Lenten thoughts 2010

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[LucyB]

When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn from the top to the bottom. My faith is in Christ and his work; I don't have much faith in faith. Whether or not anyone has faith, the veil has been torn, the price has been paid. We are free.

[AgathaL'Orange]

 A Morning Prayer

O Lord, grant that we may meet the coming day in peace.
Help us in all things to rely upon Your holy will.
In each hour of the day, reveal Your will to us.
Bless our dealings with all who surround us.
Teach us to treat all that shall come to us throughout the day with peace of soul, and with the firm conviction that Your will governs all.
In all our deeds and words, guide our thoughts and feelings.
In unforeseen events, let us not forget that all are sent by You.
Teach us to act firmly and wisely, without embittering and embarrassing others.
Give us the strength to bear the fatigue of the coming day, with all that it shall bring.
Direct our wills.
Teach us to pray.
Pray within us. Amen.

[AgathaL'Orange]

Do I possess the house in which I live?  No, it is only on loan to me from God while I remain in that place.  Do I possess the clothes I wear?  No, they are on loan to me until they wear out, or I give them to someone in greater need.  Do I possess this body that you see before you?  No, it was lent to me by God when I was born, and He will take it back when I die.  Do I possess the mind that is composing the words that I speak?  No, that too was lent by God at my birth and will go when I die.  So do I possess anything?  Yes, I possess the virtues which during my life have grown and flourished within my soul.  Inasmuch as I have grown in love, I possess love.  Inasmuch as I have grown in faith, I possess faith.  Inasmuch as I have grown in gentleness, I possess gentleness.  These things are immortal; they are divine gifts which God will not take away, because He wants heaven itself to be filled with virtue.  And, of course, I possess my soul, in which these virtues have their roots.

St. John Chrysostom

[AgathaL'Orange]

Think of the rich person lying on a soft couch munching succulent fruit and sweatmeats, the lights in his house burning bright.  It begins to rain, and a few drops come through the ceiling.  He orders his slaves to go out onto the roof and mend the leak at once, so he can relax undisturbed.  Can this rich person pray?  Of course not.  His mind is so anxious to maintain and enhance his wealth, and he becomes so worried at the smallest blemish or fault in his material assets that his soul has no space for God's Spirit.  Think now of the poor man lying in the gutter outside the rich man's house, competing with dogs for the scraps of food which the rich man has thrown out.  It begins to rain, and his clothes become drenched; he has no shelter, so he must shiver with cold.  Can this poor man pray?  Hardly.  His mind is so preoccupied with his own bodily survival, and even a shower of rain poses a further threat to his well-being, that his soul has no space for God's Spirit.  The most precious fruit of material justice is prayer. 

St.  John Chrysostom

ALO note:  My personal feeling is both can pray still, but with less focus than if their material needs were met adequately.  I love Chrysostom's emphasis on how we should be caring for the poor always.  It is said that the three legs of lent are Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving.  If anyone has any charities that they especially like or specific ways we might be able to help those in Haiti or Chile, I would love to hear them.  Thanks!  Have a wonderful day, everyone!

[AgathaL'Orange]

There are some who are rich in material wealth.  Others are rich in power.  People rich in power seem to carry authority with them, like a wealthy person may carry a bag of gold.  In any and every situation people look to them for leadership, asking them to make decisions.  And while most people are nervous about making decisions, anxious about being wrong or criticizing others, the person rich in power seems to make decisions easily.  Power, like wealth, can be used for good purposes or bad.  The powerful person can manipulate people to personal advantage, exploiting them in order to gain some privilege.  Most dangerous of all is when a powerful person enjoys exercising power for its own sake, taking pleasure in seeing people bend to his will.  Equally a powerful person may guide and direct people onto the path of righteousness.  He may make decisions which benefit others, materially and spiritually, without thought for himself.  The powerful person who puts the needs of others before himself is a true hero of our faith.

More wisdom on power, control, and leadership from St. John Chrysostom

[Linda]

Thanks for posting these. I'm especially enjoying the quotes from St. John Chrysostom.

[AgathaL'Orange]

I'm glad you like them, Linda!  I have another little morsel from Chrysostom today.  I've really been enjoying reading a book of excerpts from his sermons.

Look at those who rule your city or your nation.  Some seem to have no qualities which mark them out for such a task; they hold a position of power through an accident of birth, or through ingratiating themselves with their superiors.  Some have a natural authority, so that they inspire confidence and respect in others.  Some possess natural wisdom, so they handle easily the complex affairs of state.  But whether or not they have natural gifts, there is another type of gift which surpasses all others: the gift of knowing right from wrong, and the courage to choose what is right.  This moral gift is not something which is given at birth, and which some people possess and others do not  The potential of moral discernment is like a seed sown in every human heart; and this seed grows only if it is nurtured through reflection, education, prayer, and practice.  It would be better that our leaders were poor in natural gifts, but rich in this moral gift, than that they exuded authority and wisdom, but used these natural gifts for their own ends.

