Seven Humans to One Divine

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Armodoxy for Today: Seven humans to One Divine

This week, in examining the concept of Expulsion, we found that what separates us from God is our sin. Like the curtain that is draped across the Holy Altar in our Armenian churches, which prevents us from witnessing the celebration of the Holy and epic Divine Liturgy, our sin prevents us from witnessing the grandeur and glory of God in the fullest.

We learned that sin means missing the mark of perfection and in that sense, we are all sinful because we are imperfect. Jesus makes sure that we understand that perfection as a goal, means going beyond the human expectations. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus contrasts the human with the Divine, saying “You have heard…” for instance “do not murder” “But I tell you…” anger / hatred toward another is the same as murder. Or having lustful thoughts about another’s wife is committing adultery. And the higher standard of loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5)

Herein, we begin to understand why the Church singled out seven expressions as the “deadly sins.” Namely, pride, envy, gluttony, lust, covetousness, anger and laziness. These are the feelings, the expressions, that prevent us from attaining perfection. They are expressions that are under our own control. These are the human expressions that must be managed and overcome in aiming for the Divine.

We pray from the nineth hour of St. Nersess Shnorhali’s “I confess with Faith,”  All provident Lord, place Your holy fear as a guard before my eyes so they may not look lustfully; before my ears so that they may not delight in hearing evil words; before my mouth so that it may not speak any falsehoods; before my heart so that it may not think evil; before my hands so that they may not do injustice; before my feet, that they may not walk in the paths of injustice; but so direct them, that they may always be according to all Your commandments. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner. Amen.

Welcome to Sin during Lent

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Armodoxy for Today: Welcome to Sin

One of the most misunderstood concepts or themes in Christianity is sin. Our understanding, or misunderstanding, of sin stems from models that have been set up for us and have conditioned us since childhood. We associate sin with the bad or evil in our life because evil is punished, or at the very least, it produces unfavorable consequences. Even more, in religion, particularly in the traditional Judeo-Christian system of thought, the punishment for evil is augmented by concepts of condemnation and damnation. These models creep into our adult life and skew our perception of life. They distort our view of what life is what life can be.

The truth is, all our actions – not just evil, but everything we do – has consequences.  Actions are made up of emotional thoughts and they are acted out by physical means. Newton’s laws of motion tell us that to every action there is an opposite and equal reaction. This applies to the physical world as well as the spiritual world.

So let’s begin by saying that all evil is sin, but not all sin is evil.

Sin means missing the mark. Imagine a large target and in this target is the center circle. That large black circle is called the bullseye. Now imagine a bow and arrow in your hands. You pull back on the bow and let the arrow go. The arrow travels through space, through time and eventually it hits its destination. You have aimed for the bullseye, you have aimed for perfection, but somehow it didn’t make it. You missed the mark. You may hit quite a ways off of the mark, you might have hit close by. In fact, you may have not hit the target at all! No matter what the case –close or far from the bullseye – you missed the mark! You sinned. Close or far from the targeted area, it’s a sin. Sin is sin. You aimed for perfection but came short of it. You missed the mark.

Each of us strives for perfection. We all want to hit that mark, we want the best for ourselves, for our families, for our children; but we journey through space and time, much like the arrow and are influenced by many factors including the wind, freak occurrences, lack of focus or unnoticed obstacles, and we do not hit the mark.

As we conclude our second week of Lent, understanding sin in these terms helps us in our journey, especially as we meet the characters of the next few weeks, namely the Prodigal Son, the Dishonest Steward and the Unrighteous Judge.

Your act of charity today is to forgive those who have created a hierarchy of sin. Forgive yourself. Fast today, from judging others.

Let us pray, Father in Heaven, who makes your sun shine on the good and the bad, on the just and the unjust, let the rays of the sun touch and burn away the judgement that runs through me, to understand myself as a sinner too. Help me through this Lenten journey. Amen.

 

Eclipsing God during Lent

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Armodoxy for Today: Unexpectedly Eclipsing God

Astronomical events have caught my attention since early childhood, especially the kind that you can see from the comfort of your home. So, I stayed up and with that childhood wonder watched in awe as the Moon slipped out of the Sun’s light into the Earth’s shadow and then slipped back out. I don’t know what is more amazing to me, the fact that these huge astronomical bodies dance with grace in the sky, or the fact that their motion is so delicately aligned with the universal laws of motion that this event was predicted to the minute several hundreds of years ago.

This week, we have been inspired by the Gospel passage which was read on Expulsion Sunday. In it, Jesus says, “If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5)

Did you catch the eclipse? Jesus, in these words, is saying there is something more important than God! God is eclipsed by our need to reconcile with one another. You’ve gone to church to worship God, to offer your sacrifice to God, but there is something more important, being reconciled with your brother. He says, drop your offering at the church – turn away from God – until you first reconcile with your brother. To be at peace and in harmony with one another eclipses any pious gesture of worship or adoration of God.

