"but by Me"

Many people tend to believe that many religions are just different paths to our Creator, and we just choose the path that feels like ours. I can't agree with that, never could. If we trust Christ, we have to trust His every word, and here's what...

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me." (John 14, 6)

Those underlined words are what causes me to disagree. He's not one of the ways, not even the best of the ways, but the only way.

On the other hand, we can see traces of the same Wisdom in different teachings - in Buddhism or Hinduism, for example, just like in Judaism. Why is that? I feel, just like Romanos wrote recently, those are just different versions of Old Testament, given to different peoples according to their context and culture. But Old Testament is not enough for salvation, it's more of preparation to the Real Thing, or words of advise on how to "survive" until the Real Thing comes in.

I also heard an opinion that it's nonsense to preach Christianity to, for instance, Buddhists, since their beliefs existed long time before Christianity was born. Well, the same could be said about Judaism. But again: those Old Testaments were not enough, even though they are huge, definitely not man-made. Yet, Christ is needed to complete the healing of the human's separation from its Creator.

Merton

From Wiki:

Throughout his life, [Thomas Merton] studied Buddhism, Taoism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sufism in addition to his academic and monastic studies.

He believed that for the most part, Christianity had forsaken its mystical tradition in favor of Cartesian emphasis on "the reification of concepts, idolization of the reflexive consciousness, flight from being into verbalism, mathematics, and rationalization." Eastern traditions, for Merton, were mostly untainted by this type of thinking and thus had much to offer in terms of how to think of and understand oneself.

Merton was perhaps most interested in - and, of all of the Eastern traditions, wrote the most about - Zen. Having studied the Desert Fathers and other Christian mystics as part of his monastic vocation, Merton had a deep understanding of what it was those men sought and experienced in their seeking. He found many parallels between the language of these Christian mystics and the language of Zen philosophy.

I can't believe a man like Merton wouldn't be aware of Orthodoxy. Did he fail to see in it that which he sought? or do we fail to live what we believe, thus people don't see it?

Poor guy... he was so close to it - and looked the other way. Or, perhaps, that was his path to our Lord.

Pink Panzer

We’re watching the “Pink Panther” cartoons these days – the old ones, from 60’s. Kids are having a lot of fun with them, and we enjoy that simplistic animation and funny stories also. Yesterday I was baffled though when we watched the “Pink Panzer” episode, because as we were watching it I first thought of “Screwtape Letters” and then realized that it’s a simple explanation of “Unseen Warfare” at children’s level. Definitely wouldn’t expect that in those simple cartoons from 60’s... That episode made it very simple to completely deliver the idea to my kids as I was putting them to bed, although before I didn’t even think it possible to explain it to them before they get significantly older.

Here it is: The Pink Panther 011, Pink Panzer

visit to Greek monastery

Went to St. Nektarios’ Greek monastery this weekend. Somehow it was not easy for me this time: had to push myself with effort through the services, as opposed to the previous trips when I was carried “on wings” of the Meeting, silence, chanting and prayer. Yet, other things (some meetings and conversations) proved to be edifying for me and thus I believe the trip brought me what I needed at the moment – some re-inspiration at least.

Someone told me a recent story. An orthodox priest was driving from Nevada or Arizona to California. He was driving on an empty road in the middle of the desert, nothing and no one around. At some point of his journey he saw a man waving at his from a distance ahead, and the priest stopped thinking that probably someone has a broken car or something like that. The man that stopped him, with long hair and beard, said something along the lines: Father, I need you to hear my confession. The priest, surprised with what’s happening, heard the confession, and that man then thanked him and walked away – back into the desert.

Now, would you expect something like that in America, in the 21st century? I honestly would not. Yes, I know, there is Father Ephrem’s monastery in Arizona’s desert, but... unknown hermits, guided to find the priest like that? I thought such stories belong only to the ancient Paterikon or “Orthodox countries”, such as Mount Athos/Greece, or Russia... Glory to God in His saints!

P.S. Also, saw many cats.

too blind, need help

Was listening to Dylan yesterday ("Slow Train Coming"), and these words stuck with/in me especially:

Shine your light

Shine your light on me

You know I just couldn’t make it by myself

I’m a little too blind to see

Love Dylan.

granny

My grandmother had grown up in a Jewish village in Ukraine, but she’s never been a believer. She’s about 90 years old now and in a way is becoming like a child. Two recent conversations with her have amazed us.

Once, I was talking to her on the phone after work on the way home. I was telling her of some plans that we have and then, half-jokingly, asked her whether those plans are ok? Whether she’s like it this way or that way? And she said: “I want you to do as you wish. And what I have to do – is just to love you.”

And another time my mom/her daughter was talking to her. My granny was telling of this and that happening, and concluded with the words: “whatever happens, we should say: glory to God!”

