Wednesday, December 24, 2003
A Blessed Nativity to All!!!
I have been reading Hopko's "Winter Pascha" during this Advent Season. It has 40 chapters, one for each day of Advent. It is a great book. I highly recomend it! It is more of a commentary on the liturgical services and their perspective liturgy, actually quoting extensively from them. In the process, he discusses the Spiritual Life, theology, Worship and the process of Theosis all in the context of the Nativity. I have been very blessed by it.
In particular, the last chapter I read was on this idea that Christ mystcially represents the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden. I thought this was fascinating because I have always thought that we will not see or taste of that tree until we are in Heaven. But Hopko disagrees. He compares this Tree to Christ because just as Adam and Eve ate of this Tree for everlasting Life, so do we partake of Christ's Body and Blood. "He who eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood will have life everlasting". Also, in the Vespers Services of the Pre-feast of the Nativity, there are many places where it is said that at Christ's Resurection, the Angels that hold the flaming swords step back so that we may enter. That is amazing! We only need to believe, and live a Righteous life, and we walk freely in the Garden. There are many ramifications of this in my life and I pray to God that my eyes would be opened to them.
Tuesday, December 23, 2003
A Possible Headline you may see in the future...
"Congress Overwhelmingly Approves Christmas an Illegal Holiday"
Seem unlikely? Think again. Check this article out!
It seems that there is beginning to be more of an attitude directed against Christianity in the media these days. I know that this has been going on for a while, but I seem to come accross more and more of these articles lately. How much this reflects the general populace, who knows. I can say that there doesn't seem to be "much" opposition to these sort of articles, though. I may be wrong, but 10-15 years ago, I think we might have heard more of an outcry against something like this.
Also, when there does seem to be "Christian" opposition to these sorts of things, and when there is, the media seems to make them out as being very paranoid and ridiculous. Case in point, the recent media coverage of the gay bishop in the Episcopal church.
How is it that a "true" Christian can be called biggoted and small minded by the world but at the same time this same Christian follows Christ's example for brotherly love? Trully, if you love your neighbor as yourself, and are part of a Eucharistic community, you are in no danger of becoming biggoted or small minded. It is true that the Wisdom of God is utter foolishness to the world and a stumbling block. Just as Jesus was hated for who He was, so also we are/will. Even though I can't say this most of the time about my Spiritual life, when living in a Christian way, the demons "gnash their teeth at us" and find any opportunity to confound and destroy us. Even more of a reason for me to cling to my Saviour and fight against my flesh.
"Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner!"
Yesterday, a woman in our Church was received and baptized into the Church. It was amazing to see this take place. She had been a Catechumen for about 3 months. As I watched her thrice immersion into the blessed Holy water, I was reminded of when I was received into the Church almost a year and half ago. Although I wasn't baptized at the time(in the Orthodox Church, if you have been baptized in the name of the Trinity and with the blessing of your Priest of course, your baptism elsewhere counts), I remembered my Chrismation. It is so good to see someone received because you are reminded of your own. As my wife said last night, when you are going through the process yourself, you end up having sensory overload and miss some of the nuances of what happens. Anyway, back to Holy Babtism.
I was moved to tears when I saw her lain beneath the waters by the Priests(much like she was being lowered into her casket) and raised three times. After the third time, she stepped outside the Font and disappeared to obtain new, dry clothes. Usually, the baptisee is given a white robe to wear. However, she did not have one. If she had, it would have been even more evident of what was spiritually going on. She had traded her robe of corruption for a robe of incorruption. She had trully died to the world and was raised again in Christ. She had been raised by Christ to live a new life with Him, not only in the present material world, but for eternity to come. Man, that was awesome!!!!
"As many has have been baptized into Christ, have put on Christ! Alleluja!"
8:10 AM