The Christian message is about people. It’s about harmony and that peaceful existence comes about when we become part of the solution. It’s not about looking up to heaven but reaching out to one another here on Earth. If there is going to be harmony in our lives, if there is going to be peace in this world, it’s not because I am offering a prayer upwards, rather it is because I am offering a prayer sideways. I am reaching out to my brothers and my sisters as a vehicle of love. True peace, true harmony, true existence is about us loving with one another.

This comes to us today as a reminder that our Lenten journey is about using these 40 days to make the 325 days that follow it – that is life – more meaningful and in harmony with others.

Practice charity today by providing a light to someone who is bitter with life. Push them out of the shadow and into the light. Fast today from superficial piety and understand that Christianity is about peace on Earth through the goodwill among people.

Let us pray the prayer of St. Nersess Shnorhali (23), “All merciful Lord, have mercy upon all your faithful, on those who are mine and those who are strangers to me, on those whom I know and those whom I do not know, on the living and on the dead, and forgive all my enemies, and those who hate me, the trespasses that they have committed against me, turn them from the malice which they bear towards me, that they may be worthy of Your mercy. Amen.”

The Blame Game: Expulsion

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Armodoxy for Today: The Blame Game

In his 1970’s TV variety show, Comedian Flip Wilson developed a character named Geraldine Jones, a sassy and liberated Southern woman who, when caught doing something naughty would respond, “The devil made me do it.” In behavior that would be considered tame by today’s standards, those words would be her excuse and would trigger thunderous roars of laughter, and serval blushed faces among parents watching the weekly family show with their kids.

Even farther back in time, the Bible references God catching Adam and Eve in disobedience to his law. The “naughty” moment for them (Genesis chapter 1-3) is when they come to realize that they are naked in the Garden of Eden because their act of disobedience opened their eyes. Genesis chapter 3 reads Adam conversing with God, “I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”  The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

And the rest is history. What is called “The Fall” follows. God outlines the expulsion of man and woman from paradise in the verses that follow.

“The Devil made me do it!” It was convenient escape clause for the first man and woman as it was for the comedian entertaining on his variety show. And it can elicit the same type of laughter.

Faith is not to entertain us. It’s not make believe. Playing the blame-game, is an immature way of escaping responsibility. Think of it for a moment, if the devil makes you do something, then you are not accountable for your actions. The Devil made me do it! Blame the devil! Blame the woman! Blame the man!

During the Lenten season we are seeking to mature in Faith, or as St. Paul says, “When I was a child I thought as a child, I spoke as a child, I reasoned as a child. But when I became an adult, I put away childish ways.” (I Corinthians 13)

Expulsion Sunday is a call for us to take responsibility for our actions and our deeds. In other words, no one makes you do it. You do it because you want to do it. We journey deeper into the Expulsion tomorrow.

Expulsion Excerpts

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Armodoxy For today, expulsion Sunday

This Sunday of Lent is called expulsion Sunday. When looking at the Gospel passage prescribed to us by the Church Fathers, we understand that we are being called to a more mature understanding of our faith and our responsibility as children of that faith.

Expulsion refers to humanity’s exile from Paradise, as told in the book of Genesis. Interestingly enough, the Scriptural passages for the day from both Romans 9 and 10 and Matthew chapter five, all point to our practicing the Gospel of Love as presented to us by Jesus Christ as I read the Gospel passage, listen carefully to what Christ is asking of us. The entire passage is from Matthew chapter five, verses 17 through 48 I will read an excerpt.

Jesus says, You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, you shall not murder, and whoever murders shall be liable to judgment. But I say to you that if you are angry with your brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment.

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift before the altar and go, First be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

You have heard that it was said you shall not commit adultery, but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

You have heard that it was said from ancient times, you shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord. But I say to you, do not swear at all.

You have heard that it was said An eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth. But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer.

You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say to you, love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

As I mentioned earlier, this is merely an excerpt from the entire Gospel passage, and I hope you will take some time to read the entire passage here, you understand that there is a law, but Jesus’s message is higher than that law. It is the fulfillment of that law. In other words, you know the law, but there is a higher standard, one that Jesus gives to us, one which he summarizes at the end of the passage by saying, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

So we are responsible for how our lives are lived. You see in the book of Genesis, in the story of the expulsion, the blame game was played, first by the woman, then by the man, then by the tempter. The woman made me do. It says the man to God who questions man’s disobedience, the serpent made me do. It says the woman, what Jesus tells us is, you me, we are all guilty of doing it. This week, we’ll take a closer look at that sin, what it means to us during the Lenten journey, how we deal with it, and what it means in our lives as Christians,

A 316 Sentence Meditation

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Armodoxy for Today: Meditation on a Sentence

John 3:16, which is has a unique notoriety among different generations and people of different backgrounds, is often referred to as the Gospel in brief. The marking, which colors t-shirts and baseball caps, and can be found on business cards, and fast food containers is shorthand, to inform people that a believer is close by. “For God so loved the world,” begins the verse that ends with the glorious explanation, “that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”

To claim this passage as “The Gospel in brief,” says more about us, people, than it does about the words and expression. We are all too quick to find shortcuts around anything that might take an investment of time and resources. Why read the book if I can skim the outline? Why skim the outline, if I can watch the movie? Why watch the movie if I can read the review? And we finally come down to; can I consolidate it in a quick sentence?

