Tag Archive for: good

Order from the Spirit

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Armodoxy for Today: Order

Chaotic life is difficult life. Chaos is characterized by random or unpredictable behavior. Hence, chaos carries a negative connotation because unpredictability leads to undesired results, disorganization and confusion. As people we opt for organization. The laws of gravity are organization on a large, astronomical scale, but on a human scale, we like things to fit properly and have order to them.

And then there’s life, which can be unpredictable, almost to the point of randomness, but not quite. In gambling casinos, slot machines are very popular, and though they are computerized and have schedule of payouts, we know that they are a very popular attraction as people try to beat the odds of a seemingly random spin of the wheels. In fact, most gambling games are based on certain formulas that include random factors, and yet the popularity of these games is a testament to people trying to beat the odds, or we can say, predict the unpredictable.

A chaotic life is a difficult life. Religion is a means of bringing order to the chaos by explaining the unexplainable. Something as beautiful as childbirth, for instance, is accompanied by excruciating pain. In the Book of Genesis, when God says to the woman, “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children…” (3:16) we find one such example of an explanation. With a curse by God, we receive an answer to the question of why does a lovely and natural event such as childbirth come with massive pain?

Much of life is filled with these puzzles, some are associated with the mundane, while others address issues of war, pain and suffering. Why do bad things happen to good people? Why do good things happen to bad people? These twin questions usually stimulate people to seek answers in the spiritual world, in religion. There seems to be a random distribution of goods in the world. Why are some born to poverty and struggle through all of life, while others, of no effort of their own, are born in prosperity and seem to enjoy a life of luxury?

Religion gives, or should attempt to give, answers to these questions. At the end, the object is to bring order from seeming chaos.

In Christianity, the answer is given by Jesus Christ. His answer is pure and asks that we engage with Him in such a way that “Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven.” That engagement is the gravity that brings order to the chaos of our lives.

Today, by way of prayer, we read the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10) – Jesus’ definition of a life lived with the order of God:

  • “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  •  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
  •  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
  •  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.
  •  Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
  •  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
  •  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
  •  Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Good for Evil

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Armodoxy for Today: The Advent Series – Praying for Evil

Following Jesus’ commandment to not resist evil, these words are only a natural continuation of the sentiment. Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, 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, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:43-48)

Once again, these words seem to go against the natural order of things. These words are exactly as they are said. In other words, there is no way to find other meanings to these words. Yes, they are opposite what you have been taught. Right off Jesus tells us that the natural order is overruled, by prefacing the commandment with the words, “You have heard that it was said…”

Everything here is predicated on the goal of being “perfect, just your Father in heaven is perfect.”

There are four sets of action and response.

  1. To do good to people who do good to you, or
  2. To repay evil with evil is only human.
  3. To repay good with evil, is itself evil. It is from the devil.
  4. To repay evil with good, is divine. It is from God.

Before we go any further, let the words of today sink in deep. It is the cornerstone of Jesus’ teaching. These words can only be said from a place of love.

Today we pray the Jesus prayer, as recorded in the Gospel of St. John, 17:25-26, O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them. Amen.

Breaking in Remembrance of 9/11

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Armodoxy for Today: 9/11 Break for the Good

Every September 11, since 2001, we here in America take a moment to reflect on true evil and its manifestation in the world today. Of course, if you’re in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, the DRC, Ethiopia, or Armenia, you really don’t need to take a moment, hour or day off to realize this. In many places of the world, the devastation and the obscene acts of destruction and hatred that we saw at the 9/11 terrorist attacks here in the United States, is a matter of life and living.

Tragically, evil exists. It always has. Because evil is demonstrated in such an overwhelming and destructive manner, it is easy to overlook the extent to which good plays in the world. As we reflect on the over 3,000 people that perished in the cowardly attacks on the American people on September 11, 2001, we remember also the heroes of the day, who selflessly put life and safety to one side to help those in dire need.

