In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus say, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7)
Christianity is a religion of action, we know, and the direction to that action is given to us by Christ himself. Ask, seek and knock are all verbs, words of action.
Isaac Newton put forth the third law of motion, to every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. For Newton this was a law about energy and heat flow, although the law easily describes the dynamics at play in Jesus’ statement. And although Newton did not make that connection, it doesn’t escape us the Sir Isaac was a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, author and theologian.
Groucho Marx, famously said, “I don’t want to belong to any club that will accept me as a member.” It takes a moment to absorb the true humor in such a statement. It was something you would expect for Marx (1890-1977), a comedian, actor, and writer who was famous for his wit.
Consider what kind of club would have you as a member. Would Jesus be welcome in that organization? This is a good exercise for churches – parishes – to undertake. It can be beneficial in understanding who Jesus is and what he is all about. Even more… understanding who you are and what you are all about.
Think of a member application from a 33 year old male to your church, and now we will read the notes that a member of the admission committee has written: In describing the applicant it says, “Rigid, angry, has authority issues, displays intellectual immaturity, unable to work well with others. Seems a bit too religious. Overly concerned with issues of justice and fairness which can possibly conflict with our donors. Keeps company with people of questionable moral character. Limited knowledge of by-laws. No experience in meeting protocols, banquets, country club outings. Dresses inappropriately.”
How would Jesus be accepted into your church, into your worshipping community? Would his application be stamped ACCEPTED “as-is” or would there be conditions on his acceptance or would it be stamped REJECTED because his ways were not the way of the parish? During Jesus’ time, he was rejected exactly for the reasons stated above (perhaps except the comments about country club outings, but you get the idea). This small exercise is necessary every now and then, and the feast of Pentecost – or the Birthday of the Christian Church – is an appropriate time to check your and your church’s norms and mores against those of Jesus. And what of the congregants? Would those who are poor, lonely or unusual be welcome in your church? Would they consider it home? If not, why not? In an honest assessment, you’ll have to ask what needs to change on our end, because Jesus, is the same yesterday, today and always.
A prayer from the Armenian Church, Bless, Lord, all who work for your Church. Grant that we may so agree in love that envy and jealousy may never mar our labors, but that our sincere and humble service may merit, your blessing. Amen.
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Armodoxy for Today: Make it Complete with the Message
In rounding up the theme of Maturity of Faith this week, we make it complete with the most essential ingredient, namely the Message. In all the messages we have shared this week, Jesus stands in the center. Often, in our zeal to express our love and commitment to Him, we forget the message he preached and the call of that message to move us to action.
In the Nicene Creed, adopted in 325AD by the Church and recited in churches throughout the world every Sunday, we proclaim our belief in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and the exclusivity of the Holy Church. The largest portion of the Creed is dedicated to Jesus, the Son of God. We have shorter forms of the profession of faith, one of which is confessed by the godfather during baptism in the Armenian Church. In the Western churches, such as the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches, the Apostles Creed is pronounced. In St. Nersess Shnorhali’s prayer of the 4th hour, we read an even more abbreviated form about Jesus, the Son of God, “Who descended from the bosom of the Father, and took flesh of the Holy Virgin Mary for our salvation, who was crucified and buried, and rose from the dead and ascended to the Father.”
In all of the Creeds and professions of faith, the person of Jesus, the Son of God, is defined. What is missing is a proclamation about his message, or even more simply, mention or reference of his message. I use the word “missing” rather than “omitted” or “forgotten” because I believe the development of these creeds were products of the times and societal needs. In the case of the Armenian Church, her constituency during the early centuries was homogeneous. The people attended church and shared common values and so it wasn’t necessary to reference the message in a creed.
Armodoxy trata de tomar esa fe antigua y situarla en el mundo y la sociedad de hoy. En una sociedad globalizada, donde muchos mensajes diferentes compiten por tu atención, el mensaje de Jesús puede ser fácilmente descartado, omitido o incluso olvidado debido a los esfuerzos entusiastas por proclamar a Jesús como superior a otras opciones. Una fe madura comprende que es el mensaje de Jesús el que es único y superior a todo lo demás. En su mensaje comprendemos la plenitud de la afirmación de que Dios es amor. El mensaje de Jesús es lo que nos conecta con el principio de los tiempos, y ahí encontramos la divinidad de Jesús como Hijo de Dios. “No he venido por mi propia cuenta, sino que el que me envió es verdadero” (Juan 7:28).
Let us pray St. Nersess Shnorhli’s prayer of the 4th hour, with addendum, “Son of God, true God, who descended from the bosom of the Father, and took flesh of the Holy Virgin Mary for our salvation, who taught the message of true love and compassion, with his words and his life, who was crucified and buried, and rose from the dead and ascended to the Father, I have sinned against Heaven and before You, remember me like the robber when You come into your kingdom. Amen.”
