Newsletter November 8, 2024

The Christian Approach to Crises, Part Three

Q: Why does God create people who are very well-off financially and others who are in a state of misery; healthy individuals and sick individuals? Is it possible that God shows favoritism towards certain people over others?

A: This question is rooted in a false and misleading premise that assumes God is the one who designates some to be rich and others to be poor. Christian theology provides an alternative perspective, asserting that we live in a fallen world. This implies that the world has fallen from the Kingdom, as God initially created humanity in His image and endowed us with a portion of Himself. God granted us the potential to develop the divine image within us by reaching His example. However, growth towards the divine ideal is impossible without the grace of God and His companionship. The fall of humanity occurred when individuals chose to cultivate these divine abilities independently, apart from God, resulting in their fall from the Kingdom they once inhabited. Thus, we refer to our world as the fallen world, and Christ came to empower us to return to the purpose for which we were created. We are currently in the fallen world, not in the Kingdom. Creation is working toward perfection, but perfection is impossible without God.

When examining the existence of injustice, poverty, and other hardships, it is important to note that acknowledging this fallen reality doesn’t mean that Christians accept it; rather, they are called to resist it. Regarding the idea of God favoring certain individuals over others, the Holy Bible is explicit in its teaching that God desires everyone to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Tim. 2:4). God’s blessings are likened to rain falling on both the righteous and the wicked, and His sun shining on the good and the evil (Matt. 5:45).

Read the entire article: https://www.antiochian.org/regulararticle/2232

We will celebrate the Sacrament of Holy Baptism this Sunday (Nov. 10) for the newly born handmaid of God Adelaide G. in place of Sunday Orthros. The Batism will begin at 8:45 AM. All are encouraged to attend!

It is time to fast again! The Nativity Fast begins next week on Nov. 15 and continues through Christmas Eve. May God grant you a Good Fast!

Please remember that our full calendar continues to be available at our parish web site. Here is a link:
https://stjfc.org/Pages/Calendar/calendar.php

Full schedule: https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Prosphora/Docs/prosphora sched 2024 web.pdf

Full schedule: https://stjfc.org/Pages/Ministries/Altar/Docs/epistle readers for 2024.pdf

Epistle: ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE GALATIANS 1:11-19

Brethren, I would have you know that the gospel which was preached by me is not man’s gospel. For I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it; and I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and had called me through his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia; and again I returned to Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother.

Gospel: LUKE 10:25-37

At that time, a lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered right; do this, and you will live.” But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was; and when he saw him, he had compassion, and went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; then he set him on his own beast and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed mercy on him.” And Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.

Ascetic Strength

Fr. Zechariah Lynch

For the Christian, asceticism is not an escape from the world (as in the creation of God) but the right and proper use of the things of creation. It is an inner disposition of the virtues, energized by God, by which a man trains himself to use the material order around him in a proper way. This is vastly different from the misguided understanding of asceticism as escape from the things of creation, an austere individualizing of oneself in isolation from the created order. In true Christianity, matter is the creation of God. It is the misuse of matter– creation– due to sin that leads to abuse and the descent into materialism, which involves the wanton abuse of matter for individualistic and passing gratification. The ascetic is one who is harmonizing the right use of matter within himself. Through self-control, also known as chastity or temperance, a person becomes rightly oriented to the things around him, this is authentic strength. When we are wrongly oriented to matter, the problem being inside of us, then we give it authority over us in a negative way and we become slave to the passions, which are the drivers of the wrong use of the created order around us.

Read the entire article: https://inklesspen.blog/2024/10/30/ascetic-strength/