Observing human nature and interaction is both amazing and interesting. While at Trader Joe’s i Stockton, CA a few weeks ago, I watched as an employee went from customer to customer, in the vegetable section of the store. With a smile on his face, and a true sense of genuine concern, asked each customer if there was anything he could help them find, or any questions he may try to answer. After a few minutes, I found myself in need of some assistance while searching for pepper, I saw the same young man, and asked him if he could help me. Instantly, he left what he was doing, and took to directly to the pepper—again with a smile on his face…not the type of smile that is forced and exists in Stepford, but one that was genuine!
Two nights ago I returned to Trader Joe’s for a few essentials on my way home from the church. As I waited in the check out line, the same young man was working behind the register. The two women in front of me were consumed with their selection of wine as they swiped a credit card, and young man behind the register asked them, “How are you this evening?” ...again, with the same sense of genuine concern as I had witnessed a few weeks earlier. Asking someone ‘how are you,’ in our culture has become simply a greeting, and no longer a question, so when the women saw his saying now offered as a genuine question, they were taken back a bot, and, “oh, you know…not so great. How are you?” The young man replied, “I am great! You know it’s a choice…if you want to be great, it is simply a choice.” Perplexed, the woman with the credit card responded cynically, “I don’t know about that, have you seen what’s going on these days?” “It’s all a choice,” he replied, “Some bad things might happen to you, but there is always hope that they get better, and the fact that we have that hope let’s us choose to how our day goes.” The woman received her wine, and went about her day.
I was next, and he looked at me, asking, “Isn’t that right?” I told him, “Brother, you are 100% right, and God bless you!”
Thank you to this young man at Trader Joe’s, your Christian pilgrimage inspired me through a witness of hope ...a witness of Jesus Christ!
There is beauty found in all languages, as language does not only allow communication and the conveyance of ideas, but language teaches us how a culture thinks and processes. The Greek language is among the most rich that mankind has ever seen—perhaps a contributing factor as to why God chose to plant His Church in the Hellenized world!
Let’s focus on one word from the Greek lexicon: “Philotimo”
As many words in the Greek language, they may not be adequately translated into the English language, therefore, these words are most adequately translated through description, and even perhaps through story. The following is an offered description/explanation of the word “Philotimo” by Elder Paisios of the Holy Mountain…
“‘Philotimo,’ according to Elder Paisios, is the reverent distillation of goodness, the love shown by humble people, from which every trace of self has been filtered out. Their hearts are fll of gratitude towards God and their fellow men, and out of spiritual sensitivity and sense of honor they try to repay the slightest good which others do for them.”
We should all strive to actualize ‘Philotimo’ in our lives—John Lennon wrote the song, ‘Imagine,’ ...imagine if he knew what “philotimo’ was…
This morning the Saint Basil community will be blessed during the Divine Liturgy by the presence of a miraculous icon of the Mother of God. I pray that we approach this statement and experience of God’s and Panagia’s presence in the world with, ‘the fear of God, faith and love…”
To learn about the history of this Iveron Icon of the Virgin Mary, please visit the following link:
http://www.orthodoxhawaii.org/icons.html
Most Holy Theotokos Intercede For Us!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2009-03-05-india-gandhi-auction_N.htm?csp=24&RM_Exclude=Juno
On the above link, a story has been offered via USA Today, relaying events of a NY auction scheduled, where some of Gandhi’s personal items were to be auctioned. The country of India has been upset as they feel that these items belong to the country of India, whereas the gentleman in possession of these items feel that he owns them—to complicate things further, the comments offered by readers reflects all sorts of opinions as to who ‘owns’ these possessions, considered relics of Mohandas Gandhi’s followers and fans.
The Saint Basil community has recently been blessed, as my readers know, with the reception of a relic of our Patron and intercessor Saint Basil the Great. As the community of faithful, the Church has always understood that relics of saints are not possessions that are ‘owned’ by anyone other that Christ Himself, as we all member of the Body of Christ, and individual members of it. At Saint Basil’s we understand that the Holy Relic of our Patron Saint is not our possession, but it has been entrusted to us by God to be maintained, and offered in the most reverent for veneration by the faithful. May we never allow the temptation of arrogance to enter into our minds and hearts, fooling us into thinking that we, in any way—‘own the relic!’
