COMPARING LIFE’S VARIOUS STAGES WITH THAT OF THE FOUR SEASONS OF THE YEAR

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.

COMPARING LIFE’S VARIOUS STAGES WITH THAT
OF THE FOUR SEASONS OF THE YEAR.

Psalm 104:24[103]says, "O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all." The great psalm of Vespers (Esperinos), is a poetic rendition of Genesis 1. Since the new day begins at sundown it is sung by the faithful to give praise and thanksgiving to our Creator. Because of verse 30, this psalm is also sung on Pentecost. The psalmist shows the Providence of God: He provides for the heavens and the earth, and does not neglect even the smallest creatures.

The phrase emphasizes that creation is not random but is the result of deliberate and wisdom. Everything in the universe was created by God with a purpose and for a reason, ultimately reflecting God’s glory and majesty. Other biblical passages, such as those in John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16, identify our Lord Jesus Christ as the "Logos/Word" or the One Whom all things were created.

There are unquestionably similarities with man’s earthly life and the four seasons of the year. The Orthodox Christian view of life is that it is a journey from birth to death, and ultimately, to resurrection and Eternal Life with God, beginning with baptism and progressing through spiritual stages. Man is created in the "image" of God to grow towards His "likeness" through a conscious choice between following the "way of life" in union with the Holy Spirit or the "way of death" which leads to separation from God. The stages of this spiritual journey are typically explained a purification, illumination, and union, which correspond to the body and soul. Saint Cyril states, "from the origins of creation, received control over his desires and would feely follow the inclinations of his choice, for the Deity, whose image he is, is free." "Human beings, because they are free, have potential to transcend the limitations of their nature and experience the fullness of their humanity in opening their existence to God and to others."

As Orthodox Christians we understand that as God’s creation we all have a purpose in life. He has bestowed certain talents to each and everyone of us for the purpose of investing them for the Glory of God. "And to one He gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability" (Matthew 25:15). This Parable illustrates the use of gifts given by God. A talent was a great sum of money and came to designate a special gift or endowment. We comprehend that we are stewards of every gift, using each for our own and our neighbor’s salvation. Idleness is a renunciation of God’s grace, as well as a lack of agape for God and humanity. Since people are managers, or stewards of God’s gifts, each of us will give account of how we used the "abundance" of gifts given to us.

As human beings we have common experiences in life. Just like the four seasons of the year, life is somewhat unpredictable and to some extent mysterious. There are some things which a human can control and others not. However, we, as Orthodox Christians believe that our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ is the Divine Physician Who came to cure sinners of their sickness (Mark 2:17). He said, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." It is our belief that our Lord Christ came to save and heal, not to judge (John 1:17; 3:17). Through sin people become "heartless" (Romans 1:31), closed in upon themselves and thus incapable of agape. Our Lord Himself declares how evil emerges from an evil heart: "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts;, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, and evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come FROM WITHIN AND DEFILE A MAN" (Mark 7:21-23). "All these evil things" are not what God created. We will them; we produce them; they are our sins coming FROM WITHIN US. They are a perversion of what God has made.

Nature was created by our Creator and so were we. In Genesis 1:31 we read, "Then God saw everything He had made, and indeed, it was very good." Everything God made, including man, is "very good," because God is GOOD. Nothing He maade is therefore evil in itself. So then, human nature is good in itself. But sin is A FREE CHOICE of man’s will, and it is contrary both to God’s nature and human nature. If we witness the evil conditions and events in man’s life and world, it is a result of man’s wickedness. The pain and suffering which we experience here on earth is self-inflicted through our disobedience and lack of faith.

The Orthodox believer believes that Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us that man is created for a life far superior to that of any creature, even the Angels who praise and glorify God and serve the cause of man’s salvation. The true believer is one who seeks to be united to God. The spiritual challenges although are numerous one must not be afraid to confront them and resolve them. God’s created world and nature also present similar challenges and dangers which mankind is not able to avoid. The Church Holy Fathers compare the seasons of the year with the seasons of life, using the cycles of nature as an analogy for humanity’s spiritual journey, maturation, and renewal, i.e., Just as nature moves from the deadness of winter to the new growth of spring and the harvest of autumn, a Christian’s spiritual life has seasons of barrenness, renewal, and fruitfulness.

The Holy Fathers of the Church taught that as the body declines in old age, a person is freed to develop greater spiritual maturity, wisdom, and inner peace. They saw all seasons, both in nature and in life, as designed by God for specific purposes, building character and fulfilling one’s destiny. Spring for example is a season of new beginnings, as life emerges from the cold winter. This represents a period of spiritual awakening and a fresh surge of inspiration, leading to a renewed desire to deepen one faith in God. It is a time to pursue new spiritual challenges and discover hope, etc. The Holy Fathers’ comparison of the seasons with life was founded in the hope of the Resurrection. Everything helps the faithful to find peace in every season, trusting in the mercy, compassion and forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Great Litany in the Divine Liturgy expresses our continuing supplication to God:
"In peace let us pray to the Lord, For the peace from above and for the salvation of our souls,
For the peace of the whole world…". We also petition Him: That we may complete the
remaining time of our life in peace and repentance, and for a Christian ending to our life:
painless, blameless, and peaceful; and a good defense before the dread judgment seat
of Christ, let us pray to the Lord…".

_________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George