Fool...Your Heart is where your Treasure is

"Fool" describes the action of people who live to consume things. Everything can be lost in the wink of an eye, even your life. Yet, many people need to accumulate money, and goods thinking it wise to have ample things--many in the hope of "when I retire," often not being well enough or even, live long enough to enjoy what they scrimped and saved for. Your precious accumulations may be thought of as junk by those who will distribute or discard the goods laid up through the many years. Wouldn't it be better to give them extra dollars now, rather than see them struggle, while you are comfortable.

The parable message found in the gospel of Luke 12:16-21 makes it perfectly clear that we are to be instead "rich toward God."

Soon Thanksgiving will be upon us, and even if we do not have much, there is always someone who has more and some who will have less. Maybe this would be a good time to think about being "rich toward God," sharing.

God is the giver of all things, all that we are to be thankful for. Why not open your heart to someone who is in need.  It's not just about the turkey, but about giving. Living in the here and now, and caring about those who have less. How can you eat, drink and be merry, while you know someone that could use your helping hand.

Beginning today, store up the treasure in your heart, the accumulation of love which will be taken with us for all eternity.

To Enter Into

Today as we celebrate the Entry of the Most-Holy Mother of God into the temple, we focus on the word enter. We must pass through and enter wherever we go. We are prepared to enter into situations, clubs, and become part of clans, family, and society. It is with church also, according to tradition, we are entered in. The Theotokos, we learn through Holy Tradition, became familiar with, and became ready to meet God at a tender age, having been brought into the faith, learned how to pray and worship.

There was a time when parents of a young child would not have their kids Baptized, saying that it should be their choice, when the child was old enough to understand and make their own decision, accordingly. Many were convinced that parents should not "enter" their children into something that they may not want. An act that cannot be undone.

As a young mother, I had my two sons Baptized. We were comfortable, it was always the right decision to make, a tradition in my family--a faith decision. There are people who get Baptized down the road, but I'm convinced that the idea behind entering in at an early age sets you on the right path, a journey to salvation. The bible confirms our belief-- Ephesians Chapter 2:8-10 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

Such is the story of Mary, set aside to be the Mother of God, who when she was given the news by Angel Gabriel, was prepared, having been made ready to receive it.

Our faith is no accident, we are chosen, destined people who are led by the light of Christ who is our Way, and our Life, and our only hope, when we enter in....initially through the faith of our family/friends and Church.

Our accomplishments are not by our own strength, but through faith in Christ. Like Mary, we need to hear, learn, and grow, saying yes, once we are entered into the church by faith, through Baptism.

Soon we will celebrate the birth of a child, through the faith of a mother who was not afraid to enter into faith as a child, becoming Theotokos--God's plan for all eternity.

scripture reference from the Orthodox Study Bible

Halloween

On Friday, we observed Halloween, while dressing in costumes of happy characters, we tried to avoid thoughts of ghosts and scary monsters. It's a time for collecting candy and avoiding the ghoulish things. Would we want to admit that they exist amongst us?  Do they? Yet each and every year when we hear the tunes of the smash hit of 1984, Ghostbusters, we are reminded...who's afraid of the ghosts. If that isn't bad enough there was a ghost hunters special on television, in which the existence of spirits in a haunted house, which an exorcism had been performed in the late 1940's, was  scientifically being proven, utilizing  recording devices, electronic equipment, temperature measures and even provocation. This in an effort to prove that ghosts remained, and are present in substances, like wood, present in the home. It was an eerie presentation. The viewer was to believe that activity had transpired and was recorded.

The story of ghosts goes way back. Even the gospel gets in on the subject when, as mentioned in (Matthew, Chapter 14:26), eyewitnesses became troubled while on the fourth watch in the middle of the sea in a boat, being tossed about, as Jesus was approaching them, walking on the water. They said: "It is a ghost!"

Today's gospel tells the story of poor Lazarus the beggar who died "and was carried by the angels" (Luke 16:22). In contrast, the stingy rich man, could see Lazarus in heaven while he resided in hades, tormented. (verse 26). "There is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us." Clearly there are other places, not all good.

On the subject of angels, you are assigned one at your Baptism and your guardian angel is invisibly present with you always, (Matthew 18:10). We can take comfort in their existence.

The church offers us armor in our battle against unforeseen forces such as: the cross, holy water, blessed Icons. Each year, we are given the option of having a home blessing. Why are they available if not needed? Two thousand years of experience is compelling evidence.

The commentator on ghost hunter said that some spirits did not like the presence of holy water, which we know is sanctified. Also mentioned was the name of Jesus, and St. Michael. No need to ask why on both accounts.

Coming back to the response to the disciples on the boat in Matthew 14, by Jesus, verse (27), "Be of Good Cheer, It is I, Do Not Be Afraid." We have confidence in God's protection as read in (Psalm 91:15) "He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. (16) With long life I will satisfy him, and show him My salvation."

(1John 4:4) "You are of God, little children, He who is in You is greater than he who is in the world."(1John4:18) "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. (19) We love Him because He first loved us."
(1Corinthians 13:8) "Love never fails."

As someone wisely told me, "You are never alone..." Trust in the Lord for he is Good and a lover of mankind.

Today is Sunday, and it's cold and extremely windy, and we're in the month of November. Before you know it we will be celebrating our parishes 90th anniversary of the founding of the church of St. Michael.  So much to look forward to, thankfully now that Halloween is over.


All scriptural references have been taken from the Orthodox Study Bible