Worship, pleasing to what?

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Armodoxy for Today: Worship

Worship is often looked at as an extra bit of religiosity in the Christian experience. Implied in worship and the language of worship is often feelings of purpose, that is to please God. Much of the Old Testament contributes to this feeling that has traces of the pagan rituals to please the gods, and avoid their wrath.

Worship is your acceptance of Christ’s invitation, to participate in life. Worship in the Armenian Church, contrary to everything you may have heard or felt, is a celebration. It takes place in the presence of God and all the saints, and unites us with all others who participate in the worship throughout the world, as one Christian family. Here we lose the self and understand ourselves as part of the bigger collective, with responsibilities toward our families, communities and the world.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Cover: Etchmiadzin Congregation, Gregory Beylerian, 2014

Ratification: Amen

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Armodoxy for Today: Amen

Prayers end with a one-word sentence: Amen (alternatively pronounced: Āmen). It means “So be it.” The word Amen is written with a period after it. It is a complete expression defying the norms of sentence structure with a noun and verb. So be it.

It is a ratification on our part. Throughout Scripture, we find Jesus is asking us to participate in the Kingdom. Amen is the single word answer to that participation request. It is a complete and solid admission that we are in sync with a prayer or a statement. So be it. Amen.

Christ’s invitation to us says, to not be passive in the face of the miracle of life, but to participate. Amen, is often stated at the end of a prayer, for our purposes, it is the first step in participating in God’s Kingdom. So be it.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Ian is the Family

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Armodoxy for Today: The IAN family marker

Armenian names traditionally end with an I-A-N (alternatively with a Y-A-N) to denote belonging. It means, “From the family of…” The last name “Petrosian” says from the family of Petros, equivalent to Peterson in English.

Jesus’ family members have the same I-A-N naming tradition. They are called Christian, that is, of the family of Christ. His family is made up of those who accept his invitation to join.

In Matthew, chapter 12 we read Jesus’ words as He “stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.’” (vs. 48-50)

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Two Strikes to Out

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Armodoxy for Today: Striking Out

In the game of baseball, a player may strike out either by swinging the bat and not hitting a pitched ball, or by not swinging on a good pitch. There is a punishment – a strike – on an action and on a non-action, provided there was an opportunity to hit. Yes, a strike is counted on an action that misses its goal as well as on an opportunity missed.

Christ invites us to action. To “ask, seek and knock (Matthew 7:7), Jesus tells us, as well as to “Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, comfort the suffering” (Matthew 25). The opportunities to swing are many in our life, with despair and disease being pitched at us daily.

A Christian is called to action – to swing – by using his or her talents – those blessing that are uniquely his or hers.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Butterfly’s flight

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Armodoxy for Today: Butterflies and Mustard Seeds

While Christianity is a religion of action, sometimes it may seem impossible to make an impact, large or small, with our words, deeds and prayers. Disease, cancer and wars are overwhelmingly scary and a single person’s prayer or contribution seems insignificant in bringing relief to the chaos that they create.

Meteorologist Edward Lorenz coined the term, “Butterfly effect” which illustrates how a seemingly insignificant event – like a butterfly flapping its wings – could theoretically influence large scale phenomena, such as the formation of a tornado weeks later. The butterfly effect serves as a powerful reminder that a gentle, almost imperceptible gesture can alter the course of much larger events.

Never get discouraged by the size of the problem. Appreciate the hidden significance of words, choices and deeds. Nothing is ever truly inconsequential. Keep in mind Jesus’ challenge, “If you have faith as a mustard seed – [the smallest of all seeds] – you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Burnt Branches

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Armodoxy for Today: Branch Burning

“If anyone does not abide in Me,” says Jesus, “he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.”

Jesus cautions us about a life lived without purpose. In being connected to the vine, we understand that we have purpose and meaning by bearing fruit. The dead branches cannot bear fruit. Whatever dies withers and decays. With this metaphor, Jesus adds that room is made for the productive branches by gathering and burning the barren branches.

Now a word of caution before you start looking around for withering branches. Ours is to produce. Ours is to be connected to the Vine, to Love, so that we may produce good fruit. God is the sole Caretaker – the Vinedresser – who decides which branches remain and which are pruned.

With the lessons of the week, read the John 15 passage one more time and share the joy of your connection.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Iron off the vine

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Armodoxy for Today: Not to mention raisins and iron

Raisins are dried grapes. Yes, those tasty, robust and aromatically pleasing grapes that are a product of the branch connected to the Vine, will dry up and shrivel, if not consumed. The grapes that are produced have an end goal and purpose, to offer taste, nutrition and beauty to others and the world. But at the end of their life cycle, once they come off the Vine they are dead. No matter how good they look, taste or smell, they are most certainly dead.

Jesus sets up this metaphor to remind us that beauty is only skin deep. If we are not connected to the Divine, we may be basking in wealth, beauty and luxury – that is, look, take and smell great – but we are spiritually dead. Sure, raisins also have nutritional value; they are a source of iron. Think about it: Iron is cold metal. Yes, Jesus’ metaphor works as it illustrates separation from the True Vine.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Twisting to Produce

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Armodoxy for Today: Grapes, the Symbol of Productivity

In John chapter 15, Jesus sets up a metaphor, with himself being the vine, his Father the vinedresser and us, the branches. No matter how you twist or turn these three, the message is clear: Life is about productivity. Life is meant to be lived. We are the branches of the metaphor and the only way to be productive – to bear fruit, grapes – is to be connected to the vine.

The Vine, Jesus Christ, is incarnate Love. A productive life is one that is nurtured and the fueled by Love. Only when you are connected to the Vine, to Love, does life have purpose and meaning. A life of love is not selfish. The branch is not preoccupied with self-love and self-preservation. The ego is placed to one side and fruit – robust, juicy, flavorful, aromatically alluring grapes poke through the hard and rough branches to bring joy to those who partake.

Only by being connected to the vine does this happen. A branch cut from the Vine, cut from Love, only stands alone and withers.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Kiss with Simplicity

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Armodoxy for Today: Just Kiss, it’s simple

KISS is an acronym that has been used in many different disciplines but came to prominence in its use by the US Navy in 1960. K.I.S.S. stands for Keep It Simple, Stupid. There are softer variations of it, such as, Keep It Short and Simple and Keep It Super Simple, with the main point being to articulate ideas simply. Advertising agencies spend millions to spell out purchase reasons in simple words and terms.

Jesus artfully presented the most complex thoughts and rules that guide our existence in very simple terms. He set up metaphors, one of which we tie in with the Feast of the Assumption of the Asdvadzadzin.

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. … I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit…” (John 15)

This week, we began picking those grapes from John 15.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

About the Grapes

/0 Comments/in , , ,

Armodoxy for Today: The Grapes

The first fruits of the season, grapes, are blessed on the Feast of the Assumption of the Asdvadzadzin. Last week, we built up to the Feast with reflections on the Blessed Mother, Mary. This week, we meditate on the meaning of the grapes based the Jesus’ words, recorded in John, chapter 15:

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.  Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit….  

I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.  If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.