Martyrdom Interrupted

 

All Saints

 

On February 9 the Orthodox Church remembers St. Nikephoros of Antioch. His story includes the broken relationship that he shared with the Priest Sapricius. They trade places in a most remarkable way.

Nikephoros contested during the reign of Gallienus in about the year 260. Through the working of the evil one, his friendship with a certain Christian priest named Sapricius was turned to bitter hatred. Nikephoros, repenting of his enmity, tried to reconcile with Sapricius, but to no avail. When persecution broke out under Gallienus, Sapricius was seized as a Christian. Saint Nikephoros learned that Sapricius had been arrested by the pagans and was enduing torments for Christ, he sent intermediaries to Sapricius, begging his forgiveness; but Sapricius would not forgive him. Later, as Sapricius was being taken to his beheading, Nikephoros, hoping that Sapricius, at his end, in such a holy hour, would at last forgive him. Nikephoros met Sapricius on the way, fell before him, and fervently asked his forgiveness; but Sapricius did not forgive him. Even though Sapricius had passed through many sufferings, and the crown of martyrdom was now awaiting him, because he disdained the chief commandments of love and forgiveness, the grace of God – which had been strengthening him in his torments – departed from him, and he told his executioners he would sacrifice to the idols. Nikephoros immediately confessed Christ before them, and being himself beheaded, took the crown that Sapricius had cast away.

This coming Sunday in the Orthodox Church we celebrate the Rite of Forgiveness. It is a short Vespers service but is most often done immediately following the Divine Liturgy. The Church moves into Lent during this service. The very first exercise in Lent, before the Fasting has started, before anything at all, we stand before each other and ask for forgiveness. What Sapricius could not do, we do. Let’s do it.

Lenten Book Club

Every year I lead my congregation through a book for Lent. Because we have services on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights in Lent, it is easy to follow along with short devotional-size readings. We have a brief teaching / discussion following these services. It is a great way to learn together. This is how it works: Every other year we read the Ladder of Divine Ascent by St. John Climacus. Next to the Bible, it is the most read book in the Orthodox Church. We alternate reading the Ladder with other excellent texts that we might not otherwise read. This year we are reading through Dorotheos of Gaza: Discourses and Sayings.

There are 22 mostly short chapters in the book and there are 22 services prior to Holy Week. If you are interested in reading along place an order for the book today. You can just follow the link by clicking the book.

We will discuss the chapters after the services on the dates indicated. Please be sure to read the appropriate chapter prior to the beginning of the service on the given day.

PART ONE:  DISCOURSES

Mon. Feb. 15 Chap. I Renunciation (pp. 77-93)

Wed. Feb. 17 Chap. II Humility (pp. 94-103)

Fri.    Feb. 19 Chap. III Conscience (pp. 104-108)

Sat.    Feb. 20 Chap. IV Fear of God (pp. 109-121)

Mon. Feb. 22 Chap. V Need for Consultation (pp. 122-130)

Wed. Feb. 24 Chap. VI Refusal to Judge Our Neighbor (pp. 131-139)

Fri.    Feb. 26 Chap. VII    Self-accusation (pp. 140-148)

Sat.    Feb. 27 Chap. VIII Rancor or Animosity (pp. 149-155)

Mon. Mar. 1 Chap. IX Falsehood (pp. 156-162)

Wed. Mar. 3 Chap. X Traveling the Way of God with Vigilance and Sobriety (pp. 163-171)

Fri.    Mar. 5 Chap. XI Cutting Off Passionate Desires Before They Become Rooted Habits of Mind (pp. 172-181)

Sat.    Mar. 6 Chap. XII Fear of Punishment to Come and the Need for Never Neglecting One’s Salvation (pp. 182-191)

Mon. Mar. 8 Chap. XIII Accepting Temptations Calmly and with Gratitude (pp. 192-200)

Wed. Mar. 10 Chap. XIV Building up Virtues and Their Harmony (pp. 201-211)

PART TWO: THE PASCHAL MYSTERY

Fri.    Mar. 12 Chap. XV The Lenten Fast (pp. 215-219)

Sat.    Mar. 13 Chap. XVI Commentary on an Easter Hymn of St. Gregory Nazianzen (pp. 220-226)

Mon. Mar. 15 Chap. XVII Commentary on a Hymn for the Feasts of Martyrs by the Same (pp. 227-233)

PART THREE: DIALOGUES AND MAXIMS

Wed. Mar. 17 Chap. XVIII  How the President Should Conduct Himself Towards the Brethren and They Subject Themselves to Him (pp. 237-240)

Fri.    Mar. 19 Chap. XIX Dialogue with the Cellarer (pp. 241-243)

Sat.    Mar. 20 Chap. XX Reply to Some Hermits Who Asked Him About Holding Meetings (pp. 244-248)

Mon. Mar. 22 Chap. XXI The Insensibility of Soul and the Flight of Love (pp. 249-250)

