Tag Archive for: Easter

The Bridge and the Air Conditioned Car

/0 Comments/in , /by

The Bridge and the Air Conditioned Car

I shared this story as part of my Easter 2025 sermon. The author is unknown.

Gus was the proud operator of a draw bridge over a busy river.

Each day he’d yank the levers that would elevate the old railroad bridge to allow passage of ships below.

One Saturday several years ago Gus invited his 10-year-old son Peter to spend the day with him at the bridge. Peter whooped with excitement. He’d always marveled at the bridge and its levers and big gears. His dad had the best job in the whole world, he figured.

As an old fishing boat eased up the river toward the bridge, Gus showed his son how the levers performed. With a grinding hum and a few creaks, the old bridge separated and rose toward the autumn sky. Peter gasped and chortled while the boat crept upriver and out of sight.

Gus began watching his gauges and jotting notes in his report book. Then came the unmistakable sound that sent Gus back to his levers. The piercing whistle of the 10:05 southbound train. The 10:05 was a little early and a little late in blowing the warning whistle. Gus knew he must lower the bridge quickly to avoid a tragedy.
Gus’ big gloved hands grasped the shiny levers and pulled. He looked over his shoulder for Peter. Where was the boy? “Peter!” Gus’ stomach knotted as his eyes nervously darted up and down the bridge.

“Peter!!!” The bridge began its descent.

“Daddy! Daddy!” Frantic with worry, Gus peered over the edge and saw his son atop the huge bridge gears. The giant teeth of the rotating machinery had consumed the boy’s jacket. Now his hand and arm were being devoured, slowly pulling his entire body into the grinding gears.

Gus reached for the levers. But there came the 10:05 loaded with passengers, whistle howling, roaring toward the bridge.

“DADDY! HELP ME!” The terror of the boy’s voice seemed to pound within every muscle of his father’s body.

Gus glanced at the train, then at his helpless son. In that split second, Gus was faced with deciding between the life of his son, or the hundreds of lives aboard the rushing train.

Gus held firm on the levers. The bridge continued its bow of mercy for the passengers aboard the train.

Gus wept as the machinery squeezed the life from his son. As the boy’s shrieks melted into echoes, the 10:05 sped across the old bridge. The vacationing passengers had no idea what had just transpired below the bridge.

In air-conditioned comfort, they waved and smiled at Gus as they whizzed past.

Two thousand years ago a similar situation faced a loving Father. Much more was at stake back then. But, confronted with that awesome decision, the Father chose to allow His Son to die so that we could live.

Now we are faced with some haunting questions. How will we demonstrate to God that the life of His Son means more to us than waving and smiling as we go by? Are we willing to step out of our air-conditioned comfort and reflect God’s love to those around us? What will it take to get our attention?

 

Easter: The News Delivered

/0 Comments/in , /by

John 20:

Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb… [They both entered the tomb and saw] the linen cloths lying there, and the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself….  as yet they did not know the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again to their own homes.

But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to Him, “Vartabed!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’ ”

Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that He had spoken these things to her.

Scriptural excerpts from the New King James Version
Music: The Way, Armenian Sacred Music, Hover Chamber Choir of Armenia 2005
Cover: Rise! by Gregory Beylerian available at Shop – epostle

Holy Saturday – Before the Dawn

/0 Comments/in , /by

Armodoxy for Today: Holy Saturday – Before the Dawn

This Easter Eve we find ourselves in a rather awkward position. We have been through the Lenten journey and walked together during this Holy Week, but today, we find it difficult to really make sense of what we witnessed. Yesterday, we stood at the foot of the Cross of Christ, looking up at our Savior, looking up at a seemingly helpless god, a god who is unable to help himself and protect himself from the perils of humankind.

While Jesus was betrayed and sentenced to death, you and I – all of us – were betrayed to darkness, which is a much a bigger condemnation than death itself. Darkness is our first fear. A room without lights is scary at any age. Darkness holds the unknown. Each step we take in darkness needs to be measured. Imagine a life without Christ – a life without light, a life without love? Imagine a life with no purpose and no meaning. Darkness.

