SAINTS ARE EVERYWHERE IN ORTHODOXY

SAINTS ARE EVERYWHERE IN ORTHODOXY

     Many speak about Orthodoxy and its numerous saints shown in abundant icons depicting these saints. Within the Church many members also speak of the saints and admire their images painted and hanging prominently in the Church. But there are many more saints that are not spoken of and may not be recognized but are of great importance. These saints and potential saints are all the members of the Orthodox Church and is the reason for the Church’s existence.

     Holy Scripture addresses as saints all members of the Church, and not only church members, but every soul is called by God to become a saint, for He doesn’t  designate a few elect, but desires all men to be sanctified and saved. Christ did not die for a few but for all men, woman and children.  When our Church is properly activated, all over the world it would be attracting all men to enter into salvation and eternal life. Not only Orthodox Christians but all mankind is called to  enter Orthodoxy and become saints, but few are interested due to the attraction of material things and the enjoyment of the pleasures of this world. Christ calls out to all men inviting them into His eternal kingdom. That is why He says to all men in Scripture: “Be holy (saintly) as I am holy; be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

The Holy Bible usually addresses all members of the Church as saints. When St, Paul was still Saul persecuting the Christians, the Apostle Ananias questioned  the Lord: "Lord I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem . . .” (Acts 9:13). He refers to all the Christians as saints.  “And it happened as Peter passed throughout all quarters. He came down also to the saints who dwelled at Lydda” (Acts 9:32).  St. Paul shows that all Christian believers were called to be saints, saying: “to all that dwell in Rome, beloved of God called to become saints; grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:7). Calling the saints to holiness, St Paul says  “But fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be named among you as becomes saints” (Eph. 5:3).

FEAR OF GOD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM

FEAR OF GOD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM

     Why should we fear God?  We should fear God so that we will avoid sins and iniquities and because fear teaches us respect; this will also cause us to  realize that He is very concerned with us and loves us, and realizing His goodness we will return that love to Him. God the Creator made all that exists out of matter which he formed from nothing. Examining the structure and perfection of the created universe is a marvelous wonder, that should fill us with awe. The arrangement and good order of everything that exists, the life sustaining temperatures and ample supplies of food and drink, are beyond our comprehension because everything is provided and perfectly arranged for its particular purpose.

     God has communicated with man from the very beginning, then He established a covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and their descendants, which later became the covenant with the nation of Israel, who became the people of God.  God established this covenant with Israel through Moses in 1483 BC. Moses ascended Mt. Sinai and God called him out of the mountain giving him the words and commandments which he would speak to Israel. Moses presented this to the elders of the people, and they all agreed with the terms They said: “All that the Lord has spoken we will obey and do.” The Lord uttered the ten commandments governing His people who feared Him greatly. The ten commandments are always in force over all men

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

First Commandment:

“I am the Lord your God who have brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other God except me.

JESUS CHRIST OUR TREASURE BEYOND PRICE

 JESUS CHRIST OUR TREASURE     

BEYOND PRICE

      Most people in the world seek their income and/or savings and treasure in the form of various things that money buys, such as a house, automobile, traveling, vacations.  The necessary money is often earned by work, profession or investment. Because money is the major medium for the exchange of goods, the accumulation of money can easily become a limitless desire and the passion of love of money.  Concerning this, the Lord says in Holy Scripture says: “the love of money is the root of all evil.”  This verse is often misquoted as: “money is the root of all evil”, which is untrue, for money is neutral. Scripture specifically says the “love of money is the root of evil. 

     Considering that the Lord created us, feeds and clothes us and supplies all of our needs of everything, it is proper and right and  that our thanksgiving and love belong to Him. We don’t have to love money to provide for our needs, but we can earn it properly and use it prudently.  Our affection and love ought to be totally directed toward God and not diverted to money and the perishable goods of this world. It is not just money that we are forbidden to love, but the love of anything in this world, for when we direct our love toward anything other than God we do not return God’s love. Also Holy Scripture says that love of the world and its contents places us at enmity with God.

     We know that there is a requirement for money to live during our brief time in this world so we need money.  But we also need to use it prudently to provide for family and necessities as well as helping others where possible. Seeking to accumulate and hoard money is a great evil and there is no debate about this.  Our church needs money to operate and we need to donate our fair share.  

     If we concentrate our love and attention on money, we make “things” more important than Christ who desires that we love Him above and beyond everything else. However, love of money is only one of many evils that affect mankind. Saul who became St. Paul teaches that anything that separates us from Christ is a great loss to the soul.  Paul was financially well off, well educated and held in great respect, being very distinguished among the upper crust Jews, yet he classifies the love of things instead of Christ to be accounted as refuse, and a terrible loss for his soul.

     “However, what things were gain to me, these have I counted as a loss for Christ. Indeed, I count all things to be a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I suffered the loss of all things. And I do count them but refuse that I may gain Christ. . .” (Phil. 3: 7-8)  

     Christ is the source of our lives, and Provider of the earth we live on, with the  air we breathe and our food and water. He gives all of us what we need to live, so there is no greater treasure we can possess than Christ, who is greatest wealth, most perfect hope, our greater source of mercy, and He is infinitely good and rewards our love by treating as a loving Father does his sons and daughters. We cannot love anything else with a greater love than Christ who loves us and gave himself as a sacrifice for mankind. He who in faith loves Christ lacks nothing and has everything, even if he is living in poverty, for Christ is the only treasure man needs and he who loves Christ is the wealthiest of all men. 

     Saul who later became Paul was a member of the distinguished sect of Pharisees who , out of envy sought to eradicate the memory of Christ forever, by eliminating every trace of His preachers and followers, forbidding the mention of His name.