Still, John 3:16 does have a certain popularity that is not avoidable. So, during Lent, when we are investing more time into our spiritual wellness, let’s see what it says.

John 3:16 is simple enough. God loves so much that He gives us His Son, Jesus Christ. The challenge comes from the second part, which involves believing in His Son. What does that mean? Is belief merely acknowledgement that Jesus existed, or even more, exists? Or is there something more demanded of us?

God so loved us, He came to us. The invitation is for us to return to Him, to Love Him so much, to give our lives to Him. Through prayer we connect with God, through actions our prayers are materialized and through commitment and sacrifice we find the way to not perish and have eternal life.

We pray, O Lord Jesus Christ, I believe in You. May those words come alive in me by the measure of my actions to love, care and assist my neighbor. Amen.

Symbols that Point

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Armodoxy for Today: Symbols that Point

Lent Day 4

The first Wednesday of Lent in the Eastern Tradition is known as Sad or Sorrowful Wednesday. In the Western Tradition it is known as Ash Wednesday. There is no special designation to the first Wednesday of Lent in the Armenian Church tradition.

Each community of believers have unique sets of traditions and activities that help them focus on the essentials of their Faith. When entering an Armenian church, it is hard not to notice the candles that are lit by the faithful in different niches provided throughout the building. The candle, in itself, is a pointer to something greater. We call these symbols. They point to something that is unexplainable.

God said, “Let there be Light” on the first day of Creation according to the Genesis story. How do you understand light when according to the same story, the Sun and stars were not created until a few days later? Jesus says, “I am the Light of the World. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)  In lighting a candle at church, we are invited to meditate and contemplate these ideas. The candle reminds us that as long as there is light at its tip, there is no darkness. So too, Christ brings Light – the eternal Light – to the darkest places in life.

Ashes are there as a pointer to one of the basic theme of Lent, namely, that this life is much more than the physical. As God tells Adam, “for dust you are and to dust you shall return,” the ashes remind us that our origin as humanity is from the earth and the inevitability of death.

Symbols are used by various traditions to help us focus on thoughts and concepts that are bigger than us.

Our prayer today is a simple one from Psalms, Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. (141:2)

Necessary Steps: Lent

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Armodoxy for Today: Necessary Steps

I saw a performance by Paul McCartney this morning. It was in a sold-out stadium somewhere in the world, which is usual fare for him. The cameras were being switched between McCartney, his band, the audience and wide angles covering the large arena.

He was wearing a t-shirt with writing on it. The words “No more…” at the top of the shirt caught my eye. For a moment there I thought, how appropriate at the beginning of the Lenten season to be advocating for vegetarian diets. He’s known for being a passionate advocate for plant-based diets, promoting animal rights and environmental sustainability. Lent? Meatless diets? No, there was a greater message underneath the words.

NO MORE LANDMINES, yelled out the words on his shirt.

Landmines: they maim and injure people with lifelong scars, both physical and psychological. I remember a few years back, spending a few days at the Halo Trust in Artsakh and learning how they meticulously and methodically, one-by-one cleared the fields of these vicious weapons of war.

I wondered why McCartney hadn’t opted for the bigger issue of “No More War”? Why stop at landmines? And then I caught myself. It’s just a t-shirt with a message.  It’s the message he wanted to spread. It was a message I aligned with, but he was the one wearing the shirt, not me.

As we begin the Lenten season, we are called to use this period of the Lent, the 40 days to prepare ourselves for the bigger picture, namely life. Much in the same way that getting rid of a landmine is a process toward a bigger goal, the forty days of Lent are not an end in themselves. They prepare us for the 325 days that follow, that is, our lives. Lent is our m means to methodically evaluate our lives and selves to better function in this world in harmony and peace.

Pray today for strength and patience, as we take the small steps of fasting and introspection to deliver us to a more productive and blessed life. To borrow from the Taoist tradition, we keep in mind that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

God is with us

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Armodoxy for Today: For God is with us

Today’s message comes to us from Archbishop Hovnan Derderian.

