29 June ~ Ss. Peter & Paul

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The divinely-blessed Peter was from Bethsaida of Galilee. He was the son of Jonas and the brother of Andrew the First-called. He was a fisherman by trade, unlearned and poor, and was called Simon; later he was renamed Peter by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, Who looked at him and said, “Thou art Simon the son of Jonas; thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter)” (John 1:42). On being raised by the Lord to the dignity of an Apostle and becoming inseparable from Him as His zealous disciple, he followed Him from the beginning of His preaching of salvation up until the very Passion, when, in the court of Caiaphas the high priest, he denied Him thrice because of his fear of the Jews and of the danger at hand. But again, after many bitter tears, he received complete forgiveness of his transgression. After the Resurrection of Christ and the descent of the Holy Spirit, he preached in Judea, Antioch, and certain parts of Asia, and finally came to Rome, where he was crucified upside down by Nero, and thus he ascended to the eternal habitations about the year 66 or 68, leaving two Catholic (General) Epistles to the Church of Christ.

Paul, the chosen vessel of Christ, the glory of the Church, the Apostle of the Nations and teacher of the whole world, was a Jew by race, of the tribe of Benjamin, having Tarsus as his homeland. He was a Roman citizen, fluent in the Greek language, an expert in knowledge of the Law, a Pharisee, born of a Pharisee, and a disciple of Gamaliel, a Pharisee and notable teacher of the Law in Jerusalem. For this cause, from the beginning, Paul was a most fervent zealot for the traditions of the Jews and a great persecutor of the Church of Christ; at that time, his name was Saul (Acts 22:3-4). In his great passion of rage and fury against the disciples of the Lord, he went to Damascus bearing letters of introduction from the high priest. His intention was to bring the disciples of Christ back to Jerusalem in bonds. As he was approaching Damascus, about midday there suddenly shone upon him a light from Heaven. Falling on the earth, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” And he asked, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And the Lord said, “I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest; it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.” And that heavenly voice and brilliance made him tremble, and he was blinded for a time. He was led by the hand into the city, and on account of a divine revelation to the Apostle Ananias (see Oct. 1), he was baptized by him, and both his bodily and spiritual eyes were opened to the knowledge of the Sun of Righteousness. And straightway- O wondrous transformation! – beyond all expectation, he spoke with boldness in the synagogues, proclaiming that “Christ is the Son of God” (Acts 9:1-21). As for his zeal in preaching the Gospel after these things had come to pass, as for his unabating labors and afflictions of diverse kinds, the wounds, the prisons, the bonds, the beatings, the stonings, the shipwrecks, the journeys, the perils on land, on sea, in cities, in wildernesses, the continual vigils, the daily fasting, the hunger, the thirst, the nakedness, and all those other things that he endured for the Name of Christ, and which he underwent before nations and kings and the Israelites, and above all, his care for all the churches, his fiery longing for the salvation of all, whereby he became all things to all men, that he might save them all if possible, and because of which, with his heart aflame, he continuously traveled throughout all parts, visiting them all, and like a bird of heaven flying from Asia and Europe, the West and East, neither staying nor abiding in any one place – all these things are related incident by incident in the Book of the Acts, and as he himself tells them in his Epistles. His Epistles, being fourteen in number, are explained in 250 homilies by the divine Chrysostom and make manifest the loftiness of his thoughts, the abundance of the revelations made to him, the wisdom given to him from God, wherewith he brings together in a wondrous manner the Old with the New Testaments, and expounds the mysteries thereof which had been concealed under types; he confirms the doctrines of the Faith, expounds the ethical teaching of the Gospel, and demonstrates with exactness the duties incumbent upon every rank, age, and order of man. In all these things his teaching proved to be a spiritual trumpet, and his speech was seen to be more radiant than the sun, and by these means he clearly sounded forth the word of truth and illumined the ends of the world. Having completed the work of his ministry, he likewise ended his life in martyrdom when he was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero, at the same time, some say, when Peter was crucified.

Setting the Record Straight

Posted on by Fr. Peter
This is another political commentary.

