Advent - Week Two Study Guide

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As we continue our preparation for the coming of Christ on December 25th, this week we turn our thoughts to the Mother of God. Mary, the Theotokos, gives us the perfect model of humility and silent expectation that we can use as a model during this period of preparation. The more we find ways to follow her example of obedience and purity the closer we will come to Christ who is about to be born.

On November 21st we celebrate the entry of Mary into the Temple in Jerusalem. We know from tradition that Mary’s parents were childless in old age. They prayed continuously to have a child and vowed that if God were to bless them with a child they would dedicate her to God. After a miraculous birth her parents took her at the age of three to the Temple in Jerusalem where she lived for twelve years. She lived in the most holy place in the Temple being cared for by the Temple priests and angels. The hymns of the Church testify to the careful spiritual preparation for the birth giving of the Son of God that God provided to her. She was purified through her life in the Temple to receive God Himself in her womb. Joseph, an older man, was selected to protect her when she left theTemple at the age of about 13.

The icon of Mary which we see in the asp of our Cathedral shows Mary with her arms lifted up in prayer and with Christ bursting from her womb. Mary, chosen to carry the infinite God in her womb, must be “wider than the heavens”, is the name of this icon.

The hymn which is sung at vespers of this feat of her entry to the Temple is as follows:

The most holy virgin,

Temple that is to hold God,

is dedicated within the temple of the Lord,

and young girls, bearing lamps,

now go before her. Her noble parents,

Joachim and Anna, leap for joy and dance,

for they have given birth

to her who is to bear the Creator, and she,

the most pure, with rejoicing

goes round the temple habitations

and is fed by the hands of an angel.

She was chosen to be the Mother of Christ,

the Lord Who grants to the world great mercy.

All the feasts of the Theotokos point to the fulfillment of God’s plan of salvation through Christ. The icons of Mary show her holding Christ in her arms or as is shown above bursting from her womb.  She is not praised for her own sake, but for her faithful role in being willing and obedient to God as an instrument in His divine plan. This good news of salvation is included in the Dismissal hymn for the feast day:

Today is the foreshadowing

of the grace of God and the good news

of the heralding of our salvation.

The Virgin is manifest

in the temple of God and beforehand

she announces Christ to all.

Let us sing to her with a mighty voice:

Hail! You are the fulfillment

of the Creator’s dispensation

What was the Temple like?

Read Exodus 40:1-35; 1 Kings 7:51 - 8:11; Ezekiel 43:27-44:4; Heb 9:1-7 

These are the prescribed Scripture readings for the feast that tell us about the Temple where she was dedicated:

How big was it?                                  How many rooms did it have?

What items were inside and where were they placed?

What was the significance of this structure?

Draw a layout of the temple indicating what was in each place.

Can you relate this design in any way to our Cathedral?

Just like this Temple that God designed for the Israelites to worship Him, Mary was also specially prepared to receive God into her womb. Can you imagine what it must have been like to grow up in such a holy place? This earthly Temple of the time of Moses foreshadows the living temple that God Himself chose to form the Christ, He who came down from heaven as fully man and God.

Read Lk 1:39-49,56

What does this tell us about the way Mary and Elizabeth anticipated the birth of Christ?

Read Lk 10:38-42 & 11:27-28 

This Gospel that is read on the feast days of Theotokos is about the sisters of Lazarus who was raised from the dead, Martha and Mary.

What did Mary do when Jesus visited her and her sister in their home?

Why is Martha upset?

To whom is Jesus referring when He says, “just one is needed”?

What was Jesus’ response to the woman’s praise of His mother?

This lesson gives us insight about how to observe the Nativity Fast.  We are not to worry or to be troubled over many things like Martha, but to have our attention focused on Christ.  All we do should be in His memory and to glorify Him. Like Mary we are to sit spiritually at His feet and listen to His words and strive to obey them out of our love for Him.

Are you more like Mary or Martha in the story? How?

How can you incorporate both into you daily life in this period of preparation?

Prayer:

Celebrating the coming of the Theotokos into the sanctuary, let us too, carrying lamps in spirit, go in joy with the attendants to the temple. Let us offer a prayer to Christ. To the Son who was begotten of the Father before all ages and in the last times was incarnated of the virgin, let us sing with one voice: Christ our God, You have raised up our banner of victory. O Holy Lord, glory to You!

