enlighten my five simple senses

sunday july 24th: matthew 9:1-8

 

Jesus heals the paralytic man and some of those who saw this miracle said, "This Man blasphemes!" What Jesus says next is very important in our Tradition, "Why do you think evil in your hearts?"

Jesus for the first time brings thinking to the heart and feeling to the brain. Our bodies is our freedom. We must use all our facilities to approach God: our eyes, our mouth, our taste, our smell, our hearing, our thinking, our feeling. That is why in the baptismal service we bless the body and its faculties.

If you don't feel with your brain and think in your heart, our Tradition says, you're not human. You are not who you are meant to be. There is a saying in society, "that person is self-absorbed" or "self- centered." But in reality, when you lose your "self", you are absorbed. You are human, with the right mind. Those who are self-centered are in fact the opposite of who they are meant to be.

In an age where we identify with soul less objects, we must seek to identify and become more human with God. This movement towards your humaneness, is found in the Liturgy. In the life of Jesus Christ.

the HOW TO follow Jesus

Sunday 26^th June: Gospel Mt 4:18-23

The Gospel tells us that there were fishermen who were casting nets when Jesus Christ walks by and says, “Follow Me”. In Greek this is “Ακολοúθει μοι”. This word still applies to us and how we understand it.

Like the fishermen, whatever our work is, whatever our life is, wherever we find ourselves, whatever crosses our path, if in a shop, in whatever industry, hospitality or healing practice: find God there. Follow Him.

How do we follow Christ? Our spirituality would say three things:

1. “Ακολουθíα ” means service (a prayer service), a church service, therefore it follows, αt some point that there has to be a decision made: that I want church as part of my life.

2. We have to say our prayers. This means: we can say them anywhere, at any time, in any place, in any environment. Not to say our prayers to show off or so that other people will know. Our prayer could be one sentence or one little word.

3. Don’t forget God. Remembrance of  God. “Μνημη Θεοú". The remembrance of God, is a term that saturates orthodox spirituality.  ~ fr Leslie