But today, off in the distance, we see light. We see a glimmer of hope, after all, we are children of history, we know how this story is going to end. Unlike the disciples, who were confused and didn’t know what to believe, we have the advantage of knowing that after crucifixion, something incredible will happen, Jesus will resurrect.

Easter Eve is a reminder that it’s always darkest before the dawn.

So off in the distance we see that light, that light of resurrection. In fact, Scripture tells us that before the dawn of the first day, before that Easter morning, the women went to the grave and found it empty. Plant your feet firm in this dawn, on this Easter Eve, you are at the grave. Easter has not come yet, but we know that there’s something great. We know that the journey that we took together over the last seven weeks is about to unfold – not end, but unfold into something greater, which we call life. We are about to confront life, as Christians, as witnesses to the resurrection, as witnesses to the power of love over hate, to the power of light over darkness, to the power of good over evil, to life over death.

All four Evangelists record the details of the first encounter with the Resurrected Lord. It was a small group of women, who had gone to with the intention of anointing Jesus’ Body that first received the news of the Resurrection. Today, you have arrived at the Grave before the dawn. Your anticipation will not be disappointed.

Palm Sunday Addition

/0 Comments/in , /by

Armodoxy for Today: Palm Sunday

Jesus’s triumphant entry into the holy city of Jerusalem is recorded by the evangelists. It is important to read the narrative to understand that in God’s time, all things fall into place.

On Palm Sunday, all the players are moving into their positions. Jesus arrives in Jerusalem. The Pharisees, the Disciples with Judas and Peter, and, of course, the mob, are all there, each one of them, bringing their participation to this passion play.

But there are a few people missing from the story. You and me. We move ourselves into the narrative by picking up the palm branches and adding our voices to the crowd: Hosanna. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Jesus walks by us. He is en route to the temple, the shrine built to praise God. Instead he finds this house of prayer has been converted to a den of thieves. Merchants and moneylenders are doing a robust business under the temple walls. He turns over the tables and one by one, everyone and everything that does not belong in the temple, he throws out in an unusual display of anger. He does not stop until everyone who does not belong in the temple is thrown out and the temple is wiped clean. Needless to say, he has irritated the establishment, the people in power.

We have witnessed this episode and realize that we are part of the story. The holy temple is no further than our heart, at the center of our being. Jesus comes in today to clean the holiest of all temples. He asks that we walk with him through this Holy Week with the simple condition that we remove everything that distorts the truth, whatever prevents us from enjoying all that God offers us.

In the Armenian Church the Palm Sunday Liturgy is followed by a service called “Tur’n batzek” which means “Opening of the Portals.” It is focused on the Coming of Christ and the message is one of preparedness.

We have been through  the Lenten Journey and now at the beginning of Holy Week we pray, Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, for the salvation of the world. He arrived at the appointed time, entered the temple and removed all that did not belong there. I ask that you enter my heart and clean it of all that does not belong there, the hatred, the sickness and disease, the prejudice, the injustice and all that prevents me from seeing the goodness of life. Amen.

The Great Fish Story

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Armodoxy for Today: The Great Fish Story

The third time Jesus appears to the disciples after the Resurrection was one morning when a group of them were going fishing. They were led by Peter. (John 21)

They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

Acknowledging your needs before the Lord … “Children, have you any food?” “No, we don’t” is the first step toward miracles. He won’t fill your net, but He will point you in the right direction.

Let us pray, God, our great provider, You created everything and every being in this world that we are living in. You have made us in your image and even allow us the privilege of caring for one another. In so doing, we humbly serve You. Keep us safe from harm, so that we may continue to provide and share with one another. Amen.

