Monthly Archives: August 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on August 20, 2015
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Suffering is Transformed Into Victory Through Christ — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

image         August 20, 2015

“And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.” Mark 6:5-6

“Healing is a sacrament because its purpose or end is not health as such, the restoration of physical health, but the entrance of man into the life of the Kingdom, into the “joy and peace” of the Holy Spirit. In Christ everything in this world, and this means health and disease, joy and suffering, has become an ascension to, and entrance into this new life, its expectation and anticipation.

In this world suffering and disease are indeed “normal”, but their very “normalcy” is abnormal. They reveal the ultimate and permanent defeat of life, a defeat which no partial victories of medicine, however wonderful and truly miraculous, can ultimately overcome. But in Christ suffering is not “removed”; it is transformed into victory. The defeat itself becomes victory, a way, an entrance into the Kingdom, and this is the only true healing.” “For the Life of the World” Alexander Schmemann (1921 – 1983) “For All The Saints”, volume II, (p. 373-374)

(Alexander Schmemann was an Orthodox Christian priest, teacher, and writer. From 1946 to 1951 he taught in Paris, and afterwards in New York. In his teachings and writings he sought to establish the close links between Christian theology and Christian liturgy.)

I like what Father Schmemann writes when he says “in Christ suffering is not “removed“, it is transformed into victory”. There will be only a few people in this world who will be able to live their entire lives without some kind of suffering. Many people live in daily lives of suffering — most will encounter some amount of suffering because of physical problems. But in our suffering we join, in a mystical if not in a physical way, the suffering of Christ. And when our suffering is understood in this way, we soon understand the “victory” it stands to gain for each one of us. We may not ever be able to end our personal suffering on this earth, but when our suffering is joined to Christ’s suffering, our death becomes a victory won for us through the suffering of Christ. This is true victory — one we can live in right now, when we suffer, and when we work with those who suffer.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on August 19, 2015
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Sharing Out of Our Abundance — Rev. David J. Schreffler

 

 

imageAugust 19, 2015

“After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “My brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that I should be the one through whom the Gentiles would hear the message of the good news and become believers. And God, who knows the human heart, testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us; and in cleansing their hearts by faith he has made no distinction between them and us. Now therefore why are you putting God to the test by placing on the neck of the disciples a yoke that neither our ancestors nor we have been able to bear? On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Acts 15:7-11

“But let not, brethren, let not this any longer be; and when matters of universal interest and more pressing necessity bring us together, let us not be divided by things earthly and insignificant: I mean, by wealth and poverty, by bodily relationship, by enmity and friendship; for all these things are a shadow, nay less substantial than a shadow, to those who possess the bond of charity from above. Let us preserve this…and none of those evil spirits will be able to enter in, who cause division in so perfect union; to which may we all attain by the grace and loving-kindness of our Lord Jesus Christ…”    John Chrysostom (344-407) “For All The Saints”, volume II (p. 364)

John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities.

The Eastern Orthodox and Byzantine Catholic churches honor him as a saint and count him among the Three Holy Hierarchs, together with Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzus. He is recognized by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church as a saint and as a Doctor of the Church. Churches of the Western tradition, including the Roman Catholic Church, some Anglican provinces, and some Lutheran churches, commemorate him on 13 September. Some other Lutheran churches and Anglican provinces commemorate him on the traditional Eastern feast day of 27 January. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria also recognize him as a saint.

“Consider how [Jesus Christ] teaches us to be humble, by making us see that our virtue does not depend on our work alone but on grace from on high. He commands each of the faithful who prays to do so universally, for the whole world. For he did not say “thy will be done in me or in us”, but “on earth”, the whole earth, so that error may be banished from it, truth take root in it, all vice be destroyed on it, virtue flourish on it, and earth no longer differ from heaven.”

This is a quote from John Chrysostom on his teachings on the Lord’s Prayer. He was concerned with how the rich might use their resources for the purpose of caring for the poor. He saw the danger of wealth and how it could divide people instead of being used to care for others. It is a teaching that is so needed in our world today — how we should look to share out of our abundance instead of stashing away our resources in bigger and bigger barns for our use alone. When we share out of our abundance, we are just beginning to make this world just a little bit more like heaven.

Pastor Dave