Southbridge is being held captive by five town counselors who cannot seem to find their way to the Town Council chambers for a meeting. Meetings are normally held on Monday nights but this past Monday, for the first time in the Towns history they did not have a quorum to conduct the business of the Town. So the meeting was called for Thursday, again they did not show, however they were at a private meet and greet and the community center in town but were not about the business of the people. So the meeting was rescheduled for Friday night. One again the 5 amigos were not there. Just so there is no confusion I will post two videos below that I believe sets the record straight. Some call it grandstanding on the part of the council chairman but I call it very informative.

In the first video you can hear a woman speaking from the back but you cannot see her. The chair tries to silence her but she continues. In the second video you can see what is going on. Now to set the record straight even more, she is the wife of a candidate for town council as well as the cousin of one of the 5 amigos, can anyone say conflict of interest? Some are trying to set the record straight but it is funny how things look very different depending on what side of the issue you are on.

Southbridge votes on Tuesday and normally I would not take up space on this blog with this kind of topic but I feel that this is important news to get out. Two of the 5 amigos are running for reelection, please remember that. If this is the kind of government you want, vote them back in, if not, make a change.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmUNCpMtBYM]

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U75c5QspmY]

24 June ~ Nativity of the Forerunner

Posted on by Fr. Peter
He that was greater than all who are born of women, the Prophet who received God’s testimony that he surpassed all the Prophets, was born of the aged and barren Elizabeth (Luke 1: 7) and filled all his kinsmen, and those that lived round about, with gladness and wonder. But even more wondrous was that which followed on the eighth day when he was circumcised, that is, the day on which a male child receives his name. Those present called him Zacharias, the name of his father. But the mother said, “Not so, but he shall be called John.” Since the child’s father was unable to speak, he was asked, by means of a sign, to indicate the child’s name. He then asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And immediately Zacharias’ mouth was opened, his tongue was loosed from its silence of nine months, and filled with the Holy Spirit, he blessed the God of Israel, Who had fulfilled the promises made to their fathers, and had visited them that were sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, and had sent to them the light of salvation. Zacharias prophesied concerning the child also, saying that he would be a Prophet of the Most High and Forerunner of Jesus Christ. And the child John, who was filled with grace, grew and waxed strong in the Spirit; and he was in the wilderness until the day of his showing to Israel (Luke 1:57-80). His name is a variation of the Hebrew “Johanan,” which means “Yah is gracious.”

Sermon ~ Liturgical Peace

Posted on by Fr. Peter
For the last few weeks we have been speaking about what it means to be church. We first had to define what it means to be a parishioner. As a reminder a parishioner is one who;

1. fulfills their stewardship obligation
2. adheres to and lives their life in accordance of the faith of the Orthodox Church
3. faithfully attends Divine Services
4. partakes regularly in the mysteries of the church to include confession and communion
5. is obedient in matters of faith
6. is an effective witness and example of the Orthodox Faith and traditions to all people.

This is what makes us a good parishioner. Do we do all of these all the time, no, but we strive to hit them all. That is what it is all about striving to hit. Our Christian life is a journey, a marathon, not a sprint.

Last week I spoke about the communal nature of the Orthodox Church and about the Liturgy and the Eucharist to be more specific. In the elements of bread and wine we have the actual body and blood of our Lord and God and Savior Jesus Christ. This is no mere symbol this is the actual, real presence of Jesus in the chalice.

The Liturgy does not belong to the priest, but to the people. The sacrifice is not mine but ours. I stand at the altar on your behalf and make this sacrifice to God on behalf of all of us here and the world. All of the prayers of the Liturgy, except one, is prayed on behalf of the people and not just the priest and should be read along with the priest during the Liturgy.

Our very life as an Orthodox Christian is Liturgical. We begin our day with prayer and we end our day with prayer. In the monastic tradition, morning, mid day, evening, and night prayers are said daily for the entire church. The monks main job if you will is to pray. Ora et Labora St. Benedict wrote to his monks, work and prayer. The very word liturgy means work of the people. Our entire spiritual life is liturgical.

Another aspect of our Christian life is a life of peace. We are called to be at peace, peace with each other and peace with ourselves. Last week I mentioned to Scripture passage where a person is told that if you bring your sacrifice to the altar and you have a grudge against your brother, leave your sacrifice and go make amends with your bother, then return to the temple and make a worthy sacrifice.

