Tag Archive for: Miracles

The Conditions of Prayer – Day 30 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: The Conditions of Prayer – Day 30 of Lent

Much of your life has changed during this Lenten season and these past few days your prayer life has matured. Your prayers become calls to action, to realize the dreams that are set deep in your heart and not the desires based on the whims of today.

The model of the Lord’s Prayer, the “Our Father” is the quintessential prayer, because of its author and because of the make up of the prayer. It focuses on everything that is necessary for us. Including a condition statement.

We ask for God’s forgiveness to the extent that we forgive others. “Forgive us our trespasses” we say, “as we forgive those who trespass against us.” To receive forgiveness from our Father, we have to forgive others. If we partially forgive, we are then partially forgiven. If we forgive completely, we can expect the same forgiveness of our sins.

Forgiveness is such important part of prayer life that Jesus repeats this condition after giving us the Lord’s prayer. You’ll find in the verses that follow immediately Jesus explaining, “For if you forgive other people for their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive other people, then your Father will not forgive your offenses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)

The effectiveness of the prayer is based on you being of clean heart. For this reason forgiveness is directly associated in the instruction to pray. Even more specifically, Jesus instructs us that, …Whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.  Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” (Mark 11:23-26)

Prayer is effective from a clean heart, one which has been wiped of sin. Herein we learn that the cleanliness of heart begins with us forgiving others.

The act of charity today is to forgive, plain and simple. Anyone who has hurt you, needs to be forgiven today, before you move forward. Fast from anger.

Treat yourself to Rice Dessert with Cherries, today’s recipe found below.

We pray, Lord, help me to forgive. I open myself up to you. You have forgiven me not only seven times, but seventy seven times seven times. Now, instill in me a heart that will move forward with forgiveness so that my prayers have meaning. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 30: Rice Desert with Cherries

Signs Around Us

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Armodoxy for Today: The Signs Around Us

Mr. Gaspar is a sculptor. He works in the courtyard of the St. Leon Armenian Cathedral in Burbank.  For years I have watched him as he turns slabs of stone into ornamental creations. Figures, historic characters, churches and religious symbols take form in his hands.

As I watch the evolution of the stone into art I wonder if it is in hand of the sculptor that they take form, or are the art pieces already there in the stone waiting for the sculptor to chisel it out? My question goes to the huge structures such as the monasteries of Armenia or the ultimate riddle of Geghard, which is a monastery bore out of a side of a mountain. Was that monastery always there waiting to be carved out? Or did the sculptors envision the monastery and chiseled accordingly? Realize also, that on a mountain of that size and a monastery with so many rooms, there is no room for mistakes.

The questioning may sound odd, but if you look at the story wedding feast described in the second chapter of the Gospel according to St. John, there is a parallel set of questions. The story where Jesus changes water into wine ends with, This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed in Him. (2:11) This is recorded as the first of the signs that would bring people to Him. More importantly, the author points to the fact that because of these signs people believed in Him. This correlation between signs and followings is one that I struggle with as a priest trying to engage people in a higher understanding – a maturity – of faith.

The so called “supernatural events” such as changing the molecules of water to wine, or walking on water without sinking, or quieting a storm, or healing a leper, giving sight to a blind man, or resurrecting the dead, seem to the be the attractions that always are thrown out as proof that Jesus is person we say that He is. Instead, if we accept Him as who He is, then these are not supernatural events, rather very natural for God. In so understanding, the very natural events around us become testaments to the grandeur of God and the sacredness of life. A seed placed in ground draws life from nutrients, water and the Sun, becomes a tree and bears fruit to feed a population. Two cells meet and develop into a unique life form that is defined by its molecular make up and personality, with a set of fingerprints unlike anyone else’s in history. Philosophers have pondered numbers and cosmologies; mathematics have defined physical laws that lay the groundwork for the machinery to fly with the birds and now propel humanity to explore the stars and life systems. Each of these are worthy of our wonder and awe, that is, each of these are miracles. The maturity of faith is in our understanding that God is inside each of us, as the soul He breathes into us, attests. In that understanding of God within us, the road to peace can be assured.

Armodoxy is a testament to a group of people who discovered and celebrated the miracle, the wonder and the excitement of everyday life and so understood that God is never apart from us.

From the Armenian Church’s Book of Hours, Lord of hosts, commit our souls to the angel of peace, who will come and keep us tranquil by day and night, while awake and resting. Grant that we pass the rest of the night in peace, and arrive at the service of the morning, to offer worship and glory to the Holy Trinity. Now and forever and ever. Amen

Cover Photo: Sculptures at St. Leon Armenian Cathedral, photo

Supernatural to Natural

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Armodoxy for Today: The Supernatural Within

Continuing our journey through Armodoxy, we bring the supernatural home today. If we put away our prejudices, and keep the ego in check, we find it easier to see the supernatural in daily occurrences, whether in the pollination of a flower, the amazing structure a duckling’s tail feather, or the supernatural occurrence healing of the physical.

