Tea Party

Posted on by Fr. Peter
If you are a longtime reader of this blog you know that I participated in a protest in the spring that had been organized by the Tea Party folks. I believed then as I believe now that we need to make some changes in the way Washington is doing things. I have now decided that I can no longer participate in events organized by this group. I have a fundamental disagreement with people who try and Make anyone out to be a Nazi or try and compare someone to Hitler. There is no room in my world for people who ave to stoop to this level of protest. I had also decided that after I gave up my radio show I would not make political comments on this blog anymore, however after the Tea Party in Washington and the Congressman’s outburst during the President’s speech I will make some final (ya right) political comments.

Now I know that not everyone who was at the Tea Party is not a hater and I also know that the two pictures I have posted below are just tow of thousands of signs, but they speak volumes. The organizers of such events and everyone who was there needs to distance themselves from the hatred that is being spewed by some of your comrades. Sorry for the use of that word. Here are some photos of signs, again I know that the vast majority of people do not subscribe to the hatred but it has to stop.

Is anyone else bothered by the Nazi references to the President of the United States? I think people need to go back and read their history before they make references to someone who tried to exterminate and entire race of people. Again I know it is not the vast majority of people who attended the Tea Party but those who have need to denounce this kind of hatred and trash! This is not helpful in a discussion.

Now before you jump on me and talk about how the left went after George Bush read back through the blog and find my comments on hatred in general. I do not think hatred toward anyone is healthy. I did not like it when the left attacked President Bush anymore than the way the left is attacking President Obama. I have heard people say that because they (the left) attacked Pres. Bush we (the right) are going to attack Pres Obama. Now that is an adult way to carry on a conversation!

We all need to take a step back, take a deep breath, and stop all of the hate. We definitely need to stop the Nazi references as that is very destructive and monumentally disingenuous to all of those who lost their lives because of what Hitler did. The people who made the signs should be ashamed of themselves and those who do not speak out against it should also be ashamed of themselves. March, yes disagree, yes let your voice be heard, yes but we are a civilized country and all this does is lower the level of debate and what we should be doing is raising the level of debate.

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi has been quoted saying ” Be the change you want to see in the world” If we want the change to be what is displayed in the signs that is great go for it but I don’t think that is what you want. I also believe it discredits what everyone else is trying to do.

Margaret Mead, the American Cultural Anthropologist said, “Never underestimate the power of a small dedicated group of people to change the world-indeed, its the only thing that ever has” We do need change, but what kind of change do we want? Do we want the hate or do we want a great debate on the issues? You Decide!

PS: Hate filled comments and comments that do not advance the discussion will be deleted. If you don’t like this policy then get your own blog and write whatever you want. Haters are not welcome here.

Photos from here

Catholic Orthodox Unity?

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Thanks to the many bloggers who have posted the link to this article in the National Catholic Register. For those of you who have not seen it check it out here.

It seems the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Moscow has said that unity between Rome and the Orthodox world is “within a few months.” Well as much as many of us hope and pray that one day this will be true I hate to disagree with His Eminence but I do not think that is possible.

I do not think the day will ever come that the church will be “one” again from an administrative position. I think we might achieve Communion of sorts as we have seen with other churches but unification is not possible. Too much time has passed and there are far too many differences to be reconciled for unity to be achieved. I know miracles can happen but this would be a big one!

At the present time in the Orthodox world there are 9 Patriarchs and 6 heads of recognized Autocephalous Churches. If we include Rome there would be 10 Patriarchs. Yes we Orthodox do recognize the Pope of Rome as a Patriarch and dare I say would say that he is first among equals. Laying aside all other theological problems the Universal Jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff would cause quite a problem for the others in the club.

Trying to get the Orthodox to agree on something is sort of like herding cats. Oh we talk a good game but when it come down to it a turf war begins. Here in the US for example we have the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA). This group recognizes 10 Jurisdictions in the United States and Canada. These are the Canonical Orthodox Churches in the Americas. Now some of you who read this blog do not belong to one of these Jurisdictions yet claim to be canonical. I cannot accept that nor would the majority of Orthodox in the US. So that is one problem. The other is if we cannot get these 10 bishops to agree how are we going to get a multitude of bishops to agree. Administrative unity is something that has been a goal in the US for many many years and sometimes is within the grasp but them slips away.

