Christ is Risen!

The Earth Trembled

On our Saviour's Passion

[The earth trembled] (1688)

 The earth did tremble; and heav'n's closed eye

Was loth to see the Lord of Glory dye:

The Skyes were clad in mourning, and the Spheares

Forgat their harmony; the Clouds dropt teares:

Th'ambitious Dead arose to give him roome;

And ev'ry Grave did gape to be his Tombe:
Th'affrighted heavn's sent down elegious Thunder;

The World's Foundation loos'd, to lose their Founder;

Th'impatient Temple rent her Vaile in two,

To teach our hearts what our sad hearts should do:

Shall senselesse things doe this, and shall not I

Melt one poore drop to see my Saviour dye?
Drill forth my Teares, and trickle one by one,

TIll you have pierc'd this heart of mine, this Stone.

Grace to the Humble

Behold, I will send you Elijah

The Gospel according to Matthew 3:1-6

At that time, John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight." Now John wore a garment of camel's hair, and a leather girdle around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then went out to him Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river.

Icon of Ss. Elijah and John the Baptist
Sourced from modeoflife.org

The significance of the person of John at this point in the Gospel as we approach the feast of the Theophany is integral to the continuity of the story of salvation of God's people.
Christ does not come unannounced to his people, he is foretold by the ancient prophets and prefigured in the final of those, John, the Baptist, Our Lord's cousin.

Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. (Malachi 4:5)

The description Matthew gives us of John's attire is not without significance. The camel hair and leather belt refers John to Elijah, it is the dress code of the Prophet of the Lord.

"What kind of man was he who came to meet you and told you these things? They answered him, "He wore a garment of haircloth, with a girdle of leather about his loins." And he [King Ahazi'ah] said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite." (2 Kings 1:7-8)

 And so with John comes the completion of the Old Prophets, and the beginning of the era of the Incarnate God. In Christ history is fulfilled and perfected, in the incarnation the requirement for prophets to reveal God's will among men was no longer needed for Christ is with us intrinsically through the flesh.

With the coming of Christ, the ministry of John came to completion, the new age begins, and the old rites perfected.

I baptize you with water [...] he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire (Matthew 3:11)

What's in a Name? - Circumcision of Our Lord

Circumcision of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ

The Gospel according to Luke 2:20-21

At that time, the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them. And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Reflections

There are two major points in the above Gospel passage; those of Circumcision and Naming. Both of these are inextricably linked in the history of God's covenant with His people, but for the sake of this post I shall focus mainly on the latter, the naming.

Should you wish to read a recent blog post centred on the Circumcision, I would have no hesitancy in directing you toward Dimitris Salapatas' excellent blog Londinoupolis, where he engages with the Pauline exhortation that we are circumcised in the Spirit.

The Eighth Day

As Orthodox Christians the eighth day holds particular significance. The week as represented on earth is seven days, the eighth day is representative of the day of completion, the eschatalogical day. It is for this reason the Divine Liturgy is considered to take place on the 'eighth day', which is to say, outside of time as we perceive it.

It is on the eighth day that the Lord is circumcised and given the name Jesus.

It is on the eighth day that we will be given a new name as foretold in Rev. 2:17.

Purpose of Name

A name is a means by which to identify an individual.
It is what differentiates a pet from livestock, a loved one from the crowd.
By granting a name one is granting identity to the bestower of the name. The named one is called out and made recognisable.
The identity of that person is bound to the name so that when the name is called, so too is the remembrance of that person to whom it relates.
The name 'Jesus' gives us a means to identify the incarnate Son of God. 

Furthermore the name gives us the ability to call upon Jesus.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer's ear!... 

What is Sin?

Reposted from Simply Orthodox

Sin is primarily a metaphysical phenomenon whose roots lie in the mystic depth of man’s spiritual nature. The essence of sin consists not in the infringement of ethical standards but in a falling away from the eternal Divine life for which man was created and to which, by his very nature, he is called. Sin is committed first of all in the secret depths of the human spirit but its consequences involve the individual as a whole. A sin will reflect on a man’s physcological and physical condition, on his outward appearance, on his personal destiny. Sin will, inevitably, pass beyond the boundaries of the sinner’s individual life, to burden all humanity and thus affect the fate of the world.

