Rev. Peter M Preble – Page 132 – Open-Minded, Open-Hearted Minister & Soul Friend

Greek Orthodox Church Stance on the “God Particle”

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Fr. Peter

By Areti Kotseli on July 7, 2012

The Metropolitan of Messinia Chrysostomos expressed his opinion over the discovery of the so-called “God particle” that astonished the whole world during the past days, clearly drawing a line between science and religion.

“I consider every comparison between the CERN experiment for the determination of the Higgs boson and the church’s approach in regard to the world’s creation by God incompatible since two disparate things are held up under comparison,” said Mr Chrysostomos during a TV show.

Metropolitan of Pireaus Serafim noted that “behind these scary and shameful expressions of human personality, the story of the human race, and human philosophy hides the hideous face of demonism because only demons or people possessed by one can talk such nonsense.”

The Greek Orthodox Church has not, however, proceeded to a formal announcement on the matter. It is probably waiting to see the results and rationally evaluate the outcome of the CERN experiment. Church leaders are well aware that whenever they rush to denounce any scientific progress, they then had to recall and apologize.

On the contrary, the Moscow Patriarchate has congratulated scientists on the possible discovery of the Higgs boson, or “God particle.”

“I am glad about this discovery and I would like to congratulate scientists on it. It probably again raises the question of whether matter has always been the way it is until now or initially developed according to a special scenario and is not eternal and unchanging, as some people believed several decades ago,” Protopope Vsevolod Chaplin, the head of the Synodal department and liaison between the church and society, told Interfax-Religion on Wednesday.

Source

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Metropolitan Jonah tenders resignation

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Fr. Peter

(OCA) In a letter addressed to the members of the Holy Synod of Bishops dated Friday, July 6, 2012, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah tendered his resignation as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. His Beatitude composed and signed the letter at his residence in Washington, DC, in the presence of Archpriest John Jillions, OCA Chancellor. On Saturday, July 7, the letter was presented to the Holy Synod in the course of a conference call in which all of the hierarchs participated, except His Eminence, Archbishop Alejo of Mexico City. The text of His Beatitude’s letter reads as follows.

“To the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church in America, “Brothers, “As per your unanimous request, as conveyed to me by Chancellor Fr. John Jillions, I hereby tender my resignation as Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, and humbly request another Episcopal assignment. “I had come to the realization long ago that that I have neither the personality nor the temperament for the position of Primate, a position I never sought nor desired. “It is my hope that due consideration will be made for my financial situation, both in any interim and in consideration for any future position. I am the main financial support for both my parents and my sister, beyond my own needs. “I will appreciate your consideration in this, and beg forgiveness for however I have offended you, and for whatever difficulties have arisen from my own inadequacies and mistakes in judgment. “Asking your prayers, I remain faithfully yours, “Metropolitan Jonah, Archbishop of Washington”

The hierarchs again will meet via conference call on Monday, July 9, after which additional information will be made available.

h/t Koinonia

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Sermon ~ Are You Saved?

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Fr. Peter

5th Sunday after Pentecost
St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans 10:1-10

Are You Saved?

We hear in today’s reading the Letter of St. Paul to the Roman’s that it is Paul’s desire that his listeners be saved because they have the zeal for God, not just an obligation but a true zeal for God.

Those of us who come from, or have friends in, the Protestant Evangelical denominations often hear or have heard this question, are you saved? The question is asked because in that belief system there is a point in time when it actually happens.

Maybe the person came forward during an altar call whilst the congregation was singing the hymn made so familiar by the Billy Graham crusade, “I surrender all” and knelt at the rail and gave their life to Jesus. Before becoming Orthodox I was a member of a holiness church where I was saved, sanctified and washed in the blood of the lamb! Perhaps they were saved whilst at camp as a teenager and they gave their life to Christ after hearing a fire and brimstone sermon about how Jeee Sus gave all for you and how you will go to hell if you do not give your life to Jesus.

But what about we Orthodox? We do not sing about surrendering all, we do however have an altar call each and every Sunday. When I stand here in the Royal Doors, holding the chalice that contains the uncontainable and sing, approach in the fear of God with faith and with love. We are called to make a choice. We chose at that point to come forward and accept that which we believe or we make the choice to deny the healing power of the Eucharist and stay in our seats.

Metropolitan Kalistos Ware of Great Brittan tells a story of being on an air plane when the person he is sitting next to asks him if he is saved. He goes on to say, in his great British accent, that he sat there for a moment and pondered that question and then he said, no, I am being saved!

