Summing things up in the Akathist to St Nicholas Understanding prayer to the Saints Nighttime pictures of temple construction.

Friday, November 6th, 2009

Holy Father Nicholas, pray to God for us!

Oct 24/ Nov 6 2009 22^nd Friday after Pentecost

St Nicholas the wonderworker. saintnicholas.jpg O most-holy and most-wonderful Father Nicholas, consolation of all that sorrow, accept our personal offering, and entreat the Lord that we be delivered from Gehenna through thy God-pleasing intercession, that we may sing: Alleluia!

(Kontakion 13, Akathist to St Nicholas)

2009-11-05_construction+moleben-02.jpg Moleben Thursday night in the under construction temple. 2009-11-05_construction+moleben-01.jpg

We sing this Kontakion every Thursday night in our new temple in construction, as part of the Akathist to St Nicholas. We have been serving a Moleben for quite awhile now, on Thursday nights, on the land. We started serving in front of a large wooden cross, with the dog barking next door. Building has proceeded, we have served on the slab, inside a structure with walls only (by this time, the dog was gone!), and now, finally, last night, with the roof joists all installed. If the weather holds, the next time we will serve with a roof over our heads!

2009-11-05_construction+roof-joists-altar-area-01.jpg

Serving a Moleben every week in which we sing the Akathist to our beloved patron increases our intimate feelings concerning his life and intercession for us. The thirteenth and last Kontakion of his Akathist sums up our feelings about him, which we had only just recently been chanting in detail in sweet melody, as we recounted various important parts of his life and intercession for his flock, both during and after his earthly life. This is generally the case for all “Kontakion thirteens”, which are always chanted 3 times, with “Alleluia” sung three times after each, before we repeat the first Ikos and Kontakion to finish the Akathist.

This Kontakion also sums up the correct understanding concerning “prayer to the saints”, or better, “asking the saints to intercede for us”. We have confidence in the prayers of St Nicholas for us because we know he is righteous, and therefore we know that his intercessions are “God-pleasing”.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)

The more I sing this Akathist, the more I feel the holiness of St Nicholas and sure knowledge that since his intercessions to God are God-pleasing, our intercessions to him must certainly also be.

Priest Seraphim Holland 2009. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

This article is at: http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-06_holy-father-nicholas-pray-to-god-for-us+akathist-to-st-nicholas+understanding-prayer-to-the-saints.doc

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-06_holy-father-nicholas-pray-to-god-for-us+akathist-to-st-nicholas+understanding-prayer-to-the-saints.html

New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal

Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.

Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)

Posted in Building Project, Pastoral Journal | No Comments »

The Great Litany - The Litany of Peace. A Short Introduction.

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

The Great Litany

The Litany of Peace

A Deacon (Andrei Ryabushkin, 1888) andrei-ryabushkin-a-deacon-1888.jpg taken from http://02varvara.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/a-priest-forever-after-the-order-of-melchisadek/

An Orthodox deacon extending his orarion at the end of a petition of a litany.

(A Deacon, Andrei Ryabushkin, 1888)

The Great Litany is said as the first litany of Divine Liturgy and Vespers, after the Six Psalms in Matins and at the beginning of the Betrothal and Baptismal services. In all these cases, the exclamation “For unto Thee is due all glory, honor, and worship…“ is said by the priest at the end of the litany.

It is also used in the Great Blessing of the Waters, with a long prayer intoned at the end in lieu of an exclamation.

Any Great Litany may have special petitions appropriate to the occasion inserted at the usual place.

Any service for a special purpose (such at the Betrothal, Baptismal and Great Blessing of the Waters) has many special petitions.

Services of the “Daily Cycle” (Vespers, Matins and Divine Liturgy) may also have special petitions for the sick, or travelers, or some other concern inserted in the Great Litany, but this is usually not done, and these petitions are instead inserted in the Fervent Ectenia said later in each of these services.

The Great Litanies of Divine Liturgy and the Great Blessing of the Waters also have a “private prayer” said by the priest (usually) before the ending exclamation.

The Great Litany is also known as the Litany of Peace, since it begins with three petitions concerning peace. This is theologically very significant, and we will discuss this at length later.

Without additional petitions, there are twelve petitions. The idea of 12 petitions is biblically rooted and is found in the pre Christian morning service of the synagogue. (see Taft, Mateos and

others)

Litanies consist of petitions intoned by the deacon or priest, with the people answering with a short sung prayer, such as “Lord have mercy”, “Grant this O Lord”, and others. Traditionally we stand and face East, and make the sign of the cross at each petition.

