Tag Archive for: Golden Rule

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.

Repayment: Human, Diabolic, Divine

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Armodoxy for Today: Repayment

Jesus instructs, “Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). This is often called The Golden Rule. Social psychologists categorize this rule under the principle of reciprocity, that is, in different social situations we pay back what we receive from others. In other words, if someone does you a favor, you’re likely to do a favor in return. It’s common for organizations to send a gift – labels, calendars, cards, etc. – with an envelope expecting that the principle of reciprocity will kick in and you’ll send back a donation.

Just the opposite, in Armodoxy, our actions are not based on the actions of others. We are called to give and share our God given talents without expecting in return. The Golden Rule is a proactive rule for conduct, but in terms of repayment, Jesus points to a hirer rule when he says, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…” (Matthew 6:44).

The higher expectation is in fulfillment of Christ’s invitation and challenge to, “Be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 6:48). To be mindful of this, you may plot it out in a matrix: to repay goodness with goodness or to pay evil with evil is only human. To repay goodness with evil, is diabolic. But to repay evil with goodness, is divine.

So much of our life is built as a reaction to the actions of others. The challenge is to live proactively, not waiting for repayment, but doing what is good and the way we would expect others to treat us.

Let us pray from the Book of Hours of the Armenian Church, “Receive, O God, these prayers and our service. Make Your light of righteousness and wisdom shine forth upon us and make us children of light and of day, so that in godliness we may lead our life and fulfil it without offence, for you are our helper and Savior and to you is befitting glory and honor. Amen.

Small Steps

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Armodoxy for Today: Small Steps

Richard Dawson was a popular game show host during the 1970s. In one episode of the “Family Feud,” he came out to the cheers of the studio audience and in front of the millions who had tuned in to the weekly show. He took a long puff from a cigarette, exhaled, threw the butt on the floor, stamped it out, turned to camera and exclaimed, “That was my last cigarette!” The audience cheered even louder. And then, without missing a beat, he added, “… for the rest of the show.”

Often, we are overwhelmed with the size and magnitude of our dilemmas and problems. The war in Ukraine has been going on for a couple of years. Artsakh was taken over by the Azeris. The war between Hamas and Israel continues with a new campaign. Next to wars, our planet is threatened by weather changes, overbearing populations and food shortages. Add to these global issues our own private and personal challenges of health, finance and relationships and it’s easy to see why so many people are overwhelmed and diagnosis of depression is on the up. We have heard the Chinese proverb, “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step,” but our gaze is usually stretched out so far ahead that we fear inevitable defeat. We succumb to those fears and abandon the run.

Armodoxy is discovered in the long run. It has been cultivated through a history of overwhelming odds for survival and has pulled through. Armodoxy came from a people who thanked God for the day and found themselves in continuous prayer for millennia. It is the small victories, the day-to-day accomplishments that add and make the entire story of life. The smoking habit is overcome by putting out that first cigarette. That long race is won by taking the first step. Peace is achieved by the small expressions of compassion and understanding.

Take a moment to enjoy the victory of a single minute, hour, day, year and you’ll find that the prize is a life filled with meaning and purpose.

Today we pray a prayer from the Armenian Church’s Book of Hours, Jamakirk, Lord our God, we give thanks to You, for You have granted us to pass this day in peace. Grant us, O Lord, to pass this evening and the night before us without sin and stumbling, and to stand firm and abide steadfastly in faith, in hope and in love and in the observance of Your commandments. Give peace to the world and stability to Your holy Church and salvation to our souls. For to You is befitting glory, dominion, and honor, now and forever and ever. Amen.

 

Repayment – Daily Message

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Armodoxy for Today
Repayment – Daily Message

Jesus instructs, “Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you” (Matthew 7:12). This is often called The Golden Rule. Social psychologists categorize this rule under the principle of reciprocity, that is, in different social situations we pay back what we received from others. In other words, if someone does you a favor, you’re likely to do a favor in return. It’s common for organizations to send a gift – labels, calendars, cards, etc. – with an envelope expecting that the principle of reciprocity will kick in and you’ll send back a donation.

In Armodoxy, our actions are not based on the actions of others. We are called to give and share our God given talents without expecting in return. The Golden Rule is a proactive rule for conduct, but in terms of repayment, Jesus points to a hirer rule when he says, “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…” (Matthew 6:44).

The higher expectation is in fulfillment of Christ’s invitation and challenge to, “Be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 6:48). In fact, to repay goodness with goodness is only human. To repay goodness with evil, is diabolic. But to repay evil with goodness, is divine.

So much of our life is built as a reaction to the actions of others. The challenge is to live proactively, not waiting for repayment, but doing what is good and the way we would expect others to treat us.

Let us pray from the Book of Hours of the Armenian Church, “Receive, O God, these prayers and our service. Make Your light of righteousness and wisdom shine forth upon us and make us children of light and of day, so that in godliness we may lead our life and fulfil it without offence, for you are our helper and Savior and to you is befitting glory and honor. Amen.

Epilogue to a Visit and a Blessing

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Next Step #382: Wrapping up and connecting dots between the Pope’s US visit and the Miuron Blessing. Domestic violence victim Zarouhi Petrosian remembered; Separating the messenger from the message; St. Thaddeus: Oil to King Apkar; Miuron of “Victory”; Absorbing Energy, The Golden Rule in context and today… and much more.
Links:
Armen Donelian “Hymn”
Pope Francis remarks to Congress
Harry Hagopian Blog
Miuron Blessing in Etchmiadzin
Zarouhi Petrosian
Golden Rule comparison chart
Shakira “Imagine”
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A World & Life Anointed with Miuron

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Next Step 381: The Blessings that come with the Holy Miuron – part 2 (continued from last week #380) of the Miuron Blessing. Also – Pope Francis in the US and his remarkable remarks before Congress. Definitions: The value of Religion and the direction of Politics. A reminder of the Golden Rule and the danger of Christianity in the leftist debate. “Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future.” – Oscar Wilde.
Song: “Strangers in a Strange Land” by Leon Russell
Miuron Blessing: www.etchmiadzin.com
Pope Francis’ Remarks before US Congress, video (Pope’s entrance to chambers at minute 51:00)
Pope Francis’ Remarks before US Congress, transcript
Lunar Eclipse
Vanity Fair Late Night
Photo credit – Last Rites
Fr. Junipero Serra
Our feed has moved! Subscribe to In His Shoes » Next Step with Fr. Vazken by Email to continue receiving notifications when new episodes are published.
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!