Don’t don’t, Do

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Armodoxy for Today, one minute for Summertime: Don’t don’t, Do

I received a well-intentioned informational video the other day from a church, in which the narrator explained, while a model visually demonstrated the dos and don’ts of church attendance. This was the latest incarnation of a list outlining church etiquette that has been floating around as long as I can remember: Don’t cross your legs, don’t chew gum, don’t wear sleeveless shirts or blouses, and about 20 other rules. Sadly, only one item on the list was “do” and even sadder was that it pointed to women having to wear head coverings.

In their good intentions to keep the sanctuary space sacred, often these lists are skewed to the “don’t” side, giving the impression that Christianity is about curtailing and restricting actions. A quick glance at the Bible reveals that the Old Testament contains 613 laws and regulations. Moses brought it down to a manageable size with the 10 Commandments. Jesus summarized with the word “Love.” Not a prohibition but a direct order to “do,” to Love.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Sensational and the Mundane

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Armodoxy for Today, one minute for Summertime: Peter and the Tent

At the Transfiguration event, recorded in Matthew, Mark and Luke, Jesus is shining the Christ Light. * As I shared over the past few days, this is the Light that transcends a source, such as the sun, star or even reflective light such as the moon. The event is singular in nature, it is extra-ordinary, extra-sensational, mystical and supernatural.

Peter, who is a witness to this event, asks Jesus if he would like a tent constructed for himself, Moses and Elijah. In the face of this extraordinary, mystical, supernatural event, Peter is preoccupied with the mundane. Sure, the gesture is a most hospitable one, but it deprives him of fully engaging in this singular event.

The action, or inaction, of Peter serves as a reminder of our own worldliness. Often we become consumed with the mundane while the true beauty and extraordinary events of life pass us by.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

*Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–13, Luke 9:28–36, 2 Peter 1:16–18

Fulfilling the Law & Prophets

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Armodoxy for Today, one minute for Summertime: Fulfilling the Law and Prophets

At the Transfiguration, Jesus is surrounded by two Old Testament characters, Moses and Elijah. They represent the Law and the Prophets respectively. God’s voice is heard saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to Him.” *

In the Armenian Church tradition, Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets, a pronouncement which is made every Sunday at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy in every Armenian Church. Indeed, the Kingdom of God is at hand. It is enacted.

God gave the Law, He gave the prophets, but He so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son. (John 3:16)

Today’s one minute for Summertme.

*Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–13, Luke 9:28–36, 2 Peter 1:16–18

Transfiguring the God Light

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Armodoxy for Today: Transfiguring the God Light

The Transfiguration which was celebrated by the Armenian Church this weekend is described in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, and also in the Letter of Peter. It is a spectacular event where Jesus physically radiates the Divine Light.* “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light,” says Matthew.

Take a quick trip to the beginning of time. In the first chapter, the first few verses of Genesis we hear God say, “Let there be Light.” And there is Light, a few days before the Sun or the stars were created. This is the God Light, the stand-alone Light that is the foundation of the Universe. And for a few minutes, Jesus radiated this Light in the witness of three disciples, but also in the witness of all of us who engage in this story.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

*Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–13, Luke 9:28–36, 2 Peter 1:16–18

Deliverance from Evil -10/10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 10 -Deliverance from Evil

God provides the tools – patience, strength, willpower – to protect us from temptation and therefore the natural the follow up is a request to be delivered from Evil. Ancient authorities read, “the Evil One” but either way, it is clear that ours is to avoid evil or simply, that which is not good.

Over the last 10 days we studied the prayer offered to us by our Lord Jesus in parts. In conclusion, as a whole, we may say that it is an affirmation of our Faith in God, a commitment to the celebration of the life and world in which we live, and an acceptance of our responsibility to others, our world and to life itself. To which we may appropriately add, “Amen.”

Today’s one minute on the Lord’s Prayer, for Summertime.

Protect from Temptation -9of10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 9 – Protect us from Temptation

“And lead us not into temptation” is a bit misleading, when we recite it at the end of the Lord’s Prayer. It lends to the belief that somehow, we are on the puppet strings of the Grand Puppeteer, and we are begging that he does not steer us in toward temptation.

The true request here is, may God protect us from temptation. When we see, hear, or think tempting thoughts, may God give us the wisdom, the clarity of vision and the openness of mind to stay away from those things that draw us to sin.

Temptation is all around us. God doesn’t take us there. Rather, He gives us the tools with which we can overcome temptation.  When Jesus offers us the Lord’s prayer, it is in the context of the Sermon on the Mount, where he is challenging us all to find purity of mind as we live our lives. God gives us the strength and will to not be led toward it.

Today’s one minute on the Lord’s Prayer, for Summertime.

As we Forgive -8of10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 8 -As we Forgive Others

The one request in the Lord’s Prayer that is conditional is in regard to forgiveness. Forgiveness is granted by God, Jesus tell us, on the same standard by which we forgive those who trespass against us. As we learned in yesterday’s message, the measure and degree of forgiveness for us is dependent on our ability to forgive others. So great is this one provision and the understanding of forgiveness, that Jesus spells it out very plainly at the end of the prayer.

Not quite an addendum to the prayer, rather as an elucidation of the concept that is central to Jesus’ teaching – that God works through us. He says, “For 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. (Matthew 6:14-15)

Forgiveness is the Christian mandate. Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Forgive our Debts -7of10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 7- Forgive us our debts

Trespasses, debts, we’ve heard both these words used in the English translation of the Lord’s Prayer. Whether it is something you owe, such as a debt, or something you’ve violated, we ask to be forgiven of our debts and our trespasses. It is the one statement in the prayer that is conditional. We ask God to forgive us our sin by the weight and measure by which we forgive others. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.” If I forgive my debtor only half of his or her debt, I can be assured to be forgiven half of my debt. Understood this way, we come to understand that our forgiveness, our being cleaned of debt, is completely in our hands. Very clearly, Jesus is guaranteeing us a clean slate, complete and total forgiveness of sin, to the point that you do not have to second guess it. Whatever is hanging around your neck is released, provided, you release the debt of those who owe you.

Like all of Christianity, we are called to responsibility through our actions.

Today’s one minute on the Lord’s Prayer, for Summertime.

Daily Bread – 6of10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 6- Give us our Daily Bread

Since we began this series six days ago,  for the first time we hear, what we may refer to as a shopping list item. appears now: Give us this day our daily bread. It is the only tangible requested item in the entire prayer. Equally important as bread is the framework in which it is presented – it is for this this day, and it is a daily need.

In fact, this one statement draws our attention and focus to what is truly needed and necessary in our life, as Jesus teaches, Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?  … For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (Matthew 32-33)

As the prayer moves forward, we understand that the entire cosmos is held together by the Will of God, and we have a unique and necessary place within that world.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Thy Will on Earth -5of10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 5- Your Will in Heaven and on Earth

Prayer often takes the form of a shopping list. In our conversation with God we present Him with a list of items we want, such as good health and peaceful days. But, as we heard early, in presenting the “Lord’s Prayer” Jesus informs us that our Heavenly Father already knows our needs before we ask him.

When we ask, May Your Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven, we are acknowledging and submitting to God’s will. We have our wants and desires, in a word, we have our will, but herein we are relinquishing our will in favor of God’s Will. We submit to the power of God, who makes His sun shine on the good and the bad. (Matthew 5:45) And in so doing, we leave our selfish desires to one side and focus making His Kingdom come.

This is the fifth of 10, one minute for Summertime.