The world, or most of it, is marking the twentieth anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall today. In a commentary in the Kansas City Star (here) one German from what used to be the other side of that cold wall reminisced, “When the wall came down, we all wanted to be Americans. To us, at that time, it meant to buy beautiful things.” But, as it turned out, this dream wasn’t all that satisfying.
The article continues:
But as her small apartment began to fill with things, she began to notice something leaving as well: The passion that had infused her life. No longer was she weaving subtle anti-government statements between the words of her performances. No one cared for such things; they were all too busy with their own lives. Her shows were no longer driven by a need to bring hope to society. People had become increasingly isolated and self-absorbed.
In work, and in society, Schmitt sensed the notion of a greater purpose was fading.
Why did a life oppressed by fear and totalitarianism have meaning, when a free life became a bit empty? The world, as a whole, was obviously safer. Yet, to many, it felt more dangerous. It’s irrational. But so are the threats of this modern world.
There is, I think, a good lesson in what in means to be free in this keen observation. For, a free world and a safe environment can prove to be just as dangerous. The words of Bill Clinton come to mind in such moments. I believe there was some wisdom in his answer to the question why he had an affair with Monica Lewinsky. He said, “Because I could.”
I am certainly not advocating a totalitarian regime. But freedom itself, or the idea of it, can be turned into something which rules our lives in a very totalitarian way where we do things – at times unexplainable and oftentimes in vain – simply because we can.
We commemorate on this day in the church calendar a Saint similar in many ways to our own St. George, the patron Saint of this holy temple. This day we commemorate St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki, the Great Martyr and Myrrh-streamer.
Born in the city of Thessaloniki, his father was commander in the army there and after his death the ruler in that region, Maximian, appointed young Demetrios as commander in his father’s place. In addition to this appointment the newly installed commander was also given the task of persecuting and exterminating the Christians of Thessaloniki. Demetrios, being a Christian, naturally disobeyed this order and when Maximian was returning from a battle once he stopped in Thessaloniki to see for himself if these rumors of Demetrios’ rebelliousness were true. Not only was the Saint upfront with Maximian about his faith in Christ but he even went as far to preach to that great opponent and hater of Christ and all of His followers.
After his arrest soldiers were sent to Demetrios’ prison cell where they found him in prayer. The soldiers ran him through lances and thus the soldier, and devout Christian Demetrios met his martyrdom.
It is in the bloody death of the Christian martyrs, who gave their lives for their faith in Christ, that the truth about God’s existence is revealed. That is, that He is not the God of the dead but the God of the living. And so with St. Demetrios is recorded how right after he was brutally killed his faithful servant Lupus, to whom the Saint – knowing his fate – gave all his goods so that he could distribute to the poor, prayed warmly that Demetrios help him and those suffering. And, behold, a miracle occurred. The sick that came in contact with these goods that Lupus had been guarding were healed. Discovering this, orders were also sent that Lupus also be killed.
The body of St. Demetrios was secretly taken by the Christians of Thessaloniki and given a proper burial. Soon, a small church was built over his relics. Later, when an Illyrian nobleman by the name of Leontius, afflicted with an incurable disease, came to seek help from the relics of St. Demetrios he was completely healed. In thanksgiving to the Saint, this grateful nobleman built a much larger church in honor of this saint.
St. Demetrius, like St. George and many other Christian martyrs, was a soldier. But, despite his vocation as a fighter and a warrior, his heart was filled with dedication and a firm faith in Christ; indeed, his entire being was filled with love for God and neighbor. Subsequently, the icons of both St. George and St. Demetrios depict the Saints upon a horse and wearing armor for this is the purpose of the icons, to tell us stories of these Saints, of their lives and deeds.
But this armor which these Saints wear, depicts spiritual weapons, like those of which the holy Apostle Paul speaks saying, “Put on the armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the Principalities and the Powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness on high. Therefore take up the armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and stand in all things perfect. Stand, therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of justice and having your feet shod with the readiness of the Gospel of peace, in all things taking up the shied of faith, with which you may be able to quench all the fiery darts of the most wicked one. And take unto you the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, that is, the word of God” (Eph.6:11-17). (1)
It is in these words of the holy Apostle that we are given insight on what it means to be part of a church which above its doors depicts a Saint, not only seated on a horse, but who also holds a dangerous weapon with which he is piercing a dragon. The faith which we hold and are called to live according to, seeks from us to put on the breastplate of justice that we may quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. We are, therefore, reminded on today’s feastday not only of the fact that, in that choir of Saints of our Church, are also those who were soldiers. Rather, we are reminded that we too are called to be soldiers. In defending our faith, defending the Triune God and, through a righteous life, but also defending the sanctity which is in us, the sanctity with which we have been created. Amen.
