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Παρασκευή 18 Φεβρουαρίου 2022
Τετάρτη 16 Φεβρουαρίου 2022
"My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed, says the Lord"!...
"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed,yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed says the Lord, who has compassion on you". (Isaiah 54:10)
Let us remain steadfast in our faith to which we received our sacraments. The church has never been poor, but we make it look like it is poor. The church has never been a human institution but we tend to me make it look like a man made institution. The good thing is, the Church is the Church, it has never been anything else. There is no workshop for that craft of making it look like anything else. The lord will always restore it to its orginal identity and purpose.
African Orthodox Bishops, from the page of the Orthodox Church in Uganta (here)
Κυριακή 13 Φεβρουαρίου 2022
The Lenten Triodion: in the Way to exercise the mind, the body & the spirit
The Lenten Triodion is the service book of the Orthodox Church that provides the texts for the divine services for the pre-Lenten weeks of preparation, Great Lent, and Holy Week. The Lenten Triodion is the title of a classic and popular English book translated with an extensive and helpful introduction by Metropolitan Kallistos and Mother Mary; it provides many (but not all) of the texts necessary to observe the great fast. In Greek and Slavonic it is simply called the triodion. It is called the triodion because the canons appointed for Matins during this period are composed of three odes each.
The weeks of preparation, and especially the Sunday gospel readings, serve to exercise the mind, whereas the fasting of Great Lent focuses on the body, and Holy Week's services exercise the spirit.
Weeks of preparation
The three weeks that commence on the fourth Sunday prior to Great Lent constitute the weeks of preparation. Each has its own distinct theme which is expressed in the Gospels readings appointed for the Divine Liturgies on these days:
- 1. Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee (Luke 18:9-14),
- 2. Sunday of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), and
- 3. Sunday of the Last Judgment (also called Meatfare Sunday; Matt 25:31-46).
- 4. Sunday of Forgiveness (also called Cheesefare Sunday; the expulsion of Adam from Eden is also a theme of this day); Matt 6:14-21.
The Church eases us into the Lenten fasting discipline during this period. The week following the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee is fast-free. The week following the Prodigal Son is a normal week -- we fast as usual on Wednesday and Friday. In the week following Meatfare Sunday, no meat is eaten; eggs, fish, and dairy are permitted on any day.
Forgiveness Sunday brings the period of preparation to an end. The next day, Clean Monday, begins Great Lent. The Vespers service served on the evening of Forgiveness Sunday includes the Rite of Mutual Forgiveness and is the first service of Great Lent.
Great LentGreat Lent begins on the Monday following Forgiveness Sunday (also called Cheesefare Sunday) with each Sunday highlighted as follows:
- 1. Sunday of Orthodoxy (John 1:43-51),
- 2. Sunday of St. Gregory Palamas,
- 3. Sunday of the Holy Cross,
- 4. Sunday of St. John Climacus, and
- 5. Sunday of St. Mary of Egypt.
Great Lent is followed by Holy Week, the week beginning with Palm Sunday and preceding Pascha.