Adapted from Matins Hymns of the Feast of the Entry of the Theotokos.

Read Luke 18:18-30

Next Sunday we hear the parable of the Young Rich Ruler. This is the story about the man who asks Jesus, “What can I do to attain eternal life?” In His response Jesus links eternal life with the observance of His commandments. It is essential that we know His commandments and dedicate ourselves to living them in their fullness as Jesus taught.

What are the Ten Commandments in your own words? (see Exodus 20:1-17)

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What are some ways that Jesus expanded these commandments? (see page 13 in NT Orthodox Study Bible or read Matt 5 - 7)

What are areas where we too must earn to become obedient to God’s commandments?

When was the last time you repented in front of the icon of Christ in the sacrament of repentance with a priest as your witness?   This is a good thing to do as part of your families preparation for Christmas. Call the Church office and make an appointment with Allene the Church secretary to participate in this powerful sacrament.

Jesus was able to live with perfect obedience to God. Many of His teachings are stricter than what is found in the Old Testament. Jesus was trying to help us to look into our hearts instead of thinking about following some prescribed rules. He taught that we are to have a pure heart if we are to see God. In the Sermon on the Mount he repudiated not just murder but also anger, not just adultery but a lustful look, not only fair retaliation but  no revenge whatsoever. He said “love your enemies” and “pray for those who persecute you.”

Look up what  Jesus tells His followers in Matthew 5:20 about strict obedience.

Complete this: “You will be able to  enter the kingdom of heaven only if your:

Christ centers His life on giving and sharing, serving others, sacrificing Himself for the good of others. He expects us to become like him, to be working towards our perfection.

What does he say in Matthew  5:48?

What did Jesus ask of the rich man in the parable?

a. Sell  _________________________________

b. Give __________________________________

c. Come and _____________________________

When he saw the rich man’s sadness what did Jesus Say?

What did He promise to those who make great sacrifices for the sake of the Kingdom of God?

Just as Jesus challenged the rich man, so too He challenges us to become self-giving and dedicated to doing God’s work. His direction for us is difficult and impossible if we try to do it all on our own. This is why we need His help, the work of the Holy Spirit, the gift we continually receive in the sacramental life of the Church. A life in Christ is a continual tension between what we are now and what we are expected to become. It is an endless path of repentance. We must seek a deeper communion with the Holy Spirit and continue to grow in our love for  Christ.

What is important to you about the story of the rich ruler?

What are insights about  obedience to God’s commandments?

Identify one thing you can do to improve your life in obedience to His commandments during this period of preparation. Take advantage of Holy Confession, a most powerful sacrament. During this period find at least one way to become more like Him who is coming for our salvation in just a few weeks.

In keeping with the season, this week our Philoptochos Ladies are offering on Thursday, November 21st a Thanksgiving meal and making our wonderful Greek Pastries available to the entire Greenville community. The proceeds from this event go to help charitable organizations sponsored by the Philoptochos society. Pastries go on sale beginning at 9:30am and meals are served until 7pm. 

Ideas

Buy or make some pastries and take them to share with someone who is shut in, or a person you admire for their ability to follow God’s commandments.

Visit a homeless shelter or a food bank kitchen with your family. See if there is any way you can help those in need.

Come to the Liturgy for the Entry of Mary into the temple on the 21st at 9:00am.

Reference: A Year of the Lord Liturgical Bible Studies, Vol. 2

Advent - Week One Study Guide

The following study guide is based on the liturgical readings during this advent period of the Nativity fast. I will be posting one for each week of this period of preparation for the coming of Christ on December 25th.
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Week One: Beginning of the Nativity Fast - Advent

Beginning November 15th we prepare for the nativity of our Lord. We have prepared this special series to support you in keeping this Advent season Christ centered. We will be following the liturgical cycle of the Church as we approach the most incredible event in human history, the Incarnation of God. We will give you Bible readings and questions that you can share with your family as well as some of the hymns and prayers made especially for this season.