We have a bishop for example that does not like what a lay person is writing on his blog about him. He asks the lay persons bishop to sanction him and tell to stop writing. Bishop cannot do this after all this is not Soviet Russia. Other bishops stops his feet and pulls his seminarians out of the other bishops seminaries a week before classes begin. One of these very seminarians had just moved into an apartment and his wife was GREAT with child! So off they go on the move. This is the kind of silliness that should end.

I could go on but suffice it to say we have a long way to go before we can talk about unifying with anyone outside of the Orthodox family. Let’s talk about uniting the family we have before we invite anyone else to join.

Elevation of the Cross

Posted on by Fr. Peter
The Elevation of the Cross, celebrated on the fourteenth of September, commemorates the finding of Christ’s Cross by Saint Helen, the mother of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century; and, after it was taken by the Persians, of its recovery by the Emperor Heraclius in the seventh century at which time it was “elevated” in the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem. From this latter event the “universal elevation” of the Cross was celebrated annually in all of the churches of the Christian Empire.

The day of the Elevation of the Cross became, as it were, the national holiday of the Eastern Christian Empire similar to the Fourth of July in the United States. The Cross, the official emblem of the Empire which was placed on all public buildings and uniforms, was officially elevated on this day by the bishops and priests. They blessed the four directions of the universe with the Cross, while the faithful repeated the chanting of “Lord have mercy.” This ritual is still done in the churches today after the solemn presentation and elevation of the Cross at the end of the Vigil service of the holy day following the Great Doxology of Matins.

The troparion of the feast which was, one might say, the “national anthem” sung on all public occasions in the Christian Empires of Byzantium and Russia, originally petitioned God to save the people, to grant victory in war and to preserve the empire “by the virtue of the Cross.” Today the troparion, and all the hymns of the day, are “spiritualized” as the “adversaries” become the spiritually wicked and sinful including the devil and his armies, and “Orthodox Christians” replace the names of ruling officials of the Empire.

O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victories to the Orthodox Christians over their adversaries; and by the virtue of Thy Cross, preserve Thy habitation (Troparion).

As Thou was mercifully crucified for our sake, grant mercy to those who are called by Thy name; make all Orthodox Christians glad by Thy power, granting them victories over their adversaries, by bestowing on them the invincible trophy, Thy weapon of peace (Kontakion).

The holy day of the Elevation of the Cross, although it has an obviously “political” origin, has a place of great significance in the Church today. It remains with us as a day of fasting and prayer, a day when we recall that the Cross is the only sign worthy of our total allegiance, and that our salvation comes not by “victories” of any earthly sort but by the only true and lasting victory of the crucifixion of Christ and our coÄcrucifixion with him.

When we elevate the Cross and bow down before it in veneration and worship to God, we proclaim that we belong to the Kingdom “not of this world,” and that our only true and enduring citizenship is with the saints in the “city of God” (Eph 2:19; Heb 11:10; Rev 21-22).

The first Old Testamental reading of the Vespers of the day tells of the “tree” which changes the bitter waters into sweetness — the symbol of the Tree of the Cross (Ex 15:22-16:1). The second reading reminds us that the Lord chastens and corrects those whom he loves and that Divine Wisdom is “a Tree of life to those who lay hold upon her and trust in her, as in the Lord” (Prov 3:11-18). Again the reference is to the Cross which is, as the epistle reading of the day proclaims, “to those who are called … the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 18-25).

The third Old Testament reading is from the Prophecy of Isaiah which tells of the “city of the Lord” where both Jews and Gentiles will live together and “shall bow themselves down” at the place of God’s feet and “shall know that I the Lord am Thy Saviour and Thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Israel” (Isaiah 60:11-16). Here we have the direct reference to God’s city where men shall worship at his feet; and together with the psalm line repeated constantly during the services which calls us to “bow before his footstool,” we have once again the reference to the Holy Cross (Ps 99:5, 110:1, et al.).

Before the Cross, we bow down in worship, O Master, and Thy holy resurrection, we glorify (Hymn of Veneration before the Cross).

This central hymn of the Elevation of the Cross which lasts for eight days in the Church is sung many times. It replaces the Thrice-Holy of the Divine Liturgy. The normal antiphons are also replaced by special verses from the psalms which have direct reference to Christ’s crucifixion on the Cross (Ps 22, 74, 99). At the Matins, in the gospel reading from St John, Christ says that when he is elevated on the Cross he will draw all men to himself (Jn 12:28-36). The long gospel reading at the Divine Liturgy is the passion account from this same gospel.

