humility – The Tao of Holy Orthodoxy

December 31, 2017December 31, 2017

46. Reverence in the Holy Place

StGeorge

Always enter the Orthodox temple with an inner attitude of humble reverence. Be mindful of your sins and imperfections before the Holy One and your unworthiness to stand in the presence of His heavenly Angels and pure Saints. At the same time, remember God’s unconditional love for you and the Saints’ prayers on your behalf. Be modest, courteous, and respectful. Banish thoughts of arrogance and presumption. See everyone else as better than yourself. This is true humility. Beware of becoming ignorantly cocky, egotistical overbearing, hypocritically judgmental, and emotionally offended. Do what is proper for you according to the custom of the Faithful in obedience to the Bishop and Priest.

The architecture of the temple reminds us not to be presumptuous. Sometimes the doors separating the Narthex from the Nave are closed so that no one may enter into the Nave. The Icon Screen that separates the Nave from the Holy Sanctuary reminds us that only Clergy and Laymen blessed to be in the Sanctuary should pass beyond the Screen. No one but the Clergy (or one with a special blessing) touches the Holy Altar. The temple holds a throne for the Bishop that no one but the Bishop sits in. These customs help us all to remember to maintain an inner attitude of humility, obedience, and reverence before God and one another.

As you prepare to enter into the temple with reverence and attentiveness, you may say this prayer:

I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear I will worship toward thy holy temple. Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before me, that with a clear mind I may glorify thee forever, One Divine Power worshipped in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Read: Genesis 3.1-7; Psalm 50 (51); Isaiah 1.10-20; 6.1-8; Jeremiah 1.1-27; 2 Kingdoms (2 Samuel) 6.1-8; Numbers 16-17; Matthew 23.1.39; Luke 1:46–55; 7:36-50; 8:43–48; 14.7-14; 18.9-14; Acts 4.32-5.11; 8.4-25

November 13, 2017November 13, 2017

35. Be Like a Healthy Fruit Tree

peach tree

As an Orthodox Christian, your inner faith must be expressed in outer action. How you live your life daily reveals the true condition of your heart. A good, healthy fruit tree produces good, healthful fruit in its branches. A fruit tree that does not produce good fruit is neither healthy nor fulfilling its purpose. Purify your heart through prayer and repentance in order to produce good fruit.

Love God first, above all else, and love Him entirely, with your whole being. This is the greatest commandment of the Way. The next greatest commandment is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. (Who is your neighbor? Whoever needs your love, compassion and kind help.)

Our Lord and Master said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Therefore, if we love Christ, we must follow His teachings, which keep us on the Way of salvation and in the stream of Life. As an Orthodox Christian, dedicate yourself to behaving the Way that Christ and His Apostles have taught us to behave daily.

Many people in Western society treat the inner life and outer action as though they are two completely separate parts of life. This is especially true with regard to the use of the body. In reality, how you use your body affects your soul. You cannot, for example, live the Way in your soul while using your body for immoral purposes. Learn the virtuous path and be obedient to Christ. Do not, rather, give obedience to the demons or allow the ravenous passion of lust, which is connected to the pleasure of the body, to control your thoughts and actions.

Following the commandments of Christ require humility and obedience. The necessity of these two, humility and obedience, cannot be underestimated. Without them you cannot walk the Way to healing and transformation nor reach your potential and purpose. Humility and obedience, which Christ Himself taught us though both His words and His example, are essential for your progress. Keep these virtues in your heart, in your mind, and in your daily work in the world.

Read: Luke 6.43-49; John 14.15, 23-24; James 2.14-26; Philippians 2.1-16

November 6, 2017February 9, 2021

32. The Eight Parables

The_Return_of_the_Prodigal_Son_Rembrandt

Living the Way of Christ means possessing a good, healthful disposition of heart that produces good, virtuous action. Read these five parables carefully, learn their meaning for your life, and strive to put them into practice:

1) The Parable of the Publican and Pharisee (Luke 18.9-14)

What does this parable teach you about pride and judgment as well as humility and repentance? What does it teach you about God, prayer, and mercy?

2) The Parable of the Sower (Luke 8.4-15)

Are you eagerly receptive to the Truth and humbly teachable or hard-hearted and unteachable, unable to grow to maturity? You choose the kind of soil your heart shall be. Which kind of soil describes the disposition of your heart? What does this parable teach you with regard to how the condition of your heart affects both the health of your soul inwardly and also your outward actions?