Wed. Mar. 24 Chap. XXII Maxims on the Spiritual Life (pp. 251-253)

The Last Judgment Icon and Readings

Icon of the Last Judgment

You repeat when you want to insure that your listener, reader or student makes note that something is important. This morning I noticed that the Sunday gospel readings in the Orthodox Church match the readings for reading the Bible through in 1 year. It got my attention and I wanted to share it with you. Judgment is not something anybody wants to think about anymore. When Joel Olsteen was asked by Larry King if he ever talked about judgment he said, “Oh, no, we want people to always feel good.” Thankfully, Jesus did not feel the same way as Joel. The truth does not always make us feel good. Here is the gospel reading:

When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats,  and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.  Then the King will say to those at his right hand, `Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ And the King will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ Then he will say to those at his left hand, `Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels;  for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,  I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, `Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’  Then he will answer them, `Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Matthew 25: 31-46

Faith In Christ Jesus

I am hosting the Regional Chaplain’s Conference for OCF here in Phoenix. There is not much time to write this morning. We are beginning today with a coffee tasting at Cartel Coffee Lab. It is going to be a 14 hour day! But I wanted to continue on with something that was in yesterday’s blog. We said yesterday that faith is not, simply, knowledge about our Lord Jesus Christ, though that is important. Faith is not simply an intellectual agreement that the facts about his life are true. We need to become those that believe in Christ Jesus. Look at how Saint Paul begins his letter to the Ephesians:

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are also faithful in Christ Jesus:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. He destined us in love to be his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace  which he lavished upon us. For he has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him, according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will,  we who first hoped in Christ have been destined and appointed to live for the praise of his glory.  In him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. Ephesians 1:1-14

In Him we live and move and have out being.

With Jesus in the Eye of the Storm

Raising of Jairus' Daughter

Yesterday  we looked at the first of two episodes that are told together in the gospel. A woman who for 12 years had suffered from an issue of blood which long medical treatment and all her money had been unable to alleviate, she touched Jesus and was healed. The other story is about Jairus and his daughter. He was a ruler of the synagogue, and his daughter had died. Jesus takes her by the hand, commands her to arise and she arose.

And there came a man named Ja’irus, who was a ruler of the synagogue; and falling at Jesus’ feet he besought him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As he went, the people pressed round him. (The woman with the flow of blood interrupts Jesus’ journey to Jairus’ house)While he was still speaking, a man from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she shall be well.” And when he came to the house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. And all were weeping and bewailing her; but he said, “Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” And her spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something should be given her to eat. And her parents were amazed; but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. Luke 8:41, 42, 49-56

“Do not fear, only believe.”

Telling a father to believe beyond all hope after this kind of news – man. I am wondering if the disciples got it yet. They have just witnessed, in order, the stilling of the storm, the demon possessed man is freed and the woman with a flow of blood healed. And now Jesus is saying that death has lost it’s touch. I would like to think that the disciples would have understood that the One who calms wind and waves and exorcises a man with a legion of demons and heals an unhealable woman without word or effort can bring a girl back to life like he was waking her up from a nap. But here is the question; do you believe this?

Faith is not, simply, knowledge about Jesus, though that is important. We cannot trust him if we do not know about him. Faith is not simply an intellectual agreement that the facts about his life are true. The faith we need to cultivate is that a faith that trusts. A faith that hopes when all hope is lost.

Calming the Storms of Life

Miracle healing of Jairus' Daughter and the Woman with the Flow of Blood

The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) contain four stories in the same order. I blogged about the first one Calming of the Storm and the second the Healing of the Demon Possessed Man. The third is the Healing of the Woman with a Flow of Blood. This story is wrapped into another story about a synagogue ruler’s daughter who dies. But we will consider that story separately. This woman’s story (being sick with a long illness) is the storm that many people, maybe even most people, will face. Here is her story:

And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one, came up behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow of blood ceased. And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the multitudes surround you and press upon you!” But Jesus said, “Some one touched me; for I perceive that power has gone forth from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace. Luke 8:43-48

When this story is told in the other gospels we learn that this woman has suffered for 12 years from an issue of blood which long medical treatment and all her money had been unable to alleviate. She touches Jesus and is healed. 12-years-sick. She has weathered a very long storm.

Saint John Chrysostom asked the question, “Why did the women with the flow of blood not approach him openly?” Was she ashamed? Did she consider herself unclean, she surely would have had reservations. For this reason she kept herself concealed. She would not have understood his ministry; otherwise she would not have thought it necessary to remain concealed. So what did the Messiah do? He did not let her go unnoticed but led her into the center of attention and made her visible. He had many reasons for doing this.

1. Jesus puts an end to her fear. He does not want her to remain trapped in dread. He gives no cause for her conscience to be harmed, as if she had stolen a gift.
2. He corrects her assumption that she has no right to be seen.
3. He makes her faith an exhibit to all. He encourages the others to emulate her faith.”

