February 2012 - Pastoral Reflections
My
beloved in the Lord:
This year Triodion begins of Sunday, February 5th, and as we
start our spiritual preparations to traverse the journey of Great Lent, I
would humbly like to share with you some reflections on what is the make-up
of an Orthodox Christian. It is
human nature to categorize and evaluate others, and this nature also applies
to us as Orthodox Christians. We
apply words like
good, real, indifferent, lukewarm,
or bad
to this title, perhaps because we understand there are entirely too many
nominal Orthodox Christians.
Surely, however, most of us consider ourselves pretty good Orthodox
Christians. This raises the
question, what is a good Orthodox Christian?
What are the qualifying criteria?
Some suggest that a good Orthodox Christian does not do those things the Church
prohibits. This is the negative
test of the Orthodox Christian life.
It is good, but not enough.
Others consider a good
Orthodox Christian one who is faithful to the teachings of the Church, who
tries to live up to its formal requirements by attending services, receiving
Holy Communion and contributing money.
Still others contend that the supreme test of Orthodoxy is activity
teaching in Church school, working with youth, assisting the Priest in
pastoral work, belonging to various auxiliaries, singing in the choir or
pitching in to help with the many chores around the Church buildings.
A few people feel that a good
Orthodox Christian should not confine himself only to our tradition, but
should get out into the community and participate in resolving the problems.
Anyone providing leadership for a worthy cause, they contend, is a good
Orthodox Christian because that person is using the Orthodox background for
the good of the greatest number of people.
The list can go on and on.
You can readily see yourself or others in these categories.
Taken together, they do characterize a good Orthodox Christian; however, no one of them is the supreme
test. We may refrain from
drinking and swearing, may be faithful to the formal requirements of
Orthodoxy, may be active in the Church and community, and yet not be good Orthodox Christians.
To be good
Orthodox Christians, we must live faith above and beyond these practices.
A good Orthodox Christian needs to understand the source of
Christian living. As children of
God, we have been brought into a vital union with the Resurrected Lord, and
that relationship changes us. A
good
Orthodox Christian is a new creature in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
According to Holy Scripture and the Church Fathers, to be a real
Orthodox Christian means to let that which was potentially in our initial
experience become a living and dynamic reality.
We must let the Resurrected Lord live within us and express Himself
through us. We are good
Orthodox Christians to the degree that we are Christ-like.
The supreme test of an Orthodox
Christian is positive rather than negative.
It is a relationship so deep and meaningful that all of life is
influenced by it. Yes, obey the
commandments and moral laws.
Deeply believe in the teachings of the Holy Church. Fully live up to the
requirements of the Church. Work
with love for the Church and the community.
Faithfully attend Church services regularly.
Support His Church, which He has placed in our hands, both
financially and morally. But let
the motivation for all these expressions of the Orthodox Christian life be
your love and gratitude to Almighty God for the blessings that have been
bestowed upon you through the Resurrected Lord.
A good
Orthodox Christian life flows from within outward, and its source is your
vital relationship to the living Lord, the Panagia and all His Saints.
Praying that the abundant blessings of Almighty God and the prayers of the
most Holy Theotokos be with you and all your loved ones, I humbly remain,
With
paternal blessings and love,
+Fr. Panagiotis
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