Tag Archive for: Family

Interconnectivity

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Armodoxy for Today: The Advent Series – Interconnectivity

The interconnectivity of God and man is described in Jesus’ next statement, Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12)

Jesus explains God as Father. As we discovered early in the Advent journey, this designation is uniquely Christian and emphasizes the intimate relationship we may expect with the Creator. He invites us into his  holy and sacred family. Just as he refers to God as Father, he has now given us that right and in so doing we become brothers and sisters of Christ.

The Gospel records that one day when the crowds were so large Jesus’ mother and brothers were unable to approach him. Word got to him that, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!” (Matthew 12:47-48)

As Armenians, we are identified by the “ian” (or “yan”) suffix to our names, meaning “son of” or “family of.” Appropriately, the word “Christian’ (Christ+ian) is the family of Christ, and today we are part of that godly family. As such we have a responsibility to treat one another with the love and respect that God accords us. What is often called “The Golden Rule” is pronounced by our Lord at this point, “Whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.” Armodoxy is a testament to the Golden Rule.

In viewing our world, you will now further understand why Jesus’ message was so radically novel and revolutionary at that time and still is today. It speaks of the interconnectivity between God and His creation on a level that is understandable by our actions.

We pray today, Lord, let me be guided by Your Holy words. Help me to keep ever before my mind the feelings and expressions that are from God and necessary for me to share with others. As I want to be loved, may love others. As I want to be forgiven, may I forgive others. As I want to be known, may I know my fellow man. Amen.

Family, the Will

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Armodoxy for Today: Family

A beautiful tradition exists in America, a day to honor mothers and another day to honor fathers. Just before the Summer, on the second Sunday in May and on the third Sunday in June we celebrate Mother’s and Father’s Day.

Biological ties are the first indicators of parental designation. We each have a biological mother and a biological father. As we know, parents come in all forms and types and sometimes the biological connection takes a secondary position to someone who has nurtured, cared and loved an individual.

Jesus identified family not by biological links, but by the love and care we show towards him. In the Gospel of Matthew, we read that, as Jesus was teaching, someone approached and said, “’Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.’ But Jesus answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” (12:46-50) The other synoptic Gospels also record incidents such as this with the same definition of family tie.

For Jesus, its very clear, family is defined by ties that demonstrate our love. “Whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Furthermore, as Armenians our names end in “ian” (or “yan”). The “ian” suffix means “the family of.” Petrosian is the family of Petros, or Peterson. Davidian is the family of David or Davidson. And it only follows that a “Christian” is a person who belongs to the family of Christ. Jesus spells it out very nicely, that to be a Christian means we accept the call, and we do the will of God.

We pray in the Lord’s prayer, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” As children of God, we take it upon ourselves to do the will of God. We become the agents by which God’s will is done on earth.

Let us pray Psalm 40, “Many, Lord my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. Sacrifice and offering you did not desire… I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.”

An Up Reclaimed

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Next Step with Fr. Vazken #720: The “here we go again” trigger to depression: Accept or not? Overcoming depression with evolution: Reacting to Ukraine. Reclaiming faith and a conference in its 6th incarnation. Claiming and Reclaiming life from the Gospel Narrative (Luke 2). The family today.
Reclaim 2022 Conference
Armenian Film Foundation & Michael Hagopian
Don & Lorna Miller and “Survivors”
Shoah Foundation at USC
Anush & Inga
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org
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Post-God Authority

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Next Step #679: Finding authority in a post-God world. Defining boundaries and parameters for defining Christ, Christianity and real magic. A look at life after cancer, plus 10: Crutches, friendship and family. A humbling look at the ego. Wrapping up 13 years of podcasting: the virtual church.
Forty Days to Healing by Fr. Vazken
60 Minutes: UFOs regular sighting by military
WD168 this week
Parik Nazarian Cycle of Life and on Cycle of Life on Amazon
Cover: Sunset over Redwood Shores, Fr. Vazken 2021
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org
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Processing the Poconos

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Next Step #530: Following through on an order: Fr. Vazken recounts an “order” that was given to him a quarter-of-a-century ago (Cupertino) and the blessing found among Oriental Orthodox Christians gathered in the Poconos. The Gospel of Suffering & the Cross. Articulating goodness & blessings with our greetings and embraces. The sound of the Youth of Orthodoxy.
Malankara Orthodox Church
Youth & Family Conference Schedule
Press Release on Conference
Fr. Vazken’s Blog on the Conference
Larry Tart’s Page
Freedom through Vigilance by Larry Tart
Grape Blessing Instruction
Grape Blessing – AC101
Engineered by Ken Nalik
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org
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Gateway to the Homeland

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Next Step #264 – June 27, 2013 

The Supreme Court ruling on same sex marriages – put into perspective, in the context of Orthodoxy and the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Definitions and laws in the Armodox tradition. In this episode, Fr. Vazken discusses issues of homosexual marriages, unions, family, and the horrifying realities experienced through Datev Outreach, namely domestic violence and “unwanted” children. Also – a look at Armenia – as a pilgrim travels on the CYMA program in contrast to a young seminarian in the Soviet State in 1977.
Links…
Suicide-Domestic Violence victim in Armenia
Anush’s Pomegranate
Song: Mariam Matossian’s “Hayastani Aghchigner”
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com
Now on Stitcher Radio! 

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