First Discovery is Enough to Celebrate

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Armodoxy for Today: First Discovery is Enough

One of the celebrations of the Holy Cross takes place this week. It commemorates the discovery of the Cross of Christ. It comes from the fourth century. The mother of the Roman Emperor Constantine, having converted to Christianity, sets out to find the Cross of Christ. She travels from the Roman Empire to Jerusalem and there finds the True Cross of Christ.

It is a story that is laced with beauty, wonder and what is often described as miracles. It points to one of the most precious objects of our faith, the Holy Cross, and of course, its discovery is a reason for joy and celebration.

But there is a very special message that is woven into the Scriptural passage of the Day. The Church Fathers have assigned to this day a passage from Matthew chapter 24 (verses 27 to 36). In it, Jesus speaks about the Second Coming of Christ, and likens it to “the lightning [which] comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be… the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” At the end of the description Jesus reveals, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”

Discovering this “second Cross” of the Jesus has turned into an obsession with so many people, with books, seminars, sects and denominations that have sprouted in particular over the last century. Some churches have even published timelines and dates for the Second Coming. Dare I say, the Second Coming of Christ has turned into big business, bringing in millions of dollars for access to this information. Tragically, these groups and sects even confuse people by using titles such as “church” and have misinformed people about Scripture. The real tragedy is that many have abandoned the opportunity to live, in hopes of deciphering God’s will.

Plainly, Jesus says, dates and times are in God’s domain. Trust God. Don’t miss the opportunity to live and celebrate the day has God has given you. Live your life today. Or as Jesus so eloquently stated, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness… do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6)

Politics, Religions & Connections

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Armodoxy for Today: It’s all connected

If you want to keep the peace in the family or among friends, you’ve been told from an early age to steer clear of discussing politics and religion. Even Peanuts character, Linus Van Pelt, with security blanket in hand, knows, “There are three things I have learned never to discuss with people – Religion, Politics, and the Great Pumpkin.”

It’s all connected

It was the 18th century satirist, Jonathan Swift who put his finger on the reason for this unfriendly mix when he wrote, “You cannot reason someone out of something he or she was not reasoned into.” Yes, most of the time we’re “born into” our persuasions, be they religious or political, we adopt them from our family and friends.

But the basic understanding in Armodoxy is that all things are connected in a universal network of life. Economics gives us the resources to buy the Bible, which defines sin, which psychology attempts to diminish. Physics explains the movement of the building blocks which chemistry and biology exploit into physical realities, that art presents in forms that express ideas that form ideologies that philosophy dissects and analyses. Politics creates systems that organize those ideologies, and religion is there to ensure the equity of distribution, claiming to have a connection to a higher understanding of fairness.

We get into trouble when we claim one system of distribution is better than another. An old Hindu proverb claims, “There are hundreds of paths up the mountain, all leading to the same place, so it doesn’t matter which path you take. The only person wasting time is the one who runs around the mountain, telling everyone that his or her path is wrong.”

Jesus avoids the discussion by turning the responsibility onto the individual. Equity is achieved by sacrifice – by giving of yourself. He teaches this, and then demonstrates with his own life. There is no argument here, for when we give, the giving is between us and God. We do not give to prove a system better than another, nor do we give to the justify the system. We give, because it is the expression of love, which is the expression of God. It is not up for discussion nor debate. If you want to practice Christianity, then love, then sacrifice yourself. Plainly, religion is not to be debated but is to be lived.

The Armenian Church saint, Hovhaness Voskeberan (= St. John Chrysostom) 4th century writes, “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.”

We end with one of his prayers, Almighty God, you have promised through your Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come life everlasting. Amen.

Cover: WordArt

Dog and Pigs: a Warning of the Sacred and Profane

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Armodoxy for Today: Severity of the Dogs and Pigs

The Armenian Church refers to Holy Scripture reverently as Asdvadzashunch, that is, “The Breath of God.” During this week dedicated to translation and the Feast of the Holy Translators, we conclude this series of messages and meditations by looking at the passage ascribed to the Feast, by the Fathers of the Church. It comes to us from the Sermon on the Mount where our Lord warns the people, “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” (Matthew 7) Indeed, severe punishment for putting the sacred before the profane!

The Holy Fathers assigned this reading on the Church Calendar to speak to the sacredness of Holy Scripture. “Be careful!”, cautions our Lord, not to give what is sacred to the dogs!” But the warning doesn’t end there and Jesus continues with, as we heard, some rather gruesome expressions.