Priest Seraphim Holland 2009. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

This article is at:

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-04_the-great-litany+the-litany-of-peace.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-04_the-great-litany+the-litany-of-peace.html

New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal

Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.

Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)

Posted in Pastoral Journal, prayers of the church | No Comments »

That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity…

Tuesday, November 3rd, 2009

That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity…

Thoughts on a petition in the Great Ectenia, the Litany of Peace

Oct 21/Nov 3 2009 22^nd Tuesday after Pentecost. Monk Hilarion the Great.

That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity, let us pray to the Lord.

10^th petition of the Great Ectenia.

A passion which we allow to grow active within us through our own choice afterwards forces itself upon us against our will[1]. Saint Kosmas Aitolos +1779

We pray this petition many times, since it is in the Great Ectenia or “Litany of Peace” (which is said at the beginning of Vespers, Matins and Divine Liturgy). More than any other petition, it sums up the totality of the Christian life, and describes the effect of the incarnation upon the human soul. We should tremble with joy, fear and great expectation every time we hear it.

This is a prayer that is hearkening to two times. One time is right now, our present life, and the other time is the next life.

Regarding the next life, we are asking to be delivered from tribulation and wrath - these things will occur in the dread judgment. We are not asking to be delivered from difficulties in this life, or to be relived from the troubles of daily life.

Asking to be delivered from necessity is completely about our current life.

Why did Christ become “a little lower than the angels” (become incarnate) for our sakes? The answer to this question is not to be found in theological books or preaching. It must be found within the soul which thirsts for light, and yet still is aware that it contains darkness.

The true Christian knows that the purpose of His life is to become all light, to be perfect, with no sin or darkness in him at all. The only way to know God, Who is all light, and all perfection, with no sin or darkness, is to emulate Him, and become perfect. We are commanded to do this very thing[2], and God does not give any command that is impossible (just difficult).

It is possible to be perfect, because of the incarnation. Our Lord taught us how to live by word and example, took great care that His teaching was understood and would be passed on, and then accomplished in His human flesh everything He requires of our flesh, and in so doing, changed our flesh so that it would be capable of becoming perfected.

Only the soul which understands this, and also looks within himself the darkness of the “law of sin”[3], working in his members, can cry out with compunction “deliver me from necessity”.

When something is necessary, it must be done. If you are a slave and your master tells you to do something that is arduous or difficult, you must do it, whether you want to or not,. or you will be punished. If we are slaves of sin, then there are things that we are going to do even though we don’t want to do them. That is necessity.

St Paul talks about it quite eloquently in Romans.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. 16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. 17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. 19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. 21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Rom 7:14-24)

If you are sold, your life is not your own. He is speaking of necessity! We desire to be good, and yet we are not always good. We desire to not be angry, and yet we get angry! We desire to say our prayers, and yet we end up not saying them. We desire to be pure in our thoughts, and yet there are lustful thoughts in our heart, or angry thoughts against someone who has wronged us, and remembrance of wrongs, despite our best efforts.

Necessity is active in us because our weak will. Christ came to strengthen our will. In this petition, we are begging the Lord to help us with our weakness. It is similar in spirit to the prayer of the man whose child had a demon:

"Lord I believe; help my Thou my unbelief"[4]: we cry "Lord my will is to follow Thee, help Thou my weak will!"

Every Christian should feel this prayer acutely, painfully, fervently, with great longing in their heart. Is there anyone who does not feel that there are things that they do not have the strength to accomplish? Is there anyone who realistically believes that they will never get angry again, never remember wrongs, always be at peace? We want to, but we cannot, because of our weakness.

We pray to be delivered from necessity, our own carnality, our own sinfulness, which sometimes forces us to sin.

What is the solution?

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom 8:1-4)

Delivery from necessity is to walk in the way of Christ, with God helping us, and enabling us. Christ has shown us this way, and we are to walk this way, and this is the only way to free ourselves from compulsion and to be able to be "free indeed"[5] as Christ promised us that we should be and would be.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. `

This petition is discussed at length in a Catechetical Discussion about the Great Ectenia, Part Two (http://www.orthodox.net/catechism/prayers-of-the-church_2007-12-04+the-great-ectenia+part-two.mp3). The discussion begins at 19:10, and continues almost to the end. Some of this article is a modified transcription of this talk.

Priest Seraphim Holland 2009. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

This article is at:

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-03_that-we-may-be-delivered-from-all-tribulation-wrath-and-necessity+great-ectenia.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-03_that-we-may-be-delivered-from-all-tribulation-wrath-and-necessity+great-ectenia.doc

New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal

Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.

Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)

[1] http://www.orthodox.net/gleanings/necessity.html

[2] Matthew 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

[3] Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

[4] Mar 9:23-24 KJV Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (24) And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

[5] John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Posted in Pastoral Journal, prayers of the church | 1 Comment »

St Longinus the Centurion. St Sergius of Radonezh. Childrens School

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

St Longinus the Centurion Oct 16/29

St Sergius of Radonezh

Children’s School – ages 6-11.

Oct 15/28 2009 21^st Wednesday after Pentecost

longinus-the-centurion-fresco.jpg Nea Moni http://campus.belmont.edu/honors/macedonian/greece2.html

Here is a slightly cleaned up and shortened version of notes my wife wrote to teach about St Longinus the Centurion in our church school. She made me promise to not publish it “as is”, because the notes were not meant for anyone else to see. I am keeping that promise, mostly by not including the short life of St Longinus she included. This is what you call following the “letter” of the law!

I saw the main teaching points and thought that this little lesson should have wider distribution.

I love this stuff because it is extremely moral. As my parish had better know by now! “ALL THEOLOGY IS ABOUT MORALITY”. It does not matter if we are reading Ephesians ( which we are currently studying in our adult class) or the lives of Saints or talking about Matins or the Symbol of faith – if we do not hear the moral message, we have not heard the message.

The compare and contrast stuff is just fantastic, and is especially useful for the children. May God preserve them.

Other Saints that could have easily been included could have been St Peter (denied the Lord three times) and St Mary of Egypt. St Sergius is wonderful here since the children had just studied him near his recent day of commemoration.

Pedagogically this stuff is first rate. I hope it helps anyone who is teaching children.

1.Compare St. Sergius and St. Longinus

S: holy from childhood, became a monk, lived among monks.

L: pierced Christ, repented, lived among those who didn’t know Christ; became a martyr

Both very holy, lived very different lives.

Regardless of what we become when we grow up, we can and should be holy!

2. Compare Judas and St. Longinus

J: delivered Christ to the Judges.

L: pierced Christ

J: realized what he did was wrong; killed himself; soul not saved.

L: realized what he did was wrong; repented; soul saved.

When we sin, even seriously, we can repent and still become holy. Our sin can help us be compassionate with others who have sinned, and help us to be grateful for the forgiveness we have received!

This message was simple and aimed at children, but it applies to all of us. As a pastor, I find that often the most damaging aspect of sin is our reaction to it. Of course we must repent of or sin, and if we do not, then all is literally lost, but even if we are sorry, we need encouragement that we can repent and be successful.

Priest Seraphim Holland 2009. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

This article is at: http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-28_st-longinus-the-centurion+st-sergius-of-radonezh+childrens-school.html

&

: http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-28_st-longinus-the-centurion+st-sergius-of-radonezh+childrens-school.doc

New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal

Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.

Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)

Posted in Pastoral Journal | 1 Comment »

The Law and Sin What is Sin? Romans 3:20

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

Oct 14/27 2009 21st Tuesday after Pentecost

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom 3:20 KJV

It cannot be that perfectly doing the works of the law is of no benefit, since Christ “fulfilled the law [1]”, and in so doing did all the works of the law, not transgressing even once. This must mean that no man CAN do all the deeds of the law. The law, our “schoolmaster [2]” was not created to make us righteous, but rather, to show us how unrighteous we are. The law gives us “the knowledge of sin”.

So what is sin? This is the age old question, which is answered badly by Jews, Gentiles and Christians alike. Most answer this description by referring to deeds done or not done which violate God’s commands. This is true, but the Christian has (should have) a more perfect understanding of sin; it is what transpires because of our human condition, which can only be changed by faith in Christ.

People have a difficult relationship with the law. The law, which is still in effect, albeit in a different way than in OT times, tells us not to do many things. Some of these things may confuse us, especially in our immoral and lax days, when all manner of sexual conduct has been redefined to be “ok” in the eyes of God, and when we see lawbreakers apparently [3] living calm and happy lives. Breaking the law, that is, sin, leads to death [4], but this death is not readily seen.

It is a tough sell to tell a young person (or an old one who has never learned self-control and gained wisdom in years) to refrain from pleasure, especially when it is not immediately apparent that anyone is being harmed. Murder, theft, adultery – we can understand why these things are sins – they directly harm another person. We have more trouble understanding why a consensual sexual relationship, or even our un-acted upon thoughts (such as lust, jealously, anger) or “private” sins (such as laziness or lack of prayer, are sinful. This is because we do not understand sin. If one does not understand sin, one does not understand the law.

