Tag Archive for: Perfection

Seven Humans to One Divine

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Armodoxy for Today: Seven humans to One Divine

This week, in examining the concept of Expulsion, we found that what separates us from God is our sin. Like the curtain that is draped across the Holy Altar in our Armenian churches, which prevents us from witnessing the celebration of the Holy and epic Divine Liturgy, our sin prevents us from witnessing the grandeur and glory of God in the fullest.

We learned that sin means missing the mark of perfection and in that sense, we are all sinful because we are imperfect. Jesus makes sure that we understand that perfection as a goal, means going beyond the human expectations. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus contrasts the human with the Divine, saying “You have heard…” for instance “do not murder” “But I tell you…” anger / hatred toward another is the same as murder. Or having lustful thoughts about another’s wife is committing adultery. And the higher standard of loving your enemies and praying for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5)

Herein, we begin to understand why the Church singled out seven expressions as the “deadly sins.” Namely, pride, envy, gluttony, lust, covetousness, anger and laziness. These are the feelings, the expressions, that prevent us from attaining perfection. They are expressions that are under our own control. These are the human expressions that must be managed and overcome in aiming for the Divine.

We pray from the nineth hour of St. Nersess Shnorhali’s “I confess with Faith,”  All provident Lord, place Your holy fear as a guard before my eyes so they may not look lustfully; before my ears so that they may not delight in hearing evil words; before my mouth so that it may not speak any falsehoods; before my heart so that it may not think evil; before my hands so that they may not do injustice; before my feet, that they may not walk in the paths of injustice; but so direct them, that they may always be according to all Your commandments. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner. Amen.

Expulsion Excerpts

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Armodoxy For today, expulsion Sunday

This Sunday of Lent is called expulsion Sunday. When looking at the Gospel passage prescribed to us by the Church Fathers, we understand that we are being called to a more mature understanding of our faith and our responsibility as children of that faith.

Expulsion refers to humanity’s exile from Paradise, as told in the book of Genesis. Interestingly enough, the Scriptural passages for the day from both Romans 9 and 10 and Matthew chapter five, all point to our practicing the Gospel of Love as presented to us by Jesus Christ as I read the Gospel passage, listen carefully to what Christ is asking of us. The entire passage is from Matthew chapter five, verses 17 through 48 I will read an excerpt.

Jesus says, You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, you shall not murder, and whoever murders shall be liable to judgment. But I say to you that if you are angry with your brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment.

So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift before the altar and go, First be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift.

You have heard that it was said you shall not commit adultery, but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

You have heard that it was said from ancient times, you shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord. But I say to you, do not swear at all.

You have heard that it was said An eye for an eye and a tooth for tooth. But I say to you, do not resist an evildoer.

You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy, but I say to you, love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.

As I mentioned earlier, this is merely an excerpt from the entire Gospel passage, and I hope you will take some time to read the entire passage here, you understand that there is a law, but Jesus’s message is higher than that law. It is the fulfillment of that law. In other words, you know the law, but there is a higher standard, one that Jesus gives to us, one which he summarizes at the end of the passage by saying, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

So we are responsible for how our lives are lived. You see in the book of Genesis, in the story of the expulsion, the blame game was played, first by the woman, then by the man, then by the tempter. The woman made me do. It says the man to God who questions man’s disobedience, the serpent made me do. It says the woman, what Jesus tells us is, you me, we are all guilty of doing it. This week, we’ll take a closer look at that sin, what it means to us during the Lenten journey, how we deal with it, and what it means in our lives as Christians,

In Heaven & His Holy Name – 3of10

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Armodoxy for Today: 10x One Minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, Part 3 – In Heaven & His Holy Name

Our Father has a location; it is in heaven. Even though that beautiful blue sky and the clouds above our head are often referred to as heaven, we are merely conditioned to look up in reference to this word. As the dwelling place of God, it is more than just a location. Think of it as a state of being – a state of perfection, of communion, joy and transcendence.

Our Father, who is in Heaven, is another way of saying the God of the universe is everywhere – beyond us and within us. We each have the potential for goodness, completeness, and transcendence, as Jesus invites us to “Be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5)

In the Devine we acknowledge the sacredness of that perfection and therefore, Our Father’s name is hallowed – sacred and holy.

The third of 10, one minutes for Summertime.

