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.

CHRIST’S SECOND COMING
By Saint Gregory Palamas

Our subject is Christ’s Second Coming, the terrifying Judgment, and the things that will then be mysteriously fulfilled, that "eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man" [1 Corinthians 2:9], the heart, that is, which has o share in the Divine Spirit. These things surpass both the human mind and reason as well as the senses. But although He Who teaches us of them is Himself All-Knowing and will judge the whole earth, He comes down to his listeners’ level and offers words suited to their capability. That is why lightning and clouds, trumpet and throne and the like are brought in, even though we look for new heavens and a new earth [cf. 2 Peter 3:13], in accordance with His own promise, for all that now exists will be changed.

If mere words, words adapted to our measure, can fill the soul of the prudent listener with trembling and awe, who will withstand when the reality is accomplished? What sort of lives ought we to be living in holiness and godliness, as we wait for the coming of the Day of God, that day on which, as the divine Peter the Apostle says, "the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?" [2 Peter 3:12]. Before that, however, will be the grievous coming of the Antichrist to oppose and threaten the faith which, if it were not shortened, being allowed only for a brief time, there should no flesh be saved, as the Lord says in the Gospels [Matthew 24:22; Mark 13:20]. So He exhorts His followers, "WATCH YE THEREFORE, AND PRAY ALWAYS, THAT YE MAY BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO ESCAPE ALL THESE THINGS THAT SHALL COME TO PASS, AND TO STAND BEFORE THE SON OF MAN" [Luke 21:36].

All these things are full of overwhelming horror, but worse still that these are threatened for those who waste their lives in unbelief, injustice and laziness. As the Lord says Himself, "THEN SHALL ALL THE TRIBES OF THE EARTH MOURN" [Matthew 24:30]. The tribes of the earth ARE PEOPLE WHO DO NOT OBEY HIM WHO CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, WHO NEITHER KNOW THE HEAVENLY FATHER NOR CALL UPON HIM, AND DO NOT LIFT UP THEIR RACE TO HIM BY DEEDS THAT RESEMBLE HIS OWN. Again the Lord says, "FOR AS A SNARE SHALL IT COME ON ALL THEM THAT DWELL ON THE FACE OF THE WHOLE EARTH" [Luke 21:35; Isaiah 24:17], meaning those nailed to the earth and earthly concerns by dissipation, drunkenness, self-indulgence and the cares of this life, wholly taken up with outwardly visible splendour, riches, glory and pleasure. The expression "FACE OF THE EARTH" refers to the earth’s apparent pleasantness, whereas by saying "them that dwell" He implies their continuing inward attachment. With these words He puts sinners who continue unrepentant to the end together with the godless, for as Prophet Isaiah foretold, "The lawless and the sinners shall burn together, and none shall quench them" [Isaiah 1:31]. "But our commonwealth is in heaven", says the Apostle, "from whence also we look for the Saviour" [Philippians 3:20]. The Lord said to His Disciples, "YOU ARE NOT OF THE WORLD" [John 15:19] and also, "When these things begin to come to pass, then look up and lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth near" [Luke 21:28].

Notice how those who live according to Christ ARE FILLED WITH INEFFABLE JOY AND COURAGE BY THE EVENTS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THESE, WHILE THOSE WHO LIVE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH ARE FILLED WITH SHAME, SUFFERING AND DEJECTION. As Saint Paul too proclaims, "God WILL RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS TO THEM WHO BY PATIENT CONTINUANCE IN WELL DOING SEEK FOR GLORY AND HONOR AND IMMORTALITY ETERNAL LIFE: BUT UNTO THEM THAT OBEY EVIL, INDIGNATION, AND WRATH, TRIBULATION AND ANGUISH UPON EVERY SOUL OF MAN THAT DOETH EVIL” [Romans 2:6-9]. In the days of Noah, when evil had increased and held sway over nearly all the human race, there was a flood sent by God which wiped out everything living and kept safe only the righteous man and his family to start another world [cf. Genesis 6:5-9:2]. And after that God again cut off evil when it was rampant, in turn burning the Sodomites to ashes [cf. Genesis 19:1-28], drowning Pharaoh’s men in the seas in an extraordinary way [cf. Exodus 14:19-31], and destroying the shameless race of the Jews by famine, revolt, disease and bitter retribution [cf. Exodus 16:1-3; 17:1-4; 32:1ff].

