2022
Al Maseeh Kam !
Today we commemorate
The Holy Martyrs Peter, Dionysis, Andrew, Paul and Christina
Peter - a young and gifted man; Dionysios -a nobleman; Andrew and Paul - soldiers; and Christina - a sixteen-year-old girl; they all courageously confessed Christ the Lord and underwent torture and death for His name in the year 250. One Nicomachus, who was tortured with them denied Christ under torture, and instantly lost his mind, tearing at his body with his teeth and foaming at the mouth until he breathed his last.
Acts 17:19-28 KJV
19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is?
20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean.
21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, To The Unknown God. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;
26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:
28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.
Saint John 12:19-36 KJV
19 The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, Perceive ye how ye prevail nothing? behold, the world is gone after him.
20 And there were certain Greeks among them that came up to worship at the feast:
21 The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.
22 Philip cometh and telleth Andrew: and again Andrew and Philip tell Jesus.
23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.
27 Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.
28 Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.
29 The people therefore, that stood by, and heard it, said that it thundered: others said, An angel spake to him.
30 Jesus answered and said, This voice came not because of me, but for your sakes.
31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.
33 This he said, signifying what death he should die.
34 The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
Carol's Hands
"God always gives us the edge"
In case you missed this post in 2019, here it is again.
Carol was sitting on an electric shopping cart just inside the doors waiting for his wife to return from shopping. As I was about to take one of the other carts, he began speaking to me. I was quickly distracted when I caught sight of his hands, or rather the absence of them. My mind took flight from his words.
Carol is 82. Two partial thumbs developed, each on a partial palm. No fingers. Carol drove truck for almost 40 years, just how I don't know. I suppose anyone who can zip and unzip a coat with only two tiny thumbs, which he did in front of me, is capable of about anything. We shook hands. Careful not to glance down at his hand as we touched, I kept my eyes on his eyes. Gently but firmly my hand completely encased his. His was the hand of a child. With his hand in mine there was a transfer of information faster than the devices we now plug into or "pair" with but here a transfer of feeling, emotion - tactile, visible - a lifetime of labor, suffering and endurance at the wheel and probably most everywhere. I wanted to weep and cheer simultaneously.
Distracted even further, I recalled the similar effects of a drug introduced in the 50's called Thalidomide* and asked if his condition was the result of his mother having taken it. Not thinking, I realized he was born before the drug was introduced. He replied, no, and added that he had not been injured, but was the result of a congenital malformation or simply, born without hands.
"Forgive me Carol but your life is inspiring to me. I spend much time at a computer and as a distraction, I initiate a slideshow of photographs on a computer monitor near me. If you allow me to take your photograph, I will allow me to remember your struggle" Carol responded as though he expected the request, and, with a big smile quite happily permitted me to take his picture. He even asked if he could remove his jacket, which at first puzzled me, but curiosity vanished as I watched him unzip it and later zip it up with thumbs only. Although done somewhat slowly, I could not clearly detect the precise movement of his palms. It was nonetheless amazing to see and, my guess, judging by his enduring smile, enjoyable for him to show me! At my request he crossed his arms.
So often we hear the term, 'count your blessings'. Frankly, I don't feel counting them is that difficult for anyone, despite the fatigue of counting to such a great number. Recognizing their source however is another story. And I am not talking about being appreciative for having what others may lack, such as hands, but rather recognizing that our God fashioned all things with "his own hands" so to speak.
Carol's wife arrived. An oxygen tank trailed behind her. She was a heavy set woman with a child's face and a manner to go with it. Unexpectedly she terminated Carol's story in order to express her sadness and discontent with what she perceives as an increase in prejudice, and people judging each other in these times - something many others, even in brief encounters, quickly allude to.
Although the three of us spoke for at least half an hour, I was more than a little overwhelmed with the child-like spirit and charity of these two people so much so that it sculpted most of the conversation, except the heart-rending gratitude they gracefully and succinctly offered our Lord Christ. Nevertheless, I left not only inspired but more aware of my self-centeredness and self-pity.
As we all know, there are countless forms of suffering in the world, by those who endure and those who fail to endure, suffering from those who abuse, and the suffering of those who are abused. Nevertheless, followers believe that Christ is everywhere present and fills all things and therefore know that all things are possible in Him, they know that He is in and yet beyond His creation simultaneously, that He does what pleases the Father Who is all things. What greater joy when our Father Christ allows us to experience directly the depth of is His own personal love for us. How wonderful when we feel Him and His love being shared by two or more creatures, especially sinful people.
So, regardless of an individual or creature's appearance, image, intellect, status, race, species, virtue or lack of it, etc., can we not say that each encounter and its infinite facets, is a step beyond and, a even at time a stumbling block to all sciences, philosophy, etc., and what is referred to as the uncertainty principle and the correspondence principle or rather Quantum Mechanics? Or who, from all the "greatest" of men, has asked: How can I know the universe when I don't even know myself and my Creator?
In fact, for those who believe and those who know, all questions are answered in the verse: St Matthew 6:22 ...if thine eye be single, thy whole body will be filled with light.
*Thalidomide first appeared in Germany on 1st October 1957. It was marketed as a sedative with apparently remarkably few side effects. The Drug Company that developed it believed it was so safe it was suitable for prescribing to pregnant women to help combat morning sickness. The drug was NOT thoroughly tested however and resulted in Phocomelia, the name given to the flipper-like limbs which appeared on the children of women who took thalidomide. Babies effected by this tragedy were given the name 'Thalidomide Babies' (photo).
I caution you NOT to look for more images of Thalidomide children online unless you want to break your heart. You will be appalled! May God forgive us for so many things.
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