Split Arrow – Day 11 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: Split Arrow Day 11 of Lent

When discussing saints, and in light of yesterday’s meditation on St. Gregory of Narek and his prayer, the question inevitably is asked, why do we need saints when we have Jesus as the ultimate example of living? And, in terms of intercessory prayer, why not pray directly to Jesus?

The questions are logical, indeed, but they are built on the assumption that the one excludes the other. Certainly, you can and should use Jesus as your guide. Certainly, you should pray directly to Jesus.

When we look at Jesus, we see the perfection of the Father. In Jesus, we see life lived without sin, without obstacles. In Richard Bach 1977 novel, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah, the main character flies his airplane and his windshield remains clean. That is, he avoids the need to scrape bugs off of the glass. Anyone who has driven any sizable number of hours knows that hitting bugs is inevitable. Gas-stops on the highways windshield cleaning fluids that are “effective on smashed bugs.” Imagine, being so perfect that you would miss the bugs completely. Or imagine an archer who could not help but hit the bullseye of a target. Each arrow she shot would hit the one she shot earlier and split right down the center. Now, that’s perfection! That’s part of the definition of the Divine.

Saints are people. They are not God, nor does the Church claim them to be. Pattern your life after Jesus’ life. You should. That’s what the saints did. They patterned their lives after Jesus, and with all of their frailties and imperfections they were able to rise above their humanity. They present a reachable goal and, for people in search of their own spiritual equilibrium, the stories of the saints offer hope.

Split the arrows, if you can. Don’t give up, if you can’t. The saints didn’t.

Your act of charity is to arrive at one hopeful event or occurrence in our world today. Fast from discouragement.

For roasted potato fans, we have a treat in today’s Lenten recipe (below).

Our prayer is from St. Gregory of Narek, If a pure hand lifts incense to you, may my voice join with the sound and sighs of prayers and reach you. If others’ petitions labor to be born with mine, may mine, thus multiplied, be rededicated to you. If this offering of the words of my soul be pleasing, may they be offered to you with those who have gone before… If the thread of hope is severed by the sword of transgression, may it be restored by the goodness of your almighty will. Amen. (Translated by Thomas J. Samuelian)

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 11: Roasted Potato Fans!

Aiming High – Day 9 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: Aiming High, Day 9 of Lent

Over 150 years ago, the novelist Jules Verne wrote a book called “From the Earth to the Moon: A direct Route in 97 Hours, 20 Minutes” in which he imagined a group of gun enthusiasts attempting to send three people to the Moon with an enormous space gun. It sounds crazy to us, and it sounded crazy in Verne’s time as well. Just a century later, the Americans and Soviets were vying for the position of flag-planter on the moon and in 1969 the US flag was planted by Buzz Aldrin with Neil Armstrong snapping the picture for proof.

From the first time man looked up to the heavens and wondered about the vast darkness speckled with lights and one large lit ball floating from one horizon to the other, he tried to harness an understanding of the patterns and timetables for the lights in the universe. Back in the 2nd century AD, a book was written by Lucien speculates about a journey to the Moon. Man’s ability to imagine has always been challenged with what may seem absurd, but innovation builds on dreams turned real.

We concluded yesterday’s message with a prayer from St. Gregory of Narek. In it, he uses the word “unreachable” in reference to God. The fact that God is unreachable doesn’t exclude us from reaching for the challenge, one which Jesus invites us to. In the Scriptural passage for Expulsion Sunday, Jesus extends this invitation, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) Unreachable? There is a reason Jesus challenges to reach for God.

Lent affords us an opportunity to reach high. It is part of the discipline we learn. Today’s charity act is to dream, given a chance to have one dream come true, what would that dream be? Fast, today, from considering anything, including that dream, as impossible.

Treat yourself to the Stuffed Eggplant, as today’s meal, found in the show notes.

We pray today, “Lord Jesus Christ, who are the Way, the Truth and the Life. Your demand from us is perfection, but we fall short. Through your unconditional Love you grant forgiveness so that we can find completeness and wholeness in life. Keep me mindful of this gift of forgiveness and completeness, Amen.”

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 9: Stuffed Eggplants

Celestial Time Table

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Armodoxy for Today: Celestial Timetable

I stood looking up at the heavens, waiting for the Moon to eclipse the Sun. We were in Texas to witness this unique phenomenon that takes place every year or two when the Moon passes between the Earth and Sun, in such a manner to be referred to as a solar eclipse. What made this one special was that it was accessible to us giving us a chance to view it in real time and real life.