Eclipsed Relevance

/0 Comments/in , /by

Next 789 – April 6, 2024 – Easter brings hope for the suffering. Fr. Vazken shares thoughts on connecting the message of hope with the war in Gaza, the total solar eclipse, Fr. Yeremia’s 5 to 6 apples and the closing of St. Peter Armenian Church (the roots of Epostle).
Eclipse
St. Peter Youth Ministry (story)
St. Peter Page – seek and you shall find
Jethro Tull
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for http://Epostle.net
Subscribe and listen on demand on your favorite pod-catcher!
We’re on Pandora, Spotify and Apple Podcasts

Recognition – Magdalene

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Armodoxy for Today: Recognition

Following the Resurrection of our Lord, a group of women went to the Grave to anoint Jesus’ Body. Among them was Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Jesus.

We read in the Gospel of John:

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Mary did not recognize Jesus, until Jesus first recognized her and called her, by name. As we reflect upon the Resurrection, we are reminded that the characters around Jesus were people with daily cares, who found themselves in the greatest story ever told. Reflect on your identity and those who you may or may not recognize and those who call you out by name. How does that affect your life? It certainly did for Mary Magdalene as we will come to find out.

A Prayer to St Mary Magdalene

O Glorious St. Magdalene, “model of penitents,” obtain for me the grace of perseverance in the practices of self-denial according to the Spirit of my vows; pray to God for me that I may appear before Jesus Our Lord and Master, at the moment of my death, with my lamp filled with the oil of faith and hope, and burning with the pure flame of charity; and thus merit to be received with thee into His eternal Kingdom. Amen.

Cover Photo: Luna & Gregory Beylerian, 2023

Empty Tomb – Easter

/0 Comments/in , , /by

The Empty Tomb: Resurrection

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! (Luke 24)

There you have it! He is not here! He has risen!

Your fifty-day journey comes to a head with this news. He has risen.

Fifty days! Count them: You had one-day of introduction – boon barekentan, forty-days of Lent, and nine-days from the end of Lent to today, Easter Sunday. Fifty-days of twists and turns, spiritual questioning and, hopefully, encounters with God. You have arrived at this day, born anew and born from above, ready to take on life with love and the passion that God has put inside of you. The Resurrection of Christ is your invitation to the Resurrection in your life.

Congratulations! You have just learned the secret of Armodoxy. It’s the foundation of faith for a people who have survived and thrived despite not having military weaponry and or aggressive inklings for world domination. You have experienced the formula for life, that behind Crucifixion there is Resurrection.

The answer to today’s question – the last question in this series – can only be answered by you, and you alone: Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Happy Easter: Christ has Risen! God bless.

Govea Yerusaghem: Luys Vocal  Quintet

Cover: Rise! by Gregory Beylerian

Lazarus: Beginnings

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Lazarus: Beginnings (9 days to Easter)

John chapter 11

Lent is over and now Holy Week begins in the Armenian Church with a remembrance of Lazarus, a close friend of Jesus, who succumbs to an illness. His distraught sisters mention to Jesus, that had he been by Lazarus would not have died. Jesus proclaims, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” He asks the sisters, “Do you believe this?”
With this question – not a simple one by any means – begins a voyage through Holy Week, the most sacred and spiritually motivating time of the Christian year. From Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, to the Last Supper, His Passion, Crucifixion, Burial to the victory of Resurrection, we will journey together, day by day. And it all begins with a question asking for your answer, “Do you believe this?”

Tomorrow: Palm Sunday.

Cover photo: 2023 Luna & Gregory Beylerian

20 Years Ago: And the kids came

/0 Comments/in , /by

It was 20 years ago today: Untold stories from the Armenian Church Youth Ministries Center

Today’s episode: And then the kids arrived.

Following the Resurrection of Jesus, that is in the first Eastertide season, the Church grew fairly rapidly with regular converts. Christianity was an underground movement, and the Church remained underground until the 4th Century. Very simply, the powers to be were not happy with the Church and her growth. The growth of the first century Church is documented in the book of the Acts of the Apostles and in the Epistles, which follow Acts in the Biblical canon.