When we look at the metaphor of the Vine and the branches which Jesus articulates, “I am the vine and you are the branches… you cannot bear fruit without being connected to the vine,” we find a natural progression of events. A branch cannot bear fruit if it is not connected to the vine! Yes, obviously. It’s so natural that it is a given. It is an axiom, not even necessary to mention. But our “dull faculties” (Einstein’s words) have become conditioned to the point that we doubt the obvious, and so we must repeat it for clarity. Jesus should not have had to give this lesson in agricultural botany to a group of people who cultivated the land for their livelihood, but he did. Now imagine how much more we need to, and must, reiterate matters with which we are not familiar.

In my first parish I had a young lady named Leslie who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The diagnosis was devastating enough, without learning of the many horrible and frightening treatments she would endure to fight this disease and with no certainty of winning that battle. Within our parish community the word spread quickly, and we were all in various degrees of anguish. She was a mother of a beautiful daughter who was too young to realize what lurked ahead for mom. Her husband, stoic at the news, was ever so supportive and determined to overcome the cancer. We braced for the worst with members of our church even discussing how to take care of the little child in her mother’s absence.

That Sunday, as all Sundays, we celebrated the Divine Liturgy and distributed the Holy Eucharist. After church services Leslie approached me. She told me – not asked me – “I received Holy Communion today. It is the Body and the Blood of Jesus Christ.” I nodded my head, yes, you did. She continued, “Well, if Jesus Christ is within me, what cancer can survive inside of me? There is no place for that cancer in my body!”

She said this with such conviction and strength. I picture her face saying this to me to this day and my eyes water as I swell up with emotion thinking about it. If Jesus Christ is inside of me, what business does cancer have within me? Yes! That’s exactly what she said.

Leslie went on to live. She and her husband brought two more beautiful daughters to this world and through the years, we stay in touch, even if only for a Christmas card, with pictures of the family growing and flowering. Even more, she is forever connected to me through the “Vine” that connects us all. Her story has helped me through some of my worst days, and I share it with others, not only to offer hope, but to change our perception of the supernatural to natural.

What we call Supernatural is natural, normal, for those who exist in a different plane of understanding. That plane is not that far away. It is no different than perceiving heaven here on earth. The exercise of losing ego and the dropping of the prejudices we harbor against the miracles of life bring us closer to that reality.

We pray today from St. Nersess Shnorhali’s prayer of the evening hours, “Gracious Lord, commit me to a good angel, who may guide my soul in peace, and carry it undisturbed through the wickedness of evil to heavenly places. Amen.”

Cover: Jermuk Falls, 2019 Fr. Vazken

Dropping Supernatural Prejudices

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Armodoxy for Today: Dropping Supernatural Prejudices

At the end of the last century, musician/guitarist extraordinaire Carlos Santana put out an album of music under the title Supernatural. The album was a huge success, including breaking the record for most Grammy Awards, which up to that time was held by legendary pop star Michael Jackson. The album featured artists from CeeLo Green, to Dave Matthews to Eric Clapton, and many others. Santana used the name “Supernatural” for his album because it was beyond the natural, that such greats would come together to put together this music. He felt that the call to come together was also supernatural.

Often, we find ourselves in unexplainable situations, and when we run out of those explanations we appeal to the supernatural. Yes, we can say that it was a talented group of musicians, to say the least, but Carlos Santana chose to say the most, and said it was supernatural.

Some will doubt that there was anything supernatural. Others will swear by it. While still others, will not even care how the music was produced, as much as it was good music which they are able to enjoy it. In other words, not everything needs to be analyzed.

For the most part, people have prejudices against supernatural events because those events don’t fit nicely in the order of their universe.

Before the Civil Rights movement and legislation in the 1960s, Black Americans were asked (or forcibly placed) to the back of the bus. That was “their place,” they were told by people who pre-judged them, which is what “prejudice” means – to pre-judge. Because religion has not presented the supernatural in an accessible manner, or, as Einstein alluded, “our dull faculties” are not tuned to understand senses beyond ourselves, we harbor these prejudices.

Presenting the effects of the supernatural is not an easy task. Think of Santana’s album; finding the effects is easy because it is the product itself. Armodoxy makes the effects of the supernatural just as easy to find in the work of the Church by pointing to the life that has been lived and is lived by Armenians as a miracle of the supernatural. A group of people who have no military strategy, no military, no political might, no political ally, and not only live but thrive can only be attributed to a supernatural force. It is on the same scale as Santana’s claim of a supernatural force bringing the musicians and music together. Today’s challenge is to drop our prejudices and not confine religious experience to “their place” where “they belong.