Our Physician made use of harsh medicines and remedies for our sake, but nevertheless He did not disregard such as work pleasantly and agreeably. He raised up fathers, revealed Prophets, performed signs, gae the law and appointed Angels. Since these means were powerless against the irrepressible impetus of our wickedness, the Logos/Word of God Himself, the great Remedy for grave sins, bowed the heavens and came down. Having become like us in everything, though WITHOUT SIN [cf. Hebrews 4:15], He ABOLISHED SIN IN HIMSELF. BY GIVING US STRENGTH HE DULLED ITS STING, AND ON THE CROSS HE PUT TO SHAME ITS RULERS AND FELLOW-WORKERS, THAT THROUGH DEATH HE MIGHT DESTROY HIM THAT HAD THE POWER OF DEATH" [Hebrews 2:14]. [Source: Saint Gregory Palamas The Homilies]

(To be continued)

_______________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

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.

On the 23rd of February, Our Holy Orthodox Church Commemorates
the holy Hieromartyr POLYKARPOS (POLYCARP), BISHOP OF
Smyrna.

Apolytikion (Dismissal) Hymn. Fourth Tone

AS sharer of the ways and a successor to the throne of the Apostles
O inspired of God, thou fondest discipline to be a means of ascent
to divine vision. Wherefore, having rightly divided the word of truth,
thou didst also contest for the Faith even unto blood, O Hieromartyr
Polykarpos. Intercede with Christ our God that our souls be saved.

Kontakion Hymn. First Tone

THROUGH godly virtues, thou broughtest for for the Lord God
much spiritual fruit, O thou most blessed Hierarch, and so
didst prove worthy of God thy Lord, O wise Polykarpos.
Wherefore, on this day we who have all been enlightened
through thy holy words extol thy praiseworthy memory and
glorify Christ the Lord.
+

This Apostolic and prophetic man, and model of faith and truth, was a disciple of Saint John the Evangelist and Theologian, successor of Bucolus, and teacher of Irenaeus. He was an old man and full of days when the 5th persecution was raised against the Christians under Marcus Aurelius. When his pursuers, sent by the ruler found Saint Polycarp, he commanded that they be given something to eat and drink, then asked them to give him an hour to pray; he stood and prayed, full of grace, for two hours, so that his captors repented that they had come against so venerable a man. He was brought by the Proconsul of Smyrna into the stadium and was commended, “Swear by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, Away with the atheists.” By atheists the Proconsul meant the Christians. But Saint Polycarp, gazing at the heathen in the stadium, waved his hand towards them and said, “Away with the atheists.” When the Proconsul urged him to blaspheme against Christ, he said: “I HAVE BEEN SERVING CHRIST FOR EIGHTY-SIX YEARS, AND HE HAS WRONGED ME IN NOTHING; HOW CAN I BLASPHEME MY KING WHO HAS SAVED ME?” But the pagan tyrant became enraged at these words and commanded that he be cast into the fire, and thus he gloriously expired about the year 163 A.D. As the Church Historian Eusebius says, “Polycarp everywhere taught what he had learned from the Holy Apostles, which also the Church has handed down, and this alone is true”
+

MORE ON THE LIFE AND MARTYRDOM OF SAINT POLYKARPOS

He was born and raised in the city of Ephesus, which gave birth to him in A.D. 68. His parents were extremely wealthy, pious, and merciful to the poor. The father of the Saint was Pancratios, and his mother was Theodora. The person of authority at Ephesos was one named Marcius, a pagan, who had received intelligence that Pancratios and Theodora were Christians. He dispatched soldiers who brought the holy couple before him for questioning. Theodora was with child, carrying Polycarp in her womb. Following the interrogation the ruler commanded his soldiers to cast the man and his pregnant wife to the ground and render them a strenuous thrashing and were cast into prison where they suffered from their wounds, hunger and thirst. It was in that dungeon that the blessed Theodora gave birth to a son. The Lord sent forth His Angel to the prison. The Angel entered the dungeon and healed the wounds of Pancratius and Theodora. He foretold that the Ephesian ruler was about to put them to death. He also prophesied that they would be crowned with the crowns of martyrdom and become inheritors of the Heavenly Kingdom. The Angel then spoke of their son and said that he would entrust the newborn baby to a wealthy Christian widow who would have him baptized and raise him diligently in the Faith. After the Angel had delivered his Divine message, he took up the infant and vanished.

Marcius the pagan tyrant tortured and finally he sentenced them to be beheaded outside of Ephesus. The soldiers left the holy martyric relics as food for wild beasts. Not one animal drew near to the precious holy relics of the holy Christian martyrs. Christians came secretly and interred the Saints with reverence and piety.

