Children’s liturgy and children’s sermon 1 Thessalonians 5:1-8

Friday, November 20th, 2009

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Children’s liturgy and children’s sermon

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8

Nov 7/ 20 2009 24^th Friday after Pentecost[U1]

The sermon in the Children’s liturgy contained something for all children of God – we are children of the light – it is really THAT simple.

5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

This is from yesterdays reading, which was read in the so-called “Children’s liturgy” this week.

Twice a month, on the 1^st and 3^rd Thursdays, I serve a “children’s liturgy”. This is really nothing more than a liturgy that many of the parish children attend, with a sermon especially for them, on their level. Also, the children are encouraged to sing as much as they are able, and they do sing, like angels. Eventually, God willing, the children will become the entire choir for these liturgies and read the epistle.

I have a fervent desire also that eventually our children’s liturgies will become a weekly affair, and part of a homeschooling curriculum. I envision the church as providing significant resources to homeschooling parents, in an organized, but unofficial way (we probably will not an official school, with all the red tape and state interference that this would entail.) I believe that as a pastor I must try to equip our youth as best as I can, and it is my strong opinion that homeschooling is preferred unless there are extenuating circumstances. I believe the church must help equip parents to home school their kids. This is one the of the greatest reasons why I want our parish to grow.

The children’s liturgy is one of the highlights of my life, not ALL of it mind you, because children can sometimes be, well … children, but in general I am filled with great hope during these liturgies. Hearing the children sing, generally on key, but usually with a little … improvisation … always warms my soul. I cannot think of a more important 2 hours during the week.

One of our “traditions” is the children’s sermon. I sit on a little stool,, and talk to the children. I usually talk about the Gospel of Epistle we just read, and try to put it in terns they can understand. They all gather around in a semi-circle, and are very interactive!

Here was the simple message yesterday: “You are children of the light”. I went on to ask them if they would rather be in light or darkness, and told them that light means holiness and darkness is sin. They made the connection that when you sin you are in darkness, and wondered how you get back to the light. Don’t tell me that you cannot talk about theology with children! Of course, the answer is to repent, and ask forgiveness. In their case it may be that they must apologize to a sibling, or tell their mommy they are sorry.

This was a simple sermon, for children, and it was well received. There was a lot more to it than I am recounting, because there are always a few tangents that are suggested by the audience, and I think a pastor giving a sermon to children breaks the lawyer’s number one rule: always know the answer you will be given to every question!

After the liturgy, I kept thinking about this simple sermon. This concept is not only for little children, but the big ones too – all children of God. Is we remembered that we are “children of light” at all times, we would be protected from sin. It really IS that simple.

How we identify ourselves – our self-concept – is critical to our success. How many times do we sin because we have forgotten who we are? We are like the man who looks into a mirror, then goes away and forgets what he looks like. [1]

It is a powerful and simple idea – “I am a child of light – I will not do this or think that because it is darkness and not light” The scripture is full of short powerful phrases that can keep us from sin if we are attentive. Another one is “You were bought with a price”. Perhaps we may not sin for no other reason than gratitude when we remember this.

It is critical that we remember what our purpose is. We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works. [2] We are children of light. Let’s remember this at all times.

By the way, this is a simple but not easy concept. After the sermons, during the rest of the liturgy, the children bickered more than usual. Sigh.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8 1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

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

This article is at: http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-20_children-of-light-and-the-children-of-the-day+childrens-liturgy-1thessalonians5-1-8.doc

& on the blog

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.

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] James 1:23-24 KJV For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: (24) For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

[2] Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,

[U1] < title> Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Children’s liturgy and children’s sermon.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8</title>

Posted in Epistle:1 Thessalonians, Pastoral Journal, Scripture Commentary | 2 Comments »

30(40) days of blogging

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Nov 5/18 2009 24^th Wednesday after Pentecost

An initiative of the Preachers Institute (which I belong to) was to challenge us blogging pastors to blog daily during the Nativity fast, beginning with the start of the fast, up through Nativity.

As is usual in such cases, I am the one who is the answer to the question “ One of These Things (Is Not Like The Others”) ”, since, following the church calendar, my fast begins 13 days later than most people in America (but not the Orthodox world). I have all kinds of strong opinions about the calendar, but am not a “calendarist” [1] so I am trying to be a good sport and begin my blogging with the others on Nov 15.

I had an auspicious beginning, as I did not post anything on Sunday. I always post the Sunday homily in audio form, but that day, the batteries ran out, and I did not have a backup plan. I figure I am starting “early” anyway.