Sources
- February 20, 2005 (Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee) sermon by Fr. Costin Popescu at St. Vasilios Greek Orthodox Church in Peabody, MA
- Online Lenten Triodion from the Community of the Holy Myrrhbearers
- The Lenten Triodion, tr. Bishop Kallistos and Mother Mary
Triodion - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America
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Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee
The Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee is the first Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent. It marks the beginning of a time of preparation for the spiritual journey of Lent, a time for Orthodox Christians to draw closer to God through worship, prayer, fasting, and acts of charity. It is also on this day that the Triodion is introduced, a liturgical book that contains the services from this Sunday, the tenth before Pascha (Easter), to Great and Holy Saturday. Read More
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Sunday of the Prodigal Son
The Sunday of the Prodigal Son is the second Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent. On the previous Sunday, the services of the Church began to include hymns from the Triodion, a liturgical book that contains the services from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the tenth before Pascha (Easter), through Great and Holy Saturday. As with the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the theme of this Sunday is repentance, and the focus on the parable of the Prodigal Son leads Orthodox Christians to contemplate the necessity of repentance in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. Read More
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Sunday of the Last Judgement (Meatfare Sunday)
The Sunday of the Last Judgment is the third Sunday of a three-week period prior to the commencement of Great Lent. During this time, the services of the Church have begun to include hymns from the Triodion, a liturgical book that contains the services from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the tenth before Pascha (Easter), through Great and Holy Saturday. On this day, focus is placed on the future judgment of all persons who will stand before the throne of God when Christ returns in His glory. Read More
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Sunday of Forgiveness (Cheesefare Sunday)
The Sunday of Forgiveness is the last Sunday prior to the commencement of Great Lent. During the pre-Lenten period, the services of the Church include hymns from the Triodion, a liturgical book that contains the services from the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, the tenth before Pascha (Easter), through Great and Holy Saturday. Read More
Παρασκευή 11 Φεβρουαρίου 2022
Ανάγκη για ένα μηχανάκι για τον π. Ηλία της φυλής των Μασάι (Ανατολική Τανζανία), για 4 μακρινές ενορίες…
Αδελφοί μου βοήθεια μας ο Άγιος Παρθένιος σήμερα και ο Θεός να ευλογεί τον πνευματικό μας πατέρα!!!
Πριν από 3 χρόνια χειροτόνησα τον πρώτο ιερέα από την φυλή των Μασάι!!! Με την βοήθεια του Θεού το έργο προχώρα γρήγορα, όμως το ποδήλατο δεν είναι πια αρκετό διότι ήδη εξυπηρετεί τέσσερις μακρινές ενορίες, παρακαλώ ας βοηθήσουμε όλοι μαζί να αγοράσουμε ένα μηχανάκι για τον π. Ηλία και την πρόοδο της Ορθοδόξου Ιεραποστολικής μαρτυρίας!!!
Το μηχανάκι θα στοιχίσει 800€, ας επικοινωνήσουν μαζί μου οι ελεήμονες δωρητές.
Ο Μητροπολίτης Ειρηνουπόλεως, Ανατολικής Τανζανίας και Σεϋχελλών Δημήτριος
«ΠΙΣΤΗ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΑΠΗ»
ΙΕΡΑΠΟΣΤΟΛΙΚΗ ΔΡΑΣΗ
ΕΘΝΙΚΗ ΤΡΑΠΕΖΑ ΕΛΛΑΔΟΣ
213/005506-92
ΙΒΑΝ: GR 48 0110 2130 0000 2130 0550 692
SWIFT – BIC: ETHNGRAA
Ο δάσκαλος που έγινε Μητροπολίτης στην Αφρική και έχει βαπτίσει 60.000 Ορθοδόξους - Ελλάδα - Νέα Κρήτη
Η αγάπη τον οδήγησε στην Ιεραποστολή - Τι είχε πει σε εκείνον ο Άγιος Παΐσιος
Έχει επιτελέσει και εξακολουθεί να επιτελεί θεάρεστο έργο, η ζωή του αποτελεί παράδειγμα προς μίμηση. Κινητήριο δύναμή του σε όλα όσα κάνει, η αγάπη… αυτός είναι ο μητροπολίτης Τανζανίας, ο οποίος σώζει χιλιάδες παιδιά από αρρώστιες και την πείνα.
Ο μητροπολίτης Ειρηνουπόλεως κ. Δημήτριος (κατά κόσμον Θεμιστοκλής Ζαχαρέγκας) γεννήθηκε στη Θεσσαλονίκη και είναι ο άγγελος φύλακας ο οποίος με τη στήριξη πιστών από Θεσσαλονίκη και Ρόδο εγκαινιάζει ναούς, νοσοκομεία, σχολεία, φτιάχνει καινούργια πηγάδια, προσφέρει καθημερινά φαγητό και φάρμακα, σώζοντας χιλιάδες παιδιά στην Μαύρη Ήπειρο.
