And Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed His last.
Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”
This centurion, who was a commander in the Roman army, makes a proclamation about Jesus based on the sensational events surrounding the last minutes in our Lord’s life on earth.
At some point in your life, you arrive at a conclusion about Jesus. This day after Easter, after you have heard so much about Jesus and the Resurrection, is a day of contemplation and reflection, to arrive at your own proclamation about Jesus.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/P1030309-scaled-e1711947284460.jpg10791715Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2024-04-01 00:01:272024-03-31 21:56:30Overheard Last Week
This week of Advent begins with a scriptural reading from Hebrews chapter 1. It reads like an essay, explaining that God speaks to us through His Son, Jesus Christ. The scripture reads, “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
This introduction to the book we have landed on today, namely Hebrews, has a cosmic flavor to it. Interestingly enough we read it in the Church during the week of the Winter Solstice.
The author of Hebrews continues his writing setting apart the Son of God from the angels, “For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’? Or again, ‘I will be his Father, and he will be my Son’? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’” For the author of this scriptural treasure, it is important to set Jesus apart from all of creation. As we recite in the Nicene Creed, “We believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of God the Father, only-begotten, that is of the substance of the Father. God from God, light from light, true God from true God, begotten and not made; of the same nature of the Father, by whom all things came into being in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible; Who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven, took body, became man, was born perfectly of the holy virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit. By whom he took body, soul and mind and everything that is in man, truly and not in semblance.”
When we talk about the Apostolic Church, we are speaking of the Church at the time of the Apostles. There was no Bible at the time. There was only the community of believers that assembled together to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to be encouraged by one another. The Apostolic Church, and later the early Church, understood the Church and the Christian expression as part of a rhythm of the universe that began at Creation and then experienced the Fall because of our actions against the rhythm and harmony of the universe.
Christ is set apart. Christ comes to put us back into harmony and in rhythm with the universe, that is all of creation.
We are traveling through the period of Advent in preparation of welcoming the Nativity and Revelation of God in our lives. Today, we stop and hear the message of harmony and rhythm. We are a day off of the Winter Solstice. We look within at our lives and we look without at the patterns of nature. Christmas is near.
Let us pray a prayer that comes to us from Holy Scripture for the Book of Sirac, (43) The beauty of the celestial height and the pure firmament, heaven itself manifests its glory. The sun at its rising shines at its fullest, a wonderful instrument, the work of the Most High! Let us praise Him the more, since we cannot fathom him, for greater is He than all his works; Awesome indeed is the LORD, and wonderful His power. Lift up your voices to glorify the LORD as much as you can, for there is still more. For who has seen him and can describe him? Who can praise him as he is? Beyond these, many things lie hidden; only a few of his works have I seen. It is the LORD who has made all things; to those who fear him he gives wisdom.
Next Step #750: When scripture coincides with life events of a priest, a signal is sent to focus on the mission of Christ, the Church and the minister of the Gospel. A look at Luke 4:16-22: The mystery of importance and centrality for life. What about the “brokenhearted,” why are they overlooked, or just a clerical error? Favorite vs. Importance. Daily Messages on Epostle.net On the “Closed Curtain” – Bp. Daniel Findikian Occam’s Razor Richard Hagopian Best of Armenian Folk Music
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Next Step #749: “We are sitting on a treasure” says Bishop Daniel Findikyan, and admits that the value of that treasure is “inconceivable.” Listen in on this interview that goes beyond administrative issues and talks about Faith, Christ, God, and our spiritual life. Discuss: Truth through Jesus, the Prosperity Gospel, Old and New Testaments and Bible in the light, the gender of God, translating beyond language, and much more.
Check out Epostle.net for the latest and daily updates.
Links Bishop Daniel at St. Leon Cathedral (10/9/22) The Next Step Interview with Bp. Daniel (2018) Holy Spirit Building the Church
Cover Photo: Vahe Sargsyan at the 40th anniversary
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for Epostle.net Subscribe and listen on demand on your favorite pod-catcher!
We’re on Stitcher, Pandora and Apple Podcasts.
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/NS749_coverb.jpg626765Suzie Shatarevyanhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngSuzie Shatarevyan2022-10-15 00:01:442023-04-24 12:42:32Bishop Daniel Interview
Next Step with Fr. Vazken #729: Ascension… The story of Christ continues through the Church with a strict command to NOT look up. The work of the Church is around us. The shooting in Texas, the death of children, and conditions of the world… where then to look? Beyond the “whys” is the “where” – making sense of faith on the street and not in the books… The Next Step is a step toward Armodoxy. Ascension according to Acts Texas Shooting NPR: What now? The Sound of Santour
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https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/image.jpeg7831500Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2022-05-26 21:35:552022-08-11 17:20:46Don’t Look Up
Next Step #670: After Easter, how the message “Christ has risen” moves from idea and story to inspire us to action. Primal Scream: Where is my mother? The sacrifice of the grain. Crucifixion: if not for Christ’s sake, then for who? Ken Nalik tribute (NS 2008-2021) Vazgenian Seminarians at Lake Sevan. Passion of the Christ, Mel Gibson Smoking Cessation through time WD168 this week Luys Vocal Quintet
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com Listen via Stitcher Radio on demand! Listen on Apple Podcasts
https://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/image-3.jpeg9581471Vazken Movsesianhttps://epostle.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/final_logo_large_for_epostle_web-300x189.pngVazken Movsesian2021-04-08 20:31:432022-08-26 18:52:52Easter Respect and Living
Next Step #636: Politics and politicians describe an economy which delivers money by which consumers can buy goods and services, including Bibles. The inter-connectivity of just about everything. Finding Truth beyond the facts and accounting for time and place of evolution, e.g. The aim of Gospel messages. After Christ’s temptations and the last one – a revisit of the film, story and controversy. Jesus, Widows and Orphans: Not playing by the rules. Beirut and the Grapeblessing service.
Refuse by the Zela Margossian Quintet Songs for our Soldiers Concert – Sydney Australia ACYA
Donate to the Cause: E-transfer to Armenian Church Council of Aust. NSW BSB: 032 297 Account No: 323236 Last Temptation of Christ, Fr. Vazken 1988 GrapeBlessing in the Armenian Church (AC101) Donate to Beirut securely WD168 for Week of 8/13/2020
Cover – Wooden Gospel cover with Reflection, Fr. Vazken 2014 Madenataran, Yerevan, Armenia
Technical Director: Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com Listen via Stitcher Radio on demand!
Next Step #603: Christmas and Christmas Eve: Finding the light of the Christ Child at the manger and in the darkness of life today. (From Christmas Eve homily.) Other topics: St. Stephen, really? New life of old tech. Solstice to Christmas: The Sun/Son experience. Armenian-Hawaiian experience for in-laws. Pentatonix “Hark the Herald Angels” Armenian Christmas vs American Christmas AC101: Christmas
Cover: Coke Reset Blue Screen – 2015 Fr. Vazken
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com Listen via Stitcher Radio on demand!