My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
"GOD IS OUR REFUGE AND STRENGTH" [Psalm 46]
It is a natural human reaction to seek refuge when our life is at risk or threatened by a power or dangerous conditions, beyond our control. As frightened children we hurry into the arms of our parents to find refuge and safety. As Orthodox Christians we immediately run to our Heavenly Father and God for refuge and say, "Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; And in the shadow of your wings, I will MAKE MY REFUGE UNTIL THESE CALAMITIES HAVE PASSED BY" [Psalm 57:1]. Why? "In God I have put my trust; I will not fear" [Psalm 56:4[.
Taking refuge in God means that we trust Him with our life. We humbly understand how much we need Him and believe that He is the only one Who truly understands our situation, dangers, and struggles. We, as His children, admt to ourselves how dependent we are on Him for everything in life. We realize that He is the All-Powerful and All-Mighty Defender and that there is no other power greater than He. God keeps His promise and is ever faithful. He will never leave us or forsake us. His love for us is steadfast and eternal.
Those who believe in Him find not only a refuge in Him but comfort, hope, peace, and strength. The person who finds refuge in God, knowingly, submits to His will and willingly surrenders his/her life in His care and wisdom. If we truly believe in Him there should be absolutely no fear that He will not give us everything we ask of Him. Human beings, however, lack patience and want everything instantly and without any sacrifice from us. We want immediate relief and instant salvation without any pain or suffering. Man tends to be selfish, lazy, stubborn, and ungrateful. Even when God responds to our needs and helps us in times of crisis we neglect to thank Him.
In this holy season of preparation we think of the importance of prayer, worship and fasting but we neglect to thank Him for providing us with a refuge. A holy place, a consecrated place, a place of healing, the Church. Our Church is a refuge for all who are fleeing from danger, persecution, violence, evil and where our Merciful God is present. Life can be harsh and even cruel at times and those who are hurt and suffering, those who are ill, or feel lost or unloved, find comfort, hope and healing. God's love reassures us that He is always with us and He will never abandon us. The Church is our refuge (Gk. καταφύγιον).
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change, though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble with its tumult. There is a river whose streams make the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved; God will help her right early… The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our REFUGE" [Psalm 46]. Indeed, the Church is our "refuge" and "sanctuary," a safe place from any trouble one might be experiencing.
The Divine and Heavenly Child of Bethlehem, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Uncontainable God, is come to offer humanity a permanent refuge and eternal sanctuary, the Kingdom of Heaven. The Kingdom that has no end, a Kingdom. Jesus says, "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added to you" [Matthew 6:33]. "The Kingdom of God" is the central theme of the teachings of Jesus. Calling us to "seek first the Kingdom of God" is the purpose of His coming. "The Son of God came into the world in order to "open the path to mankind in its entirety for the salvation of each of us and in order by this means to direct the hearts of men to the search, to thirst for the Kingdom of God, and "give help, to given power on this path of salvation for the acquirement of spiritual purity and sanctity." The first of these has been accomplished by Christ entirely. The second depends upon ourselves, "although it is accomplished by the activity of the Grace of Christ in the Holy Spirit."
Few Saints have been blessed with a vision of Heaven while still in this life. Prophet Isaiah was one who saw heaven [Isaiah 6:18], as did Prophet Ezekiel [Ezekiel 1:1-28] and the Holy Apostle John saw a new heaven–God’s Kingdom, revealed as a city [Revelation 21:1-22:5].
When we read these passages, we note an abundance of mystical, apocalyptic images. The living creatures, the light, the Cherubic beings, the Throne, and the glory of the Lord all work together to UNVEIL A KINGDOM OF CELESTIAL MAJESTY AND SPLENDOR.
While confessing with the Prophet Isaiah and the Apostle Paul that "eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him" [1 Corinthians 2:9], we can find the things the Holy Scripture as a whole, certain things which can be said about the Eternal Kingdom.
The saints who inhabit God’s Kingdom live in active fulfillment of His eternal plan. In the Kingdom, HUMANITY BECOMES ALL IT IS MEANT TO BE. There is nothing at all in Holy Scripture to suggest that eternal life means people strumming on harps or passively afloat on huge white clouds unto the ages of ages.
Originally created to inhabit Paradise, our first parents chose to sin against God and were expelled from the Garden. The Kingdom of God was closed to mankind {Genesis 3:24]. But God in His love called His creation back to Himself, speaking to us through the Law and the Prophets and ultimately through His Incarnate Son. Through new life in Jesus Christ, we are brought back by God’s mercy into the new creaton, His Everlasting Kingdom. As kings and priests we will reign with Him forever {Revelation 1:6}.
Knowledge of the Kingdom motivates us TO LIVE IN COMPLETE DEVOTION TO CHRIST. In this life, we have A FORETASTE OF THE KINGDOM which inspires us to seek its fullness. In Saint Paul’s words, "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face" [ 1 Corinthians 13:12]. Worship is not a solitary act. Rather it is the Bride of Christ, the one Church–those on earth joining with those in heaven–giving thanks to our God and King, Who has made us citizens of His magnificent domain.
The Holy Apostle John writes, "Beloved, now we ae children of God and it has not been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure" [1 John 3:2-3]. {Resources: The Orthodox Study Bible, Orthodox Dogmatic Theology}
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostoos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 