Σε συνέντευξή του στην εφημερίδα «Ροδιακή», σύμφωνα με το kivotos.gr, μιλάει για το έργο του στην Αφρική από το 1989 που εντάχθηκε στην Ιεραποστολική Μονή του Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ στο Θάρρι και αναφέρει: «Η ιεραποστολή ήταν στα σπάργανα. Αυτά τα 15 χρόνια βαφτίσαμε 60.000, ανάμεσά τους πάνω από 8.000 Μουσουλμάνους, χτίσαμε 35 εκκλησίες, δύο ορφανοτροφεία και τώρα χτίζουμε το τρίτο, έχουμε οκτώ δημόσια σχολεία με 12.000 μαθητές, για τους φτωχότερους των φτωχών, πηγάδια για να έχουν πρόσβαση σε πόσιμο νερό 500.000 άνθρωποι και έχουμε έντεκα κλινικές για τα παιδιά με AIDS, τροπικές ασθένειες και ελονοσία».
Ο όσιος Παΐσιος ήταν αυτός που τον προέτρεψε να γίνει ιεραπόστολος: «Είχα πάει στον Άγιο Παΐσιο τον Αγιορείτη (σ.σ. αναγνωρίστηκε ως Άγιος το 2015) και μου είχε πει «παιδί μου, μην το αφήσεις αυτό, έχει ο Θεός και θα δεις στην πορεία πώς θα εξελιχθεί αυτό».
Ο κ. Δημήτριος περιγράφει την επίσκεψή του στο κελί του Αγίου: «Παρατηρούσα ένα δωμάτιο κατασκονισμένο, αλλά λαμπερό. Αυτή η σκόνη έμοιαζε σαν χρυσάφι μέσα στο φως του ήλιου μέσα στο δωμάτιο του Αγίου Παϊσίου.
Παρατήρησα το κρεβάτι του που ήταν από τούβλα, το ένα πάνω στο άλλο και κάτι σανίδια και μία κουβέρτα ριγμένη έτσι πρόχειρα. Παρατηρούσα αυτή την απλότητα που όμως μέσα στην καρδιά μου γέμιζε ένα φως! Ένιωθα κάτι πολύ ιδιαίτερο και ελκυστικό. Κάτι πολύ πνευματικό και ουράνιο. Μετά με παίρνει στην εκκλησία. Μόλις μπήκαμε στο παρεκκλήσιο κάτι είδα εγώ στον θρόνο δίπλα, αλλά από νέο παιδί ποτέ δεν σκανδαλιζόμουν. Ποτέ δεν με ένοιαζε τι κάνει ο άλλος. Πάντα έβλεπα τον εαυτό μου και δεν ασχολούμουν με τους άλλους. Και μου λέει «Ήταν εδώ ένα παλληκάρι και μου είπε γέροντα έχω ψυχολογικά προβλήματα.
Του λέω πάρε αυτά τα στραγάλια να τρως κάθε πρωί νηστικός ένα στραγάλι, αλλά πρέπει να κόψεις το τσιγάρο. Και λέει: Ε να γέροντα, από αυτή τη στιγμή δεν καπνίζω ξανά». Κι άφησε το πακέτο στον θρόνο του Χριστού. Έτσι όταν μπήκα εγώ είδα ένα πακέτο Marlboro στον θρόνο του Χριστού. Και μου λέει ο γέροντας: «Αν ήταν κανένας άλλος τώρα, θα έβγαινε έξω σε αυτούς που μαζεύτηκαν -είχε γεμίσει ήδη έξω, ακούγονταν οι φωνές- και θα τους έλεγε βρε κορόιδα τι περιμένετε, αυτός τα τσιγάρα μέσα στην εκκλησία τα ’χει!».