In the 16th century, what became to be called the Protestant Reformation in the West, had as one of its selling points the interpretation of Scriptures. Scripture was not understood as the Breath of God but as a Book delivered to us by God. As such, people were free to read and interpret it as they wish. As a result, the same words of Scripture had different meanings to different people. Nationalism, intolerance, wars and killings were justified by Scripture.

In the East and especially in Armenia, Protestantism didn’t come by way of a Reformation but slipped in during the 19th century and spread during the 20th century. Tragically, the place of Scripture as the Breath of God was lost and the currents in the West have convinced people that the Bible is a book of rules and regulations.

Author Rachel Held Evans notes that the same book can justify both sides of the same matter or argument. She writes, “If you are looking for verses with which to support slavery, you will find them. If you are looking for verses with which to abolish slavery, you will find them. If you are looking for verses with which to oppress women, you will find them. If you are looking for verses with which to liberate or honor women, you will find them. If you are looking for reasons to wage war, you will find them. If you are looking for reasons to promote peace, you will find them. If you are looking for an out-dated, irrelevant ancient text, you will find it. If you are looking for truth, believe me, you will find it. This is why there are times when the most instructive question to bring to the text is not “what does it say?”, but “what am I looking for?” I suspect Jesus knew this when he said, “ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened.” If you want to do violence in this world, you will always find the weapons. If you want to heal, you will always find the balm.”

It is with this thought that we leave you today and the experience of Asdvadzashunch – the Breath of God.

Science and Religion Intersecting at Awe

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Armodoxy for Today: Intersecting at Awe

The theory of evolution is often thought of as anathema to people of faith, and vice versa. Evolution appeals to science, to facts and experience to explain process, while religion is based on belief systems that do not necessarily have to pass tests or experimentation.

Armodoxy has no problem melding science and religion together because it points to the moment of awe that is at the intersection of both. The awe that inspires man to look up at the stars, or to the depths of the oceans, to ask, what? where? and why? These questions are the same ones that move a mother and father to tears at the first sight of the miracle of life in a birthing room. They are the same questions that moved the pen of thinkers, philosophers and theologians who saw the futility of war in solving disagreement and wrote about peace. And ultimately, they are the same questions that arose when looking at the Love that Christ brought in his example and his rejection by humanity. What? Where? Why? Both science and religion attempt to answer these questions and the others that are tethered to them.

Awe is what moves men to think, ponder, reflect, discuss, build and create. Evolution is the descriptor of that movement. Everything that is living evolves. And that which is dead, decays. Living or dead, the physical changes – evolves or decays. The spirit breathes on. The list of scientists and theologians intersect where the human mind is not intimidated by the awe of life. Life is awesome, and life is awful, that is full of moments of awe.

Albert Einstein reflects “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science. He to whom the emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand wrapped in awe, is as good as dead —his eyes are closed. The insight into the mystery of life, coupled though it be with fear, has also given rise to religion. To know what is impenetrable to us really exists, manifesting itself as the highest wisdom and the most radiant beauty, which our dull faculties can comprehend only in their most primitive forms—this knowledge, this feeling is at the center of true religiousness.”

We end today with a simple prayer of acknowledgement by the mystic of the Armenian Church, a man who only recently (2015) was named a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church, St. Gregory of Narek.

Lord, my Lord, grantor of gifts, root of goodness, ruler of all equally, creator of all from nothing, glorified, awesome, awe inspiring, beyond understanding… through you, O merciful Lord, all things, in all ways, for all people, are possible. To you glory here, now and forever and in the eternity to come on the great day of revelation. Amen.

Evangelism Evolved

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Armodoxy for Today: Evangelism Evolved

In the week following the feast of the Holy Evangelists, yesterday we examined the word evangelize in the Armenian Church, which has the same root as the word for Gospel, the Good News. The Resurrection of Jesus was the first Gospel, the first good news: Christ has risen, was the message heralded after Jesus survived a horrid torture, crucifixion and physical death. So impactful was this event in the lives of the people who witnessed the events from Palm Sunday to Easter that the only thing they could talk about was the Resurrection. Christ has resurrected. He lives.

That Gospel evolved as the Church grew, in that Christ opened the door to immortality with a guarantee that eternity was within everyone’s grasp, rich and poor, with no bias or favoritism paid to the class, race or ethnic background. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand said St. John the Baptist (Matthew 3) and with Jesus the Kingdom was now accessible to all. The fact that God is the author of all life, that He is “our” Father (and not “your” father or “my” father) makes us all brothers and sisters, under the sun. There are no special people, there is only us – humanity. God’s Kingdom is not accessed as a birthright, or because of a person’s DNA, but by a conscious acceptance to Christ’s invitation to love.

