Beauty in the Cross

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Armodoxy for Today: Beauty in the Cross

Jesus transformed the Cross, an instrument of torture and death, into a symbol of victory. “In this world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) With these words Jesus assures us that our most trying times are temporary. They can and 0will be defeated. You will be victorious over every one of your crosses because he overcame and conquered the worst-of-the-worst.

Jesus’ words tell us that the cross is a part of life. Trials and tribulations, evil, endings, hurt, death, are all crosses that will be defeated. It is important to note that Jesus said these words before he rose to the Cross. His assurance is based on Divine knowledge, a priori, asking us to accept on faith.

Every tear will be wiped away from your eyes and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  (Revelation 21:4)

The Armenian Church venerates the Holy Cross. Crucifixes are not present, aside from during the Lenten Season, in the Armenian Church. The Cross is beautiful, ornate. It stands as a testament to Jesus’ Resurrection, to the Victory that is assured each of us who believe and follow him.

Today we pray from St. Gregory of Narek, Grant your mercy upon my forsaken self, good king, who inspires awe, loves humanity and cares for his people, living and holy Lord who always enlightens us by the power of the mystery of your exalted cross. In my barren fields, hardened by sin, filled with folly, with fruitless heart, I am still sustained by your compassion, Almighty. May my soul be refreshed with springs of water and my sore eyes quenched with streams of tears, offered for purification and salvation and released by your acceptance, all-giving Lord, who is glorified forever. Amen. (excerpt from prayer 36)

Translation: Thomas J. Samuelian, Ph.D. St. Gregory of Narek
Cover: Khatchkar-2Bp-2B292-2BMatenadaran-2BMs-2B3833.jpeg

Cross Changeover

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Armodoxy for Today: Cross Changeover

Walk into an Armenian Church and you’re sure to be overwhelmed all the symbols. God is a mystery. Jesus Christ gives us a glimpse into that mystery with his life and teaching. We can all agree that if God could be explained with words, He no longer is God, that is, by virtue of definition, God is greater than and beyond our thoughts and words.

The greatest symbol within the Armenian Church is that of the Cross. It is an instrument of torture and death, yet we exalt it. We bless people and objects by the “sign of the Cross.” We wear crosses ornamentally, on necklaces, rings, earrings, tattoos, and embossed on clothing. If you were to imagine someone wearing today’s devise of torture and murder, such as a hypodermic needle for the lethal injections, or an electric chair, we would then understand St. Paul’s words, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing…´(I Corinthians 1:18) Yes, it would truly be humorous, it would be foolishness to praise a gas chamber.

And here is where the switch comes. Through the salvific act of Crucifixion and Resurrection, Jesus transformed the instrument of torture and death, the Cross, into a symbol of victory.

“In the world you will have tribulation;” says Jesus. Yes, you will have difficulties, suffering and yes, crosses to overcome. “But be of good cheer,” Jesus continues, “I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) Indeed, the victory over the Cross transformed the symbol into one of triumph.

We pray today, a prayer from 8th century by  Sahak Tzoroportsi, “May your Cross be our refuge with its blazing brilliance. That which is named the tree of life destroyed the enemy and dissolved our death sentence, for the salvation of the universe. Amen.”

Prelude: Is the Cross Necessary?

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Armodoxy for Today: Is the Cross Necessary?

The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, is one of several Christian celebrations focusing on the Cross of Christ. This week, we look at the Holy Cross with reflections. St. Paul writes, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (I Corinthians 1:18)

Let’s begin these reflections with a very fundamental question, Is the Cross necessary for  salvation?  Or more simply, Is the Cross necessary in Christianity? … the Christian experience?

Writer Nicholas Kazantzakis, best known for his novel “Zorba the Greek,” first pondered these questions in his 1955 novel, “The Last Temptation of Christ.” What if Jesus had not accepted “the cup,” as was his prayer in the Garden of Getsemani (Luke 22:42). What if he did not accept or refused his appointment with the Cross? Deeper still, was it even possible for Jesus not to take the cup, not to rise to the Cross? And if he had not, what would that have meant (or not meant) for us today?