Λέω «Προς Θεού γέροντα, πώς θα σκεπτόμουν τέτοιο πράγμα» και μου απάντησε «Παιδί μου, πρέπει πάντοτε να έχουμε καλούς λογισμούς. Πάντοτε το καλό μηχανάκι βγάζει καλούς λογισμούς, το κακό το μηχανάκι βγάζει κακούς λογισμούς. Άντε τώρα να φύγεις και να βάλεις το λουκέτο να μην μπουν άλλοι». Όταν έφυγα ήταν γεμάτο κόσμο. Εμένα δεν μου είπε τίποτα άλλο, αλλά καθώς έφευγα γυρίζει και τους λέει: «Τον βλέπετε αυτόν το δάσκαλο; Αυτός θα γίνει ιεραπόστολος!».
Όπως λέει: «Το όνειρό μου δεν ήταν να κάνω τον κόσμο Ορθόδοξο. Από μικρό παιδί σκεφτόμουν τον εαυτό μου να ανακατεύω το γάλα και να ταΐζω τα πεινασμένα παιδιά. Δηλαδή η αγάπη ήταν αυτή που με οδήγησε στην ιεραποστολή. Δεν ήμουν από μια πολύ θρησκευόμενη οικογένεια με τη στενή έννοια. Ο πατέρας μου δεν πήγαινε ποτέ στην εκκλησία. Αν και η μητέρα μου πήγαινε κάθε Κυριακή, γενικά ήταν μία οικογένεια αριστερών πεποιθήσεων, οπότε δεν είχαμε μια πολύ θερμή σχέση με την εκκλησία».
Αρχικά έγινε μητροπολίτης Καμερούν από τον πατριάρχη Αλεξανδρείας μακαριστό Πέτρο. Μετά το Καμερούν ο νυν πατριάρχης Θεόδωρος του εμπιστεύθηκε την Τανζανία, όπου εδώ και 15 χρόνια διακονεί.
Όταν πήγε εκεί, όπως αναφέρει, δεν υπήρχε σχεδόν τίποτε.
«Η ιεραποστολή ήταν στα σπάργανα. Αυτά τα 15 χρόνια βαφτίσαμε 60.000, ανάμεσά τους πάνω από 8.000 Μουσουλμάνους, χτίσαμε 35 εκκλησίες, δύο ορφανοτροφεία και τώρα χτίζουμε το τρίτο, έχουμε οκτώ δημόσια σχολεία με 12.000 μαθητές, για τους φτωχότερους των φτωχών, πηγάδια για να έχουν πρόσβαση σε πόσιμο νερό 500.000 άνθρωποι και έχουμε έντεκα κλινικές για τα παιδιά με AIDS, τροπικές ασθένειες και ελονοσία».
Ποιος είναι ο Ειρηνουπόλεως Δημήτριος
Ο Σεβ. Μητροπολίτης Ειρηνουπόλεως, Yπέρτιμος και Εξαρχος Ανατολικής Τανζανίας και Σεϋχελλών κ. Δημήτριος (κατά κόσμον Θεμιστοκλής Ζαχαρέγκας), εγεννήθη στον Σοχό Θεσσαλονίκης το έτος 1965.
Εσπούδασε στην Εκκλησιαστική Παιδαγωγική Ακαδημία Θεσσαλονίκης και στη Θεολογική Σχολή του Αριστοτελείου Πανεπιστημίου Θεσσαλονίκης.
Το έτος 1989 ενετάχθη στην Ιεραποστολική Μονή Αρχαγγέλου Μιχαήλ-Θάρρι της Ρόδου. Διηκόνησε ιεραποστολικά από το 1992 σε Μαδαγασκάρη, Ινδία, Χόνγκ Κόνγκ και Φιλιππίνες και ανέπτυξε αξιόλογη φιλανθρωπική δραστηριότητα.
Εχειροτονήθη Διάκονος και Πρεσβύτερος υπό του Σεβ. Μητροπολίτου Χόνγκ Κόνγκ κ. Νικήτα το 1999.