3) The Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15.11-32)

What does this story teach you about God and His love for us? (The Father did not love the son only when he returned, but the Father always loved the son.) What does the story teach you about sin and the effects of your sin? (Who created the distance between the Father and his son?) What does this teach you about the steps of repentance toward restoration? How does the reaction of the other brother also offer you a lesson?

4) Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)

What does this teach you about true love? Why must you love God first and best above all others? (If you do not love God wholly and above all, you cannot love all others fully.) Remember that this parable is also an image of the Church. What does this teach you about the benefit of the Church for you and everyone else?

5) The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7.21-27)

What does this teach you about the the necessity of obedience?

6) The Parable of the Two Sons (Matthew 21.28-32)

What does this teach you about repentance with regard to obedience and disobedience?

(7 & 8) The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearls (Matthew 13.44-46)

Where does this teach you place of the Way of Christ in your life, considering all your competing priorities and distractions?

October 31, 2017

27. Behold the Mystery

stars-in-the-night-sky

On a clear night, look up at the starlit sky. Standing here on Earth, with your eyes looking out into the darkness of space, you could try to count the stars, one by one, but there are too many. You can’t count the stars any more than you can count the grains of sand on the beach, the drops of water in the ocean, or blades of grass in a broad field. The universe is so unimaginably vast, yet here you are, so small. (This planet alone seems incredibly huge when you are standing on such a little piece of it.) You could try to reach up to the stars, but that wouldn’t get you much closer.

The starry sky serve as an icon, a visual image that points us toward Mystery. The creation points toward the uncreated Creator. Your own human vision cannot penetrate into the depths of space from where you stand. When you encounter the Church and its Way, you encounter Mystery far beyond human reach and capacity to rationally understand. You cannot wrap your human mind around the Mystery. Wonder at the Mystery in silence. Bow before the Mystery in reverence. Keep in mind that whatever you see and you understand, there is far more that is unseen and transcends understanding. If you remember this truth, it will nurture humility in your soul.

October 30, 2017

26. You are in Good Company

geese-flying-in-v-formation-at-ferry-bluff-wisconsin

The Holy Orthodox Church is a Mystery, whole, pure, and perfect. She is the Body of Christ, the Bride of Christ, and the living Temple of God on Earth, indwelled by the Holy Spirit. Individual members of the Church, however, are only personally whole, pure, and perfect to the extent that they have immersed themselves into the Mystery of the Church, the Fountain of Divine Grace, and have been healed and perfected, becoming like Christ.

The Orthodox Church is a Hospital whose patients demonstrate various degrees of sickness and health. Some have achieved tremendous improvement as model patients and others progress slowly in the Intensive Care Unit.

The disease of death in our hearts affects our rational minds and behaviors. Members of the Church are not only patients in the Hospital, but we are all psychiatric patients. (The root of the word psychiatric actually refers to the soul.) Pride makes us delusional, causing us to think we are better than other people. We do not see others as our neighbors. Even though we know that that our lives should be oriented entirely toward God at every moment, we are often irrationally distracted by the passions and temporary things in the world. We know what we should do, but we do the opposite of what is right, good, and nurturing for the soul.

Since the Orthodox Church is the Hospital, do not be surprised to find its floors full of sick people. Where else should sick people go? Although we are affected by death, too, we may be tempted to judge others as unspiritual hypocrites. If someone does suffer from hypocrisy, the Church is where he should be! Perhaps in the past, this person possessed far worse symptoms, but, through the therapeutic life of the Church, he has made tremendous progress. If he is aware of his sickness, he may be improving. If he is not yet aware, be patient with him and pray for him.

A cancer patient in a hospital should not complain that the hospital is full of cancer patients, nor judge others for being sick and week. Since we all suffer from the effects of death, we are in good company among other sick people. Be understanding, compassionate, and lenient with other people. Regarding yourself, be attentive to carefully follow the physician’s instructions. Even though the Physician and Hospital are perfect and lacking nothing, you will not heal if you refuse treatment or fail to follow the therapy prescribed for you. Keep your eyes on your own sins and symptoms and let other patients worry about their own personal failings. You have enough problems of your own to keep you occupied. Keep in mind how much patience and love God has for you so that you remember to extend the same to others.

The Mystery of the Church is where we find spiritual sanity and a clear spiritual vision of the world. It is also where we find the Way to attain sanity and clarity. Attend to your healing so that you may be in good company with the Saints, the members of the Church who have already been healed and perfected. As you work toward your salvation, they offer their help by the examples they showed us while living on Earth and by their present prayers beyond the earthly life near the throne of God.