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Eight days after the Nativity, Jesus is named. The Gospel passage that is read today, is the shortest one of the entire year consisting of only one verse, Luke 2:21. Here, the Gospel describes the Christ Child is named “Jesus,” which was the name the angel of the Lord revealed to Joseph and Mary, saying, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.’” (Matthew 1)
The name Jesus means exactly that, “God is salvation.” The name Jesus is a title reflecting Christ’s divine mission of rescuing people from their sins. Sin is the one, and arguably the only, thing that prevents people from living full and meaningful lives.
In this post-Theophany season of the Church, the name of Jesus comes to us as a simple reminder that the fullness of life can enjoyed through the teachings of Christ. St. Nersess Shnorhali, the 12th century theologian took the act of salvation one step further by proclaiming, “The name of Love is Jesus” thereby pronouncing the formula of Armodoxy: Through love we find the fulness of life and unite with our Maker and all of Eternity.
We pray today, O Lord God, we celebrate the Sacred name of Jesus today. May this celebration be a turning point in my life where I understand that it is only through Love – the name of Jesus – that I can find salvation and eternity. Amen.
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There is a story about a race between a Russian and an American. The two men start at the same point, run around a track and the American comes in a few seconds before the Russian. The American news service reports, “American wins race. Russian comes in last place.” The Russian news service reports, “Russian comes in second place. American is next to last.”
Neither news agency reported false facts. Neither agency lied. They both told the truth as it best suited their purpose. That purpose is what you must decipher by looking at intentions. This is very important today as more and more individuals and groups rally for your attention.
In stark contrast, as Christians, our truth is a person. “I am the way, the truth and the life,’ says Jesus. Go ahead and test this truth for purpose and intention. You’ll find that this Truth has a genuine purpose which is Life itself.
Today’s one-minute for Summertime.
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Armodoxy for Today: Holy Monday – Hearing with your heart
A post on social media asks, “Jesus crucified 1.5 million Armenians with him. He never saved anyone. Why praise him!?!” The large number is in reference to the martyrs of the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Social media is only a new medium for an age-old question. This question is asked because the bigger question pertaining to this Week is even more puzzling. Indeed, the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ does not make sense on human terms for even more reasons. How do we explain a person who gives love, who is sacrificial in every aspect of his giving, who heals the sick, raises the dead, and in return, receives a death sentence. At this point, many will dismiss the Christian experience by identifying it as nonsense, literally, that is, that which does not make sense.
In a final farewell discourse, Jesus shares words of comfort with his disciples, to make sense out of the seemingly nonsensical. He speaks of God’s love.
The Disciples had been in the presence of Christ for three years when he spoke to their heart. You have been through the Lenten journey, 40 days of preparation for this week. I ask you to sit with the Disciples today. With the teachings and exercises of the last several weeks, listen with your hearts to these words coming from your teacher, your brother and your friend. And believe.
A reading from John chapter 14:
Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”
Thomas [one of the Disciples] said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
“If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.”
Philip [another of His Disciples] said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”
Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Altar-682.jpg11251125Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2025-04-14 00:01:122025-04-13 20:52:55Lunes Santo: escuchar con el corazón
When discussing saints, and in light of yesterday’s meditation on St. Gregory of Narek and his prayer, the question inevitably is asked, why do we need saints when we have Jesus as the ultimate example of living? And, in terms of intercessory prayer, why not pray directly to Jesus?
The questions are logical, indeed, but they are built on the assumption that the one excludes the other. Certainly, you can and should use Jesus as your guide. Certainly, you should pray directly to Jesus.
When we look at Jesus, we see the perfection of the Father. In Jesus, we see life lived without sin, without obstacles. In Richard Bach 1977 novel, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, the main character flies his airplane and his windshield remains clean. That is, he avoids the need to scrape bugs off of the glass. Anyone who has driven any sizable number of hours knows that hitting bugs is inevitable. Gas-stops on the highways windshield cleaning fluids that are “effective on smashed bugs.” Imagine, being so perfect that you would miss the bugs completely. Or imagine an archer who could not help but hit the bullseye of a target. Each arrow she shot would hit the one she shot earlier and split right down the center. Now, that’s perfection! That’s part of the definition of the Divine.
Saints are people. They are not God, nor does the Church claim them to be. Pattern your life after Jesus’ life. You should. That’s what the saints did. They patterned their lives after Jesus, and with all of their frailties and imperfections they were able to rise above their humanity. They present a reachable goal and, for people in search of their own spiritual equilibrium, the stories of the saints offer hope.
Split the arrows, if you can. Don’t give up, if you can’t. The saints didn’t.
Your act of charity is to arrive at one hopeful event or occurrence in our world today. Fast from discouragement.
For roasted potato fans, we have a treat in today’s Lenten recipe (below).
