August 12, 2009 + Are we as Orthodox Christians doing our share? (Part 2)

by Fr. Theodore E. Ziton
from The Word, June 1965

One Clergyman brought out the fact that we are each of us Temples of the Living God. That a temple is something sacred and should not be defiled in any way whatsoever. But do we respect these bodies and treat them as temples of God? If we did we certainly would not gorge our Temple with unfit foods and drink, nor saturate our minds with unclean thoughts or literature, nor tolerate filthy speech. A single sentence uttered by that Clergyman in his sermon has merit. . . . “Only kindness and good words should pass from the lips of a Temple of God so that his works will then reveal his heart and his real thoughts.” ...That is a big order. And who could hear that sermon, believing, and then depart from the religious gathering feeling that they are privileged to do or think what they choose for the rest of the day, week . . . or until the next Divine Service?

This is why I ask if we are not expecting too much of our Priests? We go to the Liturgy, hear such a sermon as depicted, and then march away and leave its import in the pew. Maybe some have the idea that it is too flowery, or impractical. But it isn’t. Surely a Temple of the Living God is no myth.

Another Priest touched on the prevailing World Chaos and the subject of good citizenship right where we are — not over in Europe or some other far-off part of the globe, but right in our own home and community. He spoke of the selfishness of man, how he wants praise, compliments, consideration, but doesn’t want to give the same. He desires to be well thought of, but doesn’t take the trouble to think well of the other fellow! That Priest went on to say that if every man would start with himself and in his own home; start by giving his wife and children some long overdue praise and compliments, he would find his own standards being raised immediately. From there he should follow this procedure with his nearest neighbor, then on and out to others. They all need it and some good can be found in every human being. By commencing to praise and think well of your family and neighbors, it won’t be long before they are thinking well of you. Soon the entire community will be aware of your good standing, your family will be proud of you, and your neighbors will consider you “just tops.” Your elevation as good citizen and friend will soon know no bounds.

How is it possible for any individual to sit through a sermon like that and forget it the moment they have left the portals of the religious gathering? If that missive doesn’t give one food for thought and an inspiration to follow, their attendance at the Liturgy might be considered a kind of farce. Aren’t all our wars being propagated by anti-citizens? No one, who is a GOOD CITIZEN at heart could or would perpetrate such atrocities. Hence the Priests are endeavoring to imbue the individual with the solid foundation of good citizenship.

A third sermon which impressed me deeply was on the subject of prayer. The Priest stated we often become too much like automatons praying with our lips and hands only. He outlined that to make prayer of real benefit to the individual, we must learn to pray from our hearts — from our very souls. He said that the prayers of the Eastern Orthodox Church are powerful and teach one to concentrate and to become steadfast, but even that prayer is of little value if the thoughts merely pass its meaning, and, perhaps, rest on some business deal, or on the housework or other subject entirely foreign to the prayer itself. Unless one’s heart and soul is in it, the prayer becomes a mere form of words forming a sentence which we don’t live by. Further he suggested that we learn to incorporate our own thoughts and words into our prayers as our soul inspires us. Then will our prayers extend beyond the mere surface rituals, and our thoughts will take them deep within us, to the very core of our being.

To sum it all up, if we would commence to use the materials at hand, listen to and follow the suggestions of our Priests, conduct ourselves as Temples of God, sell ourselves in the matter of good citizenship, and then pray from the heart we would become the forerunners — religiously — in this wonderful Atomic Age we live in, and no longer take that phase of our existence for granted.

“When the Son of Man comes will He find, do you think, faith on earth?” Who can tell to what extent the reply to this query depends on our cooperation in checking the tide of religious indifference which would submerge the modern world?

***

Translation of the Icon Not Made By Hands - August 16

Troparion of the Holy Icon, Tone 2

We worship Thine immaculate image, O Good One, and ask the forgiveness of our sins, O Christ our God; for of Thine own will Thou wast pleased to ascend the Cross in the flesh, to deliver from slavery to the enemy those whom Thou hadst created. Therefore we thankfully cry to Thee: Thou hast filled all things with joy, O our Savior, by coming to save the world.

Kontakion of the Holy Icon, Tone 8

The uncircumscribable word of the Father was circumscribed when He took flesh of thee, O Mother of God; and when He had restored the defiled image to its pristine state He suffused it with divine beauty. And as we proclaim our salvation we record it by word and deed.