Sunday, February 24, 2008

Sunday, February 17, 2008  

Bulletin Page 1 & 2 /  Bulletin Pate 3 & 4

One of the best known stories of the Old Testament centers around Noah and the Great Flood sent by God to destroy an evil world.  The Book of Genesis relates how this righteous man and his family were spared from the torrential rain that lasted 40 days and 40 nights by heeding God's command to build an ark and take on it a pair of all living creatures.  Truly the ark was Noah's salvation - its sturdy structure provided refuge and shelter from the storm for those who took up their abode in it.  Eventually, it was the very vessel that brought them all to safety.  The Church has long been compared to Noah's Ark by the Holy Fathers of our faith.  We, too, are called upon to navigate the rough waters of a wicked world.  Sin and temptation surround us, threatening to drown us in a flood of evil activities.  Like Noah's Ark, the Chruch protects us from all outside forces that threaten us and delivers us from the certain death that awaits those who remain outside its walls.  In his writings, St. John Chrysostom notes one important difference when symbolically comparing Noah's Ark to the Chruch.  "Under Noah's direction," he writes, "the animals were released in the same state they entered.  With the 'ark' that is the Church, however, we come aboard as sinners and have the capacity to leave as saints."  With Christ at the helm, the Church is the "vessel" that will eventually bring us to that calm harbor that is the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Taken from "The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin", Vestal Publishing 280 Cliffwood Avenue, Cliffwood, NJ  07721 - (732) 583-3232.

Sunday, February 10, 2008

WHO DO YOU TRUST?  Back in the 1950's - when game shows were the rage on TV - a program called "Who Do You Trust?" was poular.  Teams of contestants - usually a man and woman - would compete for prizes in various categories.  Before a question was asked, one of the team members would have to decide to either trust his partner or to trust himself to give the correct answer.  In life, exactly who do we trust?  Without hesitation, an Orthodox Christian should know the answer to that question:  we place our trust solely in God.  Psalm 146 tells us plainly:  "Put not your trust in princes or in sons of men, for in them there is no salvation."  Sadly, however, what we describe as "trusting in God" is often nothing more than expecting and demanding that He fulfill our every wish like some celestial genie!  Although our Lord did say, Ask and it shall be given to you," (Matthew 7:7) it's not quite as simple as putting in a call for room service at a hotel!  God knows our needs and hears all of our prayers.  As our heavenly Father, His answer to our supplications may be "no," or it may be "not now" at various times.  Do parents always give their children what they want exactly when they want it?  It is precisely at these times when we prove that we really do understand what it means to place our TOTAL trust and confidence in Him.  It is not necessary for us to understand the workings of the Lord - only to accept them. 

Taken from "The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin", Vestal Publishing 280 Cliffwood Avenue, Cliffwood, NJ  07721 - (732) 583-3232.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Joseph and Mary were devout Jews, so when the days of purification - 40 days after childbirth had passed - Jesus was brought by His parents to the temple to be blessed, according to Jewish tradition.  The Book of Leviticus prescribes that a sacrifice was also required:  a lamb or, if the family was poor, two turtledoves or two young pigeons could be offered.  In the Gospel according to St. Luke, we read the account of this event, which forms the basis of our celebration of the FEAST OF THE PRESENTATION OF OUR LORD.  St. Luke reports that, indeed, Joseph and Mary fulfilled the Law with the sacrifice of lesser expense, for they were not a wealthy couple.  When we look more carefully at the story, however, we can draw another conclusion of greater theological significance:  It was no necessary to sacrifice a lamb, for Christ was truly the LAMB OF GOD.  If we study the Icon of this Feast, we see the Theotokos extending her arms and giving her Child to Simeon.  The high priest, who had been promised by God that he would not taste death until seeing the coming of the Messiah, receives the Infant over the sacrificial altar, giving further symbolic meaning to this "meeting."  The altar can be viewed as the throne of God.  The Temple assumes it's eternal dimension, no longer merely a structure which one day will be destroyed, but rather our heavenly "Temple".  Christ would grow up to offer Himself upon the Cross, making the ultimate sacrifice of His very life for the sake of our salvation.  Centuries before, Isaiah had foretold that the Messiah would be "...like a sheep let to the slaughter.  Like a spotless lamb silent before its shearer.  He would not speak a singel word."  Yes, Jesus was the spotless victim, pure and innocent as a lamb.

Taken from "The Orthodox Weekly Bulletin", Vestal Publishing 280 Cliffwood Avenue, Cliffwood, NJ  07721 - (732) 583-3232.