Lessons

The Tao of Holy Orthodoxy training begins with Lesson #1: The Benefit of the Way

When you have learned these basic lessons on the Tao of Holy Orthodoxy, it is time to return to the beginning so that you may learn the basic principles again. The Way is like a path that spirals up a mountain, around and around. You look out and pass by the same scenery as you make a circle, but each time you see with a different, higher perspective. Deepen your knowledge, cultivate the purity of your heart, and perfect your skill as you ascend the Heavenly Mountain.

You will return again and again to the same readings of Holy Scripture, the familiar counsels of the Fathers, the restatements of our unchaining doctrines, the repeated instructions on virtuous action, the well-worn ancient prayers, and the repetitious Divine Services, echoing through the centuries and across the world. Yet, these things never grow old because they are part of our Life in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit refreshes and renews us so that we grow, mature, and ascend higher and higher toward the fulfilment of our potential and purpose.

Be careful that you do not fill your rational mind with information, but neglect acquisition of the superior knowledge of the heart. In the beginning, a student may ask rationally interesting questions about the Faith, but as he matures, his questions should become more practical inquiries about his salvation. A beginner may ask, “What kind of fruit grew on the Tree of Life?” A mature person asks, “Since I’m a sinner, how can I pray more attentively, more thoroughly repent of my sins, and follow Christ more obediently so that I may more worthily partake of the Tree of Life?” In other words, “How can I be saved?”

Do not ever think that you have exhausted your knowledge of the simple, fundamental aspects of the Way. When does a human being know enough about repentance through experience? When does someone pray enough without need for more perfect prayer? How could you say, “I don’t need any more instructions on humility because I never read or hear anything on it that I don’t already know,” when you have not put into practice what you claim to already know.

The Way is simple, but difficult. This is why God offers you the guidance and help you need through His Holy Church. Make progress with humility and repentance. Ascend the Mountain with determination and strength.

Read: Psalm 15, 24; Ezekiel 28.1-19; 1 Corinthians 3.1-3; 8.1-3; Hebrews 12.22-24; 1 Peter 2.1-3

Text copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees / Image copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees

The strategy board game Go has been played in Asia since its invention in China nearly 2,500 years ago. One player places black stones on the board and the other player places white. Each player alternates making a move with the aim of surrounding the opponent’s stones, thereby capturing territory. The point of the game is to capture more territory on the board than one’s opponent through the strategic placement of stones. 

Every day, think tactically. Maintain prayerful watchfulness in every situation. Take each difficulty, each challenge – that is, each battle – you encounter one by one. Do not be near-sighted, irrational, or driven by passion, but consistently make good, virtuous, God-pleasing decisions.

At the same time, approach life strategically. Keep in mind the end goal of the overall war against sin, death, and the powers of evil: Salvation.

Consult the Holy Scriptures, which reveal God’s work in human history from the beginning of time to now, as God continues to work through His Church to bring salvation to the world, and continuing on until the end of time, when the work of salvation in the world is complete. Since God is outside of time and space (even while working within time and space) and sees all time from the beginning to the end at once, the Divine Strategy has already secured the ultimate triumph against sin, death, the powers of evil. Keep in mind both the Alpha, the beginning, and the Omega, the end. Study the writings of the Saints and accounts of their lives to see how they proved victorious.

Regarding the nurturing of children, keep the strategic goal of their salvation in mind. Train each of them to live the Way that will enable them to reach their potential and fulfill their purpose. In your parish, under the guidance of your Priest, work in concert with your fellow believers to minister within the Church and carry out the Great Commission to effectively evangelize and catechize as many people as possible in your city, your country, and the world. Cast out the net of the Gospel widely to effectively draw people into the Church and to expand the territory and influence of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Bring yourself into the stream of the Divine Strategy, the Way of victory, and conduct yourself daily according to the overall strategy.

Read: Colossians 1.13

Text copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees / Image copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees

A mirror can be a sign of vanity and pride. Some people look in the mirror and think, like delusional Narcissus, that the most astonishing example of physical beauty is staring back at them. Others, on the other hand, tend to obsess over every physical flaw on the body, even the tiniest blemish unnoticeable to anyone else. They judge themselves harshly against the culture’s unrealistic standard of physical perfection and find themselves inadequate.

