Tag Archive for: Prayer

Pushing Out – Day 32 of 40

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Pushing Out – Day 32 of Lent

This week – the week of the Unjust Judge – we are challenged to look at our prayer life in a new manner, that is, not only as a conversation with God but a conversation with the self. We turn inward to find the strength to push outward – to push that love and compassion out. We find the strength to do this because we trust in love. And now, we begin to understand what the Apostle meant when he said, “God is love.” We trust God because we trust love and vice versa.

During these final days of Lent our direction is outward. The forty days of fasting, praying and charity will push out of the Lenten form to be a part of our everyday life.

On this 32nd day of Lent we are noticing the change in our journey. What started as the road to faith is now turning into the path of action. You have it within you to act, to trust your actions because they are built on faith, they are built on love, that is, they are built on the trust that you have in God.

Today we have a simple act of charity: to love. It is the first step on the path to action. It is a true love, which may hurt, but we trust it. We are completely submitting ourselves to that love. Submitting to God is submitting to love. Push yourself today to freely explore submission to God. Substitute the love where you think of God. Substitute God where you think of love. Push yourself to love others – family, friends, or someone you do not know. Push yourself to engage in a random act of love. Then take the chance and really push yourself to love your enemy. It is there, in your action, that you see God manifested. There you see God born and revealed. There you see the chaos brought to order and fear dispelled. It is at that point that you truly understand, “Thy will be done.” It is His will that we love one another.

Today’s specialty is simply Olivada! You’ll find the recipe at the link below.

Let us pray:
O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give me a sense of your presence, your strength and your love. Help me to trust your protecting love and your strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten me. For living close to you, we will see your plan, your purpose and your will in all things. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 32: Olivada

God’s choice – Day 31 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: God’s Choice

In the first chapter of the Gospel of St. Mark, we read a story of a leper (a person suffering of leprosy) approaching Jesus for a healing. Although most people have only heard of this bacterial disease in the context of the Biblical stories, there are over 200,000 new cases diagnosed every year. The symptoms of the disease can be disfiguring and mostly out of fear of its sight and the fear of spreading the disease, lepers were isolated in colonies during the time of Jesus.

St. Mark’s narrative is as follows, A leper came to Him [Jesus], imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. (40-42)

In this story, the first question we must as is, Why wouldn’t Jesus choose to do heal this man? Why wouldn’t he want you to be walking in the Grace of God?

This fifth week of Lent opens with the Parable of the Unjust Judge, Luke 18. After reading the story, we have to wonder if a better descriptor of this judicial arbitrator might be the merciless Judge, or the Heartless Judge. God is full of mercy, and in His compassion, He wants the best for His Creation. Once you know Jesus is on-board for the salvation of your soul, you merely have to listen for the words that follow, “Be made clean!” It’s His Choice and His choice for your wholeness.

We pray from St. Gregory of Narek (1): O God, Lord of souls and all flesh, in the words of one divinely graced, you are long-suffering and abounding in mercy … Show me, here at the threshold of these contrite prayers, the sweetness of your will. Strengthen me that I might not be unworthy of the light when the heavens open, so that I might not be consumed and snuffed out like a candle. Amen. (Translated by Thomas J. Samuelian)

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 31: Tomato and Bread Soup

Photo: Gregory and Luna Beylerian, 2023

 

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

Sorting our Prayers – Day 28 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today – Sorting our Prayers – Day 28 of Lent

Of the Lenten Sundays, three of them are named after parables which spotlight questionable characters. During the last two Sundays we met the Prodigal Son and the Dishonest Steward. Completing the trilogy of Parables-Sundays is the dedication for this 28th day of Lent to the Unrighteous Judge. All three parables come to us from our Lord and are found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 16, 17 & 18, respectively.

The Unrighteous Judge is a man who, as Jesus explains, did not fear anyone – not even God, nor was he ashamed of any person. In the town where he served as judge a widow kept coming to him and pleading with him, begging that he hear her case. For some time he refused, but finally he said to himself, “Even though I don’t fear God, nor do I care about men, but because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice so she won’t eventually wear me out!” Jesus concludes his parable with an interesting statement. He says, “Listen to what the unjust judge says and will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night. Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, He will see that they get justice, and quickly.”