I know of one Jewish man who said – and wrote – the same. He lived roughly two millennia ago and his commemoration day is today. My granny has never been a believer. Or has she? I believe and hope for our Lord’s mercy to such children of His.

spiritual kung fu

We watched the new “Kung Fu Panda” with kids this past Saturday. Sequels are usually not as good as the original films, if not plain bad. This one surprised me in that respect, as it turned out to be deeper than the first cartoon. The message was toward those who got stuck with their past – what they did or experienced in the past – and can’t move forward. Approximately this: the past doesn’t define you; what you decide to be from now on – that’s what defines you. Isn’t that repentance, metanoia, the change of heart? the resolution to do good and reject the temptations to sin?

Two things I heard over the last few days had removed the veil from my eyes, at least relatively, and let me see the Light. One of them is what Romanos wrote: “God is not angry with you”. And another one is from the cartoon. Right on time, as I was preparing for the confession. I was definitely stuck with the multitude of dark things in my past. I needed someone to show me the way, again. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for You never leave me, even when I think I left You. Thank You for the messages You always send me through Your other children.

“Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is risen, and life reigns!” And we’re free to go forward to the Light and be the light, the choice is ours – between that and looking back like Lot’s wife and staying stuck.

"found them asleep again"

While reading the Gospel yesterday morning, I was startled by these words:

"And He came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy. And He left them, and went away again..." (Matthew 26:43-44)

They made me concerned. He surely found me asleep again, many times, and recently too. I woke up. How do I get Him to come back? I was in panic.

And then later that day I read the answer:

"Ever since the time of your forefathers you have turned away from My decrees and have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty" (Malachi 3:7).

Repentance, metanoia is the second birth, or rather 3rd birth – 2nd baptism.

that's life

On Bright Monday I visited the Russian parish I used to be part of years ago. I like to go there from time to time - mostly to see the priest again, as he's a very dear person to me.

Matushka told me a story of a 7-year old boy who attended the first Paschal Liturgy this year, and he said: "It was the best thing I have seen in my life! It was like I spent a day in Heaven - because that's what Heaven is: everything is beautiful and full of joy." I wish my experience was the same; although it was joyful, but definitely not to that extent. Probably need to become like a child first.

And the priest told me a story of their son who is no finishing his college education. He served in the altar since his toddler (or at least childhood) years, and moved out to another state to go to college. They recently found out that he had drinking and smoking problems, and then met and married a Muslim girl and is a Muslim himself, too. He told his parents of him leaving Christendom recently, and now rejects to even talk on this topic. They saw their daughter-in-law a few months after the marriage was done and are now trying to re-build the relationship.

That's life.

But Christ is risen! and their son was baptized and communed a multitude of times - that can't go without a trace, and I'm sure the grace is at work to bring him back - at the proper time. It's probably going to take a lot of time, patience and prayer. And - who knows? - maybe it'll bring both of these young people into the Church after all. Lord uses even our bad decisions to our good.

Got me extra-worried about my children anyway.

Paskha

Last week was rainy and a bit cold - seemed like the nature joined the sober sorrow and lamenting of the Church going through the Holy Week. On Saturday evening suddenly outside temperature started climbing up causing a lot of fog as we were driving to and from the church, and the rain that was in the forecast somehow did not come. And the most important Sunday of the year was mostly sunny and really warm, even hot when I played with kids under the afternoon sun.

Christ is risen!

the fruit

For everyone of us there will come a moment when the Lord will come to see what fruit the land (body) we’re given has produced. It will come, just a matter of time. It could be very short time, not just in some distant future. And I hope to hear on that day: “enter thou into the joy of thy Lord (Matthew 25:21), I have called you friend (John 15:15)”, not “let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever (Matthew 21:19)”.

Have to be prepared, always ready.

simply natural

It is Saint Anthony the Great, I believe, that is known to have said that he’s worse, more despicable than all other creatures, for they act in accordance with the nature they have been given, while he, owing to his innumerable sins, is in a state contrary to nature. I tried to find that online and found a similar saying attributed to Saint Gregory of Sinai. That is true humility: true knowledge of oneself, as opposed to persuading oneself of being bad.

I am blessed by witnessing natural humility for quite a few years now, and I’m in awe. This person has not read the fathers and would not be considered an ascetic or a prayer person (although she is, although in a different, special away), but she more than once said, in sincerity and simplicity, that “this cat” or “that hamster” or all animals in general are better than us, they don’t need to be saved for they’re sinless. She stated, just with different words, the same thing at which those great fathers arrived after years or decades of struggle, prayer and ascesis.

She also at some point expressed a genuine surprise at a possibility of (me or anyone else) being proud about doing something good, or not even good but simply reaching a new level of success in something. Be it feeding a hungry person or progressing to a new level in gymnastics, for example. In all cases, we’re given the ability and the possibility to do that. Given. Not everyone is born with a good gymnast abilities. Not everyone is shown a hungry person, cause we’re all in different situations at all times; and not everyone is given the money or the food that he could share. So, if you’re given all that – it’s not an achievement, it’s a gift. What’s there to be proud about?

And it’s one thing to agree with this logically and remember this sometimes, inducing this type of thinking; and another thing – to always feel this way, seeing the world this way.