Supernatural occurrences are more common than we are led to believe, if we are willing to look within.

We pray today, Lord, help me to look within. Allow me to inventory my life and see the true miracles, including my life, my family and the relationships that sustain me. May I be open to the natural and the supernatural. Amen.

Cover: Noravank, 2023 Luna & Gregory Beylerian

Transfigured Reaction

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Armodoxy for Today: Transfigured Reaction

Part 2 of the Transfiguration Story

The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ as recorded in the gospels, (Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, and Luke 9:28–36) tells how three Disciple, Peter, John and James, witnessed a glimmer of the Divine Light. Jesus was transfigured,  “…His Face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” (Luke 9:29) Two historical figures – Moses and Elijah, the symbols of the law and the prophets – appear “in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.” A voice from above is heard “This is my beloved Son, listen to him.”

Peter turns to Jesus and says on behalf of his disciple-brothers, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. I will put up three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”

Certainly, under any other circumstance, we would compliment Peter’s initiative and thoughtfulness to look after the comfort of the guests. But today? Jesus is radiating the Divine Light! He’s shining! For this moment of singularity, we humans are given a glimpse of the Eternal Presence, of the Light that Shines in the Darkness, at the Transfigured Christ! And his response? “Let us make three tents for you!” A message was being conveyed but it was ignored, whether intentional or not is secondary to the fact that he was consumed by worldly interests in the face of this most auspicious event.

Peter’s response to this event was not too much different to our response to God’s presence today. Messages are sent to us daily – several times during a day – but, intentionally or not, we lose sight of the beauty. How many flowers and trees did you pass today on your walk or drive? I imagine, you passed by so many that, familiarity has bred contempt, and you passed by without standing in awe that each of these are the miracle of seedlings, soil and sun. How often have we ignored a child’s plea for attention, only to chase after some insignificant matter? Is that child’s cry, not the voice of God?  When have we truly remarked at the miracle of life, of a single heart beating for 20, 40, 80 or 100 years? And to think, every night the stars, the galaxies, the universe comes out on display, and we walk in other directions until the morning light makes them all vanish.

The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ is a reminder of the awesome glory of God that shines, that radiates all around us. The Christ-light is there, waiting for our reaction. We can stand in awe of a sunset, or put on sunglasses, or pull up an umbrella, or come inside and turn on the light switch. Christ was Transformed. The law and the prophets had gathered around him. The voice of the Father is heard. Peter and the disciples had a choice on how to react as do we every day.

Let us pray, Lord Jesus Christ, when you transfigured and radiated the Light which came to us from the beginning of Time, you gave us yet another opportunity to connect to eternity. Guide me to find glimpses of the Light amidst the darkness that seems to consume my thoughts and my paths. May your presence guide my life so that I may celebrate the glimpses of beauty and joy that are always present in my life. Amen.

The Great Fish Story

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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.

Miracles from Another Vantage Point

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Next Step #161 – July 7, 2011

Find the Miracles in your life by taking a look from a different vantage point. Beyond the thunder and lightning, here is a challenge to view miracles from the vantage point of God – it’s more than the blind seeing and the paralyzed walking. It’s powerful. From his own personal health challenges, Fr. Vazken invites the listener to see the Power of Christ as in the healing process. From Preston Platform – a view of a son and his father, to a Catholic Church in Brussels – a group prays and meditates, the miracle cannot be prevented! Four years after the “7×77” conference, the message of Forgiveness points us to God’s Vantage Point. Armodoxy explained by Gor, Komitas and the Partridge.
Music: Gor Mkhitarian “Gakavik” by Komitas Vartabed http://www.gormusic.com/
Ani’s Bubbles: “Patriotic Message: JFK’s inaugural address”
Links:
On Forgiveness: www.7×77.org
Holy Etchmiadzing: www.armenianchurch.org
St. Hagop Sunday School (Montreal): www.sourphagop.org
Armodoxy’s new channel on Youtube: www.youtube.com/armodoxy
Produced by Suzie Shatarevyan for epostle.net
Look for The Next Step on blubrry.com

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Turning Dreams to Reality

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The Next Step with Fr. Vazken – #6 – July 23, 2008

Inspired by the moon landing 39 years ago this week, Fr. Vazken talks about dreaming and turning them into reality. Is it as easy as waking up?
Darfur update – Bashir defies the world community.
Interview with Gor Mkhitarian who discusses his music and spirituality.
World premiere of the song “Miracles” – part of an album of spiritual music to debut in December 2008. “Miracles” is Gor’s latest creation. Gor continues to discuss about prayer and his song, “About God.”

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