What have you all been thinking about lately? What’s been on your mind? Global warming, the economy, Michael Jackson, the latest book you’ve read or movie you’ve seen, your health, the vacation you’ve just taken? I am sure you have had insightful conversations with friends and family, but when was the last time you talked about your spiritual life ‘in’ Christ, how you are seeking salvation and seeking God’s Kingdom?
Have you taken time to contemplate your personal salvation? When was the last time you thought of your own mortality and where you will be going when your heart ticks its last beat? Life after death, sheep or goats, heaven or hell, will you be ‘in’ or ‘out’ of the Kingdom?
Most of us avoid thinking about these hard things. St. Theophan the Recluse said, “when you wake up, you should think of the possibility of your death at the end of the day”. He doesn’t ask us to consider this because he was morbid but because he wants us to live each day to its fullest, as if it was going to be our last! In his own way he asks us to make a commitment to Christ deciding to make seeking out God’s grace and salvation ‘the’ priority in our life.
For Orthodox Christians, salvation is not a one-time profession of accepting Jesus, but a process of becoming transformed in God’s Grace. Through baptism and living a new life in Christ we are being grafted into the Tree of Life. As the powerful hymn of baptism proclaims: “All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Alleluia.” Gal. 3:27
For Orthodox Christians, salvation is something that happened in the past, is now occurring and will be completed in the future. It is a process where the Holy Trinity lives in us, renews our spirit through the Church and Her Mysteries and continues to nourish us in our prayer, meditation, reading God’s Word, spiritual exercises and liturgical life! Whatever good we do, we do under the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit Who empowers us to do good works.
Our treasured Church honors and remembers those who help us on our road to salvation. The first two weeks of August are dedicated to the most beautiful Christ centered woman who helped all of humanity and became instrumental in our salvation, the Theotokos.
The bible says that ‘every generation will call her blessed’ and that is what all Christians are called to do. "Every generation", means just that, all generations, yours, mine, and every generation for the last 2000 years and all of those generations who follow.
The Virgin Mary is honored as we sing the hymnography of the church stating that “she is the bridge, stretching from earth to Heaven, for on it God descended to man, having become incarnate.” “She is the scroll that held the Word, Jesus in her womb. The Theotokos is the Candlestick which held the Light that illumines the world.” Through her obedience and faith, salvation to mankind was made possible!
Indeed, Jesus ultimately saves and invites the faithful into His Kingdom. No doubt, Jesus is the One who is the Righteous Judge. But the Theotokos’ bold acceptance to bear Jesus was instrumental in our salvation!! She said “yes” which now invites us to say “yes” to Christ! She said “yes” to the Holy Spirit which now opens the possibility for God to redeem the world! She said yes so that we can be transformed ‘in’ Christ and made anew.
And every generation will call her blessed for this!! Every generation of Orthodox Christians will express their love for Jesus by loving and honoring His mother in the most beautiful way.
St John of Kronstadt says, “Know and remember that the matter of your salvation is always near to the heart of the Theotokos, the Mother of God, for it was for this that the Son of God, by the favor of the Father and the cooperation of the Holy Spirit, chose her out of all generations and was incarnate of her in order to save the human race from sin, the curse, and the eternal death, or everlasting torment. As the matter of our salvation is near to the Savior, so likewise it is near to her. Turn to her with full faith, trust and love.”
As we remember and honor the Dormition of the Theotokos, we are also invited and encouraged to remember those devoted, God loving Christians that have helped us in our walk to know Christ. They also have participated in our salvation! Remember Jesus invites us into the Kingdom and Christ ultimately saves, but the Theotokos, the Saints and we get to participate in the saving ministry of Chirst!
Do you see the beauty of this? Each of us can encourage our family and friends to seek the Christian way of life. Let us be a radiant example of faith and boldly share the good news of salvation in Christ others!
It’s like the response of a person being pulled out of a fire by the heroic firefighter. The grateful person says, “you ‘saved’ my life. It is like the married couple struggling and on the verge of divorce says to their priest or counselor after being given the skills to love and respond to conflict in a more graceful way, “thanks for ‘saving’ my marriage. How often have I heard people say, “my doctor saved my life!”. She was able to diagnose and treat my heart condition before my heart gave out with a triple bypass.
May our actions, our conversations, our attitude and prayers be grounded and focused on all good things that lead to God’s Kingdom, that help us in our salvation, that help us attain eternal life to know and love God.
In His Service,
+Fr. Tom
