It was my first time at the Seminary and I honestly didn't want to leave haha. I don't think I'll ever (how presumptious ) be able to embrace all-encompassing asceticism, but I definitely considered it for a good 10 minutes!
The whole place was so serene; the environment, the people, the buildings. It was like a cloud of light and peace had been permanetly placed over the entire establishment.
The liturgy started @ 930 and lasted for 2 hours, but it went by in a flash. It was a very powerful experience having all of those priests/bishop clustered together in one giant divine liturgy. The choir was gorgeous. They sung the hymns the way church hymns are meant to be sung; with dissperate voice parts and melodies that never once sounded dissonant. Then we ate, sat through a ketnote speech, listened to a panel discussion, and went to an OCF meeting.
Some important points were made/said/brought to our attention throughout the day:
"matter matters" -one of the priests who participated in the panel discussion about the use of icons and other Orthodox symbols.
"when you are not infectious, you cannot be contagious" - about embracing our faith, letting it "infect" us so that we can "infect" others.
"go forth in peace" - this was one of the main points of the sermon that the dean of the Seminary gave. It is the end of the liturgy and a missionary call that we all know. These are the last lingering words of our Sunday service, but I think their recitation and constant repitition has desensitized us to the impact that they can and should be having on us and the impact that by witnessing and adhering to them and making them a part of their daily lives, living the word of God, that we can and should be having on others. The dean talked about the Sunday liturgy as a reaffiramtion of faith that doesn't end@ 11:15 when we kiss the cross. The Sunday liturgy is just a "piece" of the "peace" that we should be constantly forging wit' our broz and hoez in Christ, bitch.
I learned that Orthodoxy began in Alaska (and I thought it only had value as an oil-rich land mass!).
I learned about Saints like St. Innocent, he lived and breathed the word of God. There were other examples given, those whose names escape me, but they all essentially did the same thing; evangelized through their lifestyles and their constant affirmations of faith through their actions. They didn't make nonbelievers feel bad for not believing. They simply persuaded them to believe by setting an example of what great things can ensue from believeing.
The OCF speaker talked about God not as a Judge in the Court, but as a Healer in a hospital. We, then, are his patients and the life-path is one in which the end goal is to be healed. It is a healing process. He pointed out why we can't condemn the man who condemns God and laud the man who helps feed the poor; because you never know what the intent is behind these actions. The man who is condemning God might have, for instance, been abused and lost touch with God and condemning God was his way of opening up a necessary dialogue with God, his way of affirming that the relationship between God is one of love because you cannot comdemn someone for not loving you if you don't first believe that they are capable of doing so.
The dean of the Seminary gave the sermon. He talked about the story of the Talents...... I found this....
The Money in Trust (or The Talents)
14 "For it will be as when a man going on a journey called his servants and entrusted to them his property; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16 He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them; and he made five talents more. 17 So also, he who had the two talents made two talents more. 18 But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. 19 Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20 And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, `Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' 21 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 22 And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, `Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' 23 His master said to him, `Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a little, I will set you over much; enter into the joy of your master.' 24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, `Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not winnow; 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' 26 But his master answered him, `You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed, and gather where I have not winnowed? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has the ten talents. 29 For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.'
"Lord, be the ruler of my heart and thoughts, be the king of my home and relationships, and be the master of my work and service. Help me to make good use of the gifts, talents, time, and resources you give me for your glory and your kingdom."
so, basically, it is our JOB as Orthodox Christians who are resolute in our devotion to cultivate the "gifts" that God has given us. He doesn't care if or who we choose to marry and what our occupation is, as long as the motivating factor behind our actions is a pursuit of the kingdom of Heaven.
On another topic, the only thing we can do is love and be loved in return.
ugh.
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