St. John Chrysostom

[AgathaL'Orange]

How should the Church be governed?  Should the patriarchs act like emperors, issuing decrees which all believers must obey?  Should bishops see themselves as local governors, demanding unquestioning submission of the people?  Should the clergy be a kind of spiritual army, enforcing the will of the patriarchs and bishops, and meting out punishment on sinners?  The first consideration for the Church is not how to punish sins, but how to prevent sins from being committed.  And when sin has been committed, the task of the Church is to encourage the sinner to confess the sin and make amends-- so that no punishment is required.  This is a quite different attitude to wrongdoing from that which the state adopts, and so requires a quite different style of government.  Moreover each individual is answereable not to a priest, bishop, or patriarch, but to God.  So the primary authority of those within the Church is not to issue decrees, but to stir the souls and enliven the consciences of believers, so that by their own volition they will obey the laws of God.  In short those in authority within the Church should see themselves not as rulers, but as preachers and pastors.  


St.  John Chrysostom 347-407 AD

[Rebekah]

Agatha, I loved that last one! It's so great to read from a church father how the authority of the church should be used so gently.

After baring my soul awhile ago (see earlier post in this thread), I got a little shy about reading and posting here. But I'm back now and want to thank those who offered such great advice. I love the idea that Christianity doesn't just exist in my head (funny huh?) and that I really only do need the faith the size of a mustard seed.

I also love the idea that doubt is just something we have to live with as Christians. No matter what I read, there will always be room for doubt and that's ok.

I like being a Christian. I believe it's as true as anything else out there, and I don't have the energy or feel the need to hunt high and low for something "better." Maybe that's not even the faith of a mustard seed? I don't know, but I do know that I truly do feel something sacred and significant when I'm in church, so, for now, that's enough. Crisis averted! : )

[Linda]

I agree--very good thoughts.

Also, Rebekah, I appreciated your honesty in your earlier post. I meant to respond, but just couldn't formulate a thought that didn't seem trite. One word in your post that stuck out to me is "exhausting". The thing is, Jesus said His burden is light. Heavy burdens are not from God (that was a note to self).

The other line that stuck out was "maybe because I'm older or because my whole life doesn't revolve around a church" and it dawned on me that this is a good thing. Our lives are supposed to revolve around Christ, not church. If our lives revolve around a church, we have made the church an idol.

Anyway, I'm sorry. Thanks for sharing. God bless you.

Also, Agatha, sorry for hijacking the Lenten thoughts. Keep them coming, please.

[AgathaL'Orange]

Who is fit to be a leader in the church?  What gifts and qualities should we look for in those who take charge of our spiritual affairs?  Should we assess potential leaders by their abilities, such as the ability to preach well, to find the right words to say to the sick and the dying, to interpret with expertise the words of Scripture, and so on?  Certainly all these things are important; and without some natural capacities of this kind, a person clearly is not called to be a spiritual leader.  But these abiliites count for nothing-- indeed they are likely to do harm-- unless they are firmly based on spiritual and moral qualities.  Imagine a person with exceptional rhetorical skills who could inspire any congregation to share his vision.  If that vision were rooted in an evil heart, such a person could do terrible damage to the congregation, turning their hearts toward evil also.  Imagine a person of great intellectual ability, who twisted the words of Scripture to suit his own wicked purpses.  That person could make a congregation believe that good was evil, and evil good.

St. John Chrysostom

[AgathaL'Orange]

I've tried to say a million things of my own, Rebekah and Linda, and they all sound silly.  I'm with both of you.  I agree.  Faith can be hard.  Doubts a horrible but necessary part of faith.  Christianity is about Christ and the burden is light.  That doesn't mean it's easy, but maybe a little like parenting.  Totally rewarding and worth the effort and thought.  Wouldn't change it, yet sometimes makes you want to rip your hair out... particularly when you see your own faults and how far it FEELS like you have to go.  But when you hug your baby... it's all good.  When I pray... it's like that.  Ahhh.  Home.  Only with God, we can ask for help too and forgiveness and know that He has conquered death I'm in His corner.

[ender]

This thread is so encouraging :-)

You probably have read this, but Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis is a good one Rebekah

[AgathaL'Orange]

Only a fool would attempt to change the world with a simple message of love and peace.  So we can conclude that Jesus was a fool.  Only fools would agree to follow such a man, and then continue his mission even after he had been killed.  So we can conclude that the apostles were fools.  Only fools would take seriously the message which a bunch of fools were preaching, and accept that message.  So we can conclude that all of us are fools.  All this is hardly suprising.  God did not choose a wise philosopher to proclaim the gospel, but a humble carpenter.  And for his apostles he chose fishermen and tax collectors.  Can we claim to be any better?  Of course not.  Even those among us who have been educated know that in relation to the Gospel our education is worthless.  So let all happily admit we are fools.  Then we will happily commit ourselves to trying to change the world.  Yet weren't those apostles cowardly and timid?  Aren't we equally afraid of trying to persuade strangers to change their lives?  Doesn't the crucifixion of Christ give us ample reason to be fightened?  Yes; but his Resurrection gives us superhuman courage.

St. John Chrysostom

Count me in the "foolish" camp, I guess!