- Archimandrite Sophronius Sakharov

Reposted from Simply Orthodox

A Prayer Book - Archbishop Hilarion of Austin

So, I have someone staying with me and they have deposited their books.
I go for a rummage (naughty I know) and come across 'Orthodox Prayers of Old England', a Western Rite publication.

I am careful to form views regarding the Western Rite and am open to receiving the perspectives of all whom it concerns; nevertheless, the Preface to the book is brilliant in its concise summary of the purpose of a prayerbook.

A Prayer book for Christian people can have but one true purpose - the salvation of their souls. This intention is that ordained by Almighty God Himself through the grace of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ and sanctified and envivified by the Holy Spirit. The compositions contained in this book were written by men inspired by the Holy Spirit Himself (consider, for example, the Psalms of St. David, King of Israel); therefore, they assist our salvation by bringing us to petition for Grace. That they are historical means that they connect us with our spiritual forebears, Western and Eastern; and they are also instructive, thereby enlightening the intellect. The intellect, after all, is no enemy to faith, but was itself created by God to guide the heart, so that humankind might seek their Creator.

The book (I have yet to explore its contents) is available at St. John Cassian Press

Pray for the Terrorists

Pray for the Terrorists.

Pray that their hearts may be softened and they may come to repentance.

There are those among us who pray for demons; how much more so should we pray for our fellow humanity who, bearing the likeness of God in the Incarnation, have forgotten their divine calling and have become subject to passions.

"Forgive them, for they know not what they do."

As for those who have died in recent violence against their fellow man, let us pray for their souls. 

The burden they carry with them before the Throne of God Almighty is immense.

They were drunk on delusion but are now sober in despair.

Pray for the young men and women who are seduced into believing they must commit atrocities to gain favour with God. 

Wounds such as these are not healed by retribution but with forgiveness.

"For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions."

Pray for the Terrorists 

Fluctuat Nec Mergitur - Tossed [by the waves] but not sunk
Motto of City of Paris

Brace Yorselves - Advent is Coming

Luke 11:12

Don't scorpions grow from eggs?

...open the door, and where are the people?!

When browsing church websites and other promotional material, I have over the years developed methods of assessing the strength of the congregation and mission.

If a church website displays pictures of the building and no people, this means that there are no people.
If a church website displays pictures of the building full, but in black and white, this means there are no people.
If a church website displays pictures of only the ministry team and no people, this means there are no people.


Just a few handy tips.

Church of England - "A bit of a cop out"

Delight in the Fight

Temptation is a sign of spiritual health.

The greatest threat to the evil one is the love for God. 

The person who loves God is at the same time mocking the devil.

The devil envies that love because he does not understand it.

Rather than learning from the human how to love God, the devil in his abundant pride, convinces himself of his worth.

"I am an angel, superior to the human. What have I to learn from that which is beneath my rank?"
Here lies the sin of pride.

The devil, in subversion to the love of God seeks to damage that which pleases the Almighty.

The moment a person becomes an adopted child of God through the sacrament of Baptism, they are a target for the enemy.

Do not envy the easy lives of the heathen, for they have their reward now.

But pray and help them always. Abandon them not lest you imitate he that seeks to rid you of your own inheritance.

Be vigilant always, and when temptation arises, rejoice.

Rejoice because it means the treasury of your soul contains something worth stealing, namely the love of God.

“The devil does not hunt after those who are lost; he hunts after those who are aware, those who are close to God. He takes from them trust in god and begins to afflict them with self-assurance, logic, thinking, criticism. Therefore we should not trust our logical minds.” - Elder Paisios of Mt. Athos

Compassion of the Incarnation

Mother Maria of Paris

"The bodies of our fellow human beings must be treated with more care than our own. Christian love teaches us to give our brethren not only spiritual gifts, but material gifts as well. Even our last thirst, our last piece of bread must be given to them. Personal almsgiving and the most wide-ranging social work are equally justifiable and necessary.

The way to God lies through love of other people, and there is no other way. At the Last Judgement I shall not be asked if I was successful in my ascetic exercises or how many prostrations I made in the course of my prayers. I shall be asked, did I feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and the prisoners: that is all I shall be asked." - Mother Maria of Paris

Media Weather

How much of our thoughts are autonomous?

One may know 'how' to discern right from wrong, true from false, but in the pace of life it is easier to accept opinions regardless of their integrity provided that they have peer support.
The person who thinks is apart from their society.
This is a sacrifice one may make.