Now his God-fearing foster mother Kallisto treated Pancratios as a son. As he advanced in age, she made him manager of her property. He went into the storerooms to measure out the rations of food for the servants, he would be followed by widows, orphans, and many neighborhood poor among the faithful. They would beg for either corn or oil or other food items and he would secretly from his spiritual mother help them. He learned the Commandments of God well and inscribed them in his soul and heart. When the Saint became twenty-five years old, he heard that Saint John the Theologian was preaching the Gospel in other parts of Asia. After receiving permission from his foster mother to go to the Saint John with whom were also the God-bearing Ignatios of Antioch and the Venerable Boulosos. The blessed Polycarp attached himself to them, and the walked about together from place to place. AS another Apostle, Polycarp was put to the test by great hardships. He endured hunger, thirst, nakedness, and every other distress and inconvenience, in order to preach the word of Christ.

After the passage of considerable time, a decree was issued from pagan Emperor Domitian (81-96 A.D.) at Rome that banished Saint John the Theologian and Apostle to the Greek island of Patmos. The beloved Disciple of Christ had been charged with converting idolaters to the Christian Faith. When the holy Apostle was about to go into exile, he CONSECRATED THE BLESSED Boukolos as Bishop of Smyrna. He also appointed holy Polycarp to be a member of Boukolos’ Synod. Boukolos then, who was bishop, cherished Polycarp. Saint Polycarp supplied the poor with food and other accessories of life. He thereby, unavoidably, gained renown by his actual deeds. Boukolos was informed of Polycarp’s activities, not by the doer himself but by the recipients. Moreover, the bishop rejoiced to see that many people who were sick and afflicted with devils were restored to sound health through the grace given to Saint Polycarp from God; and so the Lord Jesus Christ was glorified. He furthermore beheld many things concerning Polycarp in visions.

Bishop Boukolos felt that Polycarp ought to be ordained a Deacon with the approval of the whole Church. As a Deacon then, Polycarp showed himself approved among his own contemporaries. Boukolos saw that Polycarp’s age was most adequate now to be ordained and enter the office of the Presbyterate. The blessed Polycarp was so humble-minded that he never wished to receive any preferments or privileges. Now Bishop Boukolos knew that the time of his repose was near. He gathered together all the bishops of the region, together with the clergy and people. He revealed to them his imminent death and named his successor. He wished to have the holy Polycarp succeed him. Though the assembly was saddened at his disclosure of his imminent repose, they gladly agreed to have Polycarp preside over the Church of Smyrna. Therefore, the Priest Polycarp was elevated to the Hierarchical throne of Smyrna.

The Saint, upon assuming the precious burden of the episcopacy, shepherded the rational sheep of Christ with much diligence in the saving laws of the Divine Commandments, teaching everyone the word of the holy Gospel. He instructed not only in word but also by all his good deeds. Night and day, he never failed to visit and counsel his flock. He strengthened the weak, consoled the afflicted, healed the sick, guided the orphans, showed mercy to the poor, and helped all of the Christians according to the needs of each. He earnestly endeavored, as much as possible, to assist the martyrs who were being persecuted by the tyrants. He was as a wondrous harbor, which no storm could assail. He was a great refuge for all, not only for the Christians but for the idolaters as well.

After Bishop Polycarp had led the Church of Smyrna for some fifty years, he traveled to Rome and Pope Anicetus, not only to defend the Faith against the heretics but also to discuss the controversy that had arisen between Rome and the Churches of Asia over the date of Pascha. Those of the Church of Asia Minor were celebrating Pascha on the exact date of the Jewish Passover, regardless of the day of the week. The Quartodecimans celebrated the Crucifixion, the Lord’s Sabbath in the tomb, and the Resurrection on the 14th, 15th, and 16th of Nisan, the very dates, according to the Hebrew Calendar, of our redemption by the Lord. Meanwhile, those in Rome were using a specific Sunday each year. Both agreed to leave their traditions as they were–and the fellowship between them was not disturbed.

Epistle to the Philippians

The epistle of Saint Polycarp to the Philippians was written in reply to a communication from the Philippians, who had invited him to address words of exhortation to them. Saint Polycarp writes to them: “Let us be zealous in the pursuit of that which is good, keeping ourselves from causes of offense, from false brethren, and from those who in hypocrisy bear the name of the Lord and draw away vain men into error…Therefore, forsake the vanity and the false doctrines of the many; let us return to the word which has been handed down to us from the beginning…Let us then be imitators of Jesus’ patience. And if we should suffer for His name’s sake, let us glorify Him. For He has set us this example in Himself…

“Stand fast, therefore, in these things, and follow the example of the Lord, being firm and unchangeable in the Faith, loving the brotherhood, and being attached to one another, joined together in the truth, exhibiting the meekness of the Lord in your intercourse with one another, and despising no one. When you can do good, defer it not, because ‘almsgiving doth deliver from death’ [Tobit 4:10; 12:9]. Be all of you subject tone to another, ‘having your manner of life morally good among the nations…As for those members in need of true repentance, he urges the Philipppians in the following manner: “Be then moderate in regard to them, and do not be deeming sh a one ‘as an enemy,’ but be admonishing him as a brother. Thus, all them back as suffering and straying members, that you may save your whole body. For by so acting you shall edify yourselves.” [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

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

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.