On the eve of the Feast of St. Demetrios of Thessaloniki, the Great Martyr and Myrhh-Streamer, I post these words of His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a excerpt from his homily, also delivered on the eve of the feast, in New York:
“Beloved, the power of a prayer is not to be measured by its length. The most powerful prayer may also be the most brief. Few but fervent were the words of Saint Nestor: Ο Θεος του Δημητριου, Βοηθει μοι. “God of Demetrios, help me.” Yet through the power of these simple words, evil was vanquished, tyranny was frustrated, faith was vindicated, and not one, but two saints for the Kingdom of God were revealed.
The Lord promised that those who speak in faith might command even a mountain to be taken up and cast aside (Matthew 17:20, Mark 11:23). Such was the faith that Saint Demetrios instilled in young Nestor. From his prison cell the Great Martyr spoke words of blessing and encouragement, words of strength and confidence. And in the stadium it was proved that “the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether” (cf. Psalm 18:10 [19:9]), when a mountain—that is to say, a mountain of a man—the murderous Lyaios, was taken up and cast aside to destruction.
Lyaios was a barbarian in every sense of the word. By birth he was of tribe of the Vandals, and fittingly so, for as a wrestler he made it his sport to vandalize the image of God in his fellow man in the arena. A second Goliath was he: a bloodthirsty titan with fierce eyes and a thunderous voice with which he uttered vile insults upon the Christians and their God. Many were the men that Lyaios cast down to their deaths upon the points of upraised spears planted round about the wrestling platform in a terrifying display of brutality and strength.
But young Nestor was not terrified. He did not waver at the sight of the giant. He did not tremble at the sound of his blasphemies. He remained steadfast, remembering the boldness of his intercessor in the prison. In that same holy boldness Nestor prayed: “God of Demetrios, help me.” He wrestled with Lyaios and prevailed, casting the monster himself on the spear-points that had been fixed for his opponents.
The power of a prayer is not to be measured by its length in words, but by the mountains that it moves. In his own strength, small Nestor could never have triumphed; but with the God of Demetrios, all things are possible (cf. Matthew 19:26). For all the promises of God are “Yes” in Jesus Christ, and in Him “Amen” to the glory of God (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:20). “
Read full homily here.
Courtesy: www.dilbert.com
Is it possible for one to exercise one’s freedom of expression without offending anyone? I would like to think that it is. But like freedom itself it seems that we, in our sinful state, tend to gravitate more towards that which is harmful, useless and plain evil than that which is good, which is the result of sacrifice and selflessness, prayer and fasting. Patience.
Ah, but then there are those who quite simply take this abuse of freedom too far. In which case, I’m afraid it is not merely a weakness or a failing to express that which is noble. Rather, it seems as if it is nothing but a firm commitment to glorify freedom for the mere sake of freedom with no regard to responsibility.
As was pointed out in another post, there are things which we shan’t make fun of or pervert for they are things which are set aside, that is, they are holy. One would conclude that it is in respecting this dictum that we respect freedom itself. After all, freedom is not something that we fought for and thereby earned. Instead, it has been given to us by God. It’s a gift and as such deserves our respect. Moreover, it is something which we ought to cherish and defend, not flaunt or abuse. For, that same freedom which we use for our salvation can just as easily be used for our demise.
These thoughts came to me this morning upon reading about a play which took place in conjunction with the Glasgay! arts festival “a celebration of Scotland’s gay, bi-sexual and transsexual culture.” In the play Jesus was depicted as being a transsexual woman!?! Actually, it was more of a reaction to a statement made by the producer:
“Glasgay! supports the right to freedom of expression and offers audiences a diverse view of LGBT life.
“This work is not intended to incite or offend anyone of any belief system. However, we respect your right to disagree with that opinion.”
Not intended to offend? Well, what, pray tell, is the intention then?
“Don’t set foot on the path of the wicked….For they can’t sleep unless they have done evil; they are robbed of sleep unless they make someone stumble” (Proverbs 4:14,16).
See story here.
