Month: June 2017

A CHIP OFF THE OLE BLOCK

I wish we could pick and choose what habits and behaviors we pass on to the next generation. We all adapt and mimic our surroundings and we learn behaviors from our parents and mentors. In our formative years we tend to be very keen and aware, observing, adapting and learning. I remember as a young parent my children repeating words and phrases I had said, at times awakening me to the cold hard fact that I needed to make some changes! And I can still hear Grandparents telling my children that they are a “chip off the ole block” not realizing wither they were complimenting or scolding them.

 

In Genesis we remember: “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. [Gen 1:26-27] That’s my goal, for folks to see God in me, to be a chip off the Divine Block! Now that would be something I would want my children and grandchildren to imitate!

 

How to we become more like our heavenly Father? We all have the examples set by the saints of the church! And we have these instructions found in the Gospel reading today: “And He saith to them, “Come after Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” [Mt. 4:19] We have the remedy and call to action found in Mathew 5:44-48: “But I say to you, keep on loving your enemies, blessing those who curse you, doing well to those who hate you, and keep on praying for those who despitefully use you and are persecuting you, “so that ye might become sons of your Father Who is in the heavens; for He maketh His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. “For if ye love those who love you, what reward are ye having? Even the tax collectors are doing the same, are they not? “And if ye greet your brethren only, what extraordinary thing are ye doing? Even the tax collectors are so doing, are they not? “Ye shall be perfect, even as your Father who is in the heavens is perfect.” [Mt. 5:44-48]

 

Today we dedicate the liturgy to the great saints of the church and we hear the words of St. John Chrysostom: “The memory of those saints establishes and recovers the soul, which has been exhausted by ills, as a cloud that provides shade from the most flaming heat of the sun’s rays.” [Hom. 28, P.G. 63:256 (col. 193).] May the teachings given to us by our Heavenly Father help us all be an icon of Christ, and our families will be blessed to be a chip off of the ole block!

 

Fr. Gabriel Weller 6/18/2017

Thirsty CaMel

When my wife and I visited the Holy Land in 2010, one of my wife’s favorite moments was when she had the opportunity to ride a camel for a couple of hours as we navigated up Mt. Sinai. Now that is not a normal activity here around Harrisonburg and she seized the opportunity. She rode a one-huMper and I knew he liked Matushka since he kept giving me the eye and spit at me a time or two!

 
Camels are known for being low maintenance transporters in the hot desolate areas. And during winters in the desert, camels have been known to survive six or seven months without actually drinking. Very thirsty camels can drink up to 26 gallons of water during a single visit to the well. The camel seems to be designed both inside and out to hold on to any water it takes in. Its fur prevents the camel from sweating too much. Its blood cells are also tiny enough to keep circulating as the camel’s blood thickens from dehydration but elastic enough to hold lots of water. If a thirsty camel finds an oasis, its red blood cells might balloon to more than twice their size while its’ hump remains unchanged.

 
What do camels have to do with Pentecost? We too spend a lot of time in the desert. We find ourselves being pushed to our max, searching desperately for an oasis. For us modern-day Christians, our desert is the time we spend in between church services. We have all tasted the sweet waters of salvation and we are replenished from the overflowing wells each time we receive the Holy Sacraments of the Church.

 
And then, back out into the burning sands of life we travel taking with us the love that Christ has given us to share with all those thirsting and dehydrated from the storms of life. It is our opportunity as the Gospel writer instructs: “The one who believeth in Me, even as the Scripture said—rivers of living water shall flow out of his belly.” [Jn. 7:38]

 
Living water is the oasis for thirsting people everywhere. Every day we all encounter wandering nomads searching for a home, beaten down by life, awakening each day to only scorch some more. Bring them to the well! The Great Artificer who created the camel to wondersly prosper in desolate areas has created you inside and out to wondersly prosper here, rubbing elbow to elbow with folks that need our prayers and need our love.

 
And here at Pentecost we are reminded of the prophesy from Zechariah 14:8: “ And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the eastern sea, and half of them toward the western sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.” We remember the chant: “As many as have been baptized in to Christ have put on Christ. Alleluia.” You and I have been given everything we need to build His church and we remember Jesus’ question to Peter: “Do you love me? …Feed My sheep!” (John 21:17) Take time to allow the Living Water to flow from your belly, your salvation depends on it!

 

Fr. Gabriel Weller 6/4/2017