Our prayer is from St. Gregory of Narek, If a pure hand lifts incense to you, may my voice join with the sound and sighs of prayers and reach you. If others’ petitions labor to be born with mine, may mine, thus multiplied, be rededicated to you. If this offering of the words of my soul be pleasing, may they be offered to you with those who have gone before… If the thread of hope is severed by the sword of transgression, may it be restored by the goodness of your almighty will. Amen. (Translated by Thomas J. Samuelian)
¿Qué es la oscuridad? Muy sencillo, es la ausencia de luz. La oscuridad solo se puede definir ante la presencia de la luz.
¿Qué es el mal? Muy sencillo, es la ausencia del bien. El mal se define en relación con el bien.
Algunos van un paso más allá y definen el infierno como el lugar donde hay ausencia de Dios. Con esta sencilla definición, es posible encontrar el infierno aquí en la Tierra ahora, no en algún momento futuro. Aun así, otros argumentarán que, por definición, no puede existir un lugar donde Dios no esté presente.
Preguntas y reflexiones como estas son más que gimnasia mental; salen a la luz cuando la claridad se ve amenazada. Es parte de nuestro sistema de defensa natural porque le tememos a la oscuridad. Como seres humanos, queremos permanecer en la luz, pero a veces la oscuridad puede ser tan abrumadora que sucumbimos ante su poder.
El poder de la luz solar es tan grande que ilumina todo nuestro planeta y también lo calienta. Del mismo modo, el poder de Jesús, como Luz del Mundo, es tan grande que Su luz vence a la oscuridad.
Jesús comienza su ministerio haciendo referencia a las palabras del profeta: “…El pueblo que habitaba en tinieblas vio una gran luz; y a los que habitaban en región de sombra de muerte, luz les resplandeció”.
El evangelista San Mateo continúa la narración (capítulo 4): “Desde entonces comenzó Jesús a predicar: Arrepentíos, porque el reino de los cielos se ha acercado”.
Oramos: Cristo, luz verdadera, haz que mi alma sea digna de encontrar con alegría la luz de tu gloria divina, el día en que seas llamado por ti; y de descansar con buena esperanza, en las mansiones de los justos, hasta el gran día de tu venida. Ten piedad de tus criaturas y de mí, pecador. Amén. (San Nerses Shnorhali, Confieso con fe)
María, la madre de Jesús, es la primera de todos los santos en la Iglesia. En la Iglesia armenia se le conoce como Asdvadzadzin (= Portadora de Dios) o Asdvadzamayr (= Madre de Dios). Estos títulos nos dicen más sobre la primacía de Jesucristo en nuestra fe que sobre María, pero señalan la reverencia con la que debemos acercarnos a la Santísima Madre.
Única en la historia cristiana, María es elegida por Dios para llevar al Niño Jesús. Encontramos a María en las Escrituras en la Concepción, el Nacimiento, en la adolescencia de Jesús y finalmente en la Crucifixión, al pie de la Cruz, observando cómo su hijo es golpeado, torturado y asesinado por la misma humanidad a la que vino a salvar. Según las Escrituras, María es la única testigo de la vida de Jesús desde la "cuna hasta la tumba". Aunque es posible que José viviera tanto tiempo, no hay detalles de su vida más allá de la historia de Jesús a los 12 años (Lucas 2:41-49).
Aunque se ha dicho y escrito mucho a lo largo de los siglos sobre la Madre María, su historia es sencilla y tiene lugar en los dos primeros capítulos de los Evangelios de San Mateo y San Lucas. Más aún, la sencillez de la historia de María se puede resumir en una palabra: ¡Sí! María, la Santa Madre de Dios, es venerada y distinguida de todos los santos debido a un sencillo y valiente "sí" que dio a la invitación de Dios.
La historia de ese "sí" no puede expresarse con mayor elocuencia que en el Evangelio de San Lucas (capítulo 1),
Al sexto mes, el ángel Gabriel fue enviado por Dios a una ciudad de Galilea llamada Nazaret, a una virgen desposada con un hombre llamado José, de la casa de David. El nombre de la virgen era María. Y entrando el ángel, le dijo: "¡Alégrate, muy favorecida, el Señor está contigo; bendita eres entre las mujeres!"
Pero ella, al verle, se turbó por sus palabras y consideraba qué clase de saludo sería este. Entonces el ángel le dijo: "No temas, María, porque has hallado gracia delante de Dios. Y he aquí, concebirás en tu vientre y darás a luz un Hijo, y llamarás su nombre Jesús. Él será grande y será llamado Hijo del Altísimo; y el Señor Dios le dará el trono de su padre David. Y reinará sobre la casa de Jacob para siempre, y de su reino no habrá fin".
Entonces María dijo al ángel: "¿Cómo será esto, pues no conozco varón?"
