Tag Archive for: Maturity

Winding up to Maturity – Day 38 of 40

Armodoxy for Today: Winding up to Maturity – Day 38 of Lent

St. Paul’s treatise on love is a staple at wedding ceremonies and anniversary parties. Love is kind, patient, not boastful, not envious, says the Apostle, among many other qualities of what love is and what love is not. This list, from St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians (chapter 13), is a great reminder of this most essential part of life, whether its read at a wedding, at a recommitment to vows, or just as a stand alone daily-reminder of what it means to love.

Later in that same chapter, St. Paul makes a statement which is often quickly glanced over, but on closer inspection is the purpose of our Lenten travels. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. Love demands maturity of faith so that it rises from the emotional writings on greeting cards, to becoming the indispensable element in a way of life. For this reason, in the Armenian Church the symbol of love is not the small heart, or the plump Cherib angel, but the Sign of the Holy Cross is the ultimate symbol of love because it stands for sacrifice. So it follows that in mature manner, with a mature understanding of the Holy Cross, we come to understand the Apostle John’s words that God is love. Unconditional love. If we have love in our heart and if we have love for one another, Jesus tells us, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” We are Christians by the love that we share and spread. So great is this condition in the Christian experience that not loving excludes you from using the title “Christian.”

Jesus words follow: Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’  And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

As the Lenten period is coming to an end, we have matured. We should understand our place in the world and Love must be the guiding force behind our actions.

Your act of charity today is to reflect on the maturity that has come over you during the Lenten period. Fast from childish expressions that are void of meaning. Tonight’s menu treat is Peach Salsa, with the recipe at the link below.

Let us pray, O Father Almighty, I stand before you on these last days of the Lenten Season, disciplined by the exercises of the last several weeks. Imprint on me the sign of Love, that I may always hold it high as a symbol of selfless giving and love, to be worthy to be called your child. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 38: Peach Salsa

Repetitive Cleansing

Armodoxy for Today: Cleansing

During this week, the Scriptural reading given to us by the Church follows the first miracle – the water into wine – which we encountered yesterday. John 2:12-22, shares the story of Jesus cleaning the temple.

Jesus found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.  When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.  And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 

In the synoptic Gospels – Matthew, Mark and Luke – a story similar to this appears as Jesus makes his final entry into Jerusalem, the day traditionally referred to as Palm Sunday. In the Gospel of John, we read the story at the beginning of his ministry. Building on the topic of “Maturity of Faith” from yesterday’s Armodoxy lesson, we may assume that the cleansing of the temple was not a singular event.

The Holy Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus, is distributed and received every week. The repetitive nature of the Divine Liturgy and Holy Communion is an expression of Jesus coming into our lives, not only once, but always there to remove and cleanse all that does not belong in the sanctity of our lives.

The Gospel continues, So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. “Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

The Cleansing of the Temple is a scene right out of the movies. It speaks to people on many levels. It is the man-of-principle going up against the corporate machine. It is the individual versus the institution. Most importantly, it is Jesus Christ entering our temple, our lives. Once there, he is ready to clean house, to remove the hatred, the laziness, the envy and jealousy that are doing business there. It is up to us, as is the case in the story, whether we argue with him, stop him from doing so, or open ourselves to the cleansing he provides.

Let us pray, Lord Jesus Christ, you enter the Temple in Jerusalem to clean out all who do not belong there. Come into the holiness of my temple and wash me thoroughly from my sin. Rid my life of pride, envy, anger, laziness, gluttony, lust and covetousness, and should they return may your Holy Body and Blood be forever cleansing me, into your Kingdom. Amen.

18i23/17i24

Beyond Parlor Tricks

Next Step #762 – January 19, 2023 – Beyond parlor tricks, taking the water-to-wine miracle to heart. Continuing on the theme of maturity of faith as a challenge for the day. Rev. Bernice King: Time to move from quoting to living. Artsakh, Armenia and the death of children known as soldiers. A higher calling: A call for peace from a beautiful world.
Rev. Bernice King’s 2023 Words
15 Killed in Armenia
Miss Armenia: call for peace
Shpro’s Rant
David Crosby
Cover: EnvatoElements
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for Epostle.net
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