[Rebekah]

Quote from earlier post (sorry, haven't figured out how to do the quoting thing yet):

"Imagine a person with exceptional rhetorical skills who could inspire any congregation to share his vision.  If that vision were rooted in an evil heart, such a person could do terrible damage to the congregation, turning their hearts toward evil also.  Imagine a person of great intellectual ability, who twisted the words of Scripture to suit his own wicked purposes.  That person could make a congregation believe that good was evil, and evil good."

So, where does this leave GC pastors? What's happened? Do they have evil intent and wicked purposed? Is it all McCotter's doing? Are they evil, brainwashed, other? I don't understand how people with good intentions (saving the world, making followers of Christ) can end up doing such terrible things. And not just once, but over and over again.

Spanking is a good example. They're spanking because they want their kids to follow God, but how can they not see how horrible it is and stop? Similarly, pastors want to help people live godly lives, but how do they not see the damage their teaching and advice can do? And if they do see it, why don't they stop?

Or maybe a better question is, how come some pastors do see it eventually and leave and others don't?

[AgathaL'Orange]

I don't think they have wicked intent or purposes for the most part.  If there was any, it might be pride or unteachability or a desire for greatness.... which lots of people display, myself included!  I think a lot of times people become so incredibly focused on one thing, they lose the ability to think critically or to SEE things right in front of them.  I've done this before with my kids.  When lots of things are going on, it's easy to lose sight of what really is important.

I think youthful zeal untempered by a spiritual mentor or foundation of true teaching is a recipe for disaster.  Truly, a younger pastor should be able to have older, mature pastors to go to for advice.  I asked a GC pastor once who he went to for encouragement or help.  He said, "God."  That is setting yourself up for disaster too, because what if you are deceiving yourself and your primary source isn't God at all?  Very dangerous, "Lone Cowboy" kind of thinking. 

[AgathaL'Orange]

Let me describe to you five ways of repentance; each is different, but all point toward heaven.  The first road is the acknowledgment of sins.  If you acknowlege your sins to God, he will forgive you; and this act of acknowledgment will help you stop sinning.  Let your conscience be your accuser, so that you will not have to face a far different accuser at the Lord's tribunal.  The second road of repentance is the forgetting of the wrongs of others.  This requires you to control your temper and to forgive the sins that others have committed against you.  If you forgive  others, the Lord will forgive you.  The third road is prayer:  not perfunctory routine prayer, but fervent, passionate prayer in which you lay yourself wholly before God.  The fourth road is generosity, in which by acts of thoughtful love you make amends for the sins you have committed.  And the fifth road is humility, whereby you regard yourself as having no virtue, but only sins to offer to God; he will then take the burden of sin from your back.  At times it will be right to travel on one of these roads, at other times to travel on another.  But ensure that every day you walk along at least one of them.

St.  John Chrysostom

[lone gone]

wow, just wow.

[AgathaL'Orange]

Do you want to honor the body of Christ?  Then do not despise his nakedness.  You come to attend church services dressed in the finest silks which your wardrobe contains; and it is right that you should honor Christ in this way.  But on your way, do you pass naked beggars in the streets?  It is no good coming to the Lord's table in fine silks, unless you also give clothes to the naked beggar-- because the body of that beggar is also the body of Christ.  Do you want to honor the blood of Christ?  Then do not ignore his thrist.  You have donated beautiful gold chalices for the wine, which becomes a symbol of Christ's blood; and it is right that you should honor Christ in this way.  But on your way to services, you passed by beggars who pleaded for food and drink.  It is no good putting gold chalices on the Lord's table unless you give food and drink to the poor from your own tables.  The service which we celebrate in church is a sham unless we put its symbolic meaning into practice outside its walls.  Better that we do not come at all than we become hypcrites-- whose selfishness can only besmirch the Gospel in the eyes of others.


St.  John Chrysostom

[AgathaL'Orange]

Human beings are not consistent in the choices they make.  One moment a person may choose to act in a most generous and self-sacrificing way; then a moment later the same person may act with greed and selfishness.  Since God has given us freedom of will, he does nothing to prevent this inconstancy.  Does this mean that human beings are actually incapable of following Christ?  Will they constantly stray from the path of love which he reveals?  The answer is both no and yes.  We who regard ourselves and disciples of Christ are sadly aware of our own sinful tendencies.  Indeed it is precisely because we know Christ, and can see his perfection, that we are so conscious of our imperfections; the comparison between ourselves and Christ is painful to behold.  Thus we will always be inclined to stray from the path of love; day by day we will make wrong choices.  Yet even to speak about "straying from the path" is to show that we can see the path and can discern the direction it leads.  To be a disciple of Christ is not a guarantee of always remaining on the path; and can discern the direction it leads.  To be a disciple of Christ is not a guarantee of always remaining on the path; rather it is a commitment-- a promise-- to stay as near to the path as the will allows, and to struggle back onto the path after straying.  This is as much as we can undertake in our own strength; through the grace of God we hope that over the years our journey will become straighter. 

St.  John Chrysostom