Bangalore, India (ENI). The National Council of Churches in India plus global church leaders have condemned the coordinated attacks in Mumbai, which have left more than 140 people dead. The Indian council on 27 November urged action to defeat “all forces and all forms of terrorism in India”. Indian officials blamed an Islamic extremist group for the attack. The National Council of Churches in India groups 30 Orthodox and Protestant churches. It issued its statement after gunmen armed with automatic weapons and grenades targeted at least seven sites in Mumbai late on 26 November, and stormed two luxury hotels. “There is real panic here and the people have been stunned by the viciousness of the attack,” said Metropolitan Geevarghese mar Coorilos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Death at Wal-Mart
I read this story yesterday and could not believe what I was reading but then again I could. The story of the worker at Wal-Mart being trampled to death is just another sign that we have gone crazy out of control with consumerism in this country. If you read the story you will see that these bargain hunters took the doors off the store to get in and also trampled a pregnant woman. I also think the unbelievable thing is that they did not close the store, people kept right on shopping. Rod Dreher got it right with the title of his post on this subject, What sick, wicked culture produced such people?
A few of my fellow bloggers have posts of note on this subject and I will link to those below please do give them a read. Take a moment and think about this and our part in it. Think about how we will change this year and try and make the world a different place.
In Memory of the Trampled Wal-Mart Worker: A Contemplative Rant by Carl McColm
What sick, wicked culture produced such people? by Rod Dreher
Black Friday
It is 7:30am and the stores have been open since 4:30am so I am sure that many people have fallen into the trap of buying more junk then they can afford. If we have learned nothing from all of this economic stuff going on perhaps this year we can just celebrate a simple Christmas and not put ourselves in hock up to our eyebrows. Some folks are calling this make something day. Nothing is more personal then a gift that you make yourself. I can remember every year growing up we used to get a hat and scarf and some mittens from my grandmother. She worked all year on these gifts and they came from her heart. They were so warm and every time we wore them it reminded us of her. This year let’s think about what we are buying and perhaps make something for those in our lives. Maybe even buy a gift or someone who has nothing, there will be a lot of that going around this year.
H/T to Seven Whole Days for the Picture
New Blog
Okay it is time to let you in on a little secret. One week from today I launch my new radio program called Father Peter Live! The show will air on WESO 970am from Southbridge and will run from 12-1pm on Thursdays. We are going to start with one day a week and see where it goes from there.
The format will be simple, call me and we chat. I am passionate about people getting their life back on track and I want to help you to do this. I believe that we need to be physically, spiritually, and emotionally well in order to be in balance. I want to help you do this. So what are we going to do? Well we are going to start with some tips on how to make the holiday season stress free! Then move on to weight loss and money management oh ya and little spirituality thrown in for good measure.
If you live in the Southbridge area tune in to 970am if not I just might be able to stream the show live on youtube or something stay tuned for that.
I have started a new blog for the show right now available here.
The Theological Virtue of Hope
The theological virtue of hope goes hand in hand with the theological virtue of faith. St. Paul in his letter to the Romans tells his readers that Abraham, “in hope believed against hope that he should be the father of many nations. (4:18) Hope, just like faith, is in that which is not seen. Again St. Paul tells the Romans, “For in this hope we are saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. (8:24-25)
The classical definition of hope would be the assurance of the good outcome of our lives lived by faith in God. In hope we have a conviction that our lives built on that faith in God will produce fruits. Hope brings us confidence even in this world of darkness and sin. It is also the confidence that the light of the loving God will bring us forgiveness and also brings us the help that we cannot do on our own.
The Psalmist writes, “Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and shield. Yea out hearts are glad in him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Thy steadfast love, O Lord be upon us, even as we hope in Thee. (Psalm 33:20-22)
SO what then would we say is the opposite of this virtue of hope? Two things would fall into this category, despondency and despair. The spiritual tradition of the Church would teach that the state of despondency and despair is the most grievous condition that one can possibly find themselves in. Despondency is the worst and most harmful of the sinful states possible for the soul. This of course is from a spiritual sense. If we have no hope then nothing else is possible for us.
If someone falls in faithlessness that person can be chastised and convinced. If another is proud they can be humbled, impure he can be cleaned, weak strong, wicked righteous. But if one is despondent and full of despair their heart and soul will be dead and unresponsive to the grace that only God can give and the support of those around him.
The 6th century Saint Isaac of Syria in his Directions on Spiritual Training relates the following to his spiritual children, “The force of despondence overwhelm him and oppress his soul; and this is a taste of hell because it produces a thousand temptations: confusion, irritation, protesting and bewailing one’s lot, wrong thoughts, wanderings from place to place and so on.”
For one to rise from this state of despair and despondency he must remain steadfast and have patience. He must be a person of faith even when there is no conviction or feeling that such would be appropriate. The person must take one day at a time and immerse themselves in Scripture reading, liturgical worship, fasting, prayer, and work. St. Benedict would advise the person to remain stable in ones place to and to “what you are doing” and to do it as well as you can will all attention. The important part of recovery would be to find spiritual friends and a spiritual guide during this time.
There is no virtue in feeling weak and helpless in the presence of that which is evil. There is no virtue to consider yourself totally at the mercy of all that is evil and sinful in the world and in your life. Rather it is a virtue that one always is “rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation” and knowing and believing that the final victory is God’s and God’s alone (Romans 12:12).
Giving Thanks
So what are we thankful for? Use the comments section to list what you are most thankful for during this season of thanks.
I am most thankful for:
Family
Friends
A Parish that is beginning to have a vision
That Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior
How about you?
Orthodox Daily Prayer Part II
For those of you who have been using the Orthodox Daily Prayer podcast I need to apologise I have not uploaded the files for tomorrow and Friday. I will get back on course during the weekend. iTunes has accepted the podcast so I just need to get the technical stuff working and you will be able to subscribe with iTunes.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Shepherd of Souls 37
Episode 37 is now online and available from iTunes. This week we look at the sources of Orthodoxy and continue with the music of the Boston Byzantine Choir.