In OT times, the law defined sin and righteousness, with little explanation. There were glimmers of explanation in various places, but for the most part, it defined “don’t do this, don’t do that”. The Jew had a poor conception of sin; for him it caused the wrath of God to fall upon him because of something He did or did not do, which was commanded in the law and animal sacrifice and the shedding of blood was necessary to remove this judgment from him.

For the NT man, the law has been further defined and elucidated by Jesus Christ, particularly in the Sermon on the Mount. With the elucidation of the law, from the example and words of Jesus Christ, sin also has become more defined.

For the Christian, sin is imperfection, incompleteness, sickness, disease.

The law actually tells us the actions that come about as a result of this disease. Most diseases of the body are invisible or not readily apparent until substantial degradation of the body has already occurred (examples are cancer, diabetes, heart disease, which may be present for a long time before manifesting serious and even deadly symptoms). A sick man cannot know what makes him sick without an expert physician treating him and teaching him. We cannot know what makes us sick without the law schooling us.

The OT law tells us to not steal, commit murder, covet, commit adultery, etc. These sins cause us to be separate from God and unable to withstand His majesty, whether we know this connection or not. The OT law merely tells us things commanded to do or not to do, but does not explain the deeper meaning of these commandments.

The NT explanation of the law further shows us a deeper meaning of these elementary prohibitions. For example, we are told in the OT law to not commit adultery, and our Lord explains the complete meaning of this prohibition by informing us that if we look upon a woman to lust after her, we have already committed adultery with her in our heart [5]. Our thoughts matter. They debilitate us as much as our actions.

St Paul explains that the law taught us the knowledge of sin. All the law does, whether in its OT form, of according to the refined teaching of the Savior, is inform us of the things which debilitate us and make us sick. Having this knowledge is a great advantage, to the Jew [6] or the Christian, but only the Christian can know how to fulfill the law, by understanding his nature, which leads to sin, and how Christ has renewed his nature, making new creature, able (with effort) to fulfill the law.

What then? Are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; (Rom 3:9)

“under” = “hypo” = “subject to”, “under the power of”

Sin is not only something you do, it is something you are! It is weakness, a predilection to ungodly and useless things. It is slavery.

We need to get it out of our heads that sin is some-”thing” that is wrong – we are wrong, and we need to get right! This understanding of sin is mostly a NT one; as we have said, the Jews had a poor understanding of sin.

This is why it is very powerful to FORCE ourselves to do good.

Do you have trouble fasting? Good! Fast (even if you do it poorly – being “bad” at something holy is not an excuse to not do it at all!), and you will gain power over sin.

Do your eyes start to wander when you see something sexually tempting? Good! (but only if you struggle to avert your eyes).

Anytime we deny ourselves, even if imperfectly, we are living in the NT reality that Jesus Christ frees us from sin. We will be made “more than conquerors” if we struggle against sin. This is not a struggle to not do something that is against the law, but rather a struggle to become something, “free indeed” [7] and no longer subject to corruption and death (the wages of sin is death), that is righteous.

With the law we have the knowledge of sin, and Jesus Christ teaches us how to NOT sin, by becoming so strong in our will that we are capable of resisting all sin.

Do you understand that because of your weak human nature you are under the power of sin, and that this is the great tragedy of the human condition? And also, that the only way to overcome the power of sin is to struggle against it, making progress by God’s grace?

Test yourself.

The next time you confess, do not rattle off a bunch of stuff you did or did not do: “I broke the fast two times, I missed my morning prayers, I did not come to church because I was lazy, I become angry, I cursed”, etc.

You sin because you are still a weak person, under the power of sin. Lament the kind of person you are, and not just the things you do, because the person you are leads to the things you do or cannot do.

Priest Seraphim Holland 2009. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

This article is at:

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-27_the-law-and-sin+what-is-sin+romans3-20.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-27_the-law-and-sin+what-is-sin+romans3-20.doc

New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal

Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.

Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)

[1] Mat 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

[2] Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

[3] One of my favorite sayings is “Things are never as they seem”. It would be good to remember this when we are tempted to be envious of a person who in some way seems to be better or more fortunate than us, as well as when we are tempted to judge someone as worse than us.

[4] Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

[5] Mat 5:28 :But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.“

[6] Rom 3:1-2 KJV “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? (2) Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”

[7]John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Posted in Pastoral Journal | 4 Comments »

Twelve Meanings of Candles Based on Their Properties

Monday, October 26th, 2009

Candles

Oct 13/26 2009 21^st Monday after Pentecost. Holy Martyr Zlata.

