The party is over and the observance begins
All nations will come before him as sheep draw near to their shepherd; he will then separate them and place each in its place within the fold – sheep and goat will pasture separately on either side of him. Yet to the sheep on his right he will say: “Come for you have blessed the Father in my Name; the kingdom is prepared for you and furnished since the world was called into being!” Mt 25: 32-34
In the Church which is Orthodox, we have almost completed the weeks of the Triodion (preparation period leading to Lent) and this Sunday is called meat fare Sunday – the last week that fruits of the flesh may be consumed before the fast of Great Lent. In the West, it was known as shrove Tuesday or as the Italian highlights well: MARTEDI GRASSO – Fat Tuesday!
Hence, in the west as opposed to the ancient Church, there was what is called LA FESTA DI CARNIVALE – The Grand Carnival which was the feast where all would dress up in various costumes and celebrate with dance, song, and food for the last time until Easter Saturday Night; heralding the Proclamation of Christ is Risen. Thus, the feast of love (the Agape’) of which all would partake with such delights of rich food after the Midnight Eucharist!
Then he will say to those on the left: “you have chosen to depart from me via wilfully taking on that which defiles of which the ancient rebellion seeks to hijack the sons of men into that place of despair that is as fire that consumes. You failed to recognise me as the stranger who you shunned, you beheld I had nothing and you did not tend to me, I was ill and you did not care for me, nor did you visit me in my prisoned state of mind and failed to console me.” Mt 25: 41-43
Again, from that which is holy, the world twists it for its own use. Just as Halloween which is the feat of all Hallows (saints and angels) has been reversed to witches, ghosts and goblins, so too has MARTEDI GRASSO become the fashion parade and promotion of rebellion.
Having stated thus, that which is natural and always part of human nature: for there is NOTHING in the canon’s (rules) of the Seven Ecumenical Councils saying otherwise (not to be confused with the PEDALION which is not canon) – when such becomes irregular like all things due to repression caused by ignorance, social and religious oppression, such leads to an explosion of rebellious behaviours and encourages unholy activity!
Having stated thus, these very strong exhortations and supernatural realities from the above quote of Holy Scripture are indeed a warning that we are our own worst enemy! God wills all to be saved for we are all his kids, yet when we harm one another that very harm is inflicted on our state of being (our soul) to which we should be mindful of. There are greater realities and we must never presume, rather we must as I was catechising an army officer: strive to safeguard and save!
Safeguard and Save. I was speaking to this officer who as we know - all in the armed forces have much on their mind especially those in the Special Forces etc. He was truly struggling with the notion of blood on his hands and was in fear of the fires of hell due to his job requirements.
Here is the problem: the Apostolic Faith has been tainted by protestant stupidity and rhetoric for they do not follow the Holy Bible which has been taken from the Septuagint which is the direct Greek text. Rather, such follow the Mozarabic which is the Yiddish not Hebrew text that was dissected from the Greek (for the texts were destroyed in AD 70 as the temple was burnt to the ground and sadly all with it. Thus, all notions of Christ were removed in this version of the Old Testament so it could continue to live in the Jewish tradition of still expecting the Messiah to come as a warrior King.
Therefore, I reminded him (the officer) that many saints were mercenaries and we need a defence force due to humanities greed and tendency to comply with the rhetoric of the fallen powers who desire and at times orchestrate destruction!!! Thus, I stated: “We all need to safeguard! Btw, do you know how many saints were mercenaries? It’s not what one does in order to safeguard, but what one does in order to save!!!” And his reply was: “When you see it from that point of view, you are right!” Then I further exhorted: “Unfortunately too many people are ignorant and don’t see it as it should be!” To which he replied: “So many people don’t think any more at all….” Thus I concluded: “I know, but it’s not even the case of Ignorance, but cheap ignorance or shall I say ‘BOUGHT’ and ‘PAID FOR’ ignorance!”
Then those who consider themselves righteous will say to me: “Lord, when did we ever see you come to us as a stranger for us to tend to you, or even without possessions that we should assist you with what we can, or even ill that we should tend to your needs, or in prison as it were that we should visit?” But I say onto you that even the most insignificant person which you may despise, that very person is a sheep of my fold and comes in my Name; whatever you do onto this person, you also render onto me! Mt 25: 37-40
Here starts the spring cleaning of our very persona – spring for that is the meaning of Lent; the time where we look into the garden of our souls and get on our hands and knees and start removing the overgrown weeds of impediment that are choking the vegetation of our potentials. It’s a rather confronting affair because as we all know our very persona is constantly affected by whatever is around us, good, bad and indifferent.
Hence, like the backyard, the grass tends to grow quickly and so do the weeds – it is a pain especially for those of us who aren’t garden orientated; we are tempted to leave it for every 4th week in the heat and 8th week in the cold.
In his first letter to the Church in Corinth, the Apostle Paul exhorts about fasting and encourages balance, awareness and discernment…. However lax fasting has become in the west, it is a big thing amongst the Orthodox, but as we know only too well; this is taken out of context and at times becomes the very stumbling block in ignorance.
“Food does not bring us closer to God by any means – if we eat well or rigorously abstain - it is of no consequence. Rather, be careful that you do not become a scandal for those who are still weak and new in the faith. If you were to eat food offered to foreign deities at religious festivals, those who are weak and new will also think such is lawful to do. Although you have received the knowledge of the faith and have understanding in such matters, but the person who sees you and is confused about the matter at hand will also be confused about how Christ died in the flesh in order to obliterate thus. Hence, the result of their action and error will be a reflection of your negligence to which you must give an account onto Christ for your sin. Therefore, if I know someone is easily scandalized by such, I will not eat such in front of them that they may not err but grow steadily in the faith.” 1Cor 8: 8-13
When we fast, it’s not only about detox and having a dim view about amendment of sins – we do this by firstly making amends to the people we have hurt and have the courage to mean and say sorry! Secondly, we combine thus with a fast according to our body requirements and spiritual discipline, and lastly we do such by coming closer to God and this is done if we have the courage to tell ourselves that we don’t know it all; thus in humility ask him to intervene and enter into the heart of our soul.
How many times have I seen people following the monastic charter of abstaining for 40 days from meat, dairy etc.; yet they stuff themselves with bread and put on the pudding so to speak/write! Moreover, how many times do I see people abstaining from all these things and become very bitter, short fused and totally repugnant onto themselves which of course is dangerous in all regards.
Further, how many times have I seen people following the fast in front of others, then not doing so in their own space but then have the audacity to reprimand others for not sticking to the script so to speak. Moreover, how many people have told me in secret: “Father Bishop, please forgive me, I can’t follow the whole fast because my body shakes if I don’t have certain things (young people too) but I’m scared to be reprimanded by others so that’s why I stay away and don’t come to Holy Communion.” It’s definitely messed up all due to people who know nothing pretending to know something and being allowed to continue to pedal such tyranny on others!
We have become a lame joke onto ourselves with such stupidity. Thus, we need to look at our personal situation and come to a realisation that we need to convert our thought patterns and behaviours daily. We need to do such in order to bloom and prosper so that at the Lord’s Pascha and each day of our life; we may produce an abundant harvest for ourselves and those around us so others may truly see that we are the people who live in the Communion of Saints as opposed to the Rocky Horror Show cast!!!
Thus the Lord exhorted: “When the Son of Man returns in the fullness of his glory, all the hosts of heaven will escort him as he sits on the throne made all glorious by his all hallowed presence; all nations will then gather before his feet!” Mt 25: 31
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