It is kinda tough to write something for each day, because I seem unable to write anything but mini-opuses (working on that). Working two full days and usually a full day to go to a prison each week does not help things much either, but I am going to give it a shot. If I could only get ahead a little bit!

I am trying to come up with a system. I am inclined to want to write about Scripture (in commentaries or homilies) as often as possible, but sometimes the creative juices do not flow, or at least do not get on paper. I have always found it to be much easier to talk about Scripture than write about it. The next favorite is some excerpt from the services, usually from the daily Octoechos, Lenten Triodion, or an upcoming feast. Anything a pastor can do to inspire people to read Scripture and to attend the services is a good thing, as we are by and large a Scripturally illiterate people, and even more so (just peek in almost any church on a Saturday night or observe the truncated service) a liturgically illiterate people.

Other good stuff is a small “gleaning” from the Fathers, or even a comment about some current event (such as a Roman Catholic bishop’s recent ridiculous letter about H1N1 precautions – I hope to get to it). Of course, while we are building, progress reports with pictures are good. I have started a series (2 so far) of “ Christian Life Skills”. I also try to answer questions that come up from email, parishioners and blog comments. I am way behind on this!

If anyone has some suggestions, please let me know. I need material, and need to get a little bit ahead, like a cartoonist or columnist does.

The list of blogs which have promised to post daily is below. I am planning (I hope this is more successful than my planning to get my office clean!) to read them, or at least skim them.

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

This article is at:

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-18_30-40-days-of-blogging.doc

and on the blog

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] “Calendarist” is a pejorative. It means different things to different people. The basic jist is that it is someone who considers the Old Calendar (or, rarely, the New Calendar) to be a dogma or pseudo-dogma. Of course, dogmas cannot be broken and those who elevate the calendar issue to a dogma, on par with the Holy Trinity or the Two natures of Christ (that is, if you don’t believe it or do it, you are not a Christian) are mythological creatures, and very hard to find. There are abuses on “both sides of the aisle”, such as Old “Calendarists” are rigid, without love, anachronistic, etc. or New “Calendarists” are heretics. It is a shame when this happens (as it always seems to) when the issue is discussed on an email list, because it is possible to have very strong, well reasoned arguments against the calendar change and not be even close to being a “calendarist”.

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Patriarch Pavle stories

Tuesday, November 17th, 2009

Patriarch Pavle stories

Nov 4/17 2009 24^th Tuesday after Pentecost.

Patriarch Pavle. http://www.spc.rs/sr/system/files/u5/pavle_1.jpg Patriarch Pavle reposed in the Lord on Sun Nov 2/15 2009. I believe he was a righteous man. It is good to honor the righteous by telling stories about them. Here are a few I found. Memory Eternal!

From Archpriest Stefan Pavlenko

VECHNAYA PAMIAT’ ETERNAL MEMORY Today His Holiness PAVEL, Patriarch of Serbia reposed in the Lord. On Patriarch Pavle’s visit to the Holy Virgin Cathedral in San Francisco, of the Church Abroad, before the glorification of Saint John of Shanghai and San Francisco, His Holiness sang the Troparion to Holy Hierarchs in Saint John’s Sepulcher (under the Holy Virgin Cathedral), thus giving Patriarchal and inter-jurisdictional confirmation of the significance of the canonization by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia from its very inauguration. Serbia has a MOLITVINIK at the Holy Throne of God!

From Priest Demetrios Carellas

On July 22, 2001, I had the sacred honor to co-celebrate the Holy Liturgy with Patriarch Pavle, when he made a visit to Pittsburgh. Never before have I met a Hierarch so totally focused on worshipping the Holy Liturgy! It was as if I were in the presence of Christ Himself! …

I think that one of the main reasons that I wept during today’s Gospel, was from recalling a story that someone had recently told me — an event in which the Samaritan’s holy compassion was incarnated by the words and actions of His Holiness. When he was the Bishop of Kosovo, he was brutally and severely beaten by a young Muslim man. So intense was this beating, that the frail Bishop almost died; and was in the Hospital for a few months. Upon his dismissal from the Hospital, the then Bishop Pavle went to the prison where the young man was incarcerated. He told the one who had almost killed him that he felt he needed to go home to his parents; because they needed him!

Then he called the warden of the prison and demanded the young man’s release. When the warden refused, Bishop Pavle told him, ‘I have nothing against this young man; and I will not speak against him. Therefore, you must release him now!’ What true Christ-like love, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ — love which bore a very special fruit: the young man was soon Baptized into the Orthodox Faith!