That’s the answer to the question, we are being saved.

As Orthodox Christians, we believe, that we were saved more than 2,000 years ago when God the Son took on human flesh and offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice for all of humanity. Not just those present at that moment but for all who came before and for all of us who would come after. By this action He defeated the power of sin and by His suffering on the Cross and his miraculous resurrection He destroyed death.

We are in the process of being saved daily through our intentional decisions to follow the example of Jesus in each and every situation that we find ourselves in. It is a daily task that we have to commit ourselves to each day in order to take on the discipline needed.

We do not view paradise as some far off some day destination but as the everyday experience of self-denial and of being filled through the Eucharist, obedience, and love for others with Christ.

And, Lord Have Mercy, we will be saved at the great and final judgment as we give an account of a lifetime of actions and in actions. What did we do when we saw the naked? Did we offer him clothes? When we saw the hungry did we offer food? When we saw the sick did we not visit them and so on as Jesus commands us to do? On that day, when it will become clear whether or not we cooperated with the grace that has been so generously poured upon us we will be held accountable.

Our individual salvation is being worked out in fear and trembling through the unique responsibility that God deems best to set before us. Are we doing all we can to live to Gospel message of loving God by loving our neighbor? Are we daily walking with God in our prayer? Can people tell that we are Christian, other worldly, by our actions, or like Judas do our actions betray Christ and all that has been done for us?

We should live our lives based upon that of the Publican from Scripture who beat his breast and begged for leniency. We should not judge another’s spiritual walk but we should focus on our own journey and on our own spiritual shortcomings, loving both friends and enemies, all of whom have been created in the image and likeness of God as living Icons of Christ Jesus.

Our ongoing testimony is presented through our actions of service in accord with Christ’s command to love God by showing true love for our neighbors and not just paying it lip service. It is easy to write a check but it is harder to roll up your sleeves and truly help your neighbor.

And finally we need to pray ceaselessly for the courage to fight the good fight, to stand up for what we believe in that world that chastises us for our beliefs, in a world that wants to redefine what tradition is because it is not politically correct to believe that we have a system of morals and standards that are not based on the latest political poll and what is in fashion, but on the more than 2,000 year tradition of the Holy Church. We need courage to stand up when we see our society going off the rails and shout with a loud voice that it is wrong. And we have to have the courage when we are persecuted for that very faith, and courage that we do not shrink away as the apostles did after Jesus was arrested in the garden to be led away for trial and crucifixion.

Do we have that true zeal that St. Paul is talking about in today’s reading? Are we living a life that is worthy of what has been done for us? Are we living our life in accord with the commandments of Jesus and the traditions of our Holy Church? Do we truly love and serve others, who are created in the image and likeness of God as living icons, or do we just pay it lip service and move on? These are the questions we need to ask ourselves each and every day.

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The Working Session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church

Posted on July 9, 2012 by Fr. Peter

13415595964035943661 — Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church

The Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate informs us:

On 5 July 2012, the working session of the Romanian Orthodox Church took place in the Synodal Room of the Patriarchal Residence under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. We mention some of the decisions taken and issues analysed:

-the continuation of the social programmes either with the Romanian Patriarchate funds or with European funds in transparent efficient manner for helping the persons and families distressed during this period of economical crisis;

– approval of the proposals of the Deans’ College of the Faculties of Orthodox Theology of Romania concerning the improvement of the educational process and of the spiritual life in the high theological education;

– approval to set up the Antim Ivireanul confessional school in Timişoara city following the proposal of the Archdiocese of Timişoara;

-analyses of the present stage of the local dialogue between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Romanian Church United with Rome (Greek Catholic). The hierarchs of the Holy Synod have noticed with anxiety the fact that the Romanian Church United with Rome (Greek Catholic) has filed several trials against the Orthodox parishes. At the same time, large Orthodox communities are evicted from the places of worship by small Greek Catholic communities, which fact generates local conflicts. The Holy Synod reaffirms its intention to settle the patrimonial disagreements between the Orthodox and Greek Catholic communities through local dialogue in order to identify practical solutions;

– after analysing the present relations of the Romanian Patriarchate with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem and the Serb Patriarchate, the Holy Synod approved the texts of the two letters that will be sent to the Primates of the two sister Orthodox Churches for solving the disagreements emerged through brotherly dialogue.