Thus, at the Elevation of the Cross the Christians make their official rededication to the crucified Lord and pledge their undivided allegiance to him by the adoration of his holy feet nailed to the lifeÄcreating Cross. This is the meaning of this holy day of fasting and repentance in the Church today.

From http://www.oca.org/

The Glory of the Cross

Posted on by Fr. Peter
V. Rev. Fr. Nicholas Apostola
Pastor, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church
Guest Blogger

This is the Sunday before the Universal Exaltation of the Precious Cross. The Epistle Lesson is take from St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, 6:11-18. In this passage, as well as throughout the whole Letter, St. Paul’s emphasis is on “the Cross of Christ.” In part, this explains why we read this portion of his Letter today.

St. Paul was writing the Galatians about the negative influence a group of Jewish converts to Christ was having on their community. Galatia was a province located in north central Asia Minor, present-day Turkey. The larger cities of Galatia contained a mixed population of locals as well as Greeks and Romans. Greek and Latin was the language there. In the more rural areas the population was largely Galatians, who were related to the Celts and spoke a language more akin to Celtic than the languages of their neighbors.

Today’s reading is the close of St. Paul’s Letter to them. It begins: “See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand.” (v. 11) St. John Chrysostom believes that this indicates that St. Paul had written the whole Letter himself, rather than leave the task to a scribe. For him, this was an indication of the intense concern Paul had about the situation, and for the Galatians themselves. Modern scholars think that the first part of the Letter was given to a scribe to write and that St. Paul wrote this part by way of emphasis. Either way, St. Paul is clearly upset and concerned.

Here is the reason: “It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh that would compel you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who receive circumcision do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh.” (v. 12-13)

It might seem odd to us that what we do today for largely medical reasons was a deeply religious question in the early Church. However, according to the Mosaic Law, the primary sign of the covenant between the Children of Israel and God was circumcision. It was and still is what defines Jews as a Chosen People. For St. Paul, to accept circumcision was to subject yourself to the Old Covenant. It was a step backward.

St. Paul’s contention was that these people had no interest in truly proclaiming the Good News of Christ’s coming. Rather, they wanted these Galatians to undergo a ritual that was largely for show, while ignoring the true internal spiritual transformation that should occur in those who follow the Lord. These were fundamentalists who rather than stand up for Christ — which would have probably subjected them to persecution — took the ‘zealous’ route that would make them look devout, but really cost them nothing. This is what’s behind the statement: “they desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh.”

His answer to these ‘missionaries’ is: “But far be it from me to glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.” (v. 14-15) By the “cross” St. Paul means the whole ‘economy’ of our salvation; the whole of God’s plan for us culminating in the Lord’s death and resurrection. He also means the cross that every Christian takes up when they decide to follow Christ. The ‘world’ that has been crucified to him is the world of sin and excess; the passions that lead away from God. This should be the cross that we ourselves pick up, choosing against sin and for the Lord.

St. Paul then offers a blessing: “Peace and mercy be upon all who walk by this rule, upon the Israel of God.” (v. 16) He is sending two subtle messages in this blessing. He is saying that those who follow the ‘rule,’ that is, who choose the newness of Christ over the ‘dead end’ of the Law, will receive God’s peace and mercy. And, by referring to the ‘Israel of God’ he is at once answering his critics — the Judaizers — that he is not ‘Jewish’ enough, and asserting that the ‘Israel of God’ is now the followers of Christ.

Expressing his exasperation with the Judaizers, he says: “Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.” (v. 17) The word translated here as “marks” is, in Greek, “stigmata.” Because of how we use ‘stigmata’ today, it has led some people to speculate that St. Paul had on his body the crucifixion wounds of Christ. However, in the ancient world this word meant something like “branding.” It was used for the branding marks burned into slaves and cattle. It is more likely that St. Paul means the very real scars on his body that were the result of the multiple floggings he had received. Anyone who has seen photographs of the backs of slaves who had been flogged will immediately understand what he is talking about. His scars mark him as belonging to Christ.

He finishes this rather harsh Letter with a blessing: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brethren. Amen.” (v. 18) The words that he chooses, and especially using as the very final word the affectionate term ‘brethren’ — brothers and sister — he wants to soften whatever hurt they might be feeling, and let them know that from his perspective all is healed.