Lent is a journey of transformation. It is a return to God, a healing of the soul, and a preparation to encounter the risen Christ. It invites the faithful to move from repentance to renewal, from struggle to resurrection, and from death to life. Lent begins with honest self‑examination, something each of us can practice in the quiet moments of our daily lives—at home, at work, and within our families. Through prayer, God grants us the courage and wisdom to cleanse our soul and mind, making our heart a worthy dwelling place for Him.

“For God is with us.”

Each morning, I repeat these words as the prayer of my heart. They remind me that God walks with us through every ordinary and extraordinary moment of life. I thank Him for guiding my thoughts and steps, helping me strive toward a pure and meaningful life.

In God alone we find true peace and purpose. When we live with the awareness of His presence, we are embraced by His loving care, and our hearts are filled with a joy that words cannot fully express.

“For God is with us.”

Choose one moment tomorrow—morning, midday, or evening—to quietly repeat “For God is with us” and let it center your thoughts, guiding you to live with peace and purpose throughout the day.

From Archbishop Hovnan Derderian’s 2026 Lenten Meditations. Archbishop Hovnan serves as the Primate of the Western Diocese of the Armenian Church of North America.

Lent is Here!

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Armodoxy for Today: Lent is Here

GREAT LENT – A Primer

Watch for Daily Messages – Armodoxy for Today – to guide you through this important period of time, or check out the many Lenten program from the vast Epostle library, including 40 days to healing, 40 days to the Divine Liturgy, and 40 days of the Lenten Journey

2026 Lenten Messages begin on Monday, February 16 at Epostle.net

Check out – 40 Recipes – Meatless Vegan Meals by Deacon Varoujan

What is Lent?

The period just before Holy Week is called Lent. It is a time for reflection and self-evaluation. The Church guides the individual believer through this period by offering means of self-discipline and instruction.

When?

Lent begins on the Monday following Poon Paregentan (Day of Great Living) and continues through the Friday before Palm Sunday. This year Great Lent 2026 begins on February 16 and ends on March 27, 2026 just before Holy Week.

The Purpose

During the 40-day period of Lent the believer is called to taper life down to the bare essentials. You should ask yourself what is really necessary to live? You’ll find that much of life is made up of excesses, which clutter our lives and our values. When tempted in the wilderness, our Lord Jesus reminds us that “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Dietary Restrictions

Part of the Lenten journey involves “giving up” certain foods. In the Armenian Church you are called to abstain from all foods that come from animals. This includes all animal products, including flesh meats, milk & dairy items, eggs, fowl, poultry, fish, etc. – anything that comes from an animal! Find Lenten Recipes! 40 of them

Diet is only one small part of the Lent. Jesus instructs us, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.” (Matthew 15:11)   In this spirit, the individual believer is asked to inspect the content of his or her character and act in charity.

The Most Essential

Certainly, LOVE must be at the focus of your Lenten journey because it is the one ingredient of life that gives meaning and purpose to our existence. Love is the necessity of life that needs to be cultivated and nurtured during Lent so that it becomes the main purpose of existence after the Lenten period. While abstinence and restrictions are one part of Lent, the greater task for the believer is to be in love and harmony with his or her family, friends and nature.

Church Services

Even the physical church in the Armenian Church changes in outward appearance during Lent. The curtain is drawn across the altar to remind us that sin prevents us from truly enjoying God. The prayer “Havadov Khosdovanim” (= I Confess with Faith) is offered in particular. St. Nersess Shnorhali, the 12th century Catholicos, wrote this set of 24 prayers and they are considered among the most powerful prayers in the Armenian Church. By following the services, practices and prayer life of the Armenian Church, the believer comes to find the most essential of life’s joys. Peace through God is understood and Lent becomes a prelude to true Christian experience.

Lenten Sundays

Each Sunday of Lent has a unique name along with a unique message:

  • February 15 – Poon Paregentan – A day of good living, to remind us how God wanted us to enjoy life and His blessings. (Read Matt. 5-7)
  • February 22 –Expulsion Sunday reminds us of how sin enters into our lives and prevents us from experiencing the best of life and God’s fullness. (Genesis 1-3)
  • March 1 – Prodigal Sunday – The story of the Prodigal Son instructs us that no matter how much we stray from the good of life, there is always hope to be one with God. His love is unending and unconditional. (Luke 15:11…)
  • March 8 – Steward Sunday – God has given us a life full of responsibilities. How do we manage our lives, our families and ourselves? (Luke 16)
  • March 15 – Judge Sunday – Perseverance and the need to be in constant communion with God is revealed through an unjust and unrighteous judge who is the center of this day’s message. (Luke 18)
  • March 22 – Advent – Christ returns to Earth to judge the living and the dead. How can we be prepared? Listen to the message of his first coming! (Matthew 25)
  • March 29 – Palm Sunday – We enter Holy Week. The triumphant entry into Jerusalem by our Lord also signals the beginning of the holiest days of Christianity. (Matthew 26 & on)