TRUE JUSTICE HAS ITS ORIGIN IN ALMIGHTY GOD

"For being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to
establish their own righteousness, have NOT submitted to the
righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for
righteousness to everyone who believes" [Romans 10:3-4].

God’s justice and righteousness is perfect! On worldly justice Saint Isaac the Syrian explains, "justice is equality on the even scale, for it gives to each as he deserves…" However, worldly or earthly justice enlivened by goodness beauty and goodness, devoid of retaliation, retribution and vengeance can attract mankind to the Divine. Saint Maximus the Confessor tells us: "Earth in the world of the senses corresponds in the world of the mind to justice…a state that begets all the inner principles of created things according to their kind, that in spirit shares out the gifts of life to each thing in an equitable way, and that is by its own free choice rooted and established in beauty and goodness." [Philokalia II].

Saint Maximus the Confessor states: "He who is living the life in Christ has gone beyond the righteousness of both the law and nature. This Saint Paul indicated when he said, ‘For in Christ Jesus there is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision" [Galatians 5:6]. By circumcision he meant righteousness according to the law; by uncircumcision he referred to natural justice or equity." [Philokalia II].

"The Almighty God’s justice is also one of the Divine energies. God is just and is continuously working in His creation in order to bring about and preserve this state of justice. Therefore, for a person or community to live in a way that is in keeping with the justice of the Triune God is to participate in His operation within creation." However, humanity has been plagued with injustice throughout mankind’s history. No matter which continent we examine we see people oppressed, exploited, murdered, properties confiscated by their own governments, human rights violations, imprisonment without any representation, and they cannot find justice from anyone. Citizens are worried and afraid, frustrated, pressured, vulnerable and insecure even in their own countries. No matter what country, indigent people never receive justice. They suffer from severe poverty and see clearly that there is no future for their children. Their only hope is only our heavenly Father whose justice is perfect, compassionate and merciful.

In Romans 10:3 Saint Paul wishes nothing but good for the people of Israel. But their zeal is without insight into God’s righteousness in Christ. By rejecting the Gospel and adhering to the law, they seek to establish "their own righteousness." Their ignorance of God’s righteousness, a rejection of Christ Himself is willful and self-imposed. Christ has always been the way of salvation in both Testaments. Christ puts an end to the law as a way for people to try to gain righteousness without Him. Thus, He terminates the Old Testament without nullifying its law as useless. For He fulfills the law. His RIGHTEOUSNESS IS SUPERIOR TO THAT OF THE LAW. "Everyone who believes" in Christ participates in His incomparable and Divine Righteousness.

On the Cross of Christ, God’s justice is revealed, and that it operates in a manner which infinitely transcends its merely human counterpart. What is human justice? There is ‘justice’ to the selfishness of ‘might is right.’ This is justice which expresses in the most flagrant manner the essence of sin, egotism; that sick state which is identical to being possessed. There is also the justice that demands equality, that everyone be the same. This is justice which insidiously promotes injustice, because not everyone has the same needs. There is also, justice which, indeed, imposes equality in accordance equality in accordance with the needs of each person, and this is actually the best version of human justice. But the trouble here, too, is the word ‘imposes’ because in Christian term, anything that is not done freely and out of love has no moral value.

"There is the justice that is within us, which demands that we give each according to his due; and although we do not attain to this exactly, nevertheless, if we act with a righteous disposition we do not depart far from our aim", says Saint Basil the Great. "And there is justice that reaches us from the Heavens from the Righteous Judge– a justice that now corrects, rewards us, in which there is much that is unfathomable to us because of the heights of determination contained in it." "His Righteousness abides unto ages of ages" [Psalm 111:8], as the Prophet David hymns.

