Transfiguration for Peace

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Armodoxy for Today: One Minute for Summertime

Words that triggered the Transfiguration, Day 5

The dialogue between the Christ and his disciples was a necessary preface for the Transfiguration. What took place that day on that mountain top was a Theophany, God was revealed. Armodoxy attests that God is beyond our words and our understanding, just as the events of Transfiguration, namely, Christ radiating the Light of Eternity. In the exchange of words between Christ and his disciples we are given a background to the power of love and sacrifice, because the Transfiguration was not merely a demonstration of the supernatural, rather a demonstration of what is possible through the power of love and sacrifice.

The significance of the Transfiguration as a major Feast Days of the Church is that God reveals what is possible when the theoretical (that is conceptual love) comes alive through sacrifice. In this hurting world, where life is defined by material wealth, and harmony with others is the least of concern for villagers, city dwellers and countries, the Transfiguration is a bit of hope as to the potential for peace and harmony of life.

Today’s one-minute for Summertime.

 

Want a little deep dive? Try the Next Step with Fr. Vazken Episode #582

Cover: Chapel of Transfiguration in Grand Teton National Park 

Invite to the Transfiguration

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Armodoxy for Today: One Minute for Summertime

Words that triggered the Transfiguration, Day 4

The conversation that takes place before the Transfiguration, includes an invitation by Jesus.  “If anyone desires to come after Me,” he says, “Let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.”

It is not necessarily an attractive invitation. In fact, it has a rather painful call in it: the cross. Here Jesus is calling us to a higher standard by which to live, a life of sacrifice, which can only be achieved once the ego is in check. With self-denial, we open ourselves to the joy of living. It might not have been an appealing offer for the disciples, but those who took him up on the offer saw in the Transfigured Jesus, salvation from the cares of this world.

In the context of the lessons of this past week, Jesus remarks, bring it all into focus: “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16)

Today’s one-minute for Summertime.

Transfigured Light

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Armodoxy for Today: One Minute for Summertime

Words that triggered the Transfiguration part 3

The proclamation made by Peter, that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God” grants him a blessing by the Lord himself. “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah,” says Jesus, “for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I say to you that you are Peter, an on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Herein the eternal realm is aligned with the temporal. The Proclamation of the Christ as the Son of the Living God is the foundation upon which Church is built. It is the Church (in the story of the Transfiguration = Peter, John and James) who’s eyes are opened to the Revelation of the Christ Light. This Light is the original Light, not predicated on any other source but the Divine. In the beginning, before there was a sun or stars, there is Light, whether your definition of first moments are a Big Bang or the Words of the Creator, “Let there be Light.” Before there is anything to measure or quantify light, there is Light! At the Transfiguration, humanity – the Church – experienced a glimpse of the Eternal Light.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

The Transfiguration Transcripts Part 1

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Armodoxy for Today: The Words that triggered the Transfiguration

This week the Armenian Church celebrated the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ. This event, which is recorded in the synoptic Gospels, is akin to the Theophany, in that God is revealed to humanity during the Transfiguration. On a mountain top, Scripture tells us, Jesus stands radiating the Light. “His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light.” In the witness of three of his disciples, Peter, James and John, two characters from history appear, Elijah representing the Prophets and Moses as a symbol of the Law. Jesus stands between the Law and the Prophets, the Voice of God the Father expresses that Jesus is His Beloved Son. Jesus is the completion of the Law and the Prophets.

The Light that Jesus radiates is the Divine Essence. The Transfiguration as a singular event in human history is prefaced by a series of statements made by Jesus. This week, on Armodoxy for Today we will explore, what I call, the Transfiguration Transcripts – the words leading to God’s Revelation in our midst, each day, with “one-minute-for-Summertime.”

Nektarios: From Within

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Armodoxy for Today: Nektarios, the saint that directs us to the inside

St. Nektarios, venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition, directs us to “Seek God in your heart, not outside of it.”

The world is a big place. From mountain tops to ocean floors, the vastness can be overwhelming. In our attempts to engage with life and our passions, we may fall victim to that vastness, that is, because life is so big, it’s difficult to focus and life can go by without you fully exploring all that it has to offer.

God is the author of all. Seeking God within, that is, in the heart, is the starting point of all exploration. You are assured of being equipped with the necessary tools to appreciate the deepest and highest points of life. Jesus words are, “The Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Charents Passing Along Hope

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Armodoxy for Today: Charming children

Yeghishé Charents was the main Armenian poet of the 20th century. He lived and wrote his creations following World War I, the Genocide and into the years of communism in Armenia, and was imprisoned for political reasons. In that gloominess, his poetry reflected the beauty around him, in a small patch of land called Armenia.