A Meditation about candles [1], by Mitred Archpriest Alexander Lebedeff, rector of Holy Transfiguration Cathedral, Los Angeles, CA, with his introduction:

“I thought that I might share on this list a meditation that I wrote on the spiritual messages that the various properties of candles give. Children in our parochial school seem to really enjoy learning the twelve meanings of candles.”

Twelve Meanings of Candles Based on Their Properties

1. Candles give light. They remind us of Christ Our Savior, Who said “I am the Light of the world.” (John 9:5)

They also remind us that we must also shine as lights, for Christ said that we, too, are the light of the world.

For He said: “You are the light of the world.”

And,

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:14-16).

2. Candles give warmth. They remind us that we must also give warmth to those around us, especially those who are cold and needy — to warm them with our love.

3. Candles burn with fire. They remind us of the eternal fires of hell, which await us if we do not repent and do not follow God’s commandments.

4. Candles are beautiful but dangerous. They shed a beautiful soft light in the Church makes the icons glow and that makes it so much easier to concentrate in prayer. However, if not monitored, they can also ignite the church furnishings and cause the church to burn down and all of the icons be destroyed. They teach us to be ever vigilant and careful, because lack of vigilance can bring terrible consequences.

5. Candles are not permanent. They remind us that our time of life here on earth is fleeting, and that every day our life grows shorter until it is extinguished. Candles call us, therefore, to repentance, for our time here on earth is not forever.

6. Candles are straight. They remind us that we must stand straight before the Eyes of the Lord, that our deeds must be straightforward and righteous. A candle that is not standing straight up will not burn properly. So we too must be straight in our ways, leaning neither to one side or the other.

7. Candles bend but do not break. A wax candle has the wonderful property of being able to be bent in a full circle without breaking, but can then be straightened out again. They remind us that we must be able to withstand challenges and sorrows that we face in our lives without breaking. Though these sorrows may bend our resolve, we, through contrition and repentance, can become straight once again.

8. Candles can be both hard and soft. They are hard when they are cold, but become soft when they are warmed. In the same way, our hearts are hard when cold, and we must warm them with love of God and of our fellow man in order for them to be soft again.

candle burning with "tears" 9. Candles shed tears. When burning, the wax of a candle causes little drips to form and run down the candle that look like tears running down our face. They remind us that we must shed tears over our sins, and out of compassion for others.

10. Candles are gift of the animal world. Candles are made from wax, which is the product of the labor of thousands of honeybees working together. Candles remind us that we must also be industrious and not lazy and that we must love all of God’s creatures, big and small and be thankful to them when we use the fruit of their labors for our benefit.

11. Candles are useful but simple. Candles are not complex. They are simple in nature, but perform their task well. Especially in our age where we are surrounded by complex technology, candles remind us that the simple things are often the best.

Throughout the ages, candles have made it possible to perform services in the hours when it is dark outside. They make it possible for the priest to read the prayers in his service book, for readers and chanters to be able to assist in the services. Without candles, there would have been no All-Night Vigils, no Midnight Offices, no Paschal Midnight Matins and liturgies. Candles remind us that we too must do our jobs well, to live our lives well in accordance with God’s commandments, without complications.

12. Candles are useless without a spark. They remind us that we all are dead and useless unless we are lit with the spark of the Holy Spirit, which ignites the flame of life. Candles remind us of the Holy Spirit, Who appeared to the Disciples in the form of a flame. They remind us that we must ask the Holy Spirit to come and abide in us, and cleanse us of every impurity that our souls may be saved.

St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

This article is at: http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-26_twelve-meanings-of-candles-based-on-their-properties.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-26_twelve-meanings-of-candles-based-on-their-properties.doc

New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal

Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.

Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)

[1] Used with permission

Posted in Pastoral Journal | 1 Comment »

I count all things but loss. The knowledge of Christ Jesus. That I may win Christ. Philippians 3:8

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

I count all things but loss

The knowledge of Christ Jesus

That I may win Christ

Philippians 3:8

Biblical Exegesis

It is always about You!

Oct 10/23 2009 20^th Friday after Pentecost

Today’s reading from Philippians is too good to miss. If one only had this passage and the Gospels it would be enough. Let’s do a little exegetical study of a small portion of the mellifluous words in this passage.

Remember what exegesis is – to glean what the writer intended the passage to mean. These are not mere facts! This cannot be done without reading the text in an intensely personal way. One must consider these words to be written to him, and the moral admonitions to be fully binding, even if all specific circumstances do not apply to our particular lives.