Slowly the Moon made its way in front of the Sun as we viewed through welder’s glasses. We watched as a small sliver was bitten out of the Sun and slowly that sliver became larger and larger, into a shape that resembled a PacMac.

It was 1:30PM when the Sun was totally covered. We took off our glasses and looked straight up. In the darkness, the Moon stood directly over us with solar flares, ninety-three million miles behind the Moon, framing it perfectly, and “perfectly” is the operative word of the celestial event.

Centuries ago, astronomers studying the skies and the motions of the Sun and Moon, pinpointed this eclipse precisely with a time and a location – for us, in the desert of Texas. Trains, planes and automobiles will be delayed, but not so with the movement of these giant worlds. The perfection of Creation is evident in the patterns and paths we observe and measure.

We pray a prayer of praise, from Scripture, from the Book of Sirach, “The sun, when it appears, proclaims as it rises what a marvelous instrument it is, Great is the Lord who made it; at His orders it hurries on its course.” (Chapter 43)

cover: public domain earth-in-sky

Advent 38-50: Plank & Speck (Judging)

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Advent Day 38 of 50: Not Judging

Our study of the Essential Teachings of Jesus continues with his exhortation on judgement (Matthew 7:1-5).

“Judge not, that you be not judged,” says Jesus. “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

As we have seen throughout his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus pushes us to personal responsibility. In other words, our actions today, in the here and now, are the measure by which our Faith is defined. Judgement is fair if you are willing to be judged by the same standard. By putting it in these terms Jesus is giving us an opportunity to evaluate our lives, our work, and our actions.

In the process of self-evaluation, you are invited to look honestly at your motives and intention. If done sincerely you understand that you are part of the human condition, that is, you have faults, you are not perfect, and hence, you sin.

The word sin, in both Hebrew and Greek, is an archery term which means, “Missing the mark.” You aim for the bull’s eye, the mark – perfection. Every time you miss the mark you are sinning. Sin in itself is merely a part of the human condition. Only Jesus is sinless and therefore, only Jesus has the right to judge others because if he is judged by the same standard by which he judges, he is perfect.

And so, Jesus continues, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”

Not judging others is one of the cornerstones of Jesus’ teachings. He brings this exaggerated example to drive the point home. With a plank in your own eye, it is impossible to see the speck in another’s eye.  With this example he challenges us to look for, find and remove the planks – the imperfections – from our own life before looking or commenting on another’s life.

We pray today from the 22nd hour of St. Nersess Shnorhali’s Confession of Faith, Righteous Judge, when You come into the glory of the Father to judge the living and the dead, enter not into judgment with Your servant, but deliver me from the eternal fire, and make me worthy to hear the blissful call of the just to Your heavenly Kingdom. Amen.

Cover: Envato Elements

 

Saints

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Armodoxy for Today
Saints

Saints are perhaps one of the most misunderstood elements of the Church. Saints are not God. We don’t worship saints. Saints are human, people, just like you and me. Just like us, they have free will. They have doubts, in fact, some have had doubts about God as well as about matters of Faith.

Jesus says, “Courage, the victory is mine. I have overcome the world.” The saints are those who took Jesus for his word, took on the challenges of the world with courage and overcame their condition and therefore, share in the victory with Christ.

In the Armenian Church, the feast of All Saints is celebrated in on a Saturday in November. In the West, All Saints is a fixed feast, that is, it is celebrated on the first day of November. The night before All Saints Day, is appropriately called All Saints Eve, or Hallows Eve, sloppily transformed into Halloween. In the Armenian Church the tradition of the evening before the feast is called Nakhadonak.

Saints have passed on from their physical life, and, as scripture refers to it, they have fallen asleep in Christ. People have tried to grapple with the notion of an end to a physical existence and have pondered about the possibilities of ghosts, hence the connection with some of the popular customs that emphasize death and spooky manifestations of the afterlife surrounding Halloween. Coupled with the huge profit motive in selling costumes, masks, movies, stories of horror, etc., the original intention and connection with saints is forgotten.

Saints give us examples of living. If you or I try (or dare) to compare our lives with Jesus Christ we are doomed for failure because Jesus is perfect. We will always fall short of perfection. But in looking at the saints, we have a model. They are human and therefore they live with frailties and imperfections; however, in their lives they were able to rise from the human condition, and for us today, they give us a model and an example for living.

From St. Nersess’ prayer, (#7), Beholder of all, I have sinned against You, in thought, word or deed. Blot out the handwriting of my offenses and write my name in the book of Life. Amen.