A reading of the Gospels will make it clear that Jesus’ popularity and following did not sit well with the established religious community of his time as well. Why else are we here in the Easter Season? His deeds and teachings sentenced him a torturous and slow death on the Cross, and the Resurrection is the mark of the triumph of Truth. Life won out over death as Love proved stronger than hatred.

The purity and absolute Truth of Jesus Christ was his calling card. This is why the disciples, one-by-one left family and home to follow him. This is why the landscape of the Sermon on the Mount was packed and why there were tens of thousands who needed to be fed in the loaves and fish story. (Matthew 14)

What we were doing with the Armenian Youth Ministries Center was an experiment. We were building on the Faith and Teaching of the Church. Since the earliest days of my ministry as a deacon and as a priest I never understood nor appreciated the bait-and-switch approach to ministry. We’ve heard it often: Come to church, we have a great basketball court. Once you get there, surprise! They have you in a Bible Study. I cannot understand how this is supposed to promote goodwill between the youth and the church. Obviously, the kids that come want to play ball and sit through a Bible Study if it means some time on the court. But what does that entire bait-and-switch operation really saying about the church? Do we feel that our main “product” is so defective or unappealing that we have to trick people into coming? Ideally, you want bring people in on the basis of your Faith – your main product – and afterwards celebrate with fellowship – whether with hoops, on a bowling alley, at a picnic ground.

The truth of the matter is that the YMCA or the local high school have better basketball courts than the church. But there is no one who has a better understanding of the Christianity and the articles of the Faith than the Apostolic Church, the Body of Christ, the one that was there at the time of Christ. And that became the platform on which we built the Youth Ministries Center. Let’s combat the evils that were before us, whether drugs, loneliness, violence, gangs, whatever they may be, let’s combat them with the Love that Jesus Christ offers.

The kids started coming.

After that first Easter word got out that we were on the corner in Glendale. There was no magic to bringing kids in. We left the doors open and curiosity did the rest. It was a quiet haven for those who wanted to get out of the afterschool hustle-bustle. We had a church upstairs and a large multipurpose room downstairs where many kids would come after school just to hang out, do their homework or wait for a parent pick up. There was no covering up that this was a church. In the sanctuary, Bibles were available for the taking. We’d talk about issues. Weekly Bible Studies were attended by the kids and their parents. We had our social activities, but they weren’t the reason, rather they were the places where fellowship took place.

And then came April 24, only 10 days after our opening and four days after Easter. With all the positive energy we were putting out there for our Ministry, the switch to mourning, sorrow, and victimization was not the turn I wanted to take. We had addressed these issues at my former parishes, but this was Glendale. We were in the largest concentration of Armenians outside of Armenia. If there is one thing Armenians all rally around, it’s recognizing the atrocities committed by the Turks against the Armenian Nation culminating in Armenian Genocide. One-and-a-half million Armenians were murdered, and over that amount of people were exiled from their historic homeland.

This was very personal for me. My grandparents are survivors of the Armenian Genocide. I grew up with stories of the Genocide heard firsthand. I resented people who turned on their Armenianness on April 24 and forgot about in on April 25. Further, as a priest, I felt a hypocrisy in celebrating the victory of Life on Easter and tossing the euphoria out the window days later to mourn a crucifixion. If we are the inheritors of the title “First Christian Nation” and “First Genocide of the 20th Century” then we have to come up with a response that reflects both the Resurrection and the horrors of Genocide. We had done it at my parishes in Cupertino and Pasadena, now Glendale was going to feel the power Gospel expressed.

We continue tomorrow with more untold stories from 20 years ago today, and invite you to join us. If you missed earlier episodes, you can hear them on your favorite podcatcher or at Epostle.net under the “Armodoxy for Today” tab. Remember to leave a comment and/or write us at feedback@epostle.net.