In the Divine Liturgy, more than 30 times, the word peace is used. We begin every liturgy with “In Peace Let us Pray to the Lord.” This is the peace that exists among Christians. We cannot be an effective witness to the world as church if we are against each other. I am not saying we always have to agree, but we must be at peace with one another. We can disagree on an issue and when it is settled we move on, if we cannot do that then I would suggest we need to look deeply at ourselves to find the reason why.

In the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom that we serve most Sundays and fest days of the church year, just before we read the creed, is the time for the holy kiss. This practice has fallen out of use in our church and is now just exchanged between the clergy. What a shame this is. This is the time in the Liturgy when we greet one another, we embrace, and say a greeting. Not just with the people next to you, but to everyone in church. This is the problem with the pews that we have introduced into our Orthodox Liturgy. Pews are foreign to the worship of the Orthodox Christian. The Divine Liturgy has movement, not only of the priest but of the people. We venerate the Icons, we come up to the solea during the reading of the Gospel. We bow and make matanyas often during our services, but we have restricted our movements by corralling us into these pews.

At another point in the Liturgy we say, “Let us love one another, that with mind we may confess.” Followed by, “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Trinity One in Essence and Undivided.” We cannot confess the love of the Triune God if we do not have love for one another. We are an ineffective witness to the word, if we, as Orthodox Christians, do not love one another.The Trinity is the greatest example of this love that we have. The Trinity is one in essence yet three persons and yet undivided. We, as Church, need to be of one mind and love one another so we will be able to confess the Trinity. We need to have the same concept of unity that the early church had. We read in the Acts of the Apostles that they held all things in common. Imagine, all of us assembled here today, holding all things in common. No one had more than he needed and if he did, it was give to another in the community how needed it. The very essence of the word community is unity. If we do not have this, then we are just a group of people who gather on Sunday and then go home. We are called to be far more than that.Our entire Liturgical Life is based on us praying for someone other than ourselves. We do not each bring a sacrifice to the altar, we bring one sacrifice to the altar. The Jews of old would bring an individual sacrifice to the altar in the temple, a pigeon, lamb, bird, cow, goat something depending on what they wished to pray for. We do not come as individuals, we come in unity to the altar and pray for one another. We do not sit alone, as I said last week, and pray for what we want and what we need, Liturgy is not a time for private prayer and devotion, it is communal and all of us need to pray for each other, at all times, but especially during the Divine Liturgy. The English version of the Divine Liturgy has over 9,000 words, not one of them is the pronoun “I” The words, we, us, ourselves, all of us, are used because the Liturgy is not personal but communal.

In a few moments we will gather in general assembly, a meeting, of the church. The reason these meetings are held in the church is because in our Orthodox Theology a meeting such as this is no less of a Liturgical gathering then Vespers or the Divine Liturgy itself. When we gather we pray that the Holy Spirit will guide what we say and what we do. When we speak we should do so with the words of Psalm 19 on our minds, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.” Each time we gather as church we are an example to the rest of the world on how to live their lives. We are the example that the world needs, the guide post, the candle in the wind, whatever phrase you wish to use.

Mahatma Gandhi said, be the change you wish to see. If we wish the world to a more peaceful place then we need to be more peaceful, treat one another with love and great one another with a holy kiss, not a scowl. Our face is a window to our soul and tells the health of our spiritual life. If we walk around with a permanent frown, then we need to look deep inside our own spiritual life to find the answer.

Growing up, one of my favorite church songs was peace on earth. It is sappy and wishful thinking but if very appropriate for us today.

Let there be peace one earth and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth the peace that was meant to be. With God as our father, brothers all are we. Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony. Let peace begin with me let this be the moment now, with every step I take let this be solemn vow. To take each moment and live each moment in peace eternally! Let there be peace on earth and let it being with me!

Evangelical Counsels ~ Obedience

Posted on by Fr. Peter
“Will you preserve, even unto death, obedience to the Igumen, and to all the Brethren in Christ?”With these words, asked by the bishop during the tonsure service, the new monk pledges that he or she will obey the Igumen and live with all the other brothers and be obedient to the community. In other words you no longer live just for you and you alone but for all the members of the monastic community.

Obedience is not an easy thing for us Americans. We do not like anyone to tell us what to do after all we are free. Monastic life, like Christianity itself, is a giving up of our will and handing it over to another. We still make decisions for ourselves and in the end if we cannot “preserve unto death” we are free to leave the monastery. The hope is that we will persevere in monastic life.