Christian evangelization evolved from Christ has risen to understanding that we all – all of humanity – may rise with Him. In eternity we find transcendence. And humanity may find peace on earth and good will toward one another.

We pray today from the Divine Liturgy of the Armenian Church, in holiness let us taste of the holy, holy and precious Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who, having come down from heaven, is distributed among us. This is life, hope, hope of resurrection, expiation and remission of sins. Sing psalms to the Lord our God, sing psalms to our immortal heavenly king, who rides in chariots of cherubim. Amen

Evangelists and Evangelism

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Armodoxy for Today: Evangelists and Evangelism

I would be remiss if I didn’t address the celebration of the Holy Evangelists here on Armodoxy for Today, considering our tag line is Apostolic Evangelism for an Electronic World.

Over the weekend the Armenian Church remembered the Holy Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This celebration is on the Armenian Church calendar during the month of October following the celebration of the Holy Translators, a week earlier.

An evangelist is someone who actively spreads a message. I remember when Apple computer first entered the personal computing market, they had positions on their marketing team, known as Apple evangelists, whose job it was to persuade people to purchase their brand of computer. At the time, companies picked up on the term and assigned evangelists to combat the competition. Today, the term evangelist it primarily used in reference to the spread of Christianity.

The Armenian word for Evangelist is Avetaranich, coming from the word Avetis, which literally means, “Good News.”  And a collection of the “Good News” is called Avetaran, which is the Gospel books – Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Hence, in the Armenian language there is no separate word for Evangelist, is directly connected to the authors of the Gospels. A Christian evangelist is charged with spreading the good news. The first good news was and is, “Christ has risen!” The fact that Jesus died, compounded by the horrific manner of his execution by asphyxiation during his crucifixion, and his subsequent survival – that is, his Resurrection, was the first Good News, Avetis. The impossible happened. Certainly, it was news, and it was good news because death was now conquered, opening the door to eternal life to all.

Evangelism in the Apostolic times was built on the good news, the spreading of the Gospel.

In Apostolic tradition we will build on this thought tomorrow, by the invitation of St. Francis of Assisi is to preach the Gospel at all times and use words if necessary. For today we pray, a prayer of St. Francis, Lord, help me to live this day, quietly, easily; to lean on your great strength, trustfully, respectfully; to wait for the unfolding of your will, patiently, serenely; to meet others, peacefully, joyfully; to face tomorrow, confidently, courageously. Amen.

Small Steps to Big Changes

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Armodoxy for Today: Small Steps

Richard Dawson was a popular game show host during the 1970s. In one episode of the “Family Feud,” he came out to the cheers of the studio audience and in front of the millions who had tuned in to the weekly show. He took a long puff from a cigarette, exhaled, threw the butt on the floor, stamped it out, turned to camera and exclaimed, “That was my last cigarette!” The audience cheered even louder. And then, without missing a beat, he added, “… for the rest of the show.”

Often, we are overwhelmed with the size and magnitude of our dilemmas and problems. The war in Ukraine has been going on for a couple of years. Artsakh was taken over by the Azeris. The war in Gaza has taken the form of a genocide and though the bombing may have stopped, realists know that the conflicts are much bigger than a seeming ceasefire would indicate. Next to wars, our planet is threatened by weather changes, overbearing populations and food shortages. Add to these global issues our own private and personal challenges of health, finance and relationships and it’s easy to see why so many people are overwhelmed, and diagnosis of depression is on the up. We have heard the Chinese proverb, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” but our gaze is usually stretched out so far ahead that we fear inevitable defeat. We succumb to those fears and abandon the run.

Armodoxy is discovered in the long run. It has been cultivated through a history of overwhelming odds for survival and has pulled through. Armodoxy came from a people who thanked God for the day and found themselves in continuous prayer for millennia. It is the small victories, the day-to-day accomplishments that add and make the entire story of life. The smoking habit is overcome by putting out that first cigarette. That long race is won by taking the first step. Peace is achieved by the small expressions of compassion and understanding.

Take a moment to enjoy the victory of a single minute, hour, day, year and you’ll find that the prize is a life filled with meaning and purpose.