The meaning of the text is only the beginning for us. We then must apply this meaning to our own lives. Perhaps there is something we should do, or be not doing, or perhaps in understanding the text, as if the scales fall from our eyes, we tremble because we are so far from perfection. Merely understanding what we should do or not do is not enough. We must also glean from the text encouragement and method, and allow our soul to be changed by mediation on the extreme beauty that is Jesus Christ. We must look carefully for instructions about how we should think, and what our attitudes and priorities should be, because as a man thinks, so he does.

Learn to read the scripture with the expectation and firm conviction that something is going to change in you for the better, right here, right now.

This passage is a deep well. Let’s put our toes in. It is important to understand the meaning of the scripture, but its application is as varied as the people who read it. Therefore, what “hits” me may not “hit” you, however, if you can read this passage without being touched to your very marrow [1], you will not have understood it in any meaningful way.

3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

There is a lot here. I am far from perfection. I know the Saints were those who embodied this attitude (and more than an attitude – it is a state of being – of being totally IN Christ). This is my goal – to count ALL things but loss except for the knowledge of Christ. Our Lord has also taught this:

He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Mat 10:37)

St Paul is merely rephrasing our Lord’s admonition. “Mother and Father” and “son and daughter” are “all things”. Taking St Paul’s assertion and combining it with our Lord’s words we have an equally true statement:

He that loveth ANYTHING more than me is not worthy of me.

What does the Apostle value above ALL THINGS? It is the KNOWLEDGE of Christ Jesus. He is referring here to experiential knowledge – that which is gained by toil and fasting and prayer and repentance. He is describing THEOSIS, when a man becomes like Christ, by emulation and grace. It is impossible to have the “knowledge of Christ” without become like Christ. Our religion is one of emulation. We imitate the God-man Jesus Christ to the extent we are able, and His grace is sufficient for us if we truly count all things as loss except Him.

St Paul uses a powerful term: he states that he (has) suffered the loss of all things …

that I may win Christ.

This brings to mind the athlete (a favorite subject for the Apostle), who strives above all others to win the contest and is victorious. Our modern view of Christianity is very passive, but Christianity is aggressive! Nobody wins in sport by being passive. We must go about our life “with loins girded” because we are in a battle to the death. Can you see the Apostle’s urgency? This begs the question: where is our urgency? If we are not as urgent, there must be an attitude/priority problem in our life – we must be valuing something above Christ! What is it?

“… the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.” (Mat 11:12)

Please read the rest of the passage, below.

Philippians 3:8-19 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. 17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

Priest Seraphim Holland 2009. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

This article is at: http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-23_i-count-all-things-but-loss+the-knowledge-of-christ-jesus+that-i-may-win-christ+philippians-3-8+biblical-exegesis+it-is-always-about-you.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-23_i-count-all-things-but-loss+the-knowledge-of-christ-jesus+that-i-may-win-christ+philippians-3-8+biblical-exegesis+it-is-always-about-you.doc

New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal

Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.

Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)

[1] Heb 4:12 “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Posted in Pastoral Journal, Scripture Commentary | 2 Comments »

A house upon a rock. Words to build by. Luke 6:46-7:1 Children’s Liturgy

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

A house upon a rock

Words to build by.

Luke 6:46-7:1

Children’s Liturgy

Oct 8/21 2009 20^th Wednesday after Pentecost

house-upon-a-rock.jpg http://pathwaychildrensministry.blogspot.com/2009/03/house-upon-rock-good-choices.html

We just so happen to building a church just now (have you heard? J ) Today’s Gospel reading applies in a very direct way to our building project. This project is ongoing, and will continue after the last brick is in place, and the last icon is painted, because the building that our Lord is referring to is the “building” of the soul – the one and only purpose of human life – the perfection of the soul.

Building a temple is similar to building the soul in one’s personal life. Without effort and proper priorities, all will be for naught. Without belief in Christ, which purely an simply means following Christ by taking His yoke upon us in all things, all will be for naught.

In the secular world, a man builds after taking careful account of finances, and planning, including design, choice of location and materials. We have done all that, but the most important things, which this reading describes, have nothing to do with these things.

The rock that our Lord mentions is Himself. The scripture refers to Christ, that is, belief in Him, and following Him, as “rock”:

And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. (17) And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (18) And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Mat 16:16-18)

As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (Rom 9:33)

Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; (2) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; (3) And did all eat the same spiritual meat; (4) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. (1Co 10:1-4)

Our church edifice happens to look a bit like rock, and will be covered in rock, but these are external things.

As a parish, we build upon a rock when we corporately and individually dedicate our lives the Christ. I cannot do anything about how an individual builds, but as a pastor I can only help to provide the mortar and the bricks.