Obedience is not easy. As a priest I am obedient to my bishop and to my parish community. I do have the freedom to organize my ministry in the way that I think it should be accomplished but I will ask the bishop for certain things. Sometimes it is just advice on an issue and sometimes, it is seeking permission.

The monastic life is the same. When we enter community, no matter what that community may be, we need to be obedient to each other. Decisions are made by the superior of that community, who we believe serves as the father of the community, but he does so with humility and also makes decisions based on what is best for the community as a whole and not just for one person.

When I entered monastic life years ago, one of the hardest parts was obedience to the bell. Five times a day the bell would ring to signal prayer. You drop whatever it is that you are doing and head to the chapel for prayer. This was not always easy. Sometimes I was meeting with someone, or just breaking through writing, and the bell would ring. But we are obedient to the life we have chosen and it is not supposed to be easy.

We do not sacrifice our own freedom in fact I would argue that by being obedient to the Igumen we actually have more freedom. This is the spiritual gift that we all need to work towards.

As Christians we are supposed to be obedient to Jesus Christ and His Gospel. We are supposed to be obedient to the Priest and the Bishop in spiritual matters. We are supposed to be obedient to the teaching of the church. So in a way we all must practice this discipline, and it is a discipline.

General McChrystal

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Unless you live under a rock you know that the top US General in Afghanistan, General Stanley A. McChrystal, is going to meet with the President today to explain himself. I cannot help but think of the line from I Love Lucy, Ricky would come home and find that Lucy has gotten herself into another mess and would say, “Lucy, you got some splanin to do!”

Before you comment, you need to read the article in Rolling Stone. It is long and peppered with the “f” word but this is the military and it is Rolling Stone not the Wall Street Journal.

When I first heard this story I thought, this guy needs to go. Then I thought more about it, and more about it, and I have now come to the conclusion that he made a mistake and a bad choice of words but should he be fired for it, no. It is being compared to Truman V MacArthur during the Korean Conflict. This situation was completely different.

Gen. MacArthur was relived of command for failure to follow the orders of the President. One of those I believe was to not speak with the press. Orders are orders and all of the folks in the military need to obey them no matter what your rank.

That is not the case in this situation. Again, read the article before you comment. He speaks frankly about the President, who I have heard him say he voted for, and the Vice President. He speaks about personal meetings they had when he said Obama looked “uncomfortable” in the room with all the brass. I am sure many would in the same situation. He did not do anything against policy or disobey any orders. He did not make his boss look great, but is that a crime, no. Was it a mistake, yes.

Deacon Michael Hyatt has some interesting observations on this issue on his wonderful blog. Deacon Michael is the President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing and writes on leadership topics.

Should he resign, no. Should he be fired, no. Should he have a stern taking too, yes. Then get back to work and wrap this thing up. This war has been dragging on long enough, let’s get down to business and get it over with and bring everyone home.

New Monastery Founded

Posted on by Fr. Peter
On Sunday, June 20th the parish community of St. Michael Orthodox Christian Church voted to found the St. Columba of Iona Orthodox Monastery on the grounds of the church.

For more than a year, Fr. Peter Preble, the pastor of the parish, has been working to find suitable property to found the monastery. One of the parishioners, Mr. Thomas Andrea, suggested that the monastery be founded at St. Michael’s. “It is funny how you can be looking for something and the answer to the question is right under your nose the entire time” said Fr. Peter. “We have been looking at all sorts of property to include the former Camp Bement in Charlton, Massachusetts but God had other plans.” That plan was the property on Romanian Ave in Southbridge.The monastery will be housed in the present rectory and use the church and the grounds as well as a newly established chapel for services. A services schedule will be published soon but will include daily services as well as a lecture series that will begin in the fall.

Fr. Peter said, “monasticism has a long tradition in the Orthodox Church and we have been without a monastic presence in this area for far too long. The Church is at it’s best when the local church and the monastery work together for the betterment of the world.”

The new monastery has as it’s patron the 6th century Scottish St. Columba of Iona. Know in the Orthodox Church as Our Father Among the Saints Columba, Enlightener of Scotland. He was chosen due to his remarkable history of founding monasteries and his work with the poor. “We hope to emulate his life and work right here in Southern Worcester County. Monasteries are places of prayer and solitude but also or work” said Fr. Peter. “We need to be active in the word to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ to love out neighbor as ourselves.”