Indeed, this is an odd story at least on the surface. At first reading you might think that Jesus compares God to this unrighteous, unjust judge. Following that parallel you’re inclined to think that God can be worn out or worn down. It is as if we continue to pray repeatedly, God will eventually say yes to our needs and to our desires. So keep praying, keep being persistent. Persevere like the old lady! And in the end God will be tired of hearing you and will change His mind! Yes, it is odd, and perhaps it is for that reason why the evangelist St. Luke, writes a few words of explanation as a preface to the parable. He says, “Jesus told His disciples this parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.” St. Luke’s narrative suggests that during his time, as is the case today, there is a misconception about the nature of prayer.

When Jesus teaches us the “Lord’s Prayer” he warns, “Do not heap up extra words. Your heavenly Father already knows what you need. Therefore when you pray, pray like this. Our Father, which art in heaven … ” Let’s think about that for a moment. If our Heavenly Father knows what we need, why then should we pray? This question betrays the fact that we have a misunderstanding about prayer.

Prayer is not merely a conversation with God. We pray because we need a conversation with ourselves. God already knows the desires of our heart. He knows our needs and as a loving father, wants the best for us. The real question is, do we know our needs? It may sound strange, but unless you have a true focus on your life, it is questionable whether or not you know what your needs are. Hence, we have the Lenten Season, annually, to realign ourselves with God and ourselves.

The act of charity today is to extend yourself to someone in obvious need, a patient in the hospital, a person on the street, a bereaved friend. Without being intrusive and without asking them, can you understand what their needs are?  Fast from shopping list types of prayers.

Try Broiled Lemon-garlic Mushroom for tonight’s Lenten meal with the recipe below.

We pray, Lord our God, you know our needs and our wants better than we do. Open my heart to Your Love so that I may trust that You are in charge. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 28: Broiled Lemon-garlic Mushrooms

 

Lenten Vestry – Day 5 of 40

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Armodoxy for Today: The Lenten Vestry

Every Sunday, before the Divine Liturgy is celebrated, in the vestry of the church, the priest offers a group of prayers to prepare himself for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Each article of clothing – from the crown on his head, to the ornate robes and vestments that surround him, to the slippers on his feet, have special significance and meaning, which are articulated in these prayers. The word “celebrating” the Liturgy may not share the fact that these prayers were prayed during times of disaster and war, lighting the darkness by focusing on the Glory of Christ, which illuminates the darkness.  Without this preparation, without these prayers, the Liturgy is incomplete.

The Lenten period is your time in the vestry of life. A place where you take an inventory of all the beauty that surrounds you. The ornaments that give your life meaning, from head to toe. With the difficulties that surround your life, focus on the beauty, and if the darkness is great remember the generations that “lit one candle rather than curse the darkness.” This is an exercise that allows you to focus on the blessings and see them as victories over your pain.

Practice your charity today by sharing a goodness in your life as a lit candle with someone who has darkness surrounding them. And fast today from something that bothers you and causes you feelings of negativity.

You’re in the vestry preparing for the reset of life. Take some time to enjoy a helping of sweet potatoes with cranberries and pecans, today’s recipe, share in the show notes.

We pray, a prayer from the vesting of the priest, “Put, O Lord, upon my head the helmet of salvation to fight against the powers of the enemy, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 5: Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Cranberries and Pecans!

 

Foundations – Day 2 of 40

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Armdoxy for Today: Foundations – Day 2

One act of charity, one suggestion for fasting, and one prayer make up the Lenten Trilogy, for this 40 day period.

St. Gregory of Narek, one of the mystics of the Armenian Church, is known for his prayers which reach into the depths of the heart in talking with God. In 2015, Pope Francis declared him a Doctor of the Roman Catholic Church, for his profound theological confession of faith, making him only the 36th designee of that title.

St. Gregory of Narek, or Narekatsi writes, Faith is honored in a glorious trinity with charity and hope. For if you view these three as distinct aspects of one and the same mystery, you shall forever be magnified in God. And if you believe, you shall love and through love have hope in his unseen rewards.   (Lamentations Prayer 10, Translation: Thomas J. Samuelian)

Charity is love expressed. We begin with this definition, only to build on this foundation in the days to come.

Likewise, fasting can simply be expressed as abstinence, which, again, will be more meaningful in the days and weeks ahead. We lay these foundations today so that the Lenten journey we are on will have sound footing on which to grow.

Try mushroom fried rice, according to the recipe linked below.

We pray, the morning hymn of St. Nersess Shnorhali. Aravod Looso

Morning Light, Sun of Righteousness, shine into my soul. You that flows from the Father, flow from my soul, words that are pleasing to you. Amen.