The opponent of justice is injustice. We, as Christians, witness the greatest injustice committed in the history of mankind, that of charging the Son of God with blasphemy and sentencing Him to die on the Cross. "Then Pilate said to them, ‘You take Him and judge Him according to your law." Therefore, the Jews said to him. ‘It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death’" [John 18:31]. "Pilate said to them, I FIND NO FAULT IN HIM AT ALL" [John 18:38]. "But you have a custom that I should release someone to you at the Passover. Do you therefore want me to release to you the King of the Jews?’ Then they all cried out again, saying, ‘Not this Man, but Barabbas!’ [John 18:3940]. "Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have the power to crucify You, and ‘power to release You?’ Jesus answered, ‘You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above" [John 19:10-11]. "When Pilate heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the JUDGMENT SEAT in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew. Gabbatha…And he said to the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’ But they cried out, ‘Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!’ [John 19:13-15]. "Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. So, they took Jesus and led Him away" [John 19:16].

The Orthodox path of the Christian is "the path of the cross and the struggle." In other words, it is the path of patience, of the bearing of sorrows, persecutions for the name of Christ, and dangers from the enemies of Christ; of despising the goods of the world for the sake of Christ; of battling against one’s passions and lusts. All believers are called to struggle according to their strength. The Cross is the banner of the Church. From the day when the Savior bore the Cross on His shoulders to Golgotha and was crucified on the material Cross, the Cross became the visible sign and banner of Christianity, of the Church, of everyone who believes in Christ.

"Having always before oneself the image of the Cross, making on oneself the sign of the Cross, the Christian first of all brings to his mind that he is called to follow the steps of Christ, bearing in the name of Christ sorrows and deprivations for his faith. Secondly, he is strengthened by the powr of the Cross of Christ for battle against the evil in himself and in the world. And thirdly, he confesses that he awaits the manifestation of the glory of Christ, the Second Coming of the Lord, which itself will be preceded by the manifestation in heaven of the "sign of the Son of Man," according to the Divine words of the Lord Himself [Matthew 24:30]. This Sign, according to the unanimous understanding of the Holy Fathers of the Church, will be magnificent manifestation of the Cross in the sky."

The Church hymns the power of the Cross: "O invincible and incomprehensible and Divine power of the Precious and Life-Giving Cross, forsake not us sinners." [Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology]

________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

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.

"YOU WILL SHOW ME THE PATH OF LIFE" [Psalm 16:11].

Psalm 16:11 is also interpreted as "You will show me the ways of life; In Your
presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forever."

This psalm is referred to as Messianic psalm quoted twice in the Acts of the Apostles, by Saint Peter and by Saint Paul. In both cases, the holy Apostles in their preaching assure us the reference is not to David, who died and saw corruption, but to Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Verse 3 is often used in Orthodox services honoring the saints, the "excellent ones" who are a "delight" to the Lord. This present prophecy deals with the calling of the Gentiles, and with disobedience of Israel. It also refers to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Savior of mankind.

In Acts 2:25 states: "For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the Lord always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heat rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades. Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made know to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ And Saint Paul continues, "he, foreseeing this spoke concerning the Resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor died His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear" [vs. 31-33]. The age of the Kingdom of the Trinitarian God begins with the Ascension of Christ into the Heavens, His ENTHRONEMENT AT THE "RIGHT HAND" of God the Father, and the OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 Saint Paul writes: "Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not reason, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, Whom did not raise up–if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, YOUR FAITH IS FUTILE; YOUR ARE STILL IN YOUR SINS! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men the most pitiable."

What is Christianity WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION–both Christ’s and ours? His death does us no good without the Resurrection. What use is forgiveness if we remain dead? His holy Disciples were TRANSFORMED BY HIS RESURRECTION and this they preached above all. On Pascha morning Orthodox Christians chant: "Christ is Risen from the dead, trampling down death by death, and upon those in the tombs bestowing life." [Greek: Χριστός Ανέστη εκ νεκρών, θανάτω θάνατον πατήσας, και τοις εν τοις μνήμασι, ζωήν χαρισάμενος) As "the first fruits" in the Old Testament were consecrated in God representative of the promise of later fruits [Exodus 23:16], so the RESURRECTION OF JESUS FROM THE DEAD IS THE FIRST OFFERING OF THE RESURRECTION OF ALL WHO ARE HIS. "But each one in his own order Christ the firstfruits, AFTERWARD THOSE WHO ARE CHRIST’S AT HIS COMING" [v. 23].

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is "THE FOUNDATION AND THE CROWN OF OUR ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN FAITH. The Resurrection of Christ is the first, most important, great truths, with the proclamation of which the Holy Apostles began their preaching of the Gospel after the Descent of the Holy Spirit. Just as by the death of Christ on the Cross our Redemption was accomplished, so by His Resurrection "eternal life was given to us." Therefore, the Resurrection of Christ is the object of the Church’s constant triumph, its unceasing rejoicing, which reaches its summit in the Feast of the Holy Christian Pasca– "Today all creation is glad and rejoices, for Christ has risen!" [Canon of Pascha, Canticle 9].