From http://ishmaelite.blogspot.com/2009/04/patriarch-pavles-slava.html (a much missed and excellent blog)

… It is well known that the Serbian Patriarch, even when taking up his high-ranking position, continued his ascetic podvigs and strove to live modestly – although for him this was all quite natural, without any deliberate affectation. He went around town by foot or took regular public transportation, among the throngs of people, was not acquisitive, and ate as little as the ancient desert fathers – simply because that was the way he was.

Mrs Jana Todorovic told me a story that concerned her sister. She was at a reception at the Patriarch’s for some reason. Discussing business, she happened to look at the Patriarch’s feet and was shocked at the sight of his shoes: they were old, had been torn and then repaired. The woman thought: “How shameful for us Serbs, that our Patriarch has to go around in broken shoes; couldn’t somehow give him some new shoes?” The Patriarch said joyfully: “Look at what good shoes I have! I found them near the garbage cans when I went to the patriarchate. Someone had thrown them away, but they are real leather. I darned them a little bit and, look, they can still serve a long time.”

Another story is connected with these same boots. A certain woman came to the patriarchate with the request to speak with the Patriarch concerning an urgent matter, about which she needed to speak with him personally. This request was unusual and she was not immediately admitted, but the visitor’s persistence bore fruit, and an audience took place. Seeing the Patriarch, the woman said with great excitement that that night she had dreamed of the Theotokos, who told her to take money to the Patriarch so that he could buy himself new shoes. Saying this, the visitor took out an envelope full of money. Patriarch Pavle, not taking the envelope, responded affectionately: “At what time did you lay down to sleep?” The woman, surprised, asked: “Well… around eleven.” “You know, I lay down later, around four in the morning,” the Patriarch responded, “and I also dreamed of the Theotokos, who asked me to tell you to take the money and give it to those who really need it.” He did not take the money.

Once, approaching the patriarchate building, His Holiness, Pavle, noticed many cars near the entrance and became interested in whose they were. He was told that these cars belonged to bishops. To this the Patriarch replied with a smile: “If they, who know the Savior’s commandment about unacquisitiveness, have such cars, just imagine what kind of cars they would have if there this commandment did not exist!”

Once the Patriarch was flying somewhere on a visit. While they were flying over the sea the airplane went into a zone of turbulence and began to shake. A young bishop who was sitting next to the Patriarch asked what he would think if the airplane were to fall. His Holiness, Pavle, replied calmly: “With regard to myself personally, I would take this as an act of justice: I’ve eaten so many fish in my life that it would be no surprise if they were to eat me now.”

It would not be a bad idea to cite a passage from a conversation between Nikolai Kokukhin and Deacon Neboisha Topolic:

“By God’s mercy we have such a spiritual pastor as His Holiness, Patriarch Pavle… He leads an ascetic life and is a living example of an evangelical pastor. He lives in Christ in the full sense of this word… As an Orthodox monk he fasts, that is, does not eat meat, and keeps a very strict fast on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays… He serves the Liturgy every morning in a small chapel in the building of the patriarchate. There is no choir there, and only parishioners sing…

“He vests himself before the service and unvests after the service, he Confesses and Communes parishioners himself. He has worn the same riasa and cassock from the time of his tonsure to the angelic order (and this was fifty years ago). He does not replace them. He washes, irons, and mends them himself. He prepares his own food. Once he told me that he had made himself a pair of good boots out of women’s boots. He has all the instruments for fixing boots; he himself can fix any shoes. He frequently serves in different churches, and when he sees that a priest has a torn riasa or phelonion, he says to him: ‘Bring it, and I’ll fix it’… Being around such a person is a great benefit for the education of the soul, for spiritual growth.”

…

Patriarch Pavle walking. From http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6WRcJM7SGZY/SeCTrRjHn3I/AAAAAAAABdg/UMtBWmYGKes/s400/1193777798-340b7-106kb.jpg

…

He is very accessible. When his sister was alive he frequently walked to her house by foot. He in general like to go about by foot, without an escort. Anyone can approach him and speak with him. He receives visitors every day at his residence. People go to him with their needs and their small questions, and he finds a comforting word of consolation for each of them.

He gets up very early and, when everyone is still sleeping, he serves the Liturgy, praying for the entire Serbian people. All Serbia is in his heart. He is small in stature, but great in spirit. He has thin fingers, but when he forms these fingers into the sign of the cross legions of demons flee; he wears thin cotton vestments, but beneath these vestments is hidden the soul of a brave warrior. The people say: "This is our angel, who protects and defends us."

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

This article is at: http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-17_patriarch-pavle-stories.doc

And on the blog

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 cry of every pastor and shepherd

Monday, November 16th, 2009

The cry of every pastor and shepherd

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord, For ye are our glory and joy

What is life?