When you look into the mirror, do not just see your appearance. Look beyond it. See your whole self, a unique human being, body and soul, made according to the image and likeness of God with potential to be like Him through Grace. This is the Way to fulfil your personal purpose and potential.

Humbly and honestly recognise your inner sinfulness, the ugliness remaining in Your soul. Do not despair over the distortions within you. You are more than your sickness and internal blemishes. God loves you and your fellow believers know your value. Since you are imperfect, seek wholeness and the fullness of Beauty through the One who is Perfect and shares His Perfection with us. He invites us to participate in the radiant beauty of His Glory. Renew your commitment to repentance and healing so that you may become better than you are now through the transforming experience of Grace.

The Holy Icons of the Theotokos and the Saints show you what that human perfection and beauty of the soul that is attainable through Christ looks like. Since you are the individual in the mirror, not a person in an icon (yet), you need to move from where you realistically stand right now toward your goal. Practice the virtues and heal the passions through prayer, the ascetic therapy, and reception of the Holy Mysteries. Keep in mind that God loves you for who you are, but He calls you to become greater than you are by His Power.

Read: 1 Samuel 16.1-13; Proverbs 27.19; Matthew 5.8; James 1.22-25; 2 Peter 1.3-9; 1 John 3.1-6

 

Text copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees

When placed in a bowl of water, the natural sponge absorbs the water. You are a sponge. Be careful what you take into your soul.

As human beings, we tend to absorb the ideas, worldviews, and behaviors of the people in our environment. Through our education system, exposure to the various forms of media, and relationships, we can easily and unknowingly soak up foreign beliefs that sound reasonable, but prove false, if we are not careful. If you are not watchful and discerning, you may begin to adopt a primarily ideological or political way of thinking and believing, whether the perspective is liberal, progressive, or conservative. You may unintentionally replace your spiritual, theological mindset with whatever popular ideology the society considers acceptable or a particular group advocates. The more of this ideology you absorb and the more the like-minded people around you reinforce it, the more that ideology seems good, normal, and obviously “common sense.”

Immerse yourself in the whole Life of the Church. Fill your mind with the Holy Scripture, the wisdom of the Fathers, and the stories of the lives of the Saints. Place yourself in the company of serious Orthodox believers whose advice and example are worth receiving. In your heart, pray to Christ so that you may draw more Grace and make friends of the Saints so that their company and intercessions may benefit your soul. Remember, you are not called to be like the people of the world, but to be in the world as a member of the Life-Giving Church and, as such, an ambassador of the Kingdom of Heaven. To carry the Holy Tradition for your own salvation and the salvation of others is your purpose and destiny. If you are like others, soaking up dirty, polluted water, what can you offer them, who need purification and healing?

When one removes a sponge from fresh, clean water and squeezes it, the retained water is released. May the knowledge, wisdom, and Grace you receive within the Church flow out to purify the perspectives of others. Be a part of the Church’s work to wash impurities away from the eyes (of the heart) and to cleanse the hands (that is, the actions) of the people around us.

Keep the sign of the sponge in mind also with regard to nurturing children. If you are a parent, be an example to your children. Provide a nurturing home environment of prayer and virtue where Holy Scripture is read, the stories of the Saints are told, and the challenges of living as an Orthodox Christian in the world is openly discussed. Ensure that your children spend as much time participating in the worship of the Church as possible, receive a serious formative Orthodox education, learn to give generously, build strong, lasting relationships with fellow believers, and find their places in the ministry of the Church. If you are a Godparent or simply a member of the parish community, act as an example for young believers to follow. Do whatever you can to ensure that the parish exists as a spiritual academy where youth become competently trained adults who know how to live boldly as faithful Orthodox believers in a secular world.

Read: John 17.6-26; James 4.8; Hebrews 9.14

 

Text copyright © 2018 by Fr. Symeon D. S. Kees