For centuries Monastic Communities have been an integral part of the Orthodox Christian Tradition and life. Today monasticism remains an important and vital part of the Orthodox Christian faith. The focus of monasticism is on theosis, the process becoming more like God, of perfection to which every Christian is called.

Historically monasteries were also centers of learning, evangelization and Church planting. In the Celtic lands monasteries were responsible for preservation of the culture and for large collections of the written word as well as liturgical art. Many believe that the Book of Kells was created at the monastery on the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scotland. The Book of Kells is an illuminated manuscript in Latin, containing the four Gospels of the New Testament. It is a masterwork of Western calligraphy and represents the pinnacle of Insular illumination. It is also widely regarded as Ireland’s finest national treasure – a true work representing Orthodox Christianity.

In 563 St. Columba founded the monastery on the Island of Iona the smallest of the islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. St. Columba and 12 companions founded the monastery and then set out on the conversion of pagan Scotland. In this day and age steady rise of secular materialism, totalitarianism and radical Islam there is a greater than ever need for more Monastic Communities here in the United States. It is also the vision of the monastic foundation to create an Orthodox Center for Church Growth and Evangelism; an academic and practical mission to train and raise up men and women who are called and have a vision for Orthodox evangelism, church growth and the establishment of new Orthodox parishes throughout New England and broader United States. This is very much in keeping with the biblical mandate to “go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matt.28:19ff) and very same mission that St. Columba of Iona embarked on many centuries ago.

St. Columba of Iona Monastery exists to make visible the Kingdom of God to the world; is dedicated to a life of prayer, worship, work and service of others; committed to support local Orthodox Parishes in their evangelistic and missionary outreach to the broader community; is set apart as a place of prayer, contemplation, spiritual direction, formation and renewal; a holy place firmly rooted in the sacramental life of the Church.

The Monastery is a pan Orthodox and duel Ritual (both eastern and western rite) and is under the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in the Americas. The monastery also has a blessing from His Eminence Metropolitan Philip of the Antiochian Archdiocese.

Anyone interested in exploring a monastic vocation at the new monastery should be in contact with Fr. Peter more information can be found on the monastery website

The Garden

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Okay I know it is getting late in the season but the plants are doing well even though they have not gone in the garden beds yet.

Today I got the first I what I hope to be two garden beds built. The wood, for the most part, was donated reclaimed stuff so in keeping with the green theme that is a good thing. All I need now is some good soil to fill the bed with and we will be in business.

The bed is 16 feet long and 4 feet wide and is 4 feet high so there should be plenty of room for the roots in that good black gold.

I think I will wait for the fall to get the second bed in place and get it filled before winter so it will be ready to go in the fall. Now all I need to do is get the rain barrels hooked up and the compost bin going and like I said, we will be in business.

Here are some snaps of the progress today.

Apology

Posted on by Fr. Peter
It seems there is a growing tendency in America that we can say whatever we want as long as we issue an apology afterwards. I am not sure that works. My feeling is once the words are out there it is very hard to take them back. Words can be more hurtful than a sword, so we always need to be careful what we have to say, but it seems that we go for the quick laugh or punch and then we back off and apologise.

The other day, during the hearings in Congress over the BP oil spill, Representative Joseph Barton of Texas apologised to a BP executive for the government “shake down” the president used on him to squeeze the 20 billion out of BP for the oil spill. Okay this was not met well on either side of Congress and and people on both sides came out almost right away and distance themselves from his words. So an apology was issued by the Congressman’s office and I guess that is that. But is it?

Can we really take back the things we say? Can we really blast someone and then say oh by the way I am sorry? I think not. If you believe what you say stand up for it, don’t back down. If this Congressman believes that the government “shook” this guy down say it and stand up for it. But no we go for the cheap shot and then back away.

When I was in the Army there was this theory that if you began a slam with the words, “with all due respect” you could then say anything to the person rank or no rank. I am not so sure this is true.

yes we have freedom of speech, but with that freedom come a great responsibility. The political rhetoric on both sides has lowered to that of a school yard, well the school yard is a little better I think. Gone are the days of great debate on issues it has all come down to name calling. That is not helpful.

To quote from one of my favorite movies, The American President, American is advanced citizenship and we need serious people. Yes we do need serious people at all levels of government.

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