high degrees of flexibility that made God’s hand free in working within and through them.
then to endure the suffering of fleeing to Egypt and coming back to live in Nazareth. She then followed her son Jesus everywhere with the other Maries, a sword pierced her soul when she saw her son crucified and finally she moved to live in the house of John the beloved till her departure. What a great flexibility this great saint, who was really filled with the Holy Spirit, showed making her an easy dough in His hands!! Also among examples of flexible personalities is Abram the patriarch who, as soon as God ordered him to get out of his country, family and his father’s house, immediately obeyed and went out “not knowing where he was going” (Hebrew 11:8). He even, when ordered to offer Isaac, showed a very strange flexibility and obeyed. Flexibility was also shown in the different events of calling the disciples who as soon as they heard the call of Jesus Christ forsook everything and immediately followed Him. Among them were those who forsook their discipleship to John the Baptist, their nets and the tax office. As for St. Paul, he was unusual in his flexibility and said, “For I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. I know how to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need” (Philippians 4: 11-12) Causes of inflexible personality
Virtues associated with flexibility
Finally, I like to remind you of a wonderful statement in the fraction to the Son that can be your daily prayer in order to get from God flexibility added to flexibility. This statement says, “O My Lord Jesus, My beloved, if you see me as a withered organ, soften me with the oil of your grace” * Adapted from HGBY monthly clergical spouse letters - July 2016
In the Jesus prayer there is fulfillment of the most sublime desire a Christian can yearn for, that of being in perpetual abiding in the presence of God; a state recommended often in the Holy Bible. "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1) "pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). This prayer appeared first among the Egyptian desert fathers. However, the addition by some non Egyptian external elements of some complicated rituals caused Christians to regard this prayer as specific to monks and consecrates.
The Essence of the Jesus PrayerIn its essence, this prayer is a response to God's calling to live with him in a continuous fellowship of love. St. Theophan the Recluse says, "Continuous, uninterrupted prayer is the continuity of man's solemn presence before God. It is also an internally hidden, perpetual glow caused by constant alertness in throwing wood (prayer words) onto that inflamed furnace (the Holy Spirit) so that it does not die out." The Fathers have succeeded in achieving this state through saying and repeating short prayers expressing their desire to offer thanksgiving, supplications or repentance to God. They have found a lot of spiritual satisfaction that pushed them to practice this prayer incessantly. The amount of spiritual depth in this prayer is inexpressible in words because it is a hidden personal experience arrived at by connecting with the Lord Jesus Christ. The Reality of Perceptual PrayerGod's command to pray always is not impossible "Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart" (Luke 18:1), because, when God commands He assists. For example, when a charitable person asks a poor man standing at his doorsteps to enter his house to eat; all it takes the poor man is to step in the house in order to win the prepared dinner. It is the same with God. When He asks us to pray continuously, it is because He wants to bestow His grace upon us as much as we can receive. How can we receive except through perpetual praying. All we have to do is take the first step and call in the name of Jesus. Perpetual praying in the literal sense of the word is not practical. For, throughout the day we perform various duties such as work, study, talk and sleep. All these activities render perpetual praying rather impossible whether vocally or mutely. How can this situation be compromised with God's desire? The early fathers claim that whoever protects his mind with the remembrance of Jesus Christ's name during his free time, all his works will come forth anointed with the spirit of prayer. St. Basil the Great expressed that when he talked about the disciples saying that they thought of God while doing all their works in total reliance upon Him. Consequently such a spiritual life became their perpetual prayer life.
The saints have found a route to perpetual prayers specifically through Jesus prayer because from one side it befits all spiritual levels and from the other side using short utterances allow for easy, continuous uninterrupted praying. Such concentration relieves the mind alleviating the burden of shifting from words to thoughts to meditations as is the case with other forms of prayers. The Secret in the Power of the Jesus PrayerThe power of this prayer is the love of God. After having offered His only begotten Son for us, it would not please God to see us regress once again into Satan's bosom. So, He prepared for us a means by which we can enjoy His company perpetually. This easy means is enjoyable to the soul to walk through its alleys and it befits a beginner as well as an advanced, a learned as well as an unlearned. This is because God's love is for all. Father Isaac says to St. John Casian [Jesus Christ prayed for us saying " that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:21) and "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26). When God's perfect love touches our hearts with the effectiveness of this prayer which Jesus Christ had prayed for us and which was answered right away, then God Himself becomes all our love, desire, aspiration and longing, every thought we think, every word we say, and every breath we take. Then we become in a secret Union with the Father and the Son through this pure love that overshadows the heart and mind. This love and union are the aim of our life that we aspire for and which precedes the joy of the heavenly life. When we recognize this love within us, our life becomes one continuous prayer]. How to Practice the Jesus PrayerJesus prayer has no particular rituals. Because it is a continuous prayer, it can be exercised in any place at any time. It is not restricted to special people because God's call of love is for everyone. Therefore, there is no special bodily posture to be taken while praying the Jesus prayer. It is permissible while sitting or standing, or walking. Father John Kroonstad said, [If you are a scholar, student, officer, researcher or worker, remember that the first and most important thing you should learn in life is to know Christ's salvation, the holy Trinity, daily fellowship through prayers, services in church and repeating the name of Jesus in your heart because it is the power of