Obscurity to Light: Pope Francis Burial

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Armodoxy for Today: Obscurity to Light

“At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid.” With these words the Evangelist John records in his Gospel (19:41) an obscure description of where Jesus was laid to rest. In the 1970s rock-opera, Jesus Christ Superstar, Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber give a node and notice to the site by naming the final musical piece of the opera, “John Nineteen Forty-one.”

The grave site is as obscure as the Armenian Church I speak about on these broadcasts, the same Armenian Church which sits on the site and celebrates the Liturgy at this Tomb which was blasted open by the Resurrected Lord Jesus. The obscurity of the grave was overshadowed by the news – the Good News, that is the Gospel of the Resurrection.

This weekend, Pope Francis of Blessed Memory was laid to rest. He had asked that his remains not be interred at the St. Peter Basilica as many popes before him. Rather, he requested to find a resting spot at the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where one of his favorite icons, the icon of Mary Salus Popoli Romani had inspired him and became a site for the growth of his own prayer life. Hardly an obscure location, but in the context of the Basilica of St. Peter in the history of the papacy, Pope Francis’ choice reflected the humility that the was a hallmark of his life.

The Armenian Church, as the ancient witness to Jesus Christ and therefore to the Resurrection, has often been designated to obscure corners and areas of the world and community, but the power of the Resurrection is always overshadowing and lifts this small Church to shine its Light, whether from Holy Etchmiadzin or the local parish. Pope Francis left this earth as the Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, and today, the Basilica of St. Mary Major turns into a Shrine of Light to those who cherished the Christ-like humility of this Servant of God.

May the seal of our Lord Jesus Christ be immovable from the tomb of your servant Francis, until the coming of Christ, who will come and once again renew in the glory of the Father and the Holy Spirit. May his memory be for us a renewal of our vows of kindness, understanding and humility. Amen.

Cover: Gregory Beylerian 2014

Humanitarian: Non-Political

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Humanitarian: Non political

Next Step #801 – April 25, 2025 – Another opportunity lost: 110 years since the Armenian Genocide and still self-pitying and at a loss of words (read: nerve) to talk about other genocides, falling victim of politics and political correctness. Humanitarian issues becoming politics. A first look at the passing of Pope Francis and his legacy of humility.
Worth 1000+ words (Pope)
Armenian Monument in Montebello as historic landmark
Pope Francis Passes Away
Instead of Mourning a Genocide, Stop One
Gregory Beylerian: visual arts to art of articulation (Echos of Ararat)
Rwandan Blog
Armodoxy for Today
Araksia Gyulzadyan
Leveraging Love
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for http://Epostle.net
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The Pope’s Delicate Balance

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Armodoxy for Today: The Pope’s Delicate Balance

A big problem in the Church is reconciling the disparity between the lowly figure of the leader of our Faith, namely Jesus, and the large amount of wealth that can accumulate in the church coffers. I remember early in my ministry hearing about a protestant congregation in Walnut Creek that had a multi million dollar annual budget, yet they started each year and ended each year with only $2,000 in the bank. I remember thinking that that was truly a model of a Church, in other words, they spent what they took in, on ministry. Still, the idea of a dynamic ministry implies that it is changing and invites novel and innovative ideas to fulfill its mission. With the dreams, comes the need for funding. Hence,   the plight of non-profits, whether church or secular organization, is defined by donations from people who believe in the cause.

The model of Church operations is conducive to the accumulation of finances, as donors and contributors set endowments and trusts to take care of the needs of the church for years (or centuries) to come. In the case of the Church, as the Body of Christ, the words of Jesus, not to worry about material wealth, that God takes care of the birds and flowers, and how much more he will take care of us, cannot go unnoticed. And so, a delicate balance must be met twixt what is necessary to function and spending what has been provided. And those in leadership positions within the Church struggle to find that balance and make sure they don’t fall.

And so, it was truly refreshing when Pope Francis, of Blessed Memory, became the head of a two-thousand year old Roman Catholic Church, opted to travel the path of humility and live a modest lifestyle as was his custom from his days as the Prelate of Argentina.

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. One such picture was taken when Pope Francis washed the feet of prisoners on Holy Thursday, in strict observance of Jesus’ command to follow the Divine example from the night of the Last Supper (see John 13). But the picture captured something more, when the Pope bent over and kissed the feet of the convicts.

The Pope goes by titles such as Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the Vatican City State, Servant of the Servants of God, and His Holiness. That kiss spoke volumes about the person and his understanding of wealth and his responsibility as head of the Church.

His humility is, arguably, his greatest legacy.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for replenishing Your Holy Church with the servants who lead by example. Accept the offerings of all, and in the offering of humility by Pope Francis, may I find an example to live for others with my life. Amen.