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2:20-3:8

Nov 3/16 2009 24^th Monday after Pentecost

christ-the-word.jpg, seen at http://frjamescoles.wordpress.com/2009/11/15/the-new-testament-challenge/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Schole+%28Schol%C3%A9%29 St Paul is the quintessential pastor and shepherd [1]. As a priest, I am inspired and humbled by his zeal. Any true pastor (and I boldly proclaim that I am a true pastor, even though very limited by my sinfulness, but the Lord knows that I care and try to be a good pastor) feels a great “resonance” in his soul when reading the Apostle’s many exhortations and emotional proclamations to his flock.

I cannot be the pastor and shepherd the Apostle was, but I do understand how he feels about his flock. His words to the Thessalonians are my words too:

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. (1 Thess 3:8)

This means that the pastor loves his flock, and the joys of his flock are his joys, and the sorrows his sorrows. When a person has a fall, or some difficulty, he feels it deeply, as if it was his own fall or difficulty. By “now we live” the Apostle is saying for all pastors that our greatest joy is to see those in our flock “stand fast in the Lord”. This motivation is why we are pastors.

As in all Scripture, the meaning is even deeper than mere words can convey. Our nature loves to be alive, and covets those feelings that make us feel the most alive. For some, this feeling is accomplished the most when encountering danger (the “adrenaline junkie”) or when viewing the beauty of nature, or, lamentably, when indulging in some useless and pernicious pleasure of the flesh. The more refined among us, those closer to perfection, feel the most satisfaction in life when they are helping someone, but even this does not capture the Apostle’s meaning

The perfect identify so closely with those among them and consider their life so intertwined with their loved ones that they do not consider themselves to be alive unless their loved ones are alive. The only true life is to be in Christ. He is the resurrection and the life [2], and anything outside of Him is death. The perfect Christian feels this death so totally that when those he loves are “living as dead”, he laments their lot with bitter tears, and feels it as if it his own, and much more than this, marshals every bit of his energy to help them.

I am not there yet, but I want to be there.

The difference between a sinful pastor such as myself and the Apostle is that sometimes the sorrows of caring for the flock and the concerns of a pastor are overwhelming. I am convinced that this is because of moral failings. Everything is easier and we are more powerful with holiness! If I was holy, I would be sad about sad situation regarding my flock, but this sadness would spur me to pray as the Apostle did (just look at most of his epistles to see how he prayed!) and not engender feelings of spiritual exhaustion.

So today, I have a proclamation and a confession. You my flock, are

“my glory and joy”, and I live, “if ye stand fast in the Lord”.

And also, I am a truth teller and a liar [3] when I make this proclamation, although the Lord knows that my heart does not lie, even as I prove myself a liar because I am incapable in every instance of living up to these words.

Therefore, like the Apostle has often done in his letters, I exhort your prayers also. I need them much more than he needed them. Pray for your pastors, those men with feet of clay who speak of angelic things. Pray for those sinners who have made it their life’s work to teach others to not sin.

Epistle reading for this day:

1 Thessalonians 2:20-3:8 20 For ye are our glory and joy. 1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 6 But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

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

This article is at:

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-16_the-cry-of-the-true-pastor-and-shepherd+for-now-we-live-if-ye-stand-fast-in-the-lord_1thessalonians2-20-3-8.html

and

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-16_the-cry-of-the-true-pastor-and-shepherd+for-now-we-live-if-ye-stand-fast-in-the-lord_1thessalonians2-20-3-8.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] More properly, the quintessential MORTAL pastor, since the pastor of pastors and shepherd of shepherds is our Lord and Savior, the God-man, Jesus Christ.

[2] John 11:25 “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:”

[3] Psa 116:11 I said in my haste, All men are liars.

Posted in Pastoral Journal | 2 Comments »

Let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Idolatry, Honesty

Mat 5:33-37

Oct 31/Nov 13 2009 23^rd Friday after Pentecost

Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: (34) But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: (35) Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. (36) Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. (37) But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. (Mat 5:33-37)

In this scripture, our Lord is referring to idolatrous practices and warning us how to avoid them. As is usual in His teaching, there is something on the surface, and deeper meaning for those with ears to hear.

There is a “do not” in his teaching – it is intended for the simple - those who need to be told things plainly because they are only capable of digesting milk instead of meat[1] – “Do not” swear on anything, such as by heaven or earth, or Jerusalem. Blessed Theophylact explains that these practices lead to idolatry, where men begin to worship the things they swear upon.