Charents wrote, “All my life, my impossible aim was to finish a song to charm children.” He wrote these lines on a handkerchief to his friend and fellow poet, Avetik Isahakyan, after hearing a prisoner sing one of Isahakyan’s songs in a neighboring cell.

“Charming children” in the midst of ugliness is more than swelling with optimism or staying positive, it’s recognizing the importance of new life and passing along hope.

Hum the song of the new day to the words that speak to your heart.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

A Box of Matches for the Church

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Armodoxy for Today: A Match to Light our Worship

One Sunday morning, one of the young altar boys of our church, handed me a small box. On the box was a handwritten gift tag, “To the Church. Open now!” it said. It was wrapped in Christmas paper, though it was mid-July.

The celebration of the Divine Liturgy was about to begin and although I insisted on punctuality for the service, my curiosity got the better of me. Quickly I opened the package. In it was a book of 50 matches. I looked over at Mher, and he didn’t wait for me to ask. He reminded me that last week I looked all over for matches to light the altar candles. So this young boy took the initiative to solve the problem. During the week he went shopping and now provided enough matches to last the entire year.

At eight years old, Mher understood this was his church. He saw a need and took care of it. It’s not more complicated than that, or as Jesus taught, “The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 4:17)

Today’s one-minute for Summertime.

7×77 Time, Really!

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Armodoxy for Today: That many times, really?

July 7 is a very special day for us at Epostle.net. It was on July 7, 2007 that we organized the first-ever forgiveness day international conference, under the In His Shoes banner, featuring speakers from Rwanda, Armenia and Mexico, events, discussions with scholars and produced a human chain of sevens. The day was numerically written as 7/7/7 which corresponded to Jesus’ answer to Peter’s question, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?”

“I say to you, not seven times,” answered Jesus, “But, until seventy-seven times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

Certainly, the numbers are irrelevant. That is, 7×77 is not to be worked out at 539, but as a code for countless. Jesus puts it out as the Christian imperative: Forgive, without limits. Further, he assures us that our Father in Heaven forgives us our trespasses, by the same scale that we forgive those who trespass against us.

Forgiveness is the hallmark and calling card of Christianity. It is central to understanding the power of Jesus’ message for peace and harmony in the world. The date is merely a pointer, a way of remembering that our only hope – whether for individual relationships, or to achieve global harmony – our only hope is through this ultimate weapon of love.

Today’s one-minute for Summertime.

If you’d like to learn more about the international conference on forgiveness? Visit the links below.

https://epostle.net/peace-spiral and at https://epostle.net/7×77

Voltaire’s Deal of the Cards

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Armodoxy for Today: The Deal

Likening life to a game of cards, French Enlightenment philosopher Voltaire observes, “Each player must accept the cards that life deals him or her. But once in hand one must decide how to play the cards in order to win the game.”

The trick is to take control of what has been entrusted to you. Whether a simple game of cards or a complex life, looking back at the shuffle is a waste of time. Thank God that your eyes are in front of your head and not looking back. Celebrate what you have and take charge of those tools and talents to make a difference. Find the aces or your strongest talents. Play them to the best of your ability.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

 

Independence Day (250) Prayer

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On the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence a group of clergy and laity assembled with their spiritual leader, Archbishop Hovnan Derderian, Diocesan Primate, at the St. Leon Ghevondyants Armenian Cathedral in Burbank California to offer the following prayer of thanksgiving. Happy Independence Day!

Independence Day Prayer

Lord our God, we come in a spirit of thanksgiving and joy on this 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, to mix our prayers with those of people throughout this nation, for the freedoms we enjoy.

O Father, great and merciful, You comfort us in our time of need, You never pull away Your hand from those who call on Your name. You brought forth in  this land a country that is founded on the principle of liberty, equality and justice. A country that declared that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are God-given and unalienable rights for everyone. A country that dared to proclaim, “Give me your tired, your poor and your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…”

Our forefathers heeded the call to the shores of America. Having escaped persecution, death and even genocide, our forefathers were the huddled masses that embraced America and were embraced in return by this great country. They found peace, and a haven where dreams for a better life for themselves and for their children could be realized.

We assembled back then in our houses of worship, and continue to do so today, to give thanks for the blessings you so abundantly bestow upon us. We thank you for the freedom to pursue dreams and build on those dreams that come from our God-given imagination. Thank you for the safety we enjoy, and the harmony that we can achieve. Let us never be complacent or in contempt of these very special and unique expressions that are part of the American Dream.

Look upon this great nation, the United States of America in your mercy, O Lord. Open our hearts to hear and act upon your call to live in harmony with one another, working together to build for better days and the dreams that reach for the highest heights. Protect and shelter its people from harm. Rest the souls of them that sacrificed for the liberties we enjoy. And keep the spirit of freedom alive in each of us.

Amen.