The Last Requiem

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Armodoxy for Today: The Last Requiem

On April 19, 2015 I conducted the last requiem service for the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide. That year was the 100th anniversary of a program of systematic annihilation of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire. The Armenian Church announced that on April 24, 2015, it would canonize the martyrs of the Genocide as saints of the Church. The April 24 date has always been used as a marker for the Genocide remembrance for it was on that date in 1915 that the Armenian leadership was rounded up, killed or deported in Constantinople, what is referred to as Istanbul today.

Designating the martyrs as saints was long over due by the 100th anniversary. Martyrdom implied that their life was given for higher principles, in this case for Christ and nation. But even more, the shift to sainthood was a change in mind-set for the Armenian nation. As saints, the martyrs are classified as “victorious in Christ” and therefore, not victims.

“If anyone desires to come after Me,” says Jesus, “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.” (Matthew 16)

Requiems, a tradition misleadingly referred to as hokehankist in the Armenian Church, are not conducted for saints. They have been crowned by Christ!

On that Sunday, in 2015, I had the distinct honor of celebrating the Divine Liturgy at the St. Leon Armenian Cathedral of the Western Diocese. It was the western most Armenian Church and the delayed timing of the day, had me reciting the Martyrs of the Armenian Genocide in the requiem prayer for the very last time ever. Having grown up with Genocide survivors (my grandparents) this was a most sacred moment in history.

In the days that followed the conversation would shift in a manner that only Christ can change. Christ, the one who took the words of condemnation “Take and eat” in the Garden, and madse those same words “Take and eat” into words of salvation, was now leading the Armenian nation to victory. The mind-set had been altered.

Let us pray, Lord, our God, You are with us in every transition and change. Open our hearts to the great change from victim to victor, which You demonstrated with Your glorious Resurrection. Help me to accept the change and welcome the newness of that victory. Amen.

Cover Photo: Luna & Gregory Beylerian

Meaty is Okay: HH Pope Francis

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Armodoxy for Today: Meaty is okay with me

“Hope” is the name of Pope Francis’ autobiography. This past Lent I decided to read the book as part of my Easter time ritual of accenting spirituality in my life. It took me a while to get through the book, not because it was long or because it was boring. Actually, it was just the opposite. I found the book to be anything but boring and as I read through the 300 pages, I would not have minded if it went longer. The book was meaty. You know what meaty is, right? The fat has been trimmed off and every bite is nutritious. You want to savor the flavor, so you take your time getting through it.

Pope Francis life was meaty. He was a simple man, but the fat had been trimmed off to the point that each bite was nutritious. You were in no rush to end the meal.

Four days before he was elected Pope, Archbishop Bergoglio wrote, Thinking about the next pope: a man who from the contemplation and adoration of Jesus Christ, helps the Church to go out from herself to the existential peripheries, that helps her to be the fruitful mother who gains life from “the sweet and comforting joy of evangelizing.” (p.187, Rome March 9, 2013)

When you read something as meat as this, you can’t just swallow it. You have to chew it, figure out the different tastes, contemplate and apply to your own circumstances. Meaty is a good thing. Pope Francis gave us much to think about through his humble life which he lived modestly. He was grounded and centered in the Gospel. It was what he believed, the way he lived and died. He gave us all much to ponder and much to absorb. We were nurtured by his words and actions.

Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the life of your servant His Holiness Pope Francis. May we keep his memory alive in our hearts by allowing his example to nurture our spirits in your Love. In all things we glorify You along with the Son and Holy Spirit, now and always. Amen.

 

Pope Francis, Another Brother

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Armodoxy for Today: Another Brother, Pope Francis

This morning I woke up to the news of Pope Francis’ passing. Thoughts of him at Sunday’s Easter Mass quickly came to my mind. I heard about the Vatican Easter service on my car radio. I was on a long-drive home from the Coachella Valley, where I had celebrated the Easter Liturgy at the St. Garabed Armenian Church.

News of the Vatican service kept me focused on the day’s message of resurrection. The news item was clear that the Pope attended the Easter Mass though the celebrant was one of the Cardinals, the Pope’s representative. The Pope was struggling with health issues and even though his doctors recommended that he get plenty of rest, he did not want to (could not) stay away from the Easter Mass.

Following the service, from his wheelchair, he offered his Easter message. True and consistent to himself and his vows as a priest, he remembered the poor and the marginalized. For my ears, his call for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan was a call that only someone with true commitment and compassion for the cause of peace would dare to reiterate as often as he did.

And now, this morning I was hit by the reality that this voice for peace and compassion had gone silent.

