HOPE FOR THOSE WHO SORROW
“As he approached the gates of the city of Nain, a funeral procession for a young man and only child of a widower passed by the Lord, his disciples, and a crowed who were gathering to hear him speak. He then perceived the young man’s mothers heart was filled with sorrow and agony to which his heart reached out onto her in compassion at which he comforted her stating: “Don’t be afraid for this is not the hour of weeping!” (Lk 7:11-12;13)
When we are touched by the departure of a loved one, we would most desire them back to enjoy the communion we once had! We live by hope of that which we have grown up to believe of which life cannot die but continues on within another greater reality. Yet, when we are stricken with the pain of grief – the hope we may desire to profess becomes tarnished with the worldly reality which questions the existence of other especially when confronted with the perilous realities of nature and quite often disastrous state of the human mind.
Hence, we may question the core of our existence and perhaps enter a rebellious phase due to hurts; beginning the resentment of certain fundamental realities. “How can a loving God allow this?” “Where are you when I need you?” “Do you really care about me and what I’m going through?” “Are you really there or is this another product of mythology?” The other more prevailing thought pattern of the secularist persuasion is the absence of unknown and unseen: “That’s life!” “Life is short!” “Let’s make the most of it because we only have one shot at it!” “It’s all here – HEAVEN when you have everything you want, HELL when you have nothing, LIMBO/OBLIVION – when no one even looks at you to give you a hand!”
It is interesting to note when a certain situation in the workforce arises and becomes intolerable that a strike is planned. Unfortunately these day’s one must give notice of such which really defeats the purpose in having a positive outcome so that there may be equilibrium with all parties concerned. There are marches and allot of noise at such rallies to which people still think that by jumping up and down via screaming out demands and at times cast insults at each other which may orchestrate violence as a means intimidation; that a favourable outcome will surface. “It doesn’t work!” “It is the product of yet another delusion present from day one!”
The classic line of rebuttal enforced at such events is of course: “When do we want it?” “We want it now!” This is the same occurrence when we think we can sway God’s mind via little services or prayers that we invent in order to have the same effect as magic in fairy tales. It doesn’t work like that! Firstly, when we gather for prayer and the greatest prayer which is the ONLY acceptable form of dialogue THE ANAPHORA OF THE APOSTLES – Divine Liturgy, we do not DEMAND; we ASK! The problem why people feel let down especially when turning to God is that we demand to have it our way rather than ask for him to intervene as he knows best! We claim to be logical thinkers, but logic tends to walk out the door when we turn to God as we become kids once again demanding he fit our criteria!
I was speaking to a possible candidate for the ordained ministry about matters of faith, and just as I thought – he knows his stuff (Theology) yet he has not comprehended like many others THE INCARNATION! When God became Son of Man (one of us) he assumed everything we are; everything possible! Yet he didn’t go there (quick fix emotion sorting) as we often do! Unfortunately, many so called Christians think that Jesus was immune to everything we are and do! If this were true then the Incarnation itself is a total scam!
If anything God’s love for us is unconditional, this love does not condition as we tend to do “you are acceptable” “you don’t fit” It’s because God wants us to be in profound communion (share in his life) with us that he nailed all our fragility to the wood of the cross so he could prove his paternal love as any good parent would do for their kid! We are familiar with the saying “over my dead body” that’s what God did for us on that great, good, and holy Friday! He made sure that his blood sealed us via moving us away from that which continually tries to hijack his creation who rebelled in the beginning!
On the subject of the departed – those who have gone from their earthly dwelling place into the place the Lord has promised, I am writing an encyclical (letter of what the church teaches) entitled Angels and Saints which will soon be available. My inspiration was the many eulogies I hear at funerals which indicate that people are unfortunately mixed up spiritually and it doesn’t help when the clergy fail to gently correct them – perhaps they too are mixed up in institutional preoccupations which render spiritual bankruptcy! May I share the following extract that may give perspective on the subject we are discussing!
Within my ministry which these days is multi serviced, I assist many funerals and pray for and with the families who have had to let go of a loved one via lifting them up to God in prayer. It is true that when we are in times of grief we may go back to the God of our childhood which is a good thing as a source of encouragement to reshape our faith on solid foundation especially when we get caught up in worldly affairs and things go dry spiritually speaking. Yet, we need to clarify a most important point which has been repeated in eulogies: “You are now our angel looking down on us!” However affectionate and sensationally warm the statement may be via ushering a comforting hope; such is a major error and total misconception!
Firstly, Angels are various incorporeal species whilst the human soul is totally different and not belonging to angelic status! In the eighth psalm of David the king, we are enlightened upon the subject at hand thus stating: “What is man and mere humanity that you are constantly mindful of in which you come to visit as Son of Man, for you have made us much lower than the angels, yet you come to bestow on us the crown of glory via honour?” (Ps 8: 4-5) Lastly, angels are uniquely appointed us via divine decree to oversee our path as stated in the litany of intercessions within the Divine Services as we pray: Deacon: That we may heed to the angel of peace assigned us at birth, who is our faithful guide and guardian; ever appealing to God’s grace for us, let us ask of the Lord. All: Grant this, O Lord.