We must plan for any important event whether it be a wedding, a baptism or a vacation trip. Similarly we need time to prepare for the understanding and celebration of the major events in the the life of the Son of God. Therefore, the period between November 15th and December 25th is considered a fast period, a period of preparation for the celebration of the Nativity. This fast is followed by the twelve feast days of Christmas, traditionally known as the “Twelve Days of Christmas.” This is not a strict fasting period as is Great Lent, but we are asked to undertake a moderate fast to help us keep focused on the true meaning of this period. Discuss with your family how you can together begin the time of preparation and anticipation of the coming (advent) of Christ into the world and into our lives. We want to make it more than a period about Santa Claus, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer and Frosty the snowman.

Read Matthew 4:1-11

In this Scripture you will find the way Jesus Christ prepared himself for His ministry.  He goes into the wilderness for forty days and faces the temptations of the devil.

As you read this Scripture ask yourself, “What were the principles that were important for Jesus in His preparation and how you can apply them to your own preparation during the Nativity fast.

Questions:

How long did Jesus fast?  

What were the three temptations He faced?

a.                                 b.                               c.

How did He answer each of them?

a. 

   

b. 

   

c. 

   

We will find that Jesus gives us a good example about how to prepare. We must rely on:     

  a. the Word of God rather than food and social activities;

  b. We must embrace humility rather than pride and vanity; 

  c. We must center our lives on God rather than on material things. 

Identify three ways you can you apply these principles during the Nativity fast?

a. 

b.  

   

c. 

   

Evangelist Matthew: Read Matthew 9:9-13

On November 16th we celebrate the life of the Evangelist Matthew. Not only did he give us an account of the Nativity story, but he is an example of a person who renounced worldly values and a sinful life to follow Christ. He was a tax collector which is akin to a corrupt bill collector today. In those days a tax collector was free to collect extra fees for his own benefit. Therefore, he was a wealthy man who enjoyed much power in his role. He was a Jew working for the Romans and was despised for his activities. It was the call of Christ that changed his life.  He was transformed from a man controlled by the desire for power and money into a herald for the Good News. 

Here is the hymn  from Vespers on his feast day:

When Christ who searched human hearts discerned through His divine foreknowledge, O Apostles Matthew, your God-loving disposition, He rescued you from the world of injustice. He transformed you into a universal light, commanding you to illuminate the ends of the earth. He made you worthy to commit clearly to writing the divine Gospel. O Apostle,pray to Christ that He might save and illumine our souls!

What were the words Jesus used to call Matthew?

How did Jesus strengthen His friendship with Matthew?

Who were Matthews established friends?

What was Jesus’ justification for keeping company with sinners?

What does God prefer to animal or ritual sacrifice and how can we give this in our preparation?

Jesus said, “I did not come to call righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”  Matthew is an example of this. Even though he was an outcast and a sinner he understood the Love of Christ unlike the Pharisees who could not. He believed and later became a great missionary in Palestine and Ethiopia where he was martyred. His Life after choosing to follow Christ was radiant with light. He became a disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven. (Read his full story at this link http://oca.org/saints/lives/2013/11/16/103313-apostle-and-evangelist-matthew)

Consider the following questions:

What were the temptations that Matthew might have faced and had to resist after his conversion?

How in this season of the Nativity fast can we show kindness both to “outcasts or sinners” and “respectable or righteous” people?

Read Luke 12:16-21

Next Sunday, November 17th, the Gospel lesson is the parable of the rich fool. In our culture the wealthy person is usually seen as one who is successful. Jesus gives us a picture of a wealthy man whose only problem was the abundance of his wealth and calls him a fool. Don’t we consider one who has no worries about money to be successful and one who never has enough to be a bit lazy? Think about what this story is telling us about some of our assumed thoughts.

Why does Jesus calls this rich man a fool? 

What did the rich man mistake for security?

Since material goods are not evil in themselves what attitudes regarding material possessions make their use good or evil?

Jesus warns us not to be greedy for material things, but to be “rich towards God.” What does this mean to you?

How can we apply this in our life during this period of preparation for the feast of the Nativity of God?