Among our most important materials is prayer. I serve a weekly Thursday liturgy, and have been doing so for almost two years. This is one of our most important ministries. Many times, I have served with only the reader and myself, with God among us, and with the Saints and angels [1]. In the world, one would say that this act of worship has little impact, since hardly anybody comes. If we were a Home Depot, we would have long ago closed our doors on this day and hour, because so few come, but we are a church, and we must pray, faithfully.

Our weekday liturgy has been the most important reason why our building project has been succeeding.

I will continue serving, no matter how many lean days there are, because in this service, we pray for everyone in the parish by name in the Great Ectenia. There is no way for our feeble minds to understand the grace that this brings to our community, but is does come!

Children singing in the choir during Childrens Liturgy at St Nicholas, McKinney. 2009-10-15-childrens-liturgy-choir-6.jpg Taken by Mira (Juliana) Parker I have seen very consoling signs that this liturgy is important personally to our flock, because of the steady attendance in our two monthly “children’s liturgies”. There is no value that can be attached to the grace that our children (and us) receive by worshipping together, and teaching them to sing.

Homily during Children's liturgy at St Nicholas, McKinney TX 2009-10-15-childrens-liturgy-homily-1.jpg. Taken by Mira (Juliana) Parker

My custom of sitting down and giving a simple homily after the Gospel, with the children gathered around, and excitedly (and often quite correctly, but sometimes with an … interesting perspective!) interjecting their answers and feelings is the best part of my week. This may not be considered to be pristine liturgics, but it is good theology.

How can any parishioner, whatever his station in life, help to build his parish upon a rock? Personally we must struggle, with fasting and prayer and a continual reassessment and adjustment of our thoughts and priorities. Corporately, we must consider ourselves to be a part of the body, therefore critical to its functioning. Participation in prayer, giving alms, praying for each other, baking prosphora, cleaning the church, church classes and activities, and anything and everything else that affects our parish life together is the way we contribute to building our parish upon the rock.

46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: 48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. 49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great. 1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. Luke 6:46-7:1

Priest Seraphim Holland 2009. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

This article is at:

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-21_a-house-upon-a-rock-+words-to-build-by+luke6-46-7-1+childrens-liturgy.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-21_a-house-upon-a-rock-+words-to-build-by+luke6-46-7-1+childrens-liturgy.doc

New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal

Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.

Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)

[1] “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Mat 18:20). These are very good words to remember when in a sparsely attended service.

Posted in Building Project, Pastoral Journal | No Comments »

APSE-solutely Wonderful!

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

Construction Photos

Building of the Apse

Oct 7/20 2009 20^th Tuesday after Pentecost

Apse construction from Viewd towards the West<br />
2009-10-20_construction+aps-west-view.jpg

Apse construction viewed looking West

Apse construction viewed looking East.<br />
2009-10-20_construction+apse-east-view.jpg

Apse construction viewed looking East

Look good (and will look better when we get some pictures with the deaconesses in front)! We should have the roof on inside of two weeks if the weather holds.

Priest Seraphim Holland 2009. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

This article is at: http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-20_construction-photos-building-of-the-apse.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-20_construction-photos-building-of-the-apse.doc

New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal

Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.

Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)

Posted in Building Project, Gospel:John, Pastoral Journal | 1 Comment »

Christian Life Skills - The Four Bows. Give the first fruits of your day to the Lord

Monday, October 19th, 2009

October 6/19 20^th Holy Apostle Thomas, 20^th Monday after Pentecost

I did not know much about life skills back then, but I got one right at least!

At college, about 1980, on Valentine’s Day. This picture is still in my bible from back then.

Lets us be perfectly honest with one-another; we do not pray enough. There are many reasons for this, with of course the primary reason being that we do not love God enough and our passions interfere with everything holy.

Okay, we know the problem, what is the solution?

Another life skill which I will eventually write about can be summed up: “Do what you can do, so that eventually you will be able to do what you cannot do”. When applied to prayer, this means we must pray now, as much as we can, even though we do not pray very well, or consistently.

Let’s start with what we CAN DO. We can be more consistent. It takes some planning and effort, but it is “doable” to be more consistent in prayer.

This is where the “four bows” come in. I have taught these to just about everybody for years now (the originals article that has been one the web for years is here (http://www.orthodox.net/articles/fourbows.html) ) and they have had a profound effect on those who have listened. They are a “little thing”, but like so many “little things” they lead to big things.