He went out of this life the way he lived it, as an Apostle of Jesus Christ, proclaiming the Resurrection. Neil Young has a line that I especially appreciate, “It’s better to burn out than it is to rust.” The Pope voice would never have rusted.

Back in 2016, Pope Francis visited Armenia in what was billed as “Pilgrimage to the First Christian Nation.” There was a small graphic-patch that was used as an icon on all the broadcasts, a drawing depicting the back of Pope Francis’ and Catholicos Karekin II’s heads. I’ve included it as the cover of today’s message. At the time, on my podcast I referred to their meeting as two brothers reuniting. St. Peter and St. Thaddeus, both lived and breathed with our Lord Jesus Christ. They both were witnesses to the Resurrection. Both of them carried the message of Resurrection to new lands, Peter to Rome and Thaddeus to Armenia. Two thousand years later, their successors, the Bishop of Rome and the Bishop of Ararat, had embraced as brothers.

Pope Francis’ legacy is a great one. He touched people on many levels as he did the soul of this priest. We will continue with more reflections in the days to come. Today, we join our voice with the millions throughout the world in praying for his soul but also praying for the echo of his voice in our world.

O Christ, Son of God, forbearing and compassionate, have mercy upon the soul of Your servant Francis. Be mindful of him on the great day of the coming of Your Kingdom. Number and glorify him in the company of your saints at Your right hand. For you are Lord and Creator of all, judge of the living and the dead. To you is befitting glory and honor. Amen

The Bridge and the Air Conditioned Car

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The Bridge and the Air Conditioned Car

I shared this story as part of my Easter 2025 sermon. The author is unknown.

Gus was the proud operator of a draw bridge over a busy river.

Each day he’d yank the levers that would elevate the old railroad bridge to allow passage of ships below.

One Saturday several years ago Gus invited his 10-year-old son Peter to spend the day with him at the bridge. Peter whooped with excitement. He’d always marveled at the bridge and its levers and big gears. His dad had the best job in the whole world, he figured.

As an old fishing boat eased up the river toward the bridge, Gus showed his son how the levers performed. With a grinding hum and a few creaks, the old bridge separated and rose toward the autumn sky. Peter gasped and chortled while the boat crept upriver and out of sight.

Gus began watching his gauges and jotting notes in his report book. Then came the unmistakable sound that sent Gus back to his levers. The piercing whistle of the 10:05 southbound train. The 10:05 was a little early and a little late in blowing the warning whistle. Gus knew he must lower the bridge quickly to avoid a tragedy.
Gus’ big gloved hands grasped the shiny levers and pulled. He looked over his shoulder for Peter. Where was the boy? “Peter!” Gus’ stomach knotted as his eyes nervously darted up and down the bridge.

“Peter!!!” The bridge began its descent.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Frantic with worry, Gus peered over the edge and saw his son atop the huge bridge gears. The giant teeth of the rotating machinery had consumed the boy’s jacket. Now his hand and arm were being devoured, slowly pulling his entire body into the grinding gears.

Gus reached for the levers. But there came the 10:05 loaded with passengers, whistle howling, roaring toward the bridge.

“DADDY! HELP ME!” The terror of the boy’s voice seemed to pound within every muscle of his father’s body.

Gus glanced at the train, then at his helpless son. In that split second, Gus was faced with deciding between the life of his son, or the hundreds of lives aboard the rushing train.

Gus held firm on the levers. The bridge continued its bow of mercy for the passengers aboard the train.

Gus wept as the machinery squeezed the life from his son. As the boy’s shrieks melted into echoes, the 10:05 sped across the old bridge. The vacationing passengers had no idea what had just transpired below the bridge.

In air-conditioned comfort, they waved and smiled at Gus as they whizzed past.

Two thousand years ago a similar situation faced a loving Father. Much more was at stake back then. But, confronted with that awesome decision, the Father chose to allow His Son to die so that we could live.

Now we are faced with some haunting questions. How will we demonstrate to God that the life of His Son means more to us than waving and smiling as we go by? Are we willing to step out of our air-conditioned comfort and reflect God’s love to those around us? What will it take to get our attention?

 

Easter: The News Delivered

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John 20:

Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb… [They both entered the tomb and saw] the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself….  as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to Him, “Vartabed!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Scriptural excerpts from the New King James Version
Music: The Way, Armenian Sacred Music, Hover Chamber Choir of Armenia 2005
Cover: Rise! by Gregory Beylerian available at Shop – epostle

Holy Saturday – Before the Dawn

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Armodoxy for Today: Holy Saturday – Before the Dawn

This Easter Eve we find ourselves in a rather awkward position. We have been through the Lenten journey and walked together during this Holy Week, but today, we find it difficult to really make sense of what we witnessed. Yesterday, we stood at the foot of the Cross of Christ, looking up at our Savior, looking up at a seemingly helpless god, a god who is unable to help himself and protect himself from the perils of humankind.