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 2: Mushroom Fried Rice

Lenten Trinity – Day 1 of Lent

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Armodoxy for Today: Lenten Trinity

Welcome to Lent. Today begins a forty-day period of self-examination and introspection that prepares you for the awesome Resurrection of our Lord Jesus at Easter, and in so doing, to live life more fully as Christ intends us to. At Epostle.net we have several Lenten programs that are available in our archives. This year, we present to you the “Lenten Trinity” – Forty days of simple guidance of a prayer, an act of charity and an element of fasting, based on the Instruction given to us by Jesus Christ.

Let’s read Matthew chapter 6, excerpts from the Sermon on the Mount.

Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. When you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you… do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,  that your charitable deed may be in secret…

And when you pray… go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place… Do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words… For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him… 

When you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting…

This passage is read in its entirety at the beginning of Lent in the Armenian Church. In its direction, it dispels the common misconception that Lent is a time of “giving up” foods and/or behaviors. The Church Fathers point us to this passage on the Sunday before Lent to direct us to heighten our Prayer life, engage more fully acts of charity and the discipline of fasting.

This Lent, I will present you with daily messages that accent each of these areas. Each day, I will share with you a Prayer, an act of charity you can engage in, and a fasting exercise, including a recipe for a vegan meal which will be linked to the show notes. Today’s first meal is “Cream” of Asparagus Soup, and before you hit the buzzer claiming “cream” implies animal product, take a look at the recipe and try it. Each of the Lenten recipes are provided by Deacon Varoujan, carefully manicured for your taste.

Welcome to the first day of Lent. I ask you to read the entire sixth chapter of Matthew that I excerpted. You’ll find the prayer that was taught to us by our Lord Jesus,

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

 

Lenten Recipes by Deacon Varoujan: Recipe 1: “Cream” of Asparagus Soup

Meditation in Prayer

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Armodoxy for Today: The Advent Series – Meditation in Prayer

Meditation is a vital part of the Christian experience and a practice that is alluded to by Jesus in the next section of the Sermon on the Mount.

Jesus says, “When you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.”  (Matthew 6:5-8)

Once again, Jesus asks us to practice our piety in private. The religious experience is between you and God and not a demonstration for others. Jesus, in authority, tells us that our Father knows our needs before we ask Him. Therefore, prayer is contemplative and meditative, that is, prayer is a conversation with our inner self. God already knows your needs, now you must realize them. Meditation is an opportunity to “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) It is a quiet time with God, who is inside of you. Pray with the knowledge that God knows your needs and feel His love. That knowledge is given to us by the One who was begotten of the Father, that is, from Love Incarnate.

For your Advent journal, make note of the adversary, the hypocrite. For today, we will conclude with the prayer from the tenth hour of St. Nersess Shnorhali’s Confession of Faith, Christ, the living fire, inflame my soul with the fire of your love which you sent forth over the earth, so that it may burn the stains of my soul; sanctify my conscience and purge my body from sin, and kindle the light of your knowledge in my heart. Have mercy upon your creatures and on me, a sinner. Amen.

Cover: Gregory Beylerian, 2014

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.

Comparison Shopping in Prayer

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Armodoxy for Today: Advent Series – Comparison Shopping in Prayer

Jesus shares this story with us, “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’”  Jesus then tells us, “This man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:10-14)

The lessons of this parable are many, but for this Thanksgiving season, we focus on the prayer of the first man, the prayer of the Pharisee, who, by the way, was a learned man. He knew Holy Scriptures backwards, forwards and all around. His prayer, you will notice, is a prayer based on comparison. “I thank God that I am not like the other man…” he says.

If you’re listening to this podcast, it means you have some degree of electronic access, which means that you’re better-off than most people on the planet. It is easy to say thank God I am better off than most, just as the Pharisee thanked God in his prayer. Unlike comparison shopping thankfulness is not about comparing things we do or do not have with those things that others have or do not have. It’s easy to look at the blind man and be thankful for our sight. Or hear of hunger in countries menaced by famine or war and be thankful of our food and peace. Thank God, we might say, that I am not like them!

In the history of the Armenian Church, you find that the prayers of thanksgiving are offered at times of abundance as well as times of scarcity, at times of peace and at times of war and even genocide. Thankfulness is the ability to put the ego on hold, in check, and understand yourself as a part of something greater. It is the beginning of religiosity and ultimately peace.

We pray with the Psalmist (26) Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my mind and my heart. For Your loving kindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth. I will wash my hands in innocence so I will go about Your altar, O Lord, That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Your wondrous works. Amen.