God for salvation]. With regard to the words used in praying, the early fathers prefer not to hop from one sentence to the other in order to avoid confusing the mind. According to St. Macarius, the Jesus' prayer started out as a one word prayer, mainly repeating the name of Jesus only. Later on it developed to full expressions the most famous of which are "My Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me" and "My Lord Jesus help me". So, it is suggested that one start with one statement and repeat it quietly making a short stop between one repetition and the other. One may choose to articulate the prayer or pray internally in silence according to the direction of the Holy Spirit. For, giving the Holy Spirit the liberty to guide us will prepare us to be taken to the depth of hidden prayers that exist behind the words. As for beginners, they have to assign special times for practicing the Jesus prayer till they become used to it and taste its sweetness. Then they will be able to practice it freely driven to it at convenient and even inconvenient times. How to Overcome Obstacles against the Jesus PrayerIf Satan does not bear to see us pray part of the time, how much more would the evil powers be upset seeing us praying all the time? They would definitely snare powerfully at us. However this should not frighten us at all, because in praying all the time we would be obeying God's order which automatically holds power in its folds. Therefore, let us enter into this holy covenant fortified and strengthened by the Holy Spirit because the season of planting is short, that of reaping is close and the fruit of the Jesus prayer is delicious. * Adapted from HGBY monthly clergical letters - 5/2016
The Disciples returned joyfully to our Lord Jesus Christ after having experienced the powerful authority He had given them over evil spirits. But the Lord’s response was, “Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Do we live this joy, the joy of salvation and inheritance of the kingdom of heaven? Indeed, during the dispensation of the holy mysteries (Holy Communion), the church rejoices singing “Christ has granted us salvation.” However, many do not experience nor feel this joy. What are the obstacles that hinder this joy and delays this salvation? The answer is summarized in three major points: Total Negligence of Repentance Our Lord clarified saying “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3). St. John Chrysostom stated the same truth saying, “God will not judge us because we sin but because we do not repent after sinning.” Repentance is not a once-in-a-lifetime incident that procures salvation, perpetual renewal and justification to the end of life. Rather, it is a repeated act that should follow every sin and every wrong doing.
Is the Holy Bible read or completely neglected? The Lord considers reading the Holy Bible and keeping the commandments genuine signs of our love for him. We dare receive Holy Communion without confession to obtain absolution from sins. We might be deluded into self-righteousness thinking that acceptance before God resides in the avoidance of major sins such as murdering, stealing, or committing adultery. Thus committing sins such as cursing, lying, swearing become acceptable ignoring what the Holy Bible’s verdict “ nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10). We are in need of living a life of perpetual repentance, confession and absolution. It was not in vain or void that the Lord said to his disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven ” (Matthew 18:18). Reliance on Self-Righteousness “Consider my weakness with your compassionate eye, O Lord, for after a short while my life will end and I have no salvation through my deeds” (from the midnight prayer). With this prayer, the church reminds us every night that we are not saved through our personal righteousness. The Holy Bible confirms this truth; “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” (Romans 3:20). Our Lord Himself teaches, “ So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” (Luke 17:10). In the example of the Pharisees and the tax collector, the former used to fast, pray and tithe; but his problem was his dependence on his self-righteousness considering his actions a source of acceptance before God. It is perilous to adopt the two-sided weighing scale theory as if to signify God’s way of judging man’s good and bad actions depending on which side is heavier. Perhaps the portrait of Archangel Michael carrying this type of scale might be behind this concept which in essence portrays God’s justice in condemning Satan only. This concept is essentially not Christian. It is our duty as servants to teach that keeping all the commandments is not a passport to salvation if we depend on our actions alone. For, if God examined peoples’ acts with His fiery justice, no one would stand justified before Him “They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” (Romans 3:12). No one can stand before God’s justice except the righteous man Jesus Christ and everyone who has renounced his own righteousness and took shelter in Christ’s. As St. Paul clarified to the Corinthians, “ But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3: 21-26). And to Titus, he said “ not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,...that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” (Titus 3:5,7). It is evident that justification comes through Christ alone; whereas holding on to self-righteousness and hypocrisy will make us lose the reward.
The splitting of the Red Sea, the destruction of Pharaoh, the food and water, the clouds by day and fire by night were the reservoir of previous miraculous experiences they had with God. Their strong faith was pleasing to God and earned them entrance into the Promised Land. A practical application of this lesson on hope in Salvation and inheritance of the Kingdom of Heaven generates three types of responses:
+ God’s promises are true, “ in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior” (Titus 1:2-3). + With this confidence and hope St. Paul asserts, “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:8). + St. John confirms this hope saying, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3). + This hope is also clear in St. Paul's words to the Colossians “because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel” (Colossians 1:5). How great is this hope that compels the children of God and encourages them throughout their journey so that they may live a sanctified life beholding the glory prepared for them. Thus a repentant Christian lives a life of striving and penitence casting his hope totally on grace which is capable of saving the vagabond keeping before his eyes St. Peter’s words, “Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). *Adapted from HGBY monthly Clergical letters - Dec. 2013
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