ORA PRO NOBIS.
When the Lord gracefully dismissed the multitudes that came to hear him at the end of that day, he asked his disciples to board the boat and meet him over the other side of the lake. He then ascended the mountain alone to pray as it was dusk. (Mt14: 22-23)
The danger for religious people and faithful alike is that we tend to bombard ourselves with all sorts of ritualism in order for us to have some form of authenticity. Yet, I see many of these who have their hands in too many baskets religiously speaking - crash into the wall of scrupulosity: pretending to be someone they clearly are not! Furthermore, these are untruthful onto themselves, and by default make the lives of everyone around them miserable – pointing fingers rather than facing the mirror!
Many people these days teach all sorts of calm methods in order to equip their followers with some form of stillness; the order of silence amidst daily bombardments. Such have their roots in the ancient monastic art of Hesychia which is a deep meditation that calms or rather synchronises matter and spirit. Again, most of these are similar to the Pharisees the Lord addressed regarding knowing the theory but lack the experience (Mat 15:8) due to being afraid of abandoning the totality of self to He who is Spirit!
We are probably familiar with various social places that are vibrant with all sorts of activity and one element that stands out is noise; pumping noise classified as music which covers silence. We may cope with it (silence) at night for we shut down, but as soon as we may awake within those twilight hours and the noise of otherness is heard (often the movement of the house materials due to temperature) we are on guard.
Moreover, the detox frenzy definitely swings into action after festive periods where we seek to purge ourselves from the weight we have accumulated in order to return to some form of normality. Yet when it comes to the interior frontier; the flood gates of the local tip (stressful preoccupations and issues) open up and seal/bury any such room for contemplation to take place.
When I served as a priest under a Greek parish, the make-up of people there were rather traditional, the youth were not there for obvious reasons and many of these poor souls were deeply disturbed with the demon of religious scrupulosity! If things weren’t done or sung in a certain way, then such would feel that the validity of the service was in question.
Hence, when I began changing things with all due canonical respect, the youth started coming back and I began many house visitations where catechesis was offered accordingly. Thus, a few ladies objected and did not want me to change things so that the youth could come. In truth, I did not change anything but made things available to people in a language and mentality they could click with.
In short, the old timers wanted the place to become a mausoleum again rather than a temple where people would come to worship, be nourished and actually feel recharged enough to go back into the world and give it another go. This of course did not last long and when the committee decided to not allow me access, the cross outside on top of the central dome came crashing down and broke in three pieces that Sunday I was denied access.
Within that timeframe, I received a call from a lady that was a supposed strong believer and was part of that community telling me that she loves Jesus, but she will not come to Church! Well, I’m not afraid to speak my mind and as I have said openly in various homilies: the bullshit Christians are here! If you love someone or something, then you would recourse to that fount which fuels your love and be renewed as often as possible – in short, you couldn’t get enough of it!
Unlike the protestant heresy, we cannot save ourselves, we need the community of the Church – we need to live in the vine of Christ’s body in order that we may be nurtured and live via active participation; Holy Communion!
Therefore, put the bible away because you will listen, live, and understand it only through the divine services of the Church. Personal interpretation derails from what always has been the living word: Christ who asks that we feed on him in our hearts via the faith of his Church in the Communion of Saints!
Last Wednesday the Church commemorated one of her beloved medical saints by the name of St. Pantaleimon (284-305AD) who was a young physician in Christian Turkey. He was much loved by those in authority in particular by Emperor Maximian (250-310AD). Yet, when Pantaleimon treated various Christians who Maximian gave orders to be burnt - relationships began to sour.
It was within that timeframe that Pantaleimon was giving treatment to three saintly presbyters Sts. Hermolaos, Hermippos, and Hermocrates who in turn would answer questions regarding the faith. At this stage, the young physician was of pagan origin although his mother Ebbula was a Christian yet died earlier on.
Pantaleimon was intrigued by the holy presbyters, yet it was difficult for him to convert being a man of science and a protégé of the grand Euphrosynos of Nicomedia. It so happened that one day a child lay dead on the road for he was bitten by a viper - Pantaleimon was moved with compassion yet he realized that science has limits.
Thus, remembering the conversations with the holy presbyters and the various miracles Jesus of Nazareth bestowed, he took the leap of faith and asked in the name of Jesus that this child would be speared and revived: the dead child began showing signs of life and via the prayer of faith and Pantaleimon’s skill of medicine – restored the child to health.
At this, Pantaleimon was baptised and worked hard for the Church and all people in need – his own father Eustorgias too converted after his son healed a blind man via laying his hand on his eyes in the name of Jesus. Yet, jealousy raged amongst his peers when people came to Pantaleimon and their clientele declined dramatically; Pantaleimon never charged the poor and needy!
Furthermore, his colleges denounced him to the emperor under the charge of healing enemies of the state (Christians) at which the same emperor ordered Pantaleimon to retract, yet with that he confessed Jesus even more by healing a paralytic in front of the emperor – this fuelled his rage and warranted the saints’ execution via various means; finally resorting to beheading at which his executioners begged pardon.
SANCTE PANTALEI ORA PRO NOBIS DEUM!
Those who were in the boat with them then gave worship onto the Lord saying: You are the Son of God!” (Mt 14:33)
Comments