As we reflect on St. Paul’s words, we should recommit ourselves to take up our cross and follow the Lord as St. Paul did.

10 September ~ St. Finian

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Irish abbot, a disciple of Sts. Colman and Mochae also called Winin. He was born in Strangford, Lough, Ulster, in Ireland, a member of a royal family. Studying under Sts. Colman and Mochae, he became a monk in Strathclyde and was ordained in Rome. Returning to Ulster, Finian founded several monasteries, becoming abbot of Moville, in County Down, Ireland. He became embroiled with St. Columba, a student, over a copy of St. Jerome’s Psalter, and St. Columba had to surrender that copy to Finian. He also founded Holywood and Dumfries in Scotland. Finian was known for miracles, including moving a river.

11 September ~ St. Deiniol

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Abbot of Bangor (c. 584).
In Welsh-Deiniol, in Latin-Dainiolus and in English-Daniel.

Deiniol, born in the early 6th century, was an important figure in the development of Christianity in North Wales. The son of a Celtic chieftain, he founded two monasteries, both named Bangor, one of which was close to the modern town of that name…

These were flourishing houses, allegedly with a total of over 2000 monks; many were to perish near Chester at the hands of a pagan king of Northumbria. Deiniol himself is regarded as the first bishop of Bangor. There are numerous dedications to him in North Wales (including the famous library which the Prime Minister Gladstone established in his country seat at Hawarden, near Chester), but few in the South.

In 545 he and St. Dyfrig, who worked in the border country, took part in a synod with St. David which settled many matters regarding the discipline of penance (something over which Celtic Christians enthused); this suggests that Deiniol was regarded as David’s equal. He died in about 584.

From Here

Swine Flu and the Chalice

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Over on the AOI blog I can across a letter from His Eminence Alexios of Atlanta on the Swine Flu and the Chalice. I had the blessing of meeting His Eminence after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. His Eminence came to Baton Rouge on a pastoral visit he is a very holy man.

His letter hits the nail right on the head and I recommend it to you and the faithful. I will be providing copies of this letter at my church this Sunday.

September 11th ~ We Must Never Forget

Posted on by Fr. Peter
Eight years on and what have we learned from the events of that day that changed our country for ever? We must never forget those that gave their lives on that day and those that have given their lives since that day because of it. It is the duty of the living to remember the dead and to keep their memories alive.

We have come back to our place of complacency and many towns will not even have a ceremony or anything to mark this day. We Must Never Forget!

September 11th ~ A Reflection

Posted on by Fr. Peter
This is a repost from last year but fitting I think.

Below is the text of a speech that I delivered last night in Southbridge on the Town Common at the September 11th remembrance ceremony.

At 8:47 am on September 11, 2001 box 8087 was struck by the dispatchers of the FDNY. Moments after that, Fire Fighters, EMS Personal and Police sped to the scene of what would be the worst attack on American Soil. We are here today to remember these brave men and women and all those who gave their lives that day and those that have given theirs since that day.

September 11th changed our country and our world forever. We will never again be the same as we were before that day for on that day evil came to our door step. The very essence of our fallen human nature came to rest on the tip of Manhattan, The Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. On that day it appeared that evil had one but we new better. We new that evil does not win and the brave men and women of the fire and police service proved that to be true.

As people were running for their lives away from all of those places these brave men and women were running in. What would cause someone to run toward something that everyone else is running away from? Why would someone risk their lives to save people that they do not even know? What is it? It is the American spirit. It was the American Spirit that looked evil in the face on that day and said today you will not win. We will rise above this and we will come together and come to the aid of out fellow human being! Thanks to these brave men and women evil did not win the day.

We are here at this hour and in this place to remember the events of that day. We come here at this hour and at this place as a community to once again say that evil will not win and that freedom, not matter what the cost, will win the day. We are here at this hour and at this place to say that the people who gave their lives on that day and since that day that they did not do so in vain but their deaths had a purpose. We are here to remember the human reality of that day and not the political reality of that day for this was the day the earth stood still. It was a day when people of all race, color, and creed came together and joined hands. It was a day when all Americans were just simply Americans.