We have many Orthodox Christians who need to be told such things. There are those who come to church only when they perceive that they “need’ something- they light a candle and then go away! Others are immersed in various occult practices and superstitions and do not know that such things are idolatry. Even for some, their preparation for communion amounts to a type of idolatry. They never fast or go to church, EXCEPT for a few days before they plan to come to communion[2]. The pastor’s heart aches for such people, because they are “sheep without a shepherd”[3], and not because the shepherd is unwilling to help them, but because they are not around long enough to absorb any salvific teaching!

“Do nots” are important, but the reason behind them is more important, and even more so, the things we are told to do and their reasons are of even greater importance.

A Christian who is living as a Christian does not need to be told not to swear, because he internally knows this is wrong. Why? Because he is an honest man.

The fundamental cause of swearing upon things is dishonesty. The more flagrant the swearing, and the greater the promises and flourishes in making the promise, the more likely that the one making the promise is lying. Here, involuntarily, the actions of our politicians, and sometimes even some very political Orthodox hierarchs come to mind.

The fundamental principal our Lord is teaching here is not a “not”. It is to be honest. And His teaching is even deeper than this, because honesty is merely a virtue borne of long practice of loving God and following the commandments. Honesty is the fruit of two things – knowledge of God and of self. These twin pillars of knowledge cannot be obtained without zeal and labor, and love of God above all things.

The man who knows himself and God does not have the pernicious passion of self-deception and with it, the addiction to presenting himself to others in such a way as to hide his true nature.

Some hide their nature purposely such as a lying politician, or a manipulator of persons. Such a person thinks of truth as a tool, to be used when needed, and discarded when deemed to not be advantageous. Since Jesus Christ IS truth[4], such a dissembler is discarding Christ! To such a one, the curse our Lord pronounced is fully active:

“But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.” (Mat 10:33)

This is how important it is that we do not purposely lie!

Other people, actually all persons except the most perfect, lie because their taskmaster of inner pride and vanity blinds them to their true motivations in all matters. The only way to be freed of these lies is humility. Anything not borne of humility, which is in turn born of knowledge of God and self, is a lie, and therefore, “cometh of evil”:

(37) But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

Here is what the Lord is teaching us: “humble yourself, and take my yoke upon you. Pursue perfection. With my help and your effort, you will eventually become a totally honest man.”

Sometimes Scripture is intensely personal. We must understand the intended meaning correctly, and after this, we often, if we listen carefully, hear an application to our own life.

I have been thinking about this Scripture for a week, for no apparent reason. I have not read it for a long time, and did not even remember where exactly it was (eSword is helpful!)

I am writing about honesty, so I will be honest. I get disappointed about a lot of stuff. Dejected, tired, feeling worn out, sometimes even mad. I want to see more “results” (whatever those are – I think I do not even know).

Why is this?

This scripture gives me the easy answer, and the difficult solution. My yea is not yea, not my nay, nay. I am a sinful man, with passions that root me to the earth, and I try daily to do heavenly things. I am the embodiment of one of my pet saying: “A priest is a sinful man teaching other people to not sin”. My motivations are polluted by these passions. This is a type of dishonesty. I am sometimes aware of it directly, but this week, the fruits of this dishonesty, as described in this scripture, became clear to me.

None of these passions obliterates the truth of what I do and say, when it is true, but things would be so much easier for me if my motivations were pure. They must not be, because my feelings betray them.

Just recently, I wrote something about 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5:

“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance… (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

We cannot have power without perfect motivations. The liar is weak. The honest man is strong. Always.

I am a pastor, therefore I see constantly that people have imperfect motivations. I am not the only one who does things with imperfect motivations, in disobedience to our Savior’s command.

Always test your motivations!

May God help us all to become honest men.

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

This article is at:

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-13_let-your-communication-be-yea-yea-nay-nay-for-whatsoever-is-more-than-these-cometh-of-evil+idolatry+honesty_matthew5-33-37.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-13_let-your-communication-be-yea-yea-nay-nay-for-whatsoever-is-more-than-these-cometh-of-evil+idolatry+honesty_matthew5-33-37.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 5:12-14 KJV For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. (13) For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (14) But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

[2] There are also pious Orthodox Christian who are struggling to live the Christian life and do fast and go to church who believe they must fast for several days before their infrequent times of communion. For some, this works, but in my pastoral experience, it is seldom that that the “three day fasters’ are doing this. This practice can be salvific, but not if practiced in isolation to the things we should be doing regularly, day by day and week by week!

[3] Mat 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

[4] John 14:6 KJV Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Posted in Pastoral Journal | 6 Comments »

St. Basil the Great on the Psalter from the Russian Orthodox Psalter

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Oct 30/ Nov 12 2009 23^rd Thursday after Pentecost

Holy Prophet and King David. An icon in the Russian Orthodox Psalter, Paradise Press, 2009. No other book so glorifies God, as does the Psalter. It profits the soul; it glorifies God together with the angels, and exalts and extols with a powerful voice, and imitates the angels.