Ενετάχθη στον Κλήρο του Πατριαρχείου Αλεξανδρείας και υπηρέτησε ως Προϊστάμενος του Ιερού Ναού Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου Αλεξανδρείας και Υπεύθυνος Γραφείου Τύπου και δημοσίων σχέσεων του Πατριαρχείου.
Έλαβε μέρος σε πλείστες Ειρηνικές Επισκέψεις και Ιεραποστολικές Περιοδείες του Πατριάρχου ανά τον κόσμο.
Μητροπολίτης Καμερούν εξελέγη την 16ην Σεπτεμβρίου 2002 υπό της Αγίας και Ιεράς Συνόδου παμψηφεί, χειροτονηθείς από του μακαριστού Πατριάρχου Αλεξανδρείας κυρού Πέτρου Ζ΄ την 6ην Οκτωβρίου 2002.
Μητροπολίτης Ειρηνουπόλεως εξελέγη υπό της Ιεράς Συνόδου την 27ην Οκτωβρίου 2004.
Η Ιερά Μητρόπολη Ειρηνουπόλεως περιλαμβάνει στην πνευματική της δικαιοδοσία τα κράτη της Τανζανίας και των Σεϋχελλών νήσων.
Διαβάστε, αν θέλετε, και:
Ένα ακόμη πηγάδι προσφέρει καθαρό νερό σε χιλιάδες μικρά παιδιά… Ανατολική Τανζανία
The African Orthodox Church of Kenya (AOCK) under the Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa
Neo K Neofitos
In the Orthodox Vineyard of Africa
Today, we made another significant dialogue now with HE Yieronda Archbishop Makarios. Everything is shaping up well for the better good of the church of Kenya.
Working together is one great achievement that we have attained so far and out of this we believe we shall never regret again as the African Orthodox Church of Kenya (AOCK) under the Orthodox Patriarchate of Alexandria and all Africa. The Patriarchate is the sanctuary of our hearts, we are indebted to it and we shall forever belong to.
We are laying a foundation as we expand our consultative team. Many members will be on board soon because this mission calls for a collective responsibility.
One thing that we all know is;
"Even the Darkest night will end and the sun will rise" (Victor Hugo).
May God save and bless His Church.
See also
Bishop Neofitos Kongai: Samaritan woman and the need to belong
The Kikuyu tribe proclaimed the Metropolitan of Nairobi as their “Elder”
The Sundays after Easter in the Orthodox Christian Heritage!
African Initiated Churches in Search of Orthodoxy...
African-American Orthodoxy — Eight principal areas of convergence between African spirituality and Ancient Christianity
In Search of Orthodoxy (tag)
Orthodox Mission in Tropical Africa (& the Decolonization of Africa)
How “White” is the Orthodox Church?
How “White” is the Orthodox Church?
Ancient Christian faith (Orthodox Church) in Africa
The Orthodox Church in Kenya & the Orthodox Patriarchal Ecclesiastical School of Makarios III
The Kikuyu tribe proclaimed the Metropolitan of Nairobi as their “Elder”
Hope for the Kikuyu (Kenya) / "The caves along the Tana River became the refuge for freedom fighters..."
Orthodox Christian dialogue with Banyore culture
Kuulumisia Keniasta...
Kuulumisia Keniasta.
Toivossa väkevät!
Äitiliiton naiset vahvistavat kirkkoa Keniassa. Parhaimmillaan, niin kuin Nyerin hiippakunnassa, he toimivat aktiivisesti maailman myllerryksistä huolimatta.
Pandemian alussa Filantropian alkuun sysäämän osuuskuntapankin kokoontumisissa pidettiin parin kuukauden tauko, mutta sen jälkeen on jatkettu kuten ennenkin. Helmikuussa 2019 rekisteröidyssä pankissa on vähän yli 50 jäsentä.
Pankista voi saada lainaa suhteessa omiin säästöihin. Maksimissaan lainamäärä on kolme kertaa säästöjen arvon verran. Pitkäaikaisen eli vuoden kestoisen lainan korko on 10% ja kolmen kuukauden lainassa 5%. Koronan vuoksi pankin hallitus on päättänyt antaa muutamissa tapauksissa lisäaikaa maksaa lainan takaisinmaksuun.
