On 24 June (New Calendar), the Orthodox Christian Church celebrated the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. A blessed feast to all who commemorate Saint John! It was a timely feast in that it again reminded us of the sanctity of Christian family.
The home is the first church, and it is sacred. A parish or cathedral is the place in which the Christian family - the young and older, those who persevere in virginity, those who are married, widowed and divorced - gather to celebrate the Holy Mysteries together with the righteous who have gone before us. It too is sacred. It is therefore imperative that we build up the home and the parish, together with our monasteries, all to the glory of God. By so doing, we also learn to value and serve one another, those in the Church and those beyond her walls, we pray, unto salvation.
Sadly, it’s becoming all the more difficult for Christians to do so in our culture. Although the media would have us believe otherwise, we are far from being “at war” with any ideology or persons, nor have times changed that much, even going back centuries. What makes it difficult to thrive within our culture and to nurture saints is apathy, Christian apathy.
Christian apathy is our gift to the devil in the 21st century. I know this is a generalization, but nothing good comes from a lack of prayer, fasting, the reading of scripture, and alms giving. When we’re apathetic, it’s far too easy to remain unconcerned for those who are hurting. Truth becomes relative with opinions ruling. Responsibility gives way to excuses. Our passions are justified if not glorified. Simply, a toxicity seeps into all of our social constructs when Christians are apathetic. Even the Christian home and the church become cold. God laments our decision-making and the devil smiles.
Brothers and sisters, dig deep into your Orthodox Christian Faith. Pray. Read Scripture Read the lives of the Saints. Fast. Give alms. Look for opportunities to serve.
Thank God for His benefactions. Thank God for His Church. Thank God for our monasteries. Thank God for our nation and our processes of government. And thank God for His patience with all of us.