At times, it flogs the demons and drives them out, and causes them much weeping and injury. It prays to God for kings and princes, and for the whole world. With the Psalter you can pray to God even for yourself, for it is the greatest and most exalted of books.

This book called the Psalter is like a great sea: for as the water of the sea is never diminished or exhausted by the outpouring of its rivers and streams, neither does the chanting of the Psalter ever fail.

The Psalter has been called bravery and boldness before God for the salvation of the soul, for there is great reward in fasting, and in bows, and in the reading of the Psalter.

If, brother, you say that you are weak, and cannot perform this rule, being but flesh – look up into the air, and see how the sun and the moon and the stars do not rest day or night from following their path, performing the commandments of the Lord, and how this fiery creation does not eat, or drink, or look for the torment to come, but, rather, fears God, and performs His commands without ceasing.

You, brother, though flesh, have clothing for your body. If you are in want, you eat and drink, and sleep as needed. There are those who get up at midnight, and worship, and pray to God, and occupy themselves with handiwork, and yet give thanks to their Maker for all things. And again he says, How weak and infirm is the nature of water, and yet it fears the Lord. Day and night it continues to ebb and flow, washing not only men, but also their darkness, giving drink to cattle, and birds, and beasts, and creeping things, and pouring itself out upon the earth.

And you, brother, how is it that you neither examine nor attend to yourself? With God, all things are possible, but with man, nothing is possible. Simply take courage and be strong, and God will help you. For David says, “Wait thou on the Lord, and keep His way, and He shall promote thee, that thou shalt possess the land” [Ps. 36:34]; so let not a single day pass without singing from the Psalter.

If, for some reason, you are obliged to set it aside, mark the place, and begin again the next morning, not stopping out of slothfulness. For, as Peter, the chief of the apostles, says, “One day of our life is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day,”[1] and it makes no difference.

For all the seasons of this world, brethren, turn like a wheel. Today, there is sun, and, tomorrow, darkness, and rain, and snow. Today, there are parties and weddings, and, tomorrow, weeping and despondency. But if you take action to save your soul, you will correct your speech and learn the commandments of God, and He will open your eyes, so that you might understand the wonders of the Law of the Lord.

The great John Chrysostom was asked by the brethren, “Is it good to lay aside the Psalter?” He replied, “It would be better for the sun to fall from its orbit, than to neglect reading the Psalter, for it is of great benefit to study the psalms, and to read the Psalter diligently. For all books are profitable for us, and grieve the demons, but there is none like the Psalter.” Let us, then, take heed.

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

This article is at:

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-12_st-basil-the-great-on-the-psalter+russian-orthodox-psalter.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-12_st-basil-the-great-on-the-psalter+russian-orthodox-psalter.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 paraphrase of II Peter 3:8.

[1] This homily by St Basil is on page 25 of the Russian Orthodox Psalter. It has been edited (by adding whitespace) to read better on the web. Used with permission. The footnote about II Peter is in the Psalter.

[2] The Russian Orthodox Psalter, edited by David James, has recently been approved by Bishop Jerome of ROCOR. It is based on the Miles Coverdale translation, edited to conform to the Septuagint., and contains all the extra prayers and instructional material found in a traditional Russian Psalter.

To buy a self published copy of the Psalter, send $40.00 to

David James, PO Box 530, Rye, NH 03870-0530

This blog will announce when a printing run is made.

You can access a PDF file of the entire Psalter at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/orthodox_psalter/files/Psalter091110.pdf

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The Athanasian Creed from the Russian Orthodox Psalter

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Mystery

Oct 29/ Nov 11 2009 23^rd Wednesday after Pentecost

A traditional Russian Orthodox Psalter has a lot of things in it besides the Psalms. There are prayers said before and after each Kathisma, the Biblical Odes, and lots of instructional material. To my knowledge, the Russian Orthodox Psalter, edited by David James and recently approved by Bishop Jerome, is the only one of its kind in English, and for many, including myself, the prayers between the Kathismas and certain other materials will be seen for the first time. I thought I would publish, with David’s permission, some of the additional material in the Psalter.

This Psalter may be purchased right now for forty dollars (postpaid) from David directly (see below). Eventually, he will have it printed, and is planning, at my request, to make a pocket sized addition.