Source

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5th Sunday after Pentecost

Posted on July 8, 2012 by Fr. Peter

Fifth Orthros Gospel

The Reading is from Luke 24:13-35

At that time, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He appeared to be going further, but they constrained him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him; and he vanished out of their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, who said, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Epistle Reading

The Reading is from St. Paul’s Letter to the Romans 10:1-10

BRETHREN, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but it is not enlightened. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified. Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on the law shall live by it. But the righteousness based on faith says, Do not say in your heart, “Who will ascend into heaven?” (that is, to bring Christ down) or “Who will descend into the abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach); because, if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For man believes with his heart and so is justified, and he confesses with his lips and so is saved.

Gospel Reading

The Reading is from Matthew 8:28-34; 9:1

At that time, when Jesus came to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, two demoniacs met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one would pass that way. And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” Now a herd of many swine was feeding at some distance from them. And the demons begged him, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of swine.” And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the swine; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and perished in the waters. The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs. And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus; and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their neighborhood. And getting into a boat he crossed over and came to his own city.

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The Power of Prayer

Posted on July 7, 2012 by Fr. Peter

0708sitkaicon — Icon of the Mother of God of Stika, Alaska

I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. I have seen lives transformed by prayer and people praying for them. As an Orthodox Christian we also believe in the power of prayer of the Saints, those who have gone before us who have been recognized by the church as very holy and special people.

July 4th ended the Fortnight for Freedom that the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States had called for. The results of that are yet to be seen, but based on the number of people who turn up publicly to pray, it is working because people are praying! Again, the power of prayer is amazing.

Tomorrow, July 8th, on the Orthodox Calendar, is a different sort of feast day. Tomorrow we will commemorate an Icon, a very special Icon, The Icon of the Mother of God of Sitka Alaska. As all Orthodox in America know, Orthodoxy came to the shores of our great country primarily through Russian Alaska. St. Herman and others from the Vaalam Moastery came to Alaska to serve the workers of the Russian American Company, but also to spread the Gospel to the native population. They did just that and American Orthodoxy was born.

The Icon of the Mother of God of Sitka was given to the Cathedral of St. Michael in Sitka in 1850 by the workers of the Russian American Company to honor all the work that the Orthodox Church had done to support them. The Icon has been known to have miracles associated with it that have been reported down through the ages.

There is an Akathist that has been composed by the Diocese of Alaska to be used not only on the feast day of the Icon of the Mother of God of Sitka, but for any day. With all the the Church is going through with religious freedom in America under threat, all that the church is going through by forces inside and outside the church, maybe it would be a good idea to take a few moments and pray this Akathist for the protection of our Holy Church. The Icon of the Mother of God of Sitka has been protecting the people of the Diocese of Alaska since 1850 and now is the time that we ask her to help out the “lower 48” as well.

The Orthodox Church of America has a little piece written about the Icon and I link to it here as well as the Akathist that can be found by following this link.

Wont you join me tonight and tomorrow in praying this Akathist in honor of this Icon of the Mother of God of Sitka? Let us pray this will all due reverence and ask Our Lady, the Theotokos and Ever Virgin Mary to come and protect our Holy Church and to give us comfort and strength for the days a head.

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Dark Asceticism

Posted on July 6, 2012 by Fr. Peter

Dr. Al Rossi, Adjunct Professor of Pastoral Theology at St. Vladimir’s Seminary in New York, has a newly released podcast on Ancient Faith Radio dealing with the topic of Dark Asceticism. This episode is a part of a series that Dr. Rossi is recording on the topic of Asceticism and fits in well with the discussion we have been having on these pages related to authentic, stable monasticism here in the United States.

I have posted several essays on these pages on the subject of Monasticism in the Orthodox Church here in America. My belief is that monasteries are an important part of our life here in America but that the monastic life that is practiced in the Mother Countries or even on Mount Athos do not exactly fit with our life here in America. There needs to be some adaptation to fit the life here.

Metropolitan Jonah: Building American Orthodox Monasticism in the 21st Century

Kalmoukos on Monasteries

Engaged Monasticism

In this episode Dr. Rossi deals with the dark side of monastic life. How the Spiritual Father or elder of the monastery can become a guru and where blind obedience is the word of the day. These things in moderation are fine but they can quickly get out of hand and people will start “drinking the cool-aide” as the saying goes.

Take a few moments, the podcast is only 18 minutes long, and listen.

Dr. Albert Rossi ~ Becoming a Healing Presence ~ Dark Asceticism

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The New Colossus

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Fr. Peter

The New Colossus

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

Emma Lazarus, 1883

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Happy 4th of July

Posted on July 4, 2012 by Fr. Peter