The saving fruits of the Resurrection of Christ are:

(a) the victory over hell and death, (b) the blessedness of the Saints in heaven and the beginning of the existence of the Heavenly Church; and (c) the sending down of the Holy Spirit and the creation of the Church of Christ on earth.

___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

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.

WHAT IS TYRANNY AND WHO IS A TYRANT?

A tyrant is an absolute sovereign with unlimited power and anyone who has made himself king or ruler by force. Originally it did not necessarily imply cruel or overbearing conduct. Later however the term was used as an evil king or queen or someone who was a dictator. It also means cruel, unreasonable or arbitrary use of power or control. Or a cruel and oppressive government or rule. “People who survive war and escape tyranny.” A tyranny is a cruel, harsh, and unjust government in which a person or a small group of people have absolute power over everyone else. Despotism, fascism, communism, police state. A despot is an absolute ruler and those under him are his slaves. [Greek Classic Dictionaries]

Over the centuries mankind has known many tyrants, despots, emperors, kings, queens, oligarchs, chairmen, presidents, ministers and governments, Millions of people have suffered by their cruelty and millions were tortured, imprisoned, exiled and murdered by them. Human history is filled with their unjust and evil rule. Has mankind learned anything over the centuries about what it means to be ruled by a tyrant or tyrannical government? Tragically, absolutely not! Even today there exist tyrants and dictators around the world.

There is, however, another kind of tyrant, the devil, or satan, an adversary. According to the testimony of the word of God., the origin of sin comes from the devil. “The one doing sin is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning” [1 John 3:8]. But “everyone who has been born of God does not sin, and he is not able to sin, because he has been born of God” [1 John 3:9]. The word “devil” means “slanderer.” Bringing together the evidence of Holy Scripture, we see that the devil is one of the rational spirits or Angels who deviated into the path of evil. Our Savior Jesus Christ said, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is NO TRUTH IN HIM. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he IS A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF IT” [John 8:44].

We read in the Holy Scripture that Satan dared to tempt the Lord Jesus Christ Himself in the desert. The evil spirits rush into the souls and even into the bodies of people; of this there is the testimony of many events in the Gospel and of the teachings of the Savior. Concerning the habitation of evil spirits in people, we know from the numerous healings by the Savior of the demon-possessed. Evil spirits spy, as it were on the carelessness of a person so as to attract him to evil [see Matthew 12:43-45].

Our Divine Creator God imparted to man three great gifts at his creation: FREEDOM, REASON, AND AGAPE (LOVE). These divine gifts are indispensable FOR THE SPIRITUAL GROWTH AND BLESSEDNESS OF MAN. But where there is FREEDOM there is the possibility FOR WAVERING IN ONE’S CHOICE: THUS, TEMPTATION IS POSSIBLE. The temptation for REASON is to GROW PROUD IN MIND; INSTEAD OF ACKNOWLEDGING THE WISDOM AND GOODNESS OF GOD, to seek the knowledge of good and evil outside of God; to desire oneself to be a “god.” The temptation for the feeling of AGAPE (LOVE) is: in place of love of God and one’s neighbor, to love oneself and everything that satisfies the lower desires and gives temporary enjoyment.

In God’s wisdom it was necessary for mankind to have a supernatural power and help which might perform on inward reversal within him and give to man the possibility to turn away from a gradually deepening descent and towards victory over sin and a gradual ASCENT to God. God’s Providence foresaw the future fall of man’s free will which had not become strong. Foreseeing the fall, He prearranged AN ARISING. Adam’s fall into sin was not an absolute perdition of mankind. The power which was to give REBIRTH, according to God’s Pre-eternal determination was THE DESCENT TO EARTH OF THE Son of God.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His Only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” [John 3:16]. God, in foreknowledge of the fall of man, foreordained THE SALVATION OF MEN, even “before the foundation of the world” [Ephesians  1:4]. The word of God calls the Savior THE LAMB OF GOD “FOREORDAINED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD” [1 Peter 1:20]. {Source: The Orthodox Dogmatic Theology by Protopresbyter Michael Pomazansky]

___________
“Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!”
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

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.

OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST SAID: "SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD…" [Matthew 6:33].

The Kingdom of God is the central theme of the Divine Teaching of Our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ. He is calling us to be set free from anxiety about earthly cares, Jesus directs us to look to Heaven, to greater "country" which will be received at the Day of the Lord, secure in the faith that the Almighty God will provide "all things… to you" [Matthew 6:33].