I think EVERY Christian should have a pocket sized Psalter with them at all times (and when this edition is pocket sized, it will be preeminently suited to private prayer since it has all the prayers between Kathismas, which, I believe, are not used in church)

We waste so much time, and have so many times during the day when we are waiting. We wait thirty minutes to get our oil changed, or 20 minutes when we are early for a meeting, or 10 minutes before dinner when we do not want to start something else. We can chant a stasis in a few minutes, a kathisma in perhaps 15. Is there a better use of our “filler” time?

This Psalter is a new translation, using the beloved “Coverdale” translation of the Psalms as a base. It has been reworked extensively to conform better to the Slavonic Psalter. To tell the truth, I want to give it a try, because the language is excellent, and it has so much more in it than the “Boston” Psalter, Of course, I know many of the “Boston” Psalter psalms by heart, so the transition will be difficult. I have no linguistic opinion about which is better, because I am not a linguist. Of course, this new Psalter is the only one officially approved by our church for liturgical use, but I must admit that I am not the best rule follower, so that will not be my main motivation (did I just say that?).

Anyway, I know David and want to support his work, and am thrilled to see it is of such a high quality. So almost without further ado, I present the Athanasian Creed (with some whitespace added to Make it easier to read on the web and footnotes, which are mine, and then a few comments), which is traditionally present in the Russian Orthodox Psalter.

To buy a self published copy of the Psalter, send $40.00 to

David James
PO Box 530
Rye, NH 03870-0530

This blog will announce when a printing run is made.

The Athanasian Creed

being the Confession of Faith of our holy Father,

Athanasius the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria

.

W

hosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic [1] Faith. Which Faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly. And the Catholic Faith is this, That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.

For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.

But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, is all one, the Glory equal, the Majesty co-eternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

The Father uncreate, the Son uncreate, and the Holy Spirit uncreate.

The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

And yet they are not three eternals, but one eternal.

As also there are not three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, but one uncreated, and one incomprehensible.

So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son Almighty, and the Holy Spirit Almighty. And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord.

And yet not three Lords, but one Lord. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity, to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord; so are we forbidden by the Catholic Religion, to say, There be three Gods, or three Lords.

The Father is made of none, neither created, nor begotten.

The Son is of the Father alone, not made, nor created, but begotten. Likewise also the Holy Spirit is of the Father, neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons, one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits. And in this Trinity none is afore, or after other, none is greater, or less than another; But the whole three Persons are co-eternal together, and co-equal. So that in all things, as is aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped. He therefore that will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity.

Concerning Christ

Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation, that he also believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

For the right Faith is, that we believe and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man; God, of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds, and Man, of the Substance of his Mother, born in the world; perfect God, and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting; equal to the Father, as touching his Godhead, and inferior to the Father, as touching his Manhood.

Who although He be God and Man, yet He is not two, but one Christ; one; not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of the Manhood into God; one altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ; Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead. He ascended into heaven; He sitteth on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give account for their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting, and they that have done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Catholic Faith, which except a man believe faithfully, he cannot be saved.

The Holy Trinity is the greatest mystery of our faith. A “Mystery” is not something which will always remain incomprehensible, as we use the word in our day (for instance some(!) men may say “Women are a mystery!”) The biblical understanding is that a mystery is something about God that is difficult to understand, but will be revealed in due time.

How will it be revealed? We cannot understand God until we become more like Him. Our Lord showed us the way to live and made us capable, but we cannot understand until we become morally perfected.

The Holy Trinity is only understood by the Holy. “Holy things for the Holy”. “To the pure, all tings are pure”.

I remember years ago when Kareem Abdul-Jabbar explained why he became a Muslim (he was raised Roman Catholic). He said that the idea of God being three persons was incomprehensible to him, and he thought it must be wrong. He tried to appropriate the understanding of the Holy Trinity with his mind, and inevitably failed, as we all would. For the Orthodox, The Holy Trinity can only be understood by moral perfection. This is possible. It is also very hard. That is why there will be few who will ever understand the Holy Trinity. Will we be among them?

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

This article is at:

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-11_athanasian-creed+russian-orthodox-psalter+mystery.html

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-11_athanasian-creed+russian-orthodox-psalter+mystery.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] “Catholic” – a much misunderstood word in our day! It means “Universal” and does not mean “Roman Catholic”.

Posted in Pastoral Journal | 4 Comments »

“Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” is only possible when there is “work of faith, and labor of love”

Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

“Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ”

is only possible when there is

“work of faith, and labor of love”

When is the Gospel…

“not … in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost”?

Oct 27/Nov 9 2009 23^rd Monday after Pentecost

We begin 1 Thessalonians in the cycle of readings today. The Apostle uses a very important and often misunderstood word – “hope”:

“We give thanks to God always for you all… 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father…” (1 Thess 1:2-3)

We cannot understand what “hope” is or be able to “hope” unless we are living a careful, powerful [1] Christian life. This is why in his prayer for the Thessalonians, he prefaces that they have “hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” by mentioning their “work of faith and labor of love”.

