Axios! Many Years to His Beatitude!

http://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/64912-youhanna-yaziji-elected-new-greek-orthodox-patriarch-of-the-levant-and-antioch

His Beatitude, John X has been elected as Patriarch of Antioch and All the East on Dec. 17, 2012. Many years to His Beatitude! Axios!

Sunday of Forgiveness and Great and Holy Lent

Last Sunday was the Sunday of Forgiveness, as well as Cheesefare Sunday. This signals to us the start of the most solemn season in the Church, Great Lent. Last Sunday we read about how we must forgive one another (Matthew 6:14-21) as well as how we must be when we fast. This season we are called to repentance as well as forgiveness. As we journey towards that day when He died for us, we reflect on how despite our sins He still found us worthy of forgiveness. That should not be lost on us. And just as much as He forgave us, then we must show the same mercy to those who offend us.

This season as well we are called to fast. Fasting is a way of reminding us of what we should do; that is, to take off our inclinations to sin and sin itself. Fasting then is a start--if we can avoid certain foods during Lent, then we should be able to avoid sin as well. It goes without saying that when we fast, we do it in prayer. Fasting without prayer is merely dieting, and spiritually it does us no good if we fast without prayer. So fasting done in prayer and reflection helps us focus on our goal, that is Christ Himself. We pray that His mercy and forgiveness be with us. We pray that we have the courage to face ourselves and take off our sinful selves and put on Christ, as we have promised at baptism. We remember this season that we have to put on Christ as His followers.

But it shouldn't only be this season that we should reflect on these things. We are called to live this life daily. It should not only be at Lent that we remember this--and even that, if at all--but it must be part of our life every single day. So we ask for His grace that, everyday, we live our Christian life the way He wants us to live it. Then we are ready to be with Him, as we go on each day to be more like Him.

Long time since I last wrote...

I guess I have stayed a bit too long away from my blog. It is almost Great and Holy Lent, and I have not posted since the visit of His Eminence, Metropolitan Paul of Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. Anyway, my apologies.

Last Sunday was Judgment Sunday and Meat-fare Sunday. We recall on that day the final Judgment (Matthew 25:31-46), where we see Jesus as Judge. We also realize that His Judgment is hinged not only on our faith, but how we lived our faith. Overall, what Jesus wants from us is to love--love the Lord as well as our neighbors. What we do then has much importance; recall, for instance, that in Romans 2:5-8 Paul shows the same Judgment scene, where those who do good will go to their reward while those who do evil to their punishment. It is clear then that Judgment will be based on how we have lived our faith, a faith working in love. As Paul would later affirm in Romans, love is the fulfillment of the Law.

As we near Lent, we reflect on this--how we lived our lives, and are called to repentance. The first Sunday of the Triodon has the Publican and the Pharisee; the second Sunday the Prodigal Son and last Sunday, Judgment. In all these, we are prepared for that time when we recall His suffering, death and Resurrection. In that time, we should reflect on our lives, and what we can do to correct whatever we need to. The Lord is kind, as we are shown in the Prodigal Son--He waits for us patiently to return to Him. But we must not recall these things only during Lent, but each day, for often we fall short and have need of His mercy.

Last Sunday as well was Meat-fare Sunday. It is the last day for us Orthodox to eat meat, in preparation for the Great Fast of Lent. Fasting must be done in prayer; we do not fast simply for its own sake, but to help us in prayer as well as help us to slowly take out sins and our disposition towards sin, towards as more holy life. So we should reflect as well on this, that our life is a life of sacrifice, as life lived in penance. Such a life then, lived in prayer and contemplation, would be a holy life, one where, as we in the Cherubic Hymn, we lay aside all the cares of this life, and focus on a life in service to our Lord.

Pastoral Visit of His Eminence, Metropolitan Paul

His Eminence, Metropolitan Paul, Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines, is making his pastoral visit from January 28 to February 4, 2012 here in the Philippines. We pray that his visit may bear much fruit for the Church here in the Philippines.