Today we pray a prayer from the Armenian Church’s Book of Hours, Jamakirk, Lord our God, we give thanks to You, for You have granted us to pass this day in peace. Grant us, O Lord, to pass this evening and the night before us without sin and stumbling, and to stand firm and abide steadfastly in faith, in hope and in love and in the observance of Your commandments. Give peace to the world and stability to Your holy Church and salvation to our souls. For to You is befitting glory, dominion, and honor, now and forever and ever. Amen.

Heart heard Prayers

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Daily Message – Listening with the heart

In our Daily Message about prayer, we defined prayer as a conversation involving speaking as well as listening. The art of listening is not limited to a function of the ears. For instance, in the Lord’s prayer, the request to forgive our trespasses, or sins, is dependent on our ability to forgive others who trespass against us.

The act of listening, in this case, requires that we contemplate our pattern of forgiveness. To listen, means we reflect on all those who have hurt us, “trespassed” against us, and ask ourselves sincerely, if we have forgiven them. For the condition of forgiveness from God is dependent on our forgiveness of others. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” Did we forgive them half of their debt? Then we can expect God to forgive half of our debt. In other words, by saying “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors,” we are responsible for our own reward or condemnation. By our own mouth we write out a ticket of peace or a path of torment. In fact, so great is this condition, that Jesus reiterates it at the conclusion of the “Lord’s Prayer.” In Matthew 6:14-15, Jesus adds these verses to the Lord’s Prayer, “If you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Listening is the act of introspection. God talks to us on a multitude of levels – think of them as different frequencies and bandwidths. Don’t expect to hear the thunderous voice of God, if you first haven’t heard His soft whisper in your heart. It’s a voice that says look within, forgive and move forward. Converse with God and remember to listen, especially with your heart.

I share with you the prayer of St. Nersess Shnorhali, from the 23rd hour:

All merciful Lord, have mercy on all Your faithful, on those who are mine and on those who are strangers, on those whom I know and on those whom I know not, 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.

Cover: St. Gregory, Yerevan, 2023 Luna & Gregory Beylerian

Prayer basics

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Daily Message – Prayer

We hear it all the time: I’ll pray for you. You’re in my prayers. Keep me in your prayers. Pray for better days. Pray for good health. Pray for safety from enemies.

Before teaching his disciples how to pray, Jesus took a moment to teach them how not to pray. He said, “And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”

Most of our ideas about prayer are compiled from different ideas we’ve heard throughout our lifetime, primarily along the lines that prayer is a conversation with God where we present Him with a list of our needs. In turn, we expect God to answer our prayers with a yes, no or maybe.

Clearly, Jesus tells us, that’s not what prayer is, since our “Father knows the things you need before you ask Him.”

If prayer is a conversation with God and not a monologue, nor a soliloquy, but a conversation, it is implied that talking and listening are involved. You see, God knows our needs, but perhaps we may not know our needs. Listening, as part of a conversation, allows to hear our request, to focus on them and find the solutions that are within our grasp.

For this reason, Jesus instructs us with a prayer that asks of God and demands that we listen.

From Matthew chapter 6, Jesus says, “Pray then like this, “Our Father who is in heaven, may Your Name be holy, may Your Kingdom come, may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory for ever and ever. Amen

The Peace Goal

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The Peace Goal

The journey through and to Armodoxy is a simple one. It does require, however, the openness of mind. Stories, clichés, phases, and general conversations are filled with idioms that are seldom questioned, but instead are repeated as part of unbridled conversation. For instance, when we say someone “Spilled the beans” we mean they gave away a secret and not that they were clumsy with pintos or favas. The expression, “Under the weather” has nothing to do with rain, sleet or snow, rather it’s a way of saying a person is feeling ill. There are thousands of these expressions that have made their way into daily conversations.

Some of these expressions have permeated our reasoning capabilities and we begin to think of them as truths or axioms. For instance, the expression, “You fight fire with fire,” means to fight against an opponent by using the same methods or weapons that the opponent uses, but if we were to think about it for a moment, we would quickly understand that it is fueling the kindle, which make bigger and bigger fires, which is certainly not a means of fighting a fire! When the same thoughtlessness is applied to bigger “fires” we quickly see that we have the ingredients for war.

Armodoxy comes from Armenia, a land and people that have fought fire with water. Here is a group of people that has been attacked and killed by barbarians. They have witnessed the rape and pillage of their country and people, and yet, they have survived and dare to talk about peace… lasting peace.

Armodoxy demands that we have an openness of mind, and a sense of reason to see the ends apart from the means. To understand that that the end is Peace.

Jesus says, ‘You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.” (Matthew 5:38f)

We now begin to understand that the goal of life and ultimately our relations is to bring Peace to the hurting world.