Faithful readers—you have my word, the Holy Relic of our Patorn WILL NEVER be up for auction, and IT WILL BE available for veneration!
Holy Father Basil Pray For Us!
Can you imagine a 24-hour continuous Bible Study, available to you whenever you choose to listen? The Orthodox Center for the Advancement of Biblical Studies, OCABS, offers exactly that via their web site, http://www.ocabs.org. Bible Studies are offered by a leading authority on Scripture, Father Paul Tarazi, as he explores each book of the New Testament, and diligently is working on offering Old Testament exploration as well. Through the OCABS web site, a plethora of additional information is offered, including; seminar dates, Biblical exegesis, and the option of purchasing materials through the OCABS Press. I definitely recommend making OCABS.org a part of your journey—the Glory of God is where His Word is!!! ...thank you OCABS, and Father Tarazi.
“...you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel.”
1 Corinthians 4:15
Could you imagine walking into a pharmacy and telling the pharmacist what you are going to need because you have come up with your own medical protocol! Much as a trained doctor establishes what a patient needs in their quest for physical health—a Spiritual Father functions as the shepherd, leading faithful toward health of soul. As the Apostle Paul referenced in the above verse from 1 Corinthians—a ‘father in Christ’ has an intimate role with the faithful. As a major component with in this this relationship, the faithful must first and foremost accept that they need a spiritual doctor/shepherd to address their sinfulness, by establishing and committing to a journey of repentance. Especially in this season of Great Lent—do not be fooled by the temptation to ‘self-prescribe’ spiritual protocol—meet with your parish priest and establish your roadway in your pilgrimage of faith.
By the way—priest also have spiritual fathers they look to for shepherding!!! No one is exempt!
Over two years ago, when the process of locating a relic of Saint Basil the Great began, the prospect of receiving a relic of our Patron Saint seemed distant and perhaps even theoretical. As the journey progressed, the theory declined, and the reality of this historic blessing began to seem tangible. Yet as this history journey began to approach with an even more rapid pace—nothing could prepare me for the experience of actually receiving the relic of the Heaven Revealer, and holding it in my hands!
It was our second day on the island of Cyprus, and after visiting numerous churches and monasteries, the day was quickly coming to a close. A humble, hieromonk invited Father Chris Flesoras, the proistamenos of Saint Anna Greek Orthodox Church in Roseville, CA, and me into his cell. Knowing that I was to receive the relic of Saint Basil and actually receiving it were two completely separate experiences. I felt like a child again as I sat on a small bench and waited for the pious monk to address us. Feeling like I child, I was blessed, remembering the words of Jesus Christ, ‘...unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:3) I knew this was due to the peaceful presence of the saint; “When inner peace is achieved, a thousand souls around will be saved.” (Saint Seraphim of Sarov)
Simply and humbly, the monk called me to his desk, placed the relic in my hand, and said, “Saint Basil the Great.” After kissing his hand, my eyes were filled with tears as I venerated the bone of our Patron and Intercessor! I simply stood next to the desk in awe for several moments before sitting again on the small bench, with the relic of this great 4th Century saint in my hands. No words were uttered for a period of time, until our benefactor asked me a simple question, “Father Luke, are you happy?” Trying to explain that I had no words to express my happiness, I simply gave this holy man a giant hug and repeated the words, ‘thank you.’
Now our Patron’s relic is safe in a secured location, awaiting presentation to our community from our Spiritual Father and Arch-Shepherd, His Eminence Metropolitan Gerasimos.
This living piece of Christian history has journeyed from the rugged mountainous region of Cappadocia, where Saint Basil was from, to the valley floor of Stockton, CA—having blessed and having been venerated by millions along the way. We are now a part of this beautiful chapter of Christian history! May it inspire each and every one of us to follow in the footsteps of our Patron Saint Basil the Great, and intensely further our commitment to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Holy Father Basil intercede for us!
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