We are ALL called to be Saints (holy). This is the purpose of Christianity and the church – to guide people towards sanctity and holiness – to become Saints. The scriptures read today are an instruction manual in how to become a saint. It boils down to priorities, the courage to make the effort to hold to them, even when it is difficult (confession) and patience.
The world, that is life enslaved by the affections of the flesh. St Basil the Great.
The word “world” is used in multiple senses in Scripture. It is important to recognize the different uses, and the most important discernment to have is to understand what is sinful and leads away from God – this is perhaps the most important understanding of the word “world”. We can leave the nuances of syntax to the philologists and theologians, but all Christians must recognize that which is of the world and is therefore to be avoided.
St Basil the Great, in his discourse on the Holy Spirit, incidentally gives a wonderful definition of the most important understanding of the word world. Let’s look at it, with text pertinent to “the world” highlighted in bold italics.
The entire Trinity participated in the act of creation – it is right there in the bible! Psalm 32:6
By the Word of the Lord were the heavens established, and all the might of them by the Spirit of His mouth, Who gathereth together as into a wineskin the waters of the sea, Who layeth up the abysses in storehouses. (Psalm 32:6, Boston SeptTranslation)
Some translations have “breath of His mouth” – the Holy spirit is also known as “breath” or wind.
This is a Trinitarian reference. There are many more in the Scripture. The Father, Son (Word) and Spirit (breath) are seen to be creating. since creation is an act of will, and God, being one in essence, has one will, all persons of God were equally involved in creation.
The “take home” about the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our lives. From Mark the Ascetic.
There is lots of complicated “stuff” regarding the procession of the Holy Spirit, and His being sent. The take home is pretty easy, no matter how difficult the theology is. He came to us and abides in us for our illumination and perfection. We cannot use reason to understand Him or the energies of the Holy Trinity, and God’s relationship with Himself, but we can accept His enlightenment in one way only, as St Mark the Ascetic teaches:
“(The Holy Spirit) … gives to each person what is needful..
“I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you” – learning to read the heart and discriminate between the old and new ways.
The readings for Divine Liturgy on Pentecost give the story of Pentecost and our Lord #39;s prophesy of it. The "take home" for Pentecost is from one of the Vespers readings: "I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and will give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26) We can know a lot about Pentecost, but if we do not learn how to discern the old ways, which the heart falls into frequently, from the new ways, we will have learned nothing useful for our salvation. We look into how to learn to discern what is in our hearts, whether it be according to the old, or according to the new. The Holy Spirit will not continue to abide in a heart that does not seek after the new ways. We contrast new and old ways and discuss how to develop the skill to discern between them. This is a critically important subject. This homily is a bit longer than normal, but it is important, and it is difficult to discuss important things, and important skills in 12-15 minutes.
How to seek truly new things. Commentary and suggestions regarding acts 17:21
How to seek truly new things. Commentary and suggestions regarding acts 17:21
Selections from Vespers, Liturgical Music Committee of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America, Choral Seminar, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in McKinney, Texas. May 5/18 – 7/20 2012
Video Selections from Vespers
Orthodox Choral Seminar, of the Liturgical Music Committee of the Diocese of Chicago and Mid-America
St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in McKinney, Texas. May 5/18 – 7/20 2012.
Vespers, Sat May 6/19, Psalm 103. Trinity-St. Sergius Lavra Chant. Arr. Priest George Johnson. Conducted by Larissa Kaminsky Sander
Blessed is the Man No. 2 by Kurt (Reader Lawrence) Sander. Directed by Larissa Kaminsky Sander.
O Gladsome Light, melody by St. Elias Skete on Mount Athos. Conducted by Larissa Kaminsky Sander.
Vespers, The Great Prokimenon, Tone 6, Carpatho-Russian Chant. Conducted by Larissa Kaminsky Sander.
Vespers, Paschal Stichera, Tone 5, Znameny Chant, Arr. L. Margitich. Conducted by Larissa Kaminsky Sander.
Prayer of St. Symeon. No. 5 by N.V. Lebedev. Performed by the participants of the Seminar at a live Orthodox service. Conducted by Larissa Kaminsky Sander.
“O Theotokos Virgin, Rejoice”. Tone 4 Kievan Chant and Resurrection Monastery Chant. Performed by the participants of the Seminar at a live Orthodox service. Conducted by Larissa Kaminsky Sander.
End of Vespers, Psalm 33, Archimandrite Matthew. Performed by the participants of the Seminar at a live Orthodox service. Conducted by Larissa Kaminsky Sander.
The Healing of the Blind man – without courage there will never be healing.
What is the most important part of the healing of the blind man story? It is undoubtedly the courage of the blind man and how because of his courage he was brought to full enlightenment and healing. Our healing in Christ will not proceed to completion without personal courage. It does not matter how talented, intelligent or knowledgeable you are, or whether you have more self control than most and your life is in good order or not – without personal courage and willingness to stand up and be a Christian in our post Christian age (a misnomer term, there has never been a “Christian” age, since the world has always been against Christ), you will not be healed of your passions and sins and achieve perfection. The dialogue of the blind man with the Pharisees of his age (every age has them), shows how we incrementally become wiser and sounder in soul as we react to whatever the world brings to is with courage, and with what we know at the time. This is an “every man” kind of story. The blind man had no special talent, nor did he have complete knowledge (his answers showed him growing in knowledge), but he was courageous, and because of this, he gained not only physical eyes, but also spiritual ones. Anyone who is tempted to cave in to the political correctness of this age, which demands certain ways of thinking, speaking and acting, needs to ponder the healing of the blind man in great detail.
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” Commentary by Saint Nicolai Velimirovich, Missionary Letters, Part 1, Letter 9, followed by contemporary commentary.
“Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (Mat 10:34)
Thus said the Lord. Read it as if He had said, “I did not come to reconcile truth and lie, wisdom and stupidity, good and evil, justice and violence, bestiality and humanity, God and mammon; but I came to bring a sword so that I may cut and separate one from the other, so they do not mingle” What will you cut with O Lord? …
You will be a missionary…
“You will be a missionary. Let your first rule of missionary work be – praying to God for the apostates.”
St Nicolai Velimirovich, Missionary Letters, Part 1, Letter 4
We had spoken about the 1st Matinal Resurrectional Gospel yesterday in the adult school. The so called “Great Commission” was discussed, and the difference in how Protestants and Orthodox approach, understand and fulfil the Lord’s command: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations…”
Surely St Nicolai’s admonition is part of that difference. …