“BLESSED IS THE KINGDOM 

OF THE FATHER SON AND HOLY SPIRIT 

NOW AND FOR EVER AND UNTO THE AGES OF AGES. AMEN.”

       This priestly proclamation heralds the most important event ever to occur in the history of the human race/ With great glory and majesty the Orthodox faithful are introduced to their homeland, which is the blessed kingdom of God. We must firmly believe the truth about our kingdom for basically there are but two kingdoms in existence. The first is the kingdom of God and the second is the kingdom of this world, headed by the ruler of this world.  Those who belong to the Kingdom of God are duty bound, to be true to the heavenly kingdom and not be overly-involved with the kingdom of this world, for the world is not our kingdom, and we must use it for the needs of our sustenance and maintenance.

   When separated from the Church, we are also separated from our destination. Union with the Church is our great hope. In the Church we are churched as infants, baptized and chrismated, married and eventually are buried. The Church indeed is the central part of our kingdom.

     Few are those who comprehend the beauty and glory of the Divine Liturgy, which is the Kingdom of God acting in this world. When the Church is celebrating, there are angelic hosts everywhere although invisible to our eyes. There are also the Seraphim, Cherubim and Thrones. Supporting the Priests are many angels and the whole area of the Church is now the kingdom of God, hence the proclamation:”Blessed is the Kingdom . . .”

The Divine Liturgy is not about something new or old but about something always present. It is the continuation of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross an event to which we offer thanksgiving and glorify continuously. Every Divine Liturgy is not the remembrance but the continuation of that which Jesus Christ established as confirmed by St. Paul in his epistle to the Hebrews. 

“And every priest stands daily ministering and offering often the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins, but He (Christ), after He had offered one continuous sacrifice sat down at the right hand of the God, from henceforth expecting till His enemies are made the footstool of His feet. For by one offering He has perfected, continuously sanctifying then that are sanctified” (Heb. 10:12 - 10:14).  Special note: These verses are badly mistranslated in Protestant and Roman Catholic Bible.  They translate the word continuous as forever (Greek di-inekes or continuous) These correct words properly identify the sacrifice as being continuous.

   The Divine Liturgy is filled with rare and divine beauty, and is the communion of believers, with the smell of incense and we see on the icons  the Living Lord and His Mother, John the Forerunner and many other Saints, who are the best company we can ever find.

 The Divine Liturgy is a sacrifice, but bloodless, for Christ established it on the night when He was betrayed when He took bread and blessed it and gave it to them, saying: Take, eat this is my body . . .  He told us: “Do this in remembrance of me.”

     Respect for the Church is respect and reverence for the Kingdom of God, which should inspire very good church behavior on our part. We should stand with fear and trembling before the awesome God who we often have sinned against us, and obtained forgiveness, from His great mercy; 

      Bad habits are difficult to change and good ones are difficult to acquire, but we can certainly make an effort.  Why arrive at Church any old time, when we do not do this for school, college, business, or a job. Let us get to the Church before the service begins and we will feel much better and help to restore better order. What can be our excuse for being late, but only for Church?  

     We should avoid sitting in Church after the consecration of the divine gifts, which is shortly after the   Cherubic Hymn. This also hold true  especially during the time when people are communicating., and, giving it some thought this practice approaches rudeness. We should avoid unnecessary talking in Church. We are receiving through Communion the Creator of heaven and earth, the King of glory, the Immortal Logos of God. Let us honor Him by standing at attention bowing reverently in prayer

   

     Let us remember who we are the very  next time we hear: “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

  

THE ONLY TRUE FREEDOM

THE ONLY TRUE FREEDOM

Freedom was bestowed upon human beings and angels who  have unrestricted freedom within their allotted powers,   that is, freedom of choice and freedom over their actions. Freedom is shown to be most desirable and is craved by many. Americans in particular tout the many virtues and boons of freedom, for our country in particular was founded with this fundament: “My country ‘tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing . . .  Let freedom ring!”  “O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!” But this is not the freedom that fills hearts with happiness and it ids only unto death.   

     Whatever a man may be bound by, after denouncing sin, if placed in jail, is much freer than a person outside.  A drunkard or glutton may be free in body but remains a prisoner.  The same is true of an alcoholic or drug addict. Any sin in which we indulge imprisons us and  arouses fear in men’s souls, for they cannot escape their  conscience which bears witness of  right and wrong and unnatural.

  No man wants to be cheated, but many are willing to cheat others. No man wants another man to take his wife, but many are willing to take another man’s life. No man desires to be defrauded but man often think as nothing defrauding others in business and governmental transactions.

       Lacking the teaching and the blessing of Christ man will walk blindly in darkness failing to recognize what is beneficial or detrimental in his life. Not knowing where he is going, he wanders as if drunk, lacking direction or guidance.  This is occurring in our present day, where there are fewer people interested in the important destiny to which we are all heading. The many promises and threats of Jesus Christ are clearly recorded in Holy Scripture.  “Whoever believes in me has eternal life!”  “They shall be cast into outer darkness where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  No threat or danger is greater than spending eternity in outer darkness and misery and in the company of demonic powers.  No promise can be greater than the promise of eternal life with continual joy, dancing and singing with the angels and saints, for all eternity.

Lack of proper use of freedom defrauds us of the greatest treasure ever made available to man. The freedom and free will of man distinguish him from every other creature, for not the animals and birds, but man is in charge. What would be the advantage of an imprisoned human race of zombies? It would not have even been recorded!

     How very sad that we are already headed toward this immoral end, for without morality man evolves into a beast.  The restraints of immorality are not really restraints but an introduction to freedom, for to restrain of immortality reduces many evils among men.  Though we  believe we are free because we make choices, but to a great degree. As the restraints of immortality come down, we are headed towards loss of freedom and are on the fast road to  becoming moral zombies.  Take   away the moral law from man and he is no longer man, for he wanders  about lacking a moral compass, and moral law is gradually disappearing from the realm of man’s vision. 

     Good and evil certainly exists, but modern man in general closes his eyes to evil, to demons and to the Devil. There is only one who can extract us from this deep slimy pit. Christ is the brilliant light shining on the world, a light we must follow toward our Lord Jesus Christ and learn from Him.   

     Freedom in Christ enables mercy and love to  soothes the wounds of our souls, it also warms our hearts and strengthen our wills  Without freedom it is impossible to love God for no one but the free are capable of  love. 

       God formed man according to His image with the divine perfection known only to him.  For He gave man all that he needed for his purpose.   Love is not possible without freedom, and this freedom was given to the first created pair bearing full responsibility for their decisions. Freedom is essential to a person, rendering him able to decide on choosing good or evil and right or wrong. Without such freedom there would be no responsibility and consequently no possibility of love, for only a free person can accept love and return love that is extended to them. Brethren, as St. John says: “Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and everyone that loves is born of God. He that does not love, does not know God; for God is love.