A sacrifice at the cost of relating with one's fellow people.
What use is 'truth' if it has no utility?
Truth in this sense becomes an academic toy, thought experiments for the eremetic philosopher.



Could it be argued effectively that we are our environment?
The willingness for rational thought is overcome with the desire for easy living.

Liberation from the Captivity of the Mind

Today I was listening to the music of The Byrds, the '60/'70s psychadelic rock group who famously covered Bob Dylan's 'Hey Mr. Tambourine Man' and the song mentioned in this post.

Allowing the music to be steadily piped into my small room in 21st Cent. England, I became distracted by some potent lyrics.

I am not generally a lyrics person, favouring good music over words in nearly every case. Here is an example of where both aspects may be found in equally excellent measure.

Crimson flames tied through my ears

Rollin’ high and mighty traps

Pounced with fire on flaming roads

Using ideas as my maps

“We’ll meet on edges, soon,” said I

Proud ’neath heated brow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth

“Rip down all hate,” I screamed

Lies that life is black and white

Spoke from my skull. I dreamed

Romantic facts of musketeers

Foundationed deep, somehow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

Girls’ faces formed the forward path

From phony jealousy

To memorizing politics

Of ancient history

Flung down by corpse evangelists

Unthought of, though, somehow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

A self-ordained professor’s tongue

Too serious to fool

Spouted out that liberty

Is just equality in school

“Equality,” I spoke the word

As if a wedding vow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

In a soldier’s stance, I aimed my hand

At the mongrel dogs who teach

Fearing not that I’d become my enemy

In the instant that I preach

My pathway led by confusion boats

Mutiny from stern to bow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats

Too noble to neglect

Deceived me into thinking

I had something to protect

Good and bad, I define these terms

Quite clear, no doubt, somehow

Ah, but I was so much older then

I’m younger than that now
Copyright © 1964 by Warner Bros. Inc.; renewed 1992 by Special Rider Music

Read more: http://www.bobdylan.com/us/songs/my-back-pages#ixzz2rHJd9pSG

It is a happy day when the Christian realises that they are able to think for themselves and so casting aside the guidebook named 'catechist', begin to live in the world for which they are created. In so doing they recognise their life in relation to the lives of each other, and ultimately the continuous presence of their Creator in each person they meet.

On Thought and Record

There is the obligation to write.

To write for one's contemporaries.

To write for one's self.

To immortalise the transitory thoughts which pass.

Endlessly thinking and seldom writing.

Life passes by.

Thoughts lose impact.

All are great thinkers,

few record.

The desperation for youth,

a longing for substance.

The regret of forgetfulness.

The waking from a dream.

The Recipe of Salvation According to Elder Paisios (repost)

From the outstanding blog 'Mystagogy' by John Sanidopoulos.

- Seek for a lifeline near to God. Contain your material needs, because they create huge burdens and anxieties.

- Do not envy people that have money, comforts, fame and power, but rather those who live with virtue, reason and piety.

- Do not ask God for things that only support your body, but especially what is good and beneficial for your soul.

- Change your life, discover the meaning of life, gain the time lost in this process so far on earth.

- Do not trust the mindset of secular people.

- Be healed of the illnesses that dominate the lives of people that did not learn to fast, to be chaste, to pray, to hope.

- Do not despair. God is omnipresent and loves humanity.

- Cut off every relationship with evil, live freely, according to the will of the Lord.

- Prove your faith with works of love toward your neighbor.

- Decide what you want most: the sympathy of the world or a return near to God?

- Almost all problems start from the mouth (what you say) and, likewise, by the amount you depend on your passions.

- Love your wife more than yourself. With works, not with words. And do not ever talk to her badly, because sometimes the tongue kills and destroys love. Also, be careful, because some parents spoil their children very much and always do them favors. And when a child is too spoiled, they will become selfish and take a crooked path. Many parents care more about providing material things for their children. This is wrong. The body has many material desires, but a short life. The soul continues along another course. The soul does not end up in the dirt, but with God. Today everyone deals with their body, not with the needs of their soul.

- The needs of the soul are different. The joys of the soul are different from the joys of the body. The body is easily managed, not the soul. If you have money and enter a big store, the body is all set. But what can you find in a, what do you call those big stores, yes, a supermarket, for your soul? The soul needs other things. The soul has need of peace, quiet, communion with God. To sustain the body, you need silver and daily bread. To sustain the soul, divine talents and heavenly Bread are needed.