5 minutes before she is healed she is fearful, trapped, alone, broke and certainly not the poster child of faith. 1 second after encountering the Lord Jesus Christ she is restored. The storm is over, the waters are calm.

Storms Without Questions

Cardinal outside the breakfast window. Photo by Becky Morgan.

I flew int0 Memphis, TN Thursday night to speak at a teen retreat on, “The Storms of Life.” By Friday morning the retreat was cancelled due to, you guessed it, a huge winter storm. It has taken me $200 (I hope Delta takes itself out to a nice dinner) and 2 days to get back home. A good friend asked me, “Why would God have you come all this way just for a cancelled retreat?”

Not only do I not know the answer to that question, I don’t really have theological questions when events like these occur. We find ourselves in circumstances beyond our control and what is asked of us? When the storms of life alter our plans we are asked to be faithful, humble, prayerful and helpful. We are asked to live one real, whole and complete life in the midst of storms. Why did I travel to Memphis to spend all this money and time to get home?

• I needed a break
• I needed to practice being flexible and not in control
• I needed to have a private dinner with my godson
• I needed to be quiet for two days
• I needed calm in the midst of the storm
• I am glad to have had the morning to visit with friends over breakfast watching cardinals in the snow and listen to wind chimes like cathedral bells calling me to prayer.

Calming the Internal Storm

As they reach the shore, the disciples have just witnessed the most remarkable demonstration of power they have ever seen – Jesus calming the storm. With his words – “Quiet! Be still!” – he not only calmed the wind but the undercurrents that kept them in motion. Little do the disciples realize that they are traveling headlong into yet another storm. In this sequel to that lesson, they will learn that Jesus is also Lord over the supernatural realm. And they will observe firsthand that he can calm a tormented soul as easily as he calmed a tempestuous sea.

These two stories have a few things in common:

• Both stories are concerned with Jesus in the context of the mystery and symbolism of baptism. The marveling Apostles raise the question of Jesus’ identity when he calms the storm. And the demons address Him as the “Son of God.” The question they raise, “Who is this that the wind and the waves obey him?” is followed in the next story with the answer, “The Son of Man.”
• Both stories suggest an analogy between the outer physical storm on the lake and the inner spiritual storm afflicting our souls
• The first story begins and ends like this: “A great wind arose, and the waves beat into the boat” and then, “the wind ceased and there was a great calm.”
• Of the second internal storm we are told: “he was in the mountains and in the tombs, crying out and cutting himself with stones.” And then, “they saw the one who had been demon possessed and had the legion, sitting and clothed and in his right mind.”

In both cases, it is the encounter with Jesus that produces the calm.

Then they arrived at the country of the Ger’asenes, which is opposite Galilee. And as he stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he lived not in a house but among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not torment me.” For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the desert.) Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion”; for many demons had entered him. And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them leave. Then the demons came out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned. When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country. Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. And those who had seen it told them how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Ger’asenes asked him to depart from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat and returned. The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:26-39

Calming the External Storm

When I was asked to speak at a teen retreat on the topic, “Storms of Life: Can God Help Us?” I knew exactly what gospel passages I would be using. It is not often that all three synoptic gospels tell the same stories in the same order. But these four stories are found in the same order; calming the storm, the driving the demons into the pigs, the healing of the woman with the flow of blood and the raising of Jairus’ daughter. All of the stories deal with storms of life and how God intervenes to help. Today a very brief reflection on the calming of the storm. Over the next couple of days I will blog the other stories.

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even wind and water, and they obey him? Luke 8:22-25

Jesus and the disciples get in the boat and set sail. They have an appointment with danger, with suffering, and with trials. The disciples are obviously terrified by the storm. But it is only after Christ calms the chaos that we are told they were afraid. The disciples began by being afraid of the storm but ended by being more profoundly afraid in the presence of Him whose voice thundered upon chaos.

Who goes through the storms of life? Every one.

The disciples were safe in the boat with Christ. Many people today (some of them “Christians”) want nothing to do with Christ or His Boat, the Church.

Every one then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house upon the rock; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And every one who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand; and the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell; and great was the fall of it.” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. Matthew 7:24-29

Haiti: This Time It’s Personal

You who are strong, help the weak. You who are rich, help the poor. You who stand upright, help the fallen and the crushed. You who are joyful, comfort those in sadness. You who enjoy all good fortune, help those who have met with disaster. Give something in thanksgiving to God that you are of those who can give help, and not of those who stand and wait for it. – St. Gregory of Nazianzus

I am struggling a bit on how to answer the call. We collected money at my church this past Sunday. I texted $10 to the Red Cross. My congregation is making health kits that we will send off to the IOCC. But the Lord seems to be asking more.

My trip to Haiti in 1985 left a mark on me, on my life. Everyday since the quake I want to renew my long outdated passport and put myself in the position that I could go on a mission trip.

The appeal to help Haiti has gone out and you have heard it. Will you answer this call? That is a question I am trying to answer. What about you?