Man’s salvation consists in the ACQUISITION OF ETERNAL LIFE IN GOD, in the Kingdom of Heaven. "But nothing unclean can enter the Kingdom of God" [Ephesians 5:5; Revelation 21:27]. God is Light, and there is no darkness in Him, and those who enter the Kingdom of God MUST THEMSELVES BE SONS OF THE Light. Therefore, entrance into it necessarily requires PURITY OF SOUL, A GARMENT OF "HOLINESS WHICH NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD" [Hebrews 12:14].

The Son of God came into the world in order "to open the path to mankind in its entirety for the personal salvation of each of us; and in order by this means to direct the hearts of people to the search, to the thirst for the Kingdom of God, and "to give help, to give power on this path of salvation for the acquirement of personal purity and sanctity." The first of these has been accomplished by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ ENTIRELY. The second DEPENDS UPON OURSELVES, ALTHOUGH IT IS ACCOMPLISHED BY THE "ACTIVITY OF THE GRACE OF CHRIST IN THE Holy Spirit.

"For the Orthodox Church, SALVATION is more than the pardon of sins and transgressions. It is more than being justified or acquitted for offences committed against God. According to Orthodox Teaching, SALVATION CERTAINLY INCLUDES FORGIVENESS AND JUSTIFICATION, BUT IS BY NO MEANS LIMITED TO THEM,. FOR THE HOLY FATHERS OF THE CHURCH SALVATION IS THE ACQUISITION OF THE GRACE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. TO BE SAVED IS TO BE SANCTIFIED AND TO PARTICIPATE IN THE LIFE OF GOD-INDEED TO ‘BECOME PARTAKERS OF THE Divine Nature’ [2 Peter 1:4].

With the end of this age and the transformation of the world into A NEW and BETTER world, there is revealed the Eternal Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of Glory.

Then will come to an end the Kingdom of Grace, the existence of the Church on earth, the Militant Church; it will enter into this Kingdom of Glory and will merge with the Heavenly Church. "Then comes THE END, when He delivers the Kingdom of God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed IS DEATH…now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him Who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all" [1 Corinthians 15:24-26, 28]. These words concerning the end of the Kingdom of Christ must be understood as the fulfillment of the Son’s MISSION, which He accepted from the Father, and which consists of the conducting of mankind to God through the Church. Then the Son will REIGN IN THE KINGDOM OF GLORY TOGETHER WIT THE FATHER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, and "of His Kingdom there shall be no end," and the Archangel announced to the Virgin Mary [Luke 1:33], and as we read in the Symbol of Faith (The Creed): "And His Kingdom will have no end." Saint Cyril of Jerusalem says this: "For will not He Who reigned before overthrowing His enemies, reign all the more after He has conquered them."

DEATH will have no power in the Kingdom of Glory. "The last enemy that shall be DESTROYED IS DEATH…Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY" [1 Corinthians 15:26,54]. "There shall be TIME NO LONGER [Revelation 10:6].

The Eternal Blessed Life is presented vividly in the 24 chapter in the book of Revelation: "And I saw new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth WERE PASSED AWAY: AND THERE WAS NO MORE SEA" [Revelation 21:1]. In the future kingdom everything WILL BE SPIRITUALIZED, IMMORTAL, AND HOLY.

But the chief thing is that those who attain the future blessed life and become "partakers of the Divine Nature" [2 Peter 1:4] will be participants in the MOST PERFECT LIFE, whose source is in God alone. In particular, the future members of the Kingdom of God will be vouchsafed, like the Angels, to "SEE GOD" [Matthew 5:8], to behold His glory not as through a dark glass, not by means of conjectures, but face to face. And not only will they behold the glory, but they themselves will be "PARTAKERS" OF IT, shining like "the sun in the Kingdom of their Father" [Matthew 13:43]. being "fellow heirs" with Christ, sitting with Christ on a Throne and sharing with Him the Royal Grandeur [Revelation 3:21].

The Kingdom of God is an invisible, spiritual reality present "WITHIN." In Greek "entos hymon." The words "ento hymon" should be understood to mean "in your midst," or "among you." Thuss Jesus declares that the Kingdom of God was among those gathered around Him — He was "IN THEIR MIDST." Jesus Christ is God INCARNATE and King of Kings, and where He is, the Kingdom of God is found. Furthermore, the Kingdom of God is not observed. but IS ENCOUNTERED BY ACTIVE PARTICIPATION WHILE IN HIS PRESENCE. So, we have this question, where is Christ found where such participation takes place? The answer: the Church. In fact, the Divine Liturgy begins with this exclamation: "Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages." This is where those gathered around Christ encounter Him and participate in Him by the Divine Liturgy of the Church. As a matter of fact there is a verbal exchange among Orthodox Christians: Christ is in our midst!" The reply is, "He is and ever shall be!"