From the book Four Hours With Fr. Paisios (Τέσσερις ώρες με τον π. Παίσιο). Translated by John Sanidopoulos.

Psalm II (modern)

Psalm II

1.   Why fumeth in fight : the Gentiles spite,
in fury raging stout?
Why taketh in hand : the people fond,
Vain things to bring about?

2.   The kings arise : the lords devise,
in counsels met thereto :
Against the Lord : with false accord,
against his Christ they go.

3.   Let us they say : break down their ray,
of all their bonds and cords :
We will renounce : that [which] they pronounce,
their laws [?] as stately lords.

4.   But God of might : in heaven so bright,
Shall laugh them all to scorn :
The Lord on high : shall them defy,
they shall be once forlorn.

5.   Then shall his ire : speak all in fire,
to them again therefore :
He shall with threat : their malice beat,
in his displeasure sore.

6.   Yet am I set : a king so great,
on Sion hill full fast :
Though me they kill : yet will that hill,
my law and word outcast.

7.   God’s words decreed : I (Christ) will spread
For God thus saved to me :
My son I say : thou art, this day,
I have begotten thee.

8.   Ask thou of me : I will give thee,
to rule all Gentile lands :
Thou shalt possess : in sureness,
the world how wide it stands.

9.   With iron rod : as mighty God
all rebels shall thou bruise :
And break them all : in pieces small,
as shards the potters use.

10. Be wise therefore : ye kings the more,
Receive ye wisdom’s lore :
Ye judges strong : of right and wrong,
advice you now before.

11. The Lord in fear : your service bear,
with dread to him rejoice :
Let rages me : resist not ye,
him serve with joyful voice.

12. The son kiss ye : lest wroth he be,
lose not the way of rest :
For when his ire : is set on fire,
who trust in him be blessed.

¶ The Collect.

Break asunder O Lord the bonds of our sins, that we may be faithfully yoked to the precepts of thy law, serve thee in fear and reverence, the laud of thy holy name. Through Christ,&c.

Psalm II

Psalme II.

1. Why fumeth in fight : the Gentils ſpite,
in fury raging ſtout?
Why taketh in hond : the people fond,
Uayne thinges to bring about?

2. The kinges ariſe : the lordes deuiſe,
in counſayles mett thereto :
Agaynſt the Lord : with falſe accord,
againſt his Chriſt they go.

3. Let vs they ſay : breake downe their ray,
of all their bondes and cordes :
We will renounce : that they pronounce,
their loores as ſtately lordes.

4. But God of might : in heauen ſo bright,
Shall laugh them all to ſcorne :
The Lord on hie : ſhall them defie,
they ſhall be once forlorne.

5. Then ſhall his ire : ſpeake all in fire,
to them agayne therefore :
He ſhall with threate : their malice beate,
in his diſpleaſure ſore.

6. Yet am I ſet : a king ſo great,
on Sion hill full faſt :
Though me they kill : yet will that hill,
my lawe and worde outcaſt.

7. Gods wordes decréed : I (Chriſt) wil ſprede
for God thus ſayd to mée :
My ſonne I ſay : thou art, this day,
I haue begotten thée.

8. Aſke thou of mée : I will geue thée,
to rule all Gentils londes :
Thou ſhalt poſſeſſe: in ſuerneſſe,
the world how wide it ſtondes.

9. With iron rod : as mighty God,
all rebels ſhall thou bruſe :
And breake them all : in pieces ſmall,
as ſherdes the potters vſe.

10. Be wiſe therfore : ye kinges the more,
Receyue ye wiſdomes lore :
Ye iudges ſtrong : ofright and wrong,
aduiſe you now before.

11. The Lorde in feare : your ſeruice beare,
with dread to him reioyce :
Let rages be : reſiſt not ye,
him ſerue with ioyfull voyce.

12. The ſonne kiſſe ye : lest wroth he be,
lose not the way of reſt :
For when his ire : is ſet on fire,
who truſt in hym be bleſt.

¶ The Collecte.

Breake a ſonder O Lorde the bondes of our ſinnes that we may bee faithfully yoked to the preceptes of thy law, ſerue thee in feare and reuerence, to the laude of thy holy name. Through Chriſt,&c.