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.

Ronnie Lee Gardner

Posted on by Fr. Peter
You may not have heard of this man before reading this post, neither did I until he made the news recently. He is scheduled to be executed by firing squad in Utah at 2:00am on June 18th. I did not even know that this was possible in the US anymore. Another surprising thing is he chose this form of execution as is the case in Utah. Oklahoma is the only other state that executes by firing squad.

As an Orthodox Christian I find the death penalty an abomination. A civilized nation does not need to execute people anymore. We have the ability to keep people incarcerated for life and regardless of what people think,the death penalty is not a deterrent for killing. I cannot imagine someone about to kill someone stopping and saying, oh wait, I might get the death penalty. All of us were created in the image and likeness of God and have the divine spark that goes along with our creation. We do not have the right to end a life at any stage of its development. From conception to it NATURAL end we say.

I also cannot believe it is a very full proof way of executing someone. What if they all miss? I read somewhere that they only get one shot, no pun intended, at you. If they fail your done, back to your cell for the rest of your life.

The Supreme Court of the USA has denied his stay so he will face the squad at 2am. He is a convicted murderer and needs to pay for his crime. Killing him is another crime. Pray for him, for the his family, for the family of his victim and pray for those who will carry out the order to murder him on our behalf.

Justice yes, vengeance no.

Small Town Politics

Posted on by Fr. Peter
I do not often make comments on this blog about the political happenings in the Village but I fell compelled to speak up about this one.

Earlier this year the Superintendent of School announced she was going to retire at the end of the school year. The end is in sight and the search is on. The School Committee formed a search committee made up of school committee members, parents, etc. They were charged to bring four names back to the School Committee for consideration. After the “nation wide search” they returned three names of qualified people to serve the school system.

Soouthbridge does not have the best of school systems and Dr. Hanley has done a wonderful job trying to put things back on track. It would appear the more high school students attend high school at either the local vocational school or one of the other districts in the area. Two weeks ago the high school graduated 69 kids. The population of this town hovers around 17,000. I have seen stats that say when the graduating class began 9th grade there were more than 120 in the class. It has been said that some dropped out, and other moved on. 69 graduated. We are in the process of building a new school and maybe that will help maybe it wont we can only wait and see.

I serve on the School Committee of the regional vocational school. Southbridge has the largest portion of the student population somewhere around 300 in the 9th – 12th grade. There are 10 towns involved and the budget is pretty high with no frills mind you just good old education and a lot of hard work by the administration and faculty. The rooms are over crowded and the like the most of the kids graduating will go on to college. In fact one of them was appointed to a maritime academy in New York.

Okay, back to Southbridge. The School Committee was nit happy with the names submitted so they added a fourth name. The present principal of the high school. I know this man, and he is a supporter of some of the things we do here at the church but two years ago he was the band instructor at the high school and now he is under consideration to be superintendent. He is the odds on favorite to be named, and the thing that makes me mad is that the School Committee is not even making a secret of the fact that he is their choice.

He applied and was not considered by the search committee so there has to be something there. The other three have pretty good credentials. One is a superintendent is a large school system in New York, one is an assistant Superintendent here in Massachusetts and one is the principal of a large regional school and has been so for a long time.

This past Saturday interviews were held with all four candidates. I was not there but I know of several people who were. They all said that all of the candidates did well but the golden child was not stellar. He had no concept of the budget process or what he would do in the future. In fact one report was that he would stay the course. Not good if you ask me. After the meeting this candidate was seen out and about the town with several members of the School Committee and it is well know that he is friends with several of them as well.

Qualifications of the candidates here.

I am all for promoting from within but only if the person in qualified. This should be about more than rewarding a friend or giving the job to a guy that will do what the school committee wants him to do. If they want to run the school then they should have applied for the job! As a member of a school committee I have complete confidence in the job that the administration of the school is doing. Do I question them, yes, do I tell them how to do their job, no. If I did not have confidence in the job they are doing, I would seek to replace them.

June 29th is the Town Election and there are several write in candidates and June 30th is the meeting of the School Committee to make a decision. If you live in this town, and care about it, let them know how you feel. The old boy network needs to end, and it needs to end soon. Make your voice heard at the ballot box and at the meeting.

17 June ~ St. Etheldreda

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Abbess of Ely (679)

Queen of Northumbria; born (probably) about 630; died at Ely, 23 June, 679. While still very young she was given in marriage by her father, Anna, King of East Anglia, to a certain Tonbert, a subordinate prince, from whom she received as morning gift a tract of land locally known as the Isle of Ely.

St. Wilfrid was her friend and spiritual guide, but it was to him that Egfrid, on succeeding his father, appealed for the enforcement of his marital rights as against Etheldreda’s religious vocation. The bishop succeeded at first in persuading Egfrid to consent that Etheldreda should live for some time in peace as a sister of the Coldingham nunnery, founded by her aunt, St. Ebba, in what is now Berwickshire. But at last the imminent danger of being forcibly carried off by the king drove her to wander southwards, with only two women in attendance. They made their way to Etheldreda’s own estate of Ely, not, tradition said, without the interposition of miracles, and, on a spot hemmed in by morasses and the waters of the Ouse, the foundation of Ely Minster was begun. This region was Etheldreda’s native home, and her royal East Anglian relatives gave her the material means necessary for the execution of her holy design.

St. Wilfrid had not yet returned from Rome, where he had obtained extraordinary privileges for her foundation from Benedict II, when she died of a plague which she herself, it is said, had circumstantially foretold. Her body was, throughout many succeeding centuries, an object of devout veneration in the church which grew up on her foundation. One hand of the saint is now venerated in the church of St. Etheldreda, Ely Place, London.

From here

17 June ~ St. Botolph

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Abbot of Icanho (in East Anglia) (680)

‘Saint Botolph was born in Britain about the year 610 and in his youth became a monk in Gaul. The sisters of Ethelmund, King of East Anglia, who were also sent to Gaul to learn the monastic discipline, met Saint Botolph, and learning of his intention to return to Britain, bade their brother the King grant him land on which to found a monastery…

Hearing the King’s offer, Saint Botolph asked for land not already in any man’s possession, not wishing that his gain should come through another’s loss, and chose a certain desolate place called Ikanhoe. At his coming, the demons inhabiting Ikanhoe rose up against him with tumult, threats, and horrible apparitions, but the Saint drove them away with the sign of the Cross and his prayer. Through his monastery he established in England the rule of monastic life that he had learned in Gaul. He worked signs and wonders, had the gift of prophecy, and “was distinguished for his sweetness of disposition and affability.” In the last years of his life he bore a certain painful sickness with great patience, giving thanks like Job and continuing to instruct his spiritual children in the rules of the monastic life. He fell asleep in peace about the year 680. His relics were later found incorrupt, and giving off a sweet fragrance. The place where he founded his monastery came to be called “Botolphson” (from either “Botolph’s stone” or “Botolph’s town”) which was later contracted to ” Boston.”‘ (Great Horologion)

From here

error: Content is protected !!