As is symbolically depicted in Revelation, "They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; for the Lamb Who is in the midst of the Throne will shepherd them and lead them to Living Fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" [Rev. 7:16-17]. "But as it is written: "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]. [Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology]

__________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George

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.

MODERN DAY IDOLATRY

"Cease becoming idolaters, even as
some of them; as it hath been written:
‘They sat down to eat and to drink,
and rose up to play. Cease committing
fornication, even as some of them
fornicated" [1 Corinthians 10:6-8].

In ancient days people were mostly pagans and idolaters. They believed in many gods. Their pagan gods were also believed to be promiscuous and perverted. The Greek god Dionysus (Διόνυσος) was the pagan god of wine-making, fertility, religious ecstatic dances, insanity, ritual madness and theatre. He could bring holy ecstasy to his followers and cruel revenge to his foes.

The contemporary idols of today are wealth and pleasure. Secular society promotes all the vices without any regard for values or morality. All taboos have been removed from everyday life and, therefore, one "is a free spirit" with unregulated freedom to do as he or she pleases without any recrimination. accountability or embarrassment. When one is devoid of a conscience and has no control over his carnal passions or his obsession with wealth and excessive greed, then the person loses total control of his/her desires.

Idols were considered to be demonic by the Saints of the Church. Pagans sacrificed to them and worshipped them as though they were real and living entities and Christians who refused to do so were tortured and put to death by emperical decree. No one was allowed to offend their gods. However, this forced idol worship was another sinister way of controlling the people. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were created by God in His image and likeness and, therefore, there is a profound need in man to worship His Creator. The tyrants exploited that need and replaced the True God with a fake deity.

Nothing and no one can replace the True God! Humanity needs to have faith in Him and even to fear Him. Without faith or fear of God, humanity is lost. Belief in God is essential to man for, without it, a man is an empty shell. Fear came about following man’s disobedience to God’s command regarding the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Adam willingly disobeyed this command and fell from God’s path to perfection, thus separating himself from His Creator. In the Book of Genesis God was very direct with Adam and said to him, "You may eat food from every tree in the garden, but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may NOT eat; for in whatever day you eat from it you shall die by death" [Genesis 2:16-17]. Until Adam disobeyed God’s command, Adam had n’ " [Genesis 3:10]. Fallen man now aquired a fallen will and a tendency to run away from God. The joy that Adam had once felt when speaking to God became fear after he fell into sin.

Great wealth and unbridled pleasure can be sources of sin. They both become obsessions and can lead to other related sins. People desire wealth so that they may be able to enjoy various pleasures in life that only money can obtain. There are many ways to acquire wealth but not all of them are lawful. A wealthy person, if not ethical, can use his/her wealth to abuse and exploit others, to dictate and use his/her wealth as power to control less fortunate people. A wealthy person may also become arrogant, full of conceit and pride and see themselves as elite and superior to others. Over the years we have witnessed very wealthy individuals who treat their employers as slaves or serfs.

Another idol is "pleasure." Historically humanity has shown its weakness and passion for entertainment and pleasure. Some want life to be only a time of leisure and fun. The question, however, is what kind of pleasure does one seek? "A man should rejoice in his works" says Ecclesiastes 3:22 and enjoy the simple satisfaction of accomplishing the "works" God has given him to do. However, the kind of pleasures a person desires today is unconstrained to say the least. For some, pleasure becomes an obsession, a passion, lust without any restraint. "Pleasure" then becomes a passion which leads to sin. Human passions are sinful desires which separate us from our Loving and Merciful God. Passions which overwhelm us and take control of our faculties, and desires, become an idol, no different than a pagan idol which people worship. I mentioned above that idols were considered by the Saints to be the dwelling place of demons. Anything that comes between us and our Creator God becomes an instrument of Satan.

Christians worship only the Almighty God! They do not need idols in their lives. In the early years of Christianity holy men and women were taken to pagan temples by force and ordered to sacrifice to the idols but, upon seeing the Saints, the idols would crumble to the ground and the demons who dwelt in them would flee in terror. The Christian is NOT a pagan temple but a temple of the Holy Spirit, our God. I do not believe that any Christian would wish to become a pagan temple or idol which is the dwelling place of demons.

Use the time you have been given by God wisely and pray unceasingly. "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him." [Matthew 6:7-8].

__________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George