The images of the twin towers at the World Trade Center, with two jumbo jets crashed into the side of the buildings, fire, smoke, jumpers and then finally the horrific collapse of the buildings are forever engraved in our memory. The images we may have missed are those of the first responders, the New York City fire firefighters who entered the buildings with the knowledge that they may not come back out alive. The police and EMT professionals who went into destroyed buildings and sifted through rubble looking for signs of life and pulled out living and dead bodies, only to continue to their search for the next body.

And then there is Mychal Fallon Judge, a Roman Catholic priest and Franciscan friar who served as a chaplain to the New York City Fire Department. His prayers for the firefighters offered them encouragement. He ministered to the homeless, people with AIDS, the sick and injured. The morning of 9/11, upon hearing that the towers had been struck by jet liners, he went directly to ground zero. There he prayed and comforted others. He died that morning becoming the first certified fatality of the September 11 attacks.

Firefighters picked up his breathless body and took him a few blocks away to St. Peter’s Catholic Church where they placed him before the altar. A picture capturing that moment has since been called “An American Pieta.”

We take this break on 9/11 to reflect on the beauty that we call life and remember that the power of good is always greater than the power of evil.

Today hear the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  – John 15:13

From the Armenian Church’s requiem prayer, O Christ, Son of God, forbearing and compassionate, have mercy in Your love as our Creator, upon the souls of those who are at rest, especially on your servant Fr. Mychal Fallon Judge and those who perished in the attack of September 11, 2001. Be mindful of them on the great day of the coming of Your kingdom. Number and glorify them with the company of Your saints at Your right hand. Amen.

Contrast

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Armodoxy for Today: Contrast

What is darkness? Very simply, it is the absence of light. Darkness is only definable in the presence of light.

What is evil? Very simply, it is the absence of good. Evil is defined in reference to the good.

Some take this one step further and define Hell as the place where there is the absence of God. With this simple definition it is possible to find Hell here on Earth now, not at some future time. Still, others will argue that by definition there cannot be a place where God does not exist.

Questions and ponderings such as these are more than mental gymnastics, they are brought to the forefront of our thoughts when light is threatened. It is part of our natural defense system because we are afraid of the dark. As humans, we want to stay in the light but sometimes the darkness can be so overwhelming that we succumb to its power.

The power of sunlight is so great, that its light enlightens our entire planet and heats it as well. Likewise, the power of Jesus, as Light of the World, is so great, that His Light overcomes the Darkness.

Jesus begins his ministry by referencing the prophet’s saying  –  “…The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.”

The Evangelist St. Matthew continues the narrative (chapter 4), “From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

We pray, Christ, the true Light, make my soul worthy to encounter with joy the light of your divine glory, on the day I will be called by you; and to rest in good hope, in the mansions of the righteous, until the great day of your coming. Have mercy upon your creatures, and on me, a sinner. Amen. (St. Nersess Shnorhali, I confess with Faith)

Exercising Exorcism

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Next Step #430: (rebroadcast of episode #70) It’s not all about head-spins and vomit, as Fr. Vazken follows up on reports of exorcism. The nature/nurture argument in defining evil and the devil. Where are balances of good and evil in our lives. Bulletin from the Vatican about New Media in the church. A look at spirituality in the world and rising trends.
Ani’s Bubbles: Sand and Stone
Shogher Jan performed by Gor Mkhitarian written by Gomidas Vartabed
Photo: Alex Grey’s “Life & Death 7 faces”
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Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for InHisShoes.org
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Clarity to See Responsibility

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Next Step #78 – December 3, 2009

A look at Jesus’ answer to Evil in the Gospel of Luke 13 as an instruction to shift emphasis from others to ourselves and accept responsibility for our lives. Advent Sunday #2 – is a step closer to introducing meaning to the Christmas season and the value of finding a lasting “Peace on Earth.” It’s got to be more than a Christmas card greeting! Celebs that make it into the cast: Tiger Woods, the Salahis, Fred Claus and much mush (sic) more.
Song of the Day: About Light by Gor Mkhitarian
Bubbles by Ani: A Modern Thanksgiving Prayer
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for ePostle.net
Sponsored by Pomegranateandeye.etsy.com

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