The period of the Nativity fast is also a period for charity.  We should seek out those who are disadvantaged, who are suffering, who are in need of material things as well as spiritual uplifting.  We should try to make time out of our busy schedules to help others who are in need.  Often we become so wrapped up in the need to satisfy our children and grandchildren, who already have more than they need, with the latest toys. They are in some respect like the rich fool.  In the process we can forget to turn our attention to those who are in real need. Try and find one way which you and your family can help others outside of your own family during this period.

Meditation

For he who holds possessions… and houses as the gifts of God, and ministers from them to the God Who gives them for the salvation of people, and knows that he possesses them more for the sake of the brethren than his own, and is superior to the possession of them, not the slave of things of the things he possesses, and does not carry them about in his soul, not bind and circumscribe his life with them, but is ever laboring at some good and divine work, even should he be necessarily some time deprived of them, is able with cheerful mind to bear their removal equally with their abundance. This is he who is blessed by the Lord, and called poor in spirit, a meet heir of the Kingdom of heaven. (Clement of Alexandria)

Prayer:

Let us rejoice!

Let us celebrate with songs!

The revelation of Christ is made manifest:

the preachings of the prophets

have received their fulfillment.

For Christ of whom they spoke,

foretelling His appearance in the flesh,

is to be born in a holy cave

and to be placed as a babe in a manger.

With uprightness of mind

let us lift up a joyful prayer,

celebrating the coming of the Lord.

O Christ, our god, glory to You!

Adapted from Vesper Hymn for the Forefeast of the Birth of Christ.

Describe how you and your family can prepare for the feast of the nativity keeping in mind always the teachings and life of Christ. Identify an activity for each of the weeks between now and Christmas day. Lay out a family plan for this important period.

Some activities to consider:

Purchase a Nativity Icon and light a candle in front of it at the beginning of each nights meal each day during the fast.

Read the Christmas Story in Matt 1:18 - Chapter 2 and Luke chapters 1 and 2. Identify the characters and events (make a list of each) that took place and make a time line of them. Get a biblical map and find the locations and paths that were taken by those involved in the story. Have each member of the family select a part of the story and character and act out the part.

Reference: A Year of the Lord: Liturgical Bible Studies, Vol. 2

More on the Nativity of our Lord

Advent - The Nativity Fast

Next week we enter into the period often called Advent.  This is the period set aside for us to prepare for the coming of Christ.  Our way of preparing for the significant events in the life of Christ is to fast. The Advent, or Nativity fast,  is seen as a lighter fast than Great Lent, but especially today it is a most important one. 

Why? Because of the craziness of the period that precedes Christmas.  It is filled with secular images and activities so that too often we lose the notion that we are dong all this to prepare for the Nativity of our Lord and God and Savior is lost. We need to sit down with our families and determine how we will prepare for the Coming of Christ and honor this period by our fast.

There is no need to enumerate the distractions during this period.  But doesn't Santa Clause seems to get a bigger billing than Christ? Also there are all the other modern symbols of this time such as Rudolph the red nosed reindeer, Frosty the snowman, and all the other non religious Christmas stories. In addition there are the office parties and the numerous visits and gatherings of friends and neighbors where we celebrate. But when we get together what are we celebrating?  This is our challenge, we must bring Christ to the center of our all our activities during this season that so many enjoy.

Elder Paisios tells us the following about fasting:

With fasting man reveals his choices. Out of philotimo, a person undertakes an ascetic discipline and God helps. But if a person forces himself and laments, "Oh well, it's Friday; I have to fast," he will surely torment himself. If however, he understands the meaning of fasting and does it out of love for Christ, he will rejoice in it and say to himself, "This is the day when Christ was crucified; they didn't even give Him water to drink; they gave Him vinegar. I, too , will not drink water all day." If he does this, then he will experience a far more sublime inner joy that the person who in joys the best refreshments.

What does this mean for us in regards to the Nativity fast? It instructs to understand that by fasting we bring ourselves to an awareness of the life of Christ and how he sacrificed for us. Each time we resist a temptation to violate our fast we are brought back to the truth of our salvation.  We rmeber why we are doing it and this centers us and our current activity on Christ.  In this way we keep Christ in the center of our lives even in a hectic period like Advent.