Jokaisen pankin jäsenen on säästettävä ainakin 200 Kenian shillinkiä kuukaudessa eli vajaat kaksi euroa. Pitkäaikaisen lainan maksimisumma on euroissa noin 460€ ja lyhytaikaisen lainan 77€.
Äitiliiton pankki tekee pieniä ihmeitä hiippakunnan naisten elämässä ja parasta siinä on se, että vastuu onnistumisista on naisilla itsellään.
Katso myös
Κυριακή 6 Φεβρουαρίου 2022
The Faith of a Canaanite Woman / Вярата на една ханаанска жена / A mulher cananeia
21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”
23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”
24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”
25 The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
26 He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
27 “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”
28 Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.
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Матей 15:21-28
21 И, като излезе оттам, Исус се оттегли в тирските и сидонските страни.
22 И, ето, една ханаанка излезе от ония места и извика, казвайки: Смили се за мене Господи, Сине Давидов; дъщеря ми зле се мъчи от бяс.
23 Но Той не й отговори ни дума. Учениците дойдоха и Му се молеха, като рекоха: Отпрати я, защото вика подире ни.
24 А Той в отговор каза: Аз не съм пратен, освен до загубените овце от Израилевия дом.
25 А тя дойде, кланяше Му се и казваше: Господи помогни ми.
26 Той в отговор рече: Не е прилично да се вземе хляба на децата и да се хвърли на кученцата.
27 А тя рече: Така, Господи; но и кученцата ядат от трохите, които падат от трапезата на господарите им.
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Mateus 15:21-28
A mulher cananeia
21 E, partindo Jesus dali, foi para as partes de Tiro e de Sidom. 22 E eis que uma mulher cananeia, que saíra daquelas cercanias, clamou, dizendo: Senhor, Filho de Davi, tem misericórdia de mim, que minha filha está miseravelmente endemoninhada. 23 Mas ele não lhe respondeu palavra. E os seus discípulos, chegando ao pé dele, rogaram-lhe, dizendo: Despede-a, que vem gritando atrás de nós. 24 E ele, respondendo, disse: Eu não fui enviado senão às ovelhas perdidas da casa de Israel. 25 Então, chegou ela e adorou-o, dizendo: Senhor, socorre-me. 26 Ele, porém, respondendo, disse: Não é bom pegar o pão dos filhos e deitá-lo aos cachorrinhos. 27 E ela disse: Sim, Senhor, mas também os cachorrinhos comem das migalhas que caem da mesa dos seus senhores. 28 Então, respondeu Jesus e disse-lhe: Ó mulher, grande é a tua fé. Seja isso feito para contigo, como tu desejas. E, desde aquela hora, a sua filha ficou sã.
28 Тогава Исус в отговор й рече: О жено, голяма е твоята вяра; нека ти бъде според желанието. И дъщеря й оздравя в същия час.
The Faith of Canaanite woman
Glory to Jesus Christ!
The Gospel always gives us a glimpse into Christ's Great Good Heart. The Lord reveals to us His Father’s gracious will to heal and save all of creation by living among us an incarnate life and demonstrating in living color what it is that the Holy Trinity desires.
The disciples reveal their impurity of heart by condemning the Syro-Phoenician Woman. They did as their upbringing taught them. The woman was not only acting improperly by approaching the Lord as she did, she was a Gentile and doubly to be avoided. Jesus at first was silent which probably pleased them, but obviously they hoped for a stern rebuke since they asked for it by name saying, “Send her away”. And when Jesus made his famous reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel the disciples must have been overjoyed! At last Jesus was standing up for his heritage! His next remark I am sure sent them into paroxysms of delight. “It is not fair to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”
In this Jesus sought to reveal two things: one tragic and one divine. He made an example of both the disciples and the Woman; the disciples for their cruelty and lack of faith and the Woman for her humility and spiritual beauty. Her reply echoes forever as an example of pure love, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” “Then Jesus answered her, ‘O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.’” You see, the only thing that matters is humility. It doesn’t matter who or what you are, or what you have done, humility opens the floodgates of divine grace.