If we are honest with ourselves, we should lament our inattention to God, our weak and inconstant prayer, our false priorities, and the time we waste on things that are not effectual for our salvation. We are weak creatures, driven by habit, and many of these habits are sinful and destructive. So many of our activities are thieves - they steal time from prayer.

There is a superb article, from an old "Nicodemus" publication (which later became "Orthodox America") which provided the seed for this instruction. In the article, a bishop was instructing a group of children. I will try to reproduce the gist of his words here.

Our hearts are like coal, which is cold, but may be lit with persistent effort. Coal lights very slowly, and much care must be taken to tend it, even when it is burning. Our prayer is like blowing on the coal, which gradually becomes warmer, and eventually a hot fire, but only after much persistence on our part. The key is persistence, and not to lose heart. Even a small effort is rewarded by God, if we are persistent.

The bishop then went on to instruct the children to do three bows in the morning, IMMEDIATELY after they got out of bed. I added one more bow to the list, and have told almost everyone in confession or another time about this rule.

This rule follows, and I beg all of you to follow it with all your strength.

The Four Bows

Upon arising in the morning, before anything else, direct your heart and mind towards God, and face your icons, or face east and with compunction, and without haste, make four bows [1], or better, four prostrations [2].

Do this with hope in God, and the sure belief that He will receive your prayer, as He received the widow’s two mites, and protect you during the day, even if you fall into inattention and these prayers are the last you will say for the entire day.

Making the sign of the cross, with a bow of prostration during each prayer say:

1.Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God have mercy on me a sinner.

2.Most Holy Theotokos, save us.

3.Holy Saint ______ (your patron saint), pray to God for me.

4.Holy Angel of God, my guardian, pray to God for me.

After these prayers, it is best to continue with your morning prayers, and then turn your attentions to the cares of the day. Even if the weakness of the flesh compels us to abandon our prayer and rush into our day, perhaps not to return to our morning prayer, at least we have begun the by giving our "first fruits" to God.

Let us do these "few things": four short prayers that take under a minute, so that in time, our heart will become aflame with the love of God, and our Lord will say to us:

“Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Mat 25:21)

Priest Seraphim Holland 2009. St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church, McKinney, Texas

This article is at: http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-19-christian-life-skills-the-four-bows-give-the-first-fruits-of-your-day-to-the-lord.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-10-19-christian-life-skills-the-four-bows-give-the-first-fruits-of-your-day-to-the-lord.doc

New Journal entries, homilies, etc. are on our BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Journal Archive: http://www.orthodox.net/journal

Blog posts & local parish news are posted to our email list. Go to here: http://groups.google.com/group/saint-nicholas-orthodox-church to join.

Redeeming the Time BLOG: http://www.orthodox.net/redeemingthetime

Use this for any edifying reason, but please give credit, and include the URL of the article. This content belongs to the author. We would love to hear from you with comments! (seraphim@orthodox.net)

[1] A Bow, also known as a “reverence” or “Poklon” is when the sign of the cross is made, while simultaneously bowing the head by bending at the waist. Some bow deeply and touch the ground with their right hand, and other make very shallow bows. It really does not matter as long as the movement is done with attention. (taken from the Prayer of St Ephrem, ( http://www.orthodox.net/greatlent/o-lord-and-master-of-my-life-prayer-of-st-ephrem-01.html)

[2] A Prostration is a full bow to the ground with the knees touching the ground, and the head touching or near the ground, then immediately standing back up. As the bow to the ground is begun, the sign of the cross is made. Some people touch their knees to the ground first and then bend their upper body down, and the more athletic or coordinated essentially “fall” forward to the ground with their knees and hands touching at essentially the same time. This is very similar to the familiar gym class “burpee”.(from the same source as note 1)

Something NOT TO DO: No “waving at the air”. Some do prostrations and bows quickly or carelessly, and the sign of the cross they make looks like they are shooing away a fly. “Let all things be done in good order”.

Posted in Christian Life Skills, Pastoral Journal | 1 Comment »

Archive for the ‘Pastoral Journal’ Category

That we may be delivered from all tribulation, wrath, and necessity…

St Longinus the Centurion Oct 16/29

St Sergius of Radonezh

Children’s School – ages 6-11.

Twelve Meanings of Candles Based on Their Properties

I count all things but loss

The knowledge of Christ Jesus

That I may win Christ

Philippians 3:8

Biblical Exegesis

It is always about You!

A house upon a rock

Words to build by.

Luke 6:46-7:1

Children’s Liturgy

Construction Photos

Building of the Apse

Please help us build!

Recent Posts

Archives

Pages

Blogroll

Categories

Meta

Recent Comments