That person is my dear wife, who is, hopefully, not reading this blog post. Although it would not hurt her, since she’d think of these things as given. But I doubt she’ll even think about these things, since seem as simply natural to her, and they are. It’s amazing to see this integrity, this God-given health of the soul. And that’s why I’m in awe, and in love. :)

Nick Cave

On the way to work listened to “No More Shall We Part” album by Nick Cave. He used to be a punk, but with the age he came to Christ and is quite different now. But what I can hear in his later music is really the same as from the older days: a crying soul, beautiful and innocent as a child. Often aching, ill, sometimes angry, but still beautiful in its sincerity, searching and longing for its Creator.

Lord, stay by me
Don't go down
I will never be free
If I'm not free now

Paskha is coming.

Met. Anthony

An excerpt on the life of Met. Anthony of Sourozh from "Remembering Metropolitan Anthony".

Few bishops were more accessible to their flock, but this sometimes had comical results. When one parishioner rang to say that “Peter” had died and asked for prayers, Metropolitan Anthony immediately complied, then asked when the funeral would be. “Oh, there won’t be one,” he was told. “We flushed Peter down the loo.” Peter turned out to be a parakeet.

http://thechildrenofgod.blogspot.com/2011/04/metropolitan-anthony-of-sourozh.html

“We should try to live in such a way that if the Gospels were lost, they could be re-written by looking at us.”

– Metropolitan Anthony of Souroz

Maugham, Claiborne

My mom read a short story by Somerset Maugham titled “Rain” and asked me to read it too, as she wanted to discuss and share thoughts on it.

I heard from someone the story was anti-Christian, and also that Maugham was a “militant atheist”. In the story he depicted a missionary on his way to some distant islands and exposed the ways he employed to bring Christianity to people. For instance, the missionary and his wife saw dancing as a root of many sins in the aboriginal culture and decided to uproot it. So, they introduced the new law: whoever was dancing – could not sell whatever he made to make living. And thus they reached their goal: no dances anymore. Well, they certainly got rid of some joy in the aborigines’ lives and caused some suffering, but, looks like, failed to bring Love and Faith in.

Well, if that’s the only version of missionaries Maugham met in his life – I’m not at all surprised he was so anti-Christian. In fact, this book is not against Christianity but against what people made of Christianity. And think of that example: can’t trade if you don’t obey… isn’t that reminding of something? Reminded me of the book of Revelation: “and that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:17).

His masterpiece is Of Human Bondage (1917), a semi-autobiographical novel about an orphan brought up by pious relatives. In that novel the author’s surrogate, Philip Carey, "looked upon Christianity as a degrading bondage that must be cast away at any cost".

(from Free Thought Almanac)

Not surprising to me. The version he saw was really wrong.

On the other hand, here's something that Christian were and are missing - this Shane Claiborne know what's talking about. We shouldn't be fooled or turned away by his manner of speaking, he's talking about a very important thing, a necessary thing – the actual love, not just emotional love.

We need to act.

Psalm 8

Every time I read Psalm 8, I fall in love a little more with its poetry - and with our Lord - again.

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens...

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?

angry at myself

Jesus, our Creator and our Savior, 2,000 years ago came here and showed us what a human is meant to be/become - that is, become like Him in many ways. Why do we get stuck at just trying to be saved, in other words - merely "passing the test" instead of going for A+ level (not the grade, but the level)? I think, not trying to become what He wants us to become is an ungrateful insult in response to what He has done for us. And I'm not talking about succeeding at that, but really trying, with all heart, mind and body. "Yeah, I know what You mean, Jesus... but living this cozy life, with all the tasty food and funny TV shows, and trying to sin a bit less is all I'm willing to do." That's what we're saying to Him with our actions and inactions. Yes, He'll forgive us for that, too - that's how He is; but with what eyes will we look at Him? oh, shame...

I was reading the passage on the Transfiguration today, and it suddenly came clearer, stronger in my mind. I know a pries who a few years ago on the Transfiguration feast day instead of "Blessed Transfiguration to you, friends!" said "Transfigure, friends!"

HTM: first day of the Holy Lent, slideshow

(click on it to visit the slideshow page)

rejection

It is very worrying to me: to see someone fighting against the life events as they come, saying with words and actions: “I don’t want this!” Can’t judge that person of course, but such rejection terrifies me. I believe it’s a lot worse situation than most other sins, if not all. Even when falling into as serious as adultery, the person would feel regret for doing so quickly after the act. But rejecting His will (incarnate in the events and circumstances) puts one into the position where repentance is not possible and His helping hand is automatically rejected. In such situation what’s left is only waiting it out and praying about the person to change the attitude.

vineyards given to people

During the sermon last Sunday father John recalled the parable about the vineyard which the Householder gave to people, and when He expected to receive the fruits those people didn’t want to give anything away, as they now thought of the land and the fruits as theirs, and they even killed those whom the Householder sent, including His Son. (Matt. 21, 33-41)

I think, usually that’s understood as an address to the Jews who were a chosen people and didn’t yield the fruit, killed the prophets and the Son of God. But father John brought it into personal context this time: my body is the land given to me temporarily, and at some point I’ll be asked to present the fruits. Keeping that in mind should definitely help making right choices while the body is mine to use. I hope I'll use that help...