What does this say of us? What lesson is here for us? This Gospel points to the way of life that pleases God. Not the way of the disciples dictated by fear, bigotry and hatred. These are indicators of sin, sure signs that self-interest is the motive. The way of the Syro-Phoenician Woman pleases Jesus, the way of extreme humility and love. In her there is not one ounce of self-interest. Her ego has been destroyed. The great enemies of ego are faith and love. She approaches the Lord without regard for social convention, begs him for help, accepts his rebuke with a display of unprecedented faith, calls herself a dog (a great insult in Middle Eastern culture) and this Jewish man she names “Master”.
How can we know we are on the right track? Humility and love. It is simple, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” But it must be humility and love in its most radical form extending even to our enemies, to those who abuse us and wish us harm, which is no small task. Olivier Clement explains it like this:
“The key to spiritual progress is, therefore, evangelical love for one’s enemies. This is first of all – something very simple, but very difficult – the refusal to judge, the refusal to assert oneself in despising or condemning others. Only such an attitude of mind brings detachment and peace. The rest is secondary.”
All that our Lord did and said was for love. His Great Good Heart was always open. Is it not obvious that everything we do must be for the love of God and our neighbor? Without humility of heart we cannot love. We must first realize that our neighbor is “Christ with us” and then our actions will take on a holy character. We will seek all means possible to lift up the other, to bring joy, peace and comfort to the other, to humble ourselves before the other as before the Lord Himself. Anything other than that is born of pride and self-interest, the two progenitors of all evil.
It has been said recently by some that our community is, perhaps, a little too welcoming, a little too friendly. But how can a community following the example of Christ be too friendly? We could not possibly “out -friendly” Jesus who died for all of us “while we were yet sinners” and the Father who makes the sun to shine on the good and the bad alike. I reject the idea of exclusion just as Jesus did who broke down those walls every time he spoke to a woman, or ate in the house of sinners, or saved an adulterous woman from death, or reached out his hand to heal on the Sabbath Day, or told a parable featuring a Gentile, or touched an unclean leper, or drank water from Jacob’s well from the hand of a Samaritan who was also a woman and a sex addict, who healed the favorite servant of the Centurion, who spoke out against the pride of the self-righteous religious, who challenged the Pharisees and stood up for those they condemned.
He was the One who lifted Zaccheus, cared for this Syro-Phoenician Woman, healed the woman with the issue of blood and the Blind Man on the road to Jericho, forgave Peter after he betrayed Him, restored the Apostles who forsook Him in the garden, encouraged the sorrowing Thomas who was honest enough to express his doubts, elevated Paul the murderer of Christians and asked God’s forgiveness for all those who contributed to His crucifixion and those of us who still do. The truth, the bottom line, is that if we are not people-friendly to a fault then we are not God-friendly to a fault.
We are to lift one another up, not tear one another down. The Lord warns us not to try and separate the wheat from the tares. He tells us not to extinguish a smoldering reed. We must be very careful that in our zeal we do not place barriers between ourselves and God by causing others to suffer.
The truth is that we have little time in this life to spare. The call to purity of heart demands that we concentrate our spiritual efforts daily, even, as St. Paul writes, “incessantly”. It is so easy to get trapped in personal delusion and get side-tracked into counterfeit forms of spirituality.
Elder Sophrony writes, “Do not let the things of this world disperse your energy. Concentrate all your attention on, devote all your energy to, a life which corresponds to the spirit of the Gospel commandments. Let us keep control over our mind in the face of the distractions of the exterior world. Without ascetic effort, our mind will never be able to remain constantly in God. It is from now, in this life, that we must learn to dwell in God, just as our spirit will dwell in God after our death.”
Holy Orthodoxy is the repository of the most amazing treasures.
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