This week we look at the Cross, biblically and in the prayers offered by the Holy Church. We begin with St. Nersess Shnorhali’s 14th hour of prayer, Upholder of all creatures, preserve by the sign of your cross, my soul and body, from the allurements of sin, from the temptation of evil, from unjust people, and from all dangers physical and spiritual. Have mercy upon your creatures, and on me. Amen.

Cover: Gregory Beylerian, 2014

“Walking” to School: The Jemaran

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Armodoxy for Today: “Walking” to School

Summer vacation is over, and schools are back in session. Learning takes place in the classroom and as well as on digital platforms.

A unique method of learning comes from the Armenian Church. It has been practiced for centuries and can serve as a model for learning in a world of complexity.

The word for seminary in Armenian is jemaran, with its root coming from the word for walking = jemel. In the seminaries, the long and wide walkways around the monasteries were the lecture halls of the day, where the young monks would huddle around one of the masters – a vartabed – who would teach by engaging the students in a dialogue. Philosophy, theology, Christology and cosmology would come together in these talks.

The “jemaran model” of learning, is yet one more device of the Armenian Church worthy of emulating. In a world where misunderstand is the norm, where personal conversations are replaced with the quick text messages, and complex problems are spurted out in a post, the opportunity to engage in meaningful and productive conversation is an art form that just might be an answer for peace.

We pray, O Lord, you gave us one mouth to speak, and two ears to hear. Save us from our conceit and allow us to hear and engage in conversation with one another. Imprint on my heart the rule to reach out and embrace others to make our world better. Amen.

Back to School

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Armodoxy for Today: Back to School

As Summer winds down, school doors are opening to welcome new classes of students and hopefully, future graduates.

Today, a wide variety of learning takes place in the classroom. Along with the teacher, professor or nurse maid who stands at the head of the class, a large assortment of human and mechanical devices from monitors to cellphones, to AI chatbots are vying for the attention of students. Several schools are restricting use of cell phones during school hours, citing their presence is disruptive to the learning environment, not only because of the temptation to play games but also they are open invitations to interact with other students and people in different parts of the country or world. All this takes away from class time. And for those without the devices, there are several intimidating factors that begin to surface and hinder a rounded education.

There are also people on campuses who use unscrupulous means to appeal to the students, so that the traditional “Three-R’s” – Reading, Writing and Arithmetic – are supplemented much more.

As a priest, I am often asked what my thoughts are on prayer in school. It is a topic that comes up rather routinely in different discussions about education. For the record, I’m against organized prayer in school. Teach your children to pray at home. I certainly don’t want someone who has archaic or bizarre ideas about the nature of human existence, to be leading a prayer to a deity that represents values opposed to my own. Rather than placing the responsibility of religious education, have discussions, open ones, with students at home, take them to church, have them involved in communities and allow children to focus on the 3-R’s in the school.

Tomorrow, we will focus on a unique practice of learning that comes from the Armenian Church, that has been practiced and can serve as a model for us in a world of complexity.

Today, we pray, Lord our God, protect and nurture our children. Give them grace and peace of mind so they may focus learning the essentials to maneuver through life and give me – my children’s first teacher – the guidance to share Your Love, Your Light, and their gifts with others. Amen.

The Default Position

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Armodoxy for Today: Finding the Default Position

In 1986, January 28, the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded 73 seconds into its mission, in the witness of millions across America and the world. For those who remember that day, the image and shock are unforgettable. For those who were not of age to remember the tragedy, no doubt they have heard about it. It was one of those events in my life where I specifically remember where I was and the feelings of that moment in time, akin to the memories I have of November 22, 1963 when President Kennedy was assassinated.

Months after the Shuttle disaster, it was discovered and revealed that the Shuttle was launched against the recommendations of several of the people who were responsible for its operation. In recounting the events leading to the decision to launch or not to launch, one of those people, Brian Russell* explains it like this: “We were in the exact opposite philosophical position, where, if you had a problem, you had to show to prove, by data, by testing, by analysis, by whatever means, to make a logical argument of why it was okay to fly. So, if it wasn’t safe to fly, you didn’t fly. The default position was, don’t fly unless you can show it safe. … We had to prove it was unsafe, the exact opposite.”