Sunday's Gospel Reflection (January 22)

Last Sunday we saw the Gospel in which Zaccheus wanted to see who Jesus was (Luke 19:1-10). He was a tax collector, not exactly the best loved type of person in those days. Still, when Jesus saw him, He called on him and told him that He would come to his house that day. This apparently touched Zaccheus, for he was willing to change for Jesus. When we are called, this must be our attitude as well. We remember the same thing happening to the Apostles when Jesus called them; they left whatever they were doing and followed Him. It is a great risk, yet it also shows a faith totally for the Lord--a faith willing to drop everything for His sake. This is the faith which our Lord wants, a faith like that of a child's, very much innocent and trusting.

We then must also be like them--willing to change, to drop everything in order to follow Him. It is the only thing He asks of us. It is not complicated or hard, for He did promise that His yoke is easy and His burden light. If we have a faith like that of Zaccheus', then we have started this journey towards Him. And as often as He said, He will always be with us and not forsake us, as long as we are there with Him.

Reflection for Sunday's Gospel (January 15)

The Sunday's Gospel was about the ten lepers who approached Jesus (Luke 17:12-19). Jesus said to them to go show themselves to the priests. Of the ten, only one, a Samaritan, went back and paid Him homage. Often we receive things unknowingly from God, or else take for granted what He has given us. We forget the blessings that we have. Yet at the same time we ask from Him many things. Perhaps we should begin to stop and reflect, and realize the many things we have that God has given us, or let us have. We are also so busy with our lives that we do not realize God moving; He is the one guiding us. 

Also, the Gospel at another level shows how a stranger--a Samaritan--recognized what had happened. In a way, this shows how the Gentiles recognized Jesus more than His own. It is, in a way, a sign of how things will be.

We must then recognize as well God moving in our lives, that without Him our lives would be meaningless and without direction. We live in Him, as His followers. Let us not forget to thank Him then each day, most of all for life itself, that even in the hardest circumstances God is still there, and always remain our Hope.

Reflection on Theophany (January 6)

Theophany was celebrated last January 6. It took me awhile to get around to my blog, but finally I am able to post. The Gospel last Friday (Matthew 3:13-17) shows us the Forerunner baptizing Jesus, and after that when He got out of the water, a dove hovered above Him while a Voice cried out, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased." This is the first manifestation of the Trinity in the Gospels, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit together in one place. This is also the first full revelation of Jesus as not merely the Messiah, but something more: the Son of God. It is amazing how this revelation is overlooked today; many do not expressly believe He is God, thinking Him to be only a man. Yet here we can clearly see He is more than man. Theophany celebrates this revelation to us, as we hold fast to the truth given to us by the Fathers of the Church. It is worth reflecting then: do we see Jesus as the Son of God? Do we accord Him the due reverence which is for Him? Nowadays there are people who see Jesus in a rather trivial way, even calling Him, "Bro". Such casual reference to Him does not fit someone who is King and Savior of all. We should not be so casual as to refer to Him as "Bro". Some people find this cute, but it lacks the respect that is befitting of Him. As the Father Himself revealed, Jesus is the Beloved Son, and so we must also honor Him with reverence.

Reflections and Resolutions

As a new year comes, it's inevitable to look back at the past year and reflect on what happened. It's also inevitable at this time to make resolutions. Each new year is another chance to renew our lives. It is a time when there is much hope, and we look forward to the coming year with much optimism and enthusiasm.

But we must not forget the most important thing--to have the Lord when we make our resolutions. It is by His grace that we're given the strength to carry out our resolutions. Often we make them, but do we remember to ask His help whenever we make them? Let us ask His help and guidance then. It would not be in vain if we ask His blessing.

At the same time we thank the Lord for the past year, that there had been blessings as well as hardships. All of them are a part of life, and we thank Him for giving us the chance to experience life. No matter how hard life is, we must realize that He is always there to guide us, if we ask Him to do so. We are thankful that despite the hardships of life, He does not fail us.

And so this year we turn to Him and to the Theotokos, as we should. It is a year of opportunities. With the Lord by our side, nothing is impossible. He will be there for us if we but cling to Him, for without Him we are nothing. But with Him, then we are whole, for He is everything.