Therefore, it is a question of faith, a faith that has been proved by the many blessings and utter disappointments in life; a faith that has suffered where others have used and abused their power on you and have made you into something totally foreign to your nature. A faith that has proved solid against the tempests of human cruelty and has been purified by many tears which constantly called out to him: Lord have mercy – reach out onto me because I can’t go on without you! If we have not gone through this and wholeheartedly accepted that through such means we grow in the understanding of the faith and the gifts God bestows us with such – then we have failed to understand God’s Incarnation!
The Apostle Paul writes to the Church present in Galatia (Turkey) reminding them about what faith is about. He too came to the realisation that unless one places aside a comfort Christianity setting whilst entering into real life in being made aware of the struggles with the unseen realities, then one has not understood why God took flesh from his creation who became his earthly and holy mother!
Thus, the mortal can go through rituals, assume positions, and even be filled with the knowledge of the world, but if they don’t mould themselves into the image of Christ via allowing him to live in you with the certainty of faith in him, then basically pack up and go home because this is not for you. Salvation is for all, but when one becomes pig headed and gets in the way of the salvation of others due to one’s thoughts and opinions – back off and stand aside!
“I have come to share in the crucifixion of Christ and through laying aside all thought patterns via embracing his life and its meaning in me, I can confidently say that it’s no longer I that live, but Christ who lives in me. Although I live life in the flesh, yet my spirit lives by faith in God the Son who wholeheartedly loves me and gave of himself over also for me!”(Gal 2:20)
Today the Church commemorates the Fathers of the seventh ecumenical council who gathered at Nicaea (North-Western Turkey) in 787 to profess its position on matters of faith. Apart from the controversies upon the person of Christ (those who did not accept the divine and human nature of Jesus) and the problem of Iconoclasm (those who burnt icons thinking that they are idols) a very important issue was discussed – the true meaning of Christian redemption (how we are adopted by God) and salvation (how we will be united to God)!
In the beginning of my diaconate, which was in 2010, I was assigned to a Russian Parish which was a good place, but tensions between people in power, (clergy and lay) people who were not ethnically tied to that group tended to harbour resentment to each other due to not being on the same page so to speak/write. It was the feast day of St. John the Forerunner/Baptist who is held high by orthodox Christians, and yet they quickly forgot the reason we exist! Therefore my homily expressed the following:
Thus, like John the forerunner who is the greatest of men, we are called to go out into the world, into our everyday activities doing good by sowing the seeds of faith. Hence, even if it is just offering a smile, being pleasant; saying hello to the cashiers when we check out at the supermarket. It is there that these will be overwhelmed feeling thus: “Wow, they bothered saying hi, treating me as a person, and not a robot; I’m worth something!” Hence, with such actions as these, we are extending an invitation by God to these in whom He loves and wills to touch their lives - offering them a place at the banquet. Therefore, we have a duty to those who are marginalized, those who are insignificant, above all to those who have been shunned or turned off by the very way we carry on sometimes; remembering that: Salvation is offered to all if they but want. It is not for us to say: Yes to him, and No to her! Hence, if we have put on Christ in love, then we do so unconditionally or else we the branches can’t bear fruit and live in the vine who is Christ Emmanuel!
When I am asked to visit someone in hospital, I normally end up seeing an extra three to four people and it tends to happen as I am just about to present my parking ticket for payment. We stand out because we dress as clerics when on duty – although in emergency circumstances that is not a necessity. Hence, I was touched by a lady who came to ask me if I would pray over her mum who was dying to which she was totally overwhelmed with emotions as is rightfully warranted.
After I prayed that which is prescribed and also according to the circumstance – long winded rubrics has no sense to those who do not understand….., this person did not want words and long orations, she just wanted to be held, comforted by my presence and the presence who has graced me via Holy Orders…..she just wanted me to be there and let her know that all will be ok and God would have a place for her mum and not abandon her in sorrows.
We often forget how important it is to be sensitive to people’s needs which of course is done with a sensible measure of discernment. Therefore, words are at a loss at such occasions and what you want to convey is expressed in actions to which the gift of faith that is bestowed in you may shine out as a lamp for those who experience the perilous realities, disastrous states of the human mind and other such realities we referred too in the opening paragraphs of this discussion.
Then the Lord came to the lifeless body of the young man and extended his hand onto him saying: “Son, arise from your rest!” At this life returned onto the body and instantly he sat up to which he wholeheartedly thanked the Lord and blessed his name. Then Jesus led the young man to his mother and restored that which had been severed!” (Lk 7: 14-15).
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