Declaring with beauty

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Armodoxy for Today: Declaring…

For years, part of my office decor has been a framed copy of the Declaration of Independence. This is the document that was signed on this day, the fourth of July in 1776, by a group of men who were expressing their dream of freedom and independence. They proclaimed that there were “self-evident” truths, “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” And with these words the experiment in democracy, the United States of America, was born.

I find these thoughtful and beautifully crafted words to be sacred, because they express the inner dreams of humankind. In the Declaration of Independence can be heard the cries of the human soul for rights and equalities. Certainly, true religion has and always must advocate for those rights.

Join me this week as we take an Armodoxy dive into freedom and independence, in one minute for summertime.

Yet: Dream, Believe, Create

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Armodoxy for Today: Child’s Hope

I had an interesting conversation with a young girl the other day, about the number of fingers on certain drawings. This 10-year-old had come with her mother to volunteer for the food distribution at the shelter. She had brought with her some paints and brushes for the kids there and we began to discuss the intricacies of drawing the human hand. I noted that cartoon characters have four fingers, and she was quick to one better me, by telling me about a character who had three fingers on his hand.

I asked who was the character? She answered, “It’s science fiction. It’s not real, yet.”

Indeed, that “yet” implied hope and faith in the future.  That “yet” is what keeps people dreaming, believing, and creating.

We haven’t visited another planet yet. They haven’t discovered the cure, yet.

Our world hasn’t achieved peace, yet. Dream, believe and create. Today’s one-minute for Summertime.

“Out of the mouth of babes hast thou ordained strength,” cites Jesus. (Matthew 21:16)

Backward; Forward

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Armodoxy for Today: Bidirectional

The shoreline is always safer than the waters that carry the boat beyond the horizon, unless, of course, the shore is susceptible to erosion, tide wave, or the squabble of men in war. Granted, there are safe and dangerous conditions connected to every decision we make.

The Christian is called to a life of productivity, using their talents to the best of their ability. This direction forward can be stifled by fears brought upon by past experiences. Theologian and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard writes, “Life must be understood backward. But it must be lived forward.”

The gentle balance between learning from the past, and living for the day is Jesus’ message, “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34) Today’s one minute in Summertime.

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We pray from the Armenian Book of Hours, the morning prayer, We thank You, O Lord our God, who granted us restful sleep in peace. And being awakened, caused us to worship Your awesome and glorified holy name. Grant us to pass the remainder of the day in peace. Living our lives with pure behavior in this world, may we reach the peaceful haven in eternal life. Amen.

Exploring beyond the Horizon

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One Minute Armodoxy for Summertime: Exploration

Christopher Columbus, explorer of the West, advises, “You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

The ocean is vast, mysterious and seemingly unending. The shore is solid, familiar with no waves to push you up or pull you down. In other words, it’s a safe place. Frankly, it’s not a bad place to be, unless you wish to explore, to go beyond the familiar.

To grab opportunity, pushing off the shore is not only necessary but the rule of law. When exiled from their homes, either in 1915 or in 2023, Armenians made the sign of the cross, lost the shore, fought the waves and arrived at their destination.

Happy sailing. Today’s one minute for Summertime.

A prayer from Bishop Nikolaj Velimirovic to the Asdvadzadzin

Waves of passion disturb my spirit, great sadness and anguish have overwhelmed my soul. Embalm my soul with Thy Son’s peace, O Most Holy One, and by His Grace drive away every doubt and despair. Calm the storm of my sins that, like a fiery worm, burn me, and quench its flame. Fill my heart with joy, O Most Pure One, and disperse the fog of my iniquities before me. Amen.

Courage at the Beginning

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Armodoxy for Today – Andrew, the First

Saints come in all shapes and sizes. That might sound like an odd way to bring attention to the elite class of the Church, but each saint has a unique story that helps us in our Christian journey through life.

Andrew was the first-called disciple of Christ, in Armenian he’s referred to as Nakhagoch which literally means, the first to accept the call [of Jesus]. Throughout Scripture we read that he invited others to follow, most notably is his older brother, Peter, who went on to be the Apostle to, and the first Bishop of Rome.

Being the first takes a special and deep courage which is connected to inner strength but also to a commitment and belief that what you are following is absolutely and positively the correct path.

Andrew had that commitment and that confidence within, which made him the great Apostle of Christ. Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Praying from the Book of Hours of the Armenian Church, With your Light, O Christ, we have all been enlightened, and in Your Holy Cross, O Savior, we take refuge. By the intercession of the Holy Apostle Andrew, hear us, O God our Savior, grant us peace, and show us Your mercy, Good Lord. Amen.

Cover photo: St. Andrew at Ghazanchetzotz Monastery, 2014 Fr. Vazken

Chiastic form in Christianity

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Armodoxy for Today: Chiastic Love

A chiasmus is a literary form as old as recorded civilization. It is defined as a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases. For instance, sayings such as, “Say what you mean, and mean what you say” or on the lighter side, “Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you.”

St. Augustine appealed to the chiasmus form when he said, “The measure of love is to love without measure.”

Loving without measure is one of the hallmarks of Christianity. Love without limits allows us to understand all the other teachings of Jesus, such as charity, forgiveness or humility, as the challenge to be Christ-like.

The measure of love is to love without measure. Today’s one minute for Summertime.

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.

Worship

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Armodoxy for Today: Worship

Worship is often looked at as an extra bit of religiosity in the Christian experience. Implied in worship and the language of worship is often feelings of purpose, that is to please God. Much of the Old Testament contributes to this feeling that has traces of the pagan rituals to please the gods, and avoid their wrath.

Worship is your acceptance of Christ’s invitation, to participate in life. Worship in the Armenian Church, contrary to everything you may have heard or felt, is a celebration. It takes place in the presence of God and all the saints, and unites us with all others who participate in the worship throughout the world, as one Christian family. Here we lose the self and understand ourselves as part of the bigger collective, with responsibilities toward our families, communities and the world.

Today’s one minute for Summertime.

Cover: Etchmiadzin Congregation, Gregory Beylerian, 2014