Any fast must be done out of the love of God.  We do it to help us remember Him.
Elder Paisios amplifies this point.

If someone doesn't get to the point of doing something, whatever it is that he chooses to do, out of love for God and his fellow human beings, he is merely wasting his time and effort.  If he is fasting and has the prideful thought that he is doing something great, his fasting is wasted. He is like a vessel with holes that cannot hold any thing. Put water into a vessel with holes –– the water gradually drips away.

During this period let us not be like a vessel with holes, but let us seek to fortify ourselves with a fast that will help us keep our focus on the purpose of this season.

Reference: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos Spiritual counsels IV: Family Life, pp194, 199

Sanctifying Work

The practice of our faith does not end at home but must be part of our whole life.  Often when we go to our work we feel separated from our faith and subjected to a different set of rules.  There is some truth to this as each organization has its values which are encoded into their systems and procedures and norms of workplace behavior. So we may find that we bring into our work a different value system based on our Orthodox faith. Even if it is different we must bring it through our presence and witness to our faith.

We sanctify our work thorough our way of life and our prayers. It is by our inner state that our work becomes sanctified. It is ideal when our employer also has a desire to sanctify the workplace because he or she will then have concern about each employee's spiritual growth. We cannot count on this however.

Here is what Elder paisios has to say,

Every profession can be sanctified. For example, a doctor mustn't forget that what helps the most in medicine is the Grace of God. This is why he should strive to become a vessel of Divine Grace. A doctor who is a good Orthodox Christain, along with being a good scientist, helps the sick with his kindness and his faith, because he encourages them to face their illness with faith. He can say to someone who suffers from a very serious illness: "This is as far as medicine has progressed. From this point on however, there is also God Who works miracles."

In our work, as we perfect our inner being to become centered in God at all times, we will find many ways to glorify God through our actions.  It may be a kind word to a fellow employee, an act of kindness to a customer, or spiritual advice we are able to give to another person we interact with. It's not always what we say but how we are. It all depends on our ability to love others no matter what their value system is. When we do this we will discern the right things to say to others that will glorify God in His love for all mankind.

We can include icons in our work space to help keep us focused. We can take a few breaks during the day for silent prayer to keep us centered. And when we are idle we can recite the Jesus prayer over and over. And at all time we must be ever watchful for those ugly passion that can rear their ugly head at any time. 

But all this assumes we are living the Orthodox way of life. This is a life of repentance, of daily prayer coupled with fasting according to the guidelines of the Church or our spiritual father. It assumes we regularly participate in the sacraments of Holy Communion and Holy Confession.  It means we must be students of the Holy Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers. When we live a sanctified life based on our love for God and our deep faith we are led along a path of inner purification. As our inner being is purified we can become more effective in sanctifying our work place. As we sanctify ourselves we can sanctify the places we work.

Reference:Elder Paisios of Mount Athos Spiritual Counsels IV: Family Life, pp 185-186

Bored With Your Work?

Many people to day do not find satisfaction from their work.  They claim they are bored or treated unfairly. They say the time goes slow and they are constantly looking for the end of their work period.  But there are many more who love to go to work. Some are so immersed in their work that they may even forget to eat properly. How does one turn work into something we gain spiritual satisfaction from and feel nourished through it?
Elder Paisios has this to say,

It depends on how each one does the work, and what one has within him. If one works with humility and love, everything will be illumined, full of light and graceful, and he will feel inner repose. But if one has prideful thoughts, imagining that he does the work better than others, he may have a sense of satisfaction, but it doesn't fill his heart, for his soul doesn't sense it.

To gain joy our from our work depends on how we approach it, what attitude we bring to it. Elder Paisios says, "If one doesn't do his work with love, he gets tired and weary." This is the attitude of love we must have no matter how mundane the task we are asked to do in the work place.  It is a place to practice what Christ has taught us, to love one another, to avoid gossip and judging others. This requires humility as we approach the work place. 

But what if we feel we should be doing work that is more meaningful? It may be that the kind of work you do is not suited to your skills. Then with prayer and help from friends, you can be guided to seek training for different kinds of work.  But you must first make sure you have mastered the nature of the workplace, so that when you do get another kind of work you do not suffer in the same way. 