Y el ángel respondió y le dijo: "El Espíritu Santo vendrá sobre ti, y el poder del Altísimo te cubrirá con su sombra..." Entonces María dijo: "¡He aquí la sierva del Señor! Hágase conmigo conforme a tu palabra". Y el ángel se apartó de ella.
El "sí" de María al ángel es sencillo, pero poderoso. Parece haber fluido de sus labios, pero requirió el valor de toda una vida para pronunciarlo. Ten en cuenta que hablamos de hace 2000 años, en Oriente Medio. Esta historia no ocurre en el siglo XXI en EE. UU. La sentencia por un embarazo fuera del matrimonio era la muerte, sin mencionar la humillación, el deshonor y el estigma que suponía para tu familia. La presión, tanto real como psicológica, para decir "no" era enorme, por lo que el valor de ese "sí" era incalculable. Y así fue como su "sí" cambió el curso de la historia humana, pues de ella nació un niño que es el Hijo de Dios.
Ahora, invita a la acción de María a tu siglo XXI. Cada día y cada momento se nos pide que traigamos a Cristo a este mundo. Cristo es la encarnación del amor. Al amar, cuidar y ser empáticos con las necesidades de los demás, traemos a Cristo a este mundo, le decimos "sí" a Dios. Es así de sencillo, y el nivel de dificultad para hacerlo depende de nosotros. Armodoxy es un testimonio de un pueblo que ha elegido llevar a Cristo al mundo. No ha sido fácil, pero la recompensa ha sido grande. Cada altar de la Iglesia armenia lleva la imagen de Santa María presentando y ofreciendo a Jesucristo, el Amor, al mundo. Cada altar es un recordatorio de que este "sí" cambia la historia humana.
Oramos: "Señor Jesucristo, tu santa madre dijo sí a la invitación de llevarte y presentarte al mundo. Viniste a un mundo de oscuridad y trajiste luz, a un mundo de odio y predicaste el amor. Hoy digo sí, para traer luz y amor a un mundo que sufre. Brilla en mi vida, guíame siempre por los caminos de tu amor. Amén".
12a23
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En este camino de Adviento llegamos a un obstáculo importante que también será un hito para nosotros. El mandato de Jesús de no resistirse al mal es una de las declaraciones más difíciles de asimilar, porque por naturaleza deseamos luchar y eliminar el mal. Por esta razón, es un obstáculo y un hito en nuestro camino, ya que gran parte de nuestra fe descansa en la aceptación de este mandamiento.
Jesús dice: "Habéis oído que se dijo: 'Ojo por ojo y diente por diente'. Pero yo os digo que no resistáis al mal. Al contrario, si alguien te golpea en la mejilla derecha, preséntale también la otra. Si alguien quiere demandarte para quitarte la túnica, déjale también el manto. Y a quien te obligue a caminar una milla, ve con él dos. Da a quien te pida, y no le des la espalda a quien desee pedirte prestado".
Antes de clasificar esto como una debilidad, saca tus diarios de Adviento y consulta las lecciones sobre la energía canalizada, esa disciplina que convierte nuestra fuerza interior en poder enfocado. La noche en que nació Jesús, las huestes celestiales proclamaron: "Paz en la Tierra y buena voluntad para con los hombres" (Lucas 2:14). La voluntad de Dios se proclama para toda la humanidad con el nacimiento de Jesucristo. Para que haya paz, el Príncipe de Paz aboga por la resistencia no violenta ante el mal. Es la única solución y el único medio para lograr la paz.
El error común, tanto en tiempos de Jesús como ahora, es pensar que la violencia y más maldad traen la paz. Matemáticamente podríamos formularlo como a + a = -a. Es tan absurdo en la teoría como en la práctica.
Pensadores han reflexionado sobre estas palabras de Jesús durante siglos y han debatido a favor y en contra del tema. Figuras importantes como Tolstói han escrito volúmenes al respecto, y personas no cristianas, como Gandhi, han basado sus planes de liberación en la resistencia no violenta. Países del tercer mundo, la teología de la liberación y, por supuesto, el movimiento por los derechos civiles en Estados Unidos han utilizado las enseñanzas de Jesús como cimiento y modelo en el camino hacia la igualdad y la justicia. Según Gandhi: "Ojo por ojo y el mundo acabará ciego", a lo que el reverendo Martin Luther King Jr. añadió: "Si practicamos ojo por ojo y diente por diente, terminaremos siendo una nación ciega y desdentada".
No hemos terminado con el tema. Es el fundamento de la vida y el ministerio de Jesús. Por hoy, oremos con una oración ofrecida por el reverendo Martin Luther King, Jr.: Oh Dios, haznos dispuestos a cumplir tu voluntad, pase lo que pase. Aumenta el número de personas de buena voluntad y sensibilidad moral. Danos una confianza renovada en la no violencia y en el camino del amor tal como lo enseñó Cristo. Amén.
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