On November 19, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln spoke these words at the dedication of the cemetery at Gettysburg, “But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

These words dedicating holy ground ring true with us today. It is our duty to dedcaite ourselves to the unfinished work that they began on that day. We must never, never, never forget what has been done for us. We must never, never, never forget the brave men and women of that day. We must never, never, never forget all of those that gave their live, and we must never, never, never forget those that serve today. The Firefighters, the police, the military, the counselors and the scores of others that serve to make our world a better place.

There is another group of often over looked men and women. This is athe group who have given of themselves and fought for our freedom and who have returned to us wounded. Wounded both phsycally and emotionally. Wounded spiritual and psychologically. We need to care for these brave ones who put their lives on the line to secure our freedom. They deserve our honor and they deserve the best care that we can provide, not peeling paint and mold but the best care that this great nation can provide for it’s greates sons and daughters. Freedom is not free and these men and women have paid the price of our freedom and now we must care for them as the heroes that each and everyone of them are. We must never, never, never forget them and what they have done for us.

My friends to job is not complete. There is much more that needs to be accomplished. The wounds of all of us still need to heal and we need to join together again ,as we all did on that day, and we need to work for peace and justice. We need to work for the peace and justice that this country was founded on and that we are now englaged in a war to protect. But peace begins at home and in our hearts. We need to pledge right here at this hour and in this place that we will work to fight hatred no matter where it is, that we will work to fight violence no matter what the cost. We all need to stand up and say we have had enough and it is time to take our nation back. We owe it to those who perished on that day, to those who have been wounded, to those who are fighting right this very minute to make our world, to make Southbridge a better place. It is time to stop fighting with each other and join forces to fight for what is right. Peace begin within each and everyone of us and that is where we need to start.

As we go about our busy lives, and as another September 11th comes and goes, puase and remember, pause and say thank you. Shake hands with the fire fighters, police, ems and other public servants and thank them for the job they do for they do it gladly and they do it for all of us.

We must never, never, never forget!

God Bless You
God Bless Southbridge
And God BLess America!

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The Teaching Office of the Bishop

Posted on by Fr. Peter
For some time now I have been thinking about writing this particular article on the teaching mission of the bishop. These are my thoughts and my thoughts alone on how I think the bishops should be instructing us the faithful.

Recently Dr. Bradley Nassif wrote an article entitled “The Calling of a Bishop is to Preach the Gospel” and this is a good start and a jump off point for this discussion. Dr. Nassif states that “All bishops are to proclaim and interpret the gospel of Christ to the church and to the world.” and what is the Gospel? “The gospel is the “good news” that God became human in Jesus Christ, took upon himself our fallen humanity in order to restore it into communion with God, conquer sin and vanquish death. This he did pre-eminently through Christ’s life, death, resurrection and ascension into heaven. This “good news” must be at the very core of every life-giving action in the church – the sacraments and throughout every liturgical season of fasting and prayer.”

My personal belief is that the Gospel also includes the interpretation of events of the day and how that fits in the Christian life. What do I mean by this? An example of what I mean would be the present health care debate. The Church needs to be heard on these issues and the church, meaning the bishops, need to speak on these issues. Catholic bishop after Catholic Bishop have written statements instructing the faithful on what the church teaches on this very important social issue.

A brief check of the SCOBA website will reveal that since that start of the summer the SCOBA bishops have released the following statements:

Disability and Communion
ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN PRISON MINISTRY
College Student Sunday – September 20, 2009

All important topics don’t get me wrong but where is the teaching office of the bishop? Why is silence all we hear on such an important debate? This is a prime opportunity for our bishops to speak to the faithful about important Social Issues yet they choose silence. Over on the Social Networking site Facebook, there is a discussion going on called “Orthodox Christians Building Hospitals” a small conversation but a conversation none the less.

We need to hear from our bishops on issues of the day. We need the bishops to guide us in what the church teaches on issues such as health care, life issues, euthanasia and a variety of other topics.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has a wonderful website on the health care debate with relevant church teachings on the issue and statements from the bishops. Why do we not have a similar website?

To return to Dr. Nassif’s article. If the role of the bishop is to preach and teach the Gospel then I think they need to start doing just that. One can teach in person yes and it is wonderful when the bishop comes to the church and speaks directly to the people. But in this media and internet day and age our bishops need to harness this and use it to reach the people. It is time the bishops start to speak on these issues.

The bishop speaks for the church and speak loudly for the church. We need that voice crying out in the wilderness. We need our Orthodox Voice to be heard. Bishops please find your voice and use it.

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