First, find a way to love while you work, to give thanks to God for all things. Seek to bring cheer and goodness to those who you relate to at work. There may be new opportunities that open up for you where you are, or you may find new energy to enroll in a series of classes that will qualify you for different kind of work.

With an atitude of love and humility you will find that you will be able to have joy in any job and more likely be guided to work that fits your natural God given capabilities.

Resource: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos Spiritual Counsels IV: Family Life, pp 180-181

How Can Parents Help Our Children Choose a Profession?

Choosing a profession these days is often difficult for young people as there are so many options and we are often find a conflict in choosing what we enjoy versus what will earn us lots of money. How can a parent help guide a child in this choice?

First, we cannot put money as our primary criteria as we will likely mislead our child. What is important is to discern the skills that God has given our child based on what they have chosen to do so for.  What is it they excel at? What is it that gives them joy? What are their innate skills and personality type. With careful discernment we can gently guide them in a direction where they make choices that are in harmony with God's will for them. We mustn't be too pushy about this or get in our minds what our child should become based on our desires. 

Elder Paisios tells the story of a parent who want their son to become a doctor, but his inclination was to become a priest. They wouldn't let him, forcing him along the path to medical school. 

The young man had studied Byzantine music and chanted; he had even made his own musical instrument, and found the tones on his own. He knew Byzantine music by heart. He had a gift. He wrote chants and services. As soon as he finished high school, he took the entrance exam and was accepted into the Theological School. His mother had a nervous breakdown because of her grief. She would come and to me and beg: "Father, pray for me to get well, and I'll let my child do whatever he wants." But when she did get well she refused to let him do what he wanted. Later, he abandoned everything and in the end wasted away.

We can easily confuse our own wishes for our children for what is best for them. We must try to understand what God intends for them and help them do whatever it is that fits their natural God given talents. This we can usually see from an early age.

Elder Paisios tells of a story of a two young boys who came to visit him who were about seven years old. One of them sat next to hims and kept asking questions. The elder then asked him, "What do you want to do when you grow up?" He answered, "I want to be a lawyer." The other boy was no where in sight. They sought out to find where he went and found him in the wood shop. The heard the sound of a hammer pounding on wood. When they entered the wood shop they saw the young boy pounding with a hammer a smooth plank used of planing that was on the work bench that was now warped beyond salvage. The elder asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up and he said, "A cabinet maker." The elder smiled at him and said to him, " May you become one." He also told him with a smile, "so you destroyed the plank! Its alright!"

Naturally we want to help our children to avoid going in directions that are not in line with  their capabilities. So there is useful guidance we can and must provide. We also have to make sure what direction they take is in harmony with God.

Reference: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos Spiritual Counsels IV: Family LIfe, pp 178-180

Work is a Blessing

"Better to wear our your shoes than your blankets"

Elder Paisios quotes this old saying and asks, "What does it mean?" Clearly it is saying that it is better to work, which in earlier times would wear out your shoes, than to be lazy and to spend your time in bed wearing out the blankets.

  

Elder Paisios describes work in this way:

Work is a blessing, a gift from God. Work gives vigor to the body and refreshes the mind. If God had not given us work, man would have become moldy  Those who are diligent work into their old age. If they stop working while they still have strength, they become melancholy; it's like death for them.

There is no way to gain peace without engaging in work of some kind.  When we do take a break, like a vacation or even a lunch hour, when we did not return to work, what would we do? We would seek out some other kind of comfort. When it ended we would seek another. We would never find satisfaction. We would be filled with anxiety, not from work, but from our inability to find true comfort.  We would feel an emptiness, a need for being of some value to others. Our soul would be longing to carry out the will of God which is to help and love others. This is why even though we may find ourselves fatigued at the end of a good days work, we can feel a sense of joy that we have been useful, worthwhile, have contributed to the life of mankind.

It is important to carry our faith into our work place. We should pray before we take on our various projects for God to guide and help us. We should find ways to show kindness to those we work with. In this way we carry our God's will into our work place. What is essential is to always keep God in mind while we work.

Work is a blessing from God

Resource: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos spiritual Counsels IV: Family Life, pg176