While Jesus was betrayed and sentenced to death, you and I – all of us – were betrayed to darkness, which is a much a bigger condemnation than death itself. Darkness is our first fear. A room without lights is scary at any age. Darkness holds the unknown. Each step we take in darkness needs to be measured. Imagine a life without Christ – a life without light, a life without love? Imagine a life with no purpose and no meaning. Darkness.

But today, off in the distance, we see light. We see a glimmer of hope, after all, we are children of history, we know how this story is going to end. Unlike the disciples, who were confused and didn’t know what to believe, we have the advantage of knowing that after crucifixion, something incredible will happen, Jesus will resurrect.

Easter Eve is a reminder that it’s always darkest before the dawn.

So off in the distance we see that light, that light of resurrection. In fact, Scripture tells us that before the dawn of the first day, before that Easter morning, the women went to the grave and found it empty. Plant your feet firm in this dawn, on this Easter Eve, you are at the grave. Easter has not come yet, but we know that there’s something great. We know that the journey that we took together over the last seven weeks is about to unfold – not end, but unfold into something greater, which we call life. We are about to confront life, as Christians, as witnesses to the resurrection, as witnesses to the power of love over hate, to the power of light over darkness, to the power of good over evil, to life over death.

All four Evangelists record the details of the first encounter with the Resurrected Lord. It was a small group of women, who had gone to with the intention of anointing Jesus’ Body that first received the news of the Resurrection. Today, you have arrived at the Grave before the dawn. Your anticipation will not be disappointed.

Holy Friday – The Great Equalizer – Crucifixion

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Armodoxy for Today – Holy Friday – Participants in the Crucifixion

The journey through Lent, and now through Holy Week culminates today. It all comes together at the foot Cross. The Cross is the great equalizer. No one is exempt from the Cross – young and old, rich and poor, statesman and transient all have their crosses, but today, we witness that even God is crucified.

The Crucifixion of our Lord, Jesus Christ is an event of singularity. It stands unique in the history of humankind. The acts of love, kindness and the message of hope with which Jesus came and showered us was repaid by acts of hatred, prejudice and death. He was crucified as a death sentence; a death sentence for spreading love.

With the help of St. Nersess Shnorhali, and his magnificent Aysor Anjar prayer we can come to understand the significance of this day as he takes love and juxtaposes it next to the hate that led to the Cross. First, we understand that this is not an ordinary man being punished, or even falsely punished for crimes. Rather, this is the Creator. This is the same One who breathed that first breath of life in the first human (and each of us) and now that Breath was being beaten out of Him. St. Nersess reminds us that the One who cried down from the Cross saying, I am thirsty was the same One who was offered vinegar, when, in fact, He was the one who made the rivers flow out of Eden.  The same Hands which were nailed to the Cross and from which Blood was now dripping, were the same Hands which had fashioned the heavens and the earth, the same Hands which had written the law on the tablets. Those same Hands had given sight to the blind and hearing to the deaf and had pulled Peter from the sea and then hushed the sea. Those same Hands which had created all of us were now being nailed by us to the Cross.

Today’s meditation is one of not only walking with Jesus to the Crucifixion, but understanding our place within the story of Crucifixion. That is, those people who nail Christ to the Cross are none other than us. When we practice hatred, when we allow prejudice, when we carry anger in our hearts, we are basically putting Christ back up on that Cross. We are the ones who are pounding those nails into Him, because just as we learned that when we practice good deeds to the least of Christ’s brothers and therefore do it to him, so too when we hate, when we allow anger to rule our emotions toward our brothers and sisters we therefore allow that hatred to go to Christ, and we participate in this Crucifixion,

Our Lenten journey, together with our Holy Week journey, is now ending. We arrive at the cross of Christ. We stand there at the foot of the cross, looking up and seeing our Savior beaten, bleeding and now killed.

We see Jesus looking down at us, asking for water, asking for assistance, asking for his mother. We hear him say to Here is your mother…  reminding us that in this world we are united. The Crucifixion reminds us about the common thread that unites us all: the suffering of humankind. In fact, we may never be able to understand in human terms what a resurrection is, but when you talk about crucifixion, each and every one of us understands some portion of betrayal, of denial, of loneliness, of hurt, of pity, of being nailed for things that we never will understand, and at that final hour, Jesus cries out. Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? (=My God, my God. Why have you forsaken me) cry that we share, a cry that comes from the bottom of our hearts as well.

Cover: The Bulleted cross at Gyumri