The default position was, Russell says, if it wasn’t safe to fly, you didn’t fly! The default position was the most logical and simple response, but we often push ourselves to override the default positions, and this is where we get into trouble. The default position is not always the safest position, and so we pray for wisdom.

Divine Light, God, and Wisdom of the Father, open my heart to Your will. Help me to discover the paths of life that need to be conquered and overcome, as well as the paths that are laid before me, waiting to be followed. May I walk in the Christ Light so I may never fall. Amen.

*From the BBC World Service, “13 minutes: The Space Shuttle,” 2025.

Grace is not cheap

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Armodoxy for Today: Grace is not cheap

Deitrich Bonhoeffer was a Protestant theologian, living in the first part of the last century, until he was executed by the Nazis in 1945. Bonhoeffer’s writings remain today as a testament to a man of courage and deep faith. In his book, The Cost of Discipleship (1937) he writes about “Costly grace” in contrast to “Cheap grace.”

“Cheap grace,” Bonhoeffer says, “is the deadly enemy of our Church. We are fighting today for costly grace… Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like cheapjacks’ wares. The sacraments, the forgiveness of sin, and the consolations of religion are thrown away at cut prices. Grace is represented as the Church’s inexhaustible treasure, from which she showers blessings with generous hands, without asking questions or fixing limits. Grace without price; grace without cost! The essence of grace, we suppose, is that the account has been paid in advance; and, because it has been paid, everything can be had for nothing.”

Bonhoeffer describes one of the menaces of Christianity, not only Protestant Church but all of Christianity. God so love the world, that he gave us His Son. Or, Jesus died for our sins. The debt has been paid, are catchy phrases that get thrown around without a second thought.

Armodoxy, unapologetically, says that Christianity points to action. That action is our response to God. He is not the Great Puppeteer in the sky guiding us on strings. He invites us to a life of reaction and interaction.

Dear God, my prayer begins with you. Open my ears to your words and move my hands and feet toward your invitation. Amen.

Labor Goals

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Armodoxy for Today: Labor Day

Here in the United States we celebrate Labor Day today, the first Monday of September. In other countries there are comparable holidays such as Worker’s Day, but the American holiday differs a bit in that it focuses on the labor, the work, that a person does.

In our society, that labor produces income and accumulated income brings financial rewards, which can, and does, skew our sense of true values. Money becomes a goal rather than a means to the goal.

Christ invites us to a productive life. Whether by way of his metaphor of grapes and grapevines, expressed in John 15, or by way of the Parable of the Talents, as presented in Matthew 25, where he encourages us to exploit the talents that God has given each of us. Large or small, few or many, each person has talents that need to be found. An appropriate search for the Labor Day holiday.

Today, one minute for Summertime.

Jesus closer than you think

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Armodoxy for Today: Closer than you think

A pious Christian will certainly jump at the chance to help, or even interact, with Christ. For many, Christ is only a person appearing in history, and so, it is safe to want come to his aid. If I were there at the time of the crucifixion, I certainly would have stood up against his accusers or torturers.

Of all the challenges Jesus offers to participate in the Kingdom, there is no invitation as clear as the one he offers when he says, “I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’… For inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25)

No need to time travel to meet Jesus, he’s all around us.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Evil via the Moon Metaphor

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Armodoxy for Today: Evil via the Moon Metaphor

God’s invitation to participate in the fullness is life is often questioned in the face of evil. The “Problem of Evil” is the question of “Why evil?” especially with the tradition of a good and omnipotent God?  While religion has presented an assortment of solutions to the Problem of Evil – known as theodicies – sadly, it has also fired up people to point accusing fingers to others as the authors of evil.

A quick glance at the moon on any clear night might help in providing an answer. The moon’s pocked-marked surface is credited to its lack of an atmosphere. Space objects have hit its surface, and the result Is evident. As for the Earth, we have an atmosphere protecting us from rocks and boulders that disintegrate on their way down. The price of this protection, we have to deal with atmospheric catastrophes such storms, hurricanes, tornadoes and the like. It’s all part of the deal.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.