What is “hope”? Here is something that it is not: “wishful thinking”. When we say that we hope that something will come to pass, such as a good test grade, we are expressing our desire for a good outcome, along with some doubt that it may come to pass. This is decidedly not the hope described in the scriptures, such as:

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; (4) and patience, experience; and experience, hope: (5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Rom 5:3-5)

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. (Tit 2:11-14)

In the scriptures, hope refers to something of which we are certain, but have not attained. It is a longing for something not completely realized (or seen, see below), but increasingly realized.

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? (25) But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Rom 8:24-25)

Hope is the expectation of becoming what God became incarnate for, that we each become

“a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ”(Eph 4:13)

All this is possible only because of Christ – His incarnation, teaching, example, mentoring of His disciples to continue His work in the church, and above all, His changing of human nature so that it would be capable of perfection.

For a Christian, the expectation inherent in hope is not merely waiting. It is an earnest striving. Hope involves patience, but not in the sense that we passively wait. Scriptural “patience” is continual, steadfast effort to obtain something we believe in. Hope is impossible to have without morality. Scriptural references to hope always have a moral context. To the extent that we live in Christ, following all His commandments, fulfilling the Greatest Commandment [2], we have strong hope. Any moral problem of any kind, especially one we are not giving every effort to eradicate, weakens hope.

The Apostle goes on to mention power:

“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance;”

From whence comes this power? From the grace of God working in us of course, and it will only work with power when we are making powerful efforts to live morally. The Gospel is not words, it is power. Any word spoken without power, that is without a strong moral foundation, is not the Gospel. Anything we do without strong moral convictions is not done with power; it is not according to the Gospel.

At the end of this short selection the Apostle tells his beloved flock that:

“As ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

We cannot hide from who we are. Eventually people will know “what manner of” person we are. No amount of words or prevarications will keep our true nature hidden forever. Politicians do not understand this, or criminals, or habitual liars, or anyone who is not living according to the Gospel. The Apostle was confident that his flock would see him as the kind of man he truly was, and he was not afraid of this. I daresay that many people could not say these words without fear, because they are hiding inner motivations; they are living a lie. The question we must ask ourselves when we read words such as these is: can we say them without hypocrisy?

Today’s Epistle:

1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:1-5)

Here are a few more references to hope in the scriptures.

Gal 5:5 KJV For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

Col 1:4-5 KJV Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, (5) For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;

Col 1:23 KJV If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

1Th 4:13-18 KJV But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. (14) For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. (15) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. (16) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: (17) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (18) Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Tit 2:11-14 KJV For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

1Pe 1:3-5 KJV Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (4) To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, (5) Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

1Jn 3:2-3 KJV Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

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

This article is at:

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-09+hope-in-our-lord-jesus-christ+work-of-faith-and-labor-of-love+gospel-and-power_1thessalonians1-1-5.doc

&

http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2009-11-09+hope-in-our-lord-jesus-christ+work-of-faith-and-labor-of-love+gospel-and-power_1thessalonians1-1-5.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)

[1] For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. (1 Thessalonians 1:5)

[2] Master, which is the great commandment in the law? (37) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (Mat 22:36-37 KJV )

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Parable of the Rich Man & Lazarus. A important pinciple is taught. 22nd Sun after Pentecost. Audio Homily.

Sunday, November 8th, 2009

LISTEN NOW

Luke 16:19-31 19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

If the "LISTEN NOW" link does not work, copy this URL into your browser: http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pentecost-sunday-22_2009-11-08+parable-of-the-rich-man-and-lazarus+a-important-principle-is-taught_luke16-19-31.m3u

If this file does not work for you, try the direct link to the actual mp3 file:http://www.orthodox.net/sermons/pentecost-sunday-22_2009-11-08+parable-of-the-rich-man-and-lazarus+a-important-principle-is-taught_luke16-19-31.mp3

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Posted in Audio homilies, Christmas, Pastoral Journal | No Comments »

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

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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

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1 Thessalonians 5:1-8</title>

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Archive for the ‘Pastoral Journal’ Category

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Children’s liturgy and children’s sermon

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8

[U1] < title> Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Children’s liturgy and children’s sermon.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-8</title>

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The cry of every pastor and shepherd

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord, For ye are our glory and joy

What is life?

Commentary on 1 Thessalonians 2:20-3:8

Idolatry, Honesty

Mat 5:33-37

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Nov 5/18 2009 24^th Wednesday after Pentecost