Ukrainian Orthodoxy		Orthodoxie ukrainienne

WHY ARE WE HERE?

Very Reverend Ihor Kutash kutash@unicorne.org

Once again we stand upon the threshold of Great Lent. It is not necessarily a comfortable place to be. For we have gotten used to being lax in our living out of the gift and call we received at Baptism: to be Jesus to the world around us. And now Lent has come by again to trouble us – to challenge us, to recall our mission. Shall we try? Perhaps we can begin by looking at who Jesus was when He walked among us.

The Scottish scientist, world traveler and communicator of the Gospel, Henry Drummond (1851-1897) wrote in The Programme of Christianity: "The tendency of the religions of all time has been to care more for religion than for humanity: Christ cared more for humanity than for religion (emphasis IGK) - rather, His care for humanity was the chief expression of His religion."

We sometimes feel that we are simply called upon to observe religious traditions. It is comforting to think that we are okay just because we do the minimum of the ritual requirements of our Faith. Of course we are always okay from the point of view of God’s love for us. He is most generous in lavishing upon us ever so many gifts that we simply take for granted.

But look at Jesus! When He saw people who were in need of healing, He did not stop to think about the possibility of upsetting religious people who would see His healing on the Sabbath as a breaking of the rules of Sabbath rest. He did not scorn to be touched by the woman with the issue of blood, although this would make Him ritually unclean. He boldly called the most respected religious leaders of His time "whited sepulchers" as He challenged them to care as much for the needy folk around them as they did for the scrupulous and exemplary observance of the Rabbinic laws.

Where are we in our religion? For that matter, where are we in our living in general? Drummond made this comment on the English religious classic The Way of the Pilgrim: "The Pilgrim's one thought, his work by day, his dream by night, was escape.  He took little part in the world through which he passed.  He was a Pilgrim traveling through it; his business was to get through safe.  Whatever this is, it is not Christianity."

Think about it: is this our main concern? To get through this life safe? Perhaps to do enough "religious stuff" to be safe in in eternity? We sing in the Beatitudes: "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake". Have we ever been persecuted? Or have we carefully avoided upsetting any apple-carts rather than acting as Christ would act in critical situations? What about: "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for My sake"? Has that ever happened? Is it really our business "to get through safe"?

Today we remember Adam’s expulsion from Paradise. In a beautiful Sticheron for Vespers we hear him cry:

Ah, there! That is where we are supposed to be! In Paradise – and it is within us and around us when we live in Christ, when we surrender our wills to His and agree to embody His presence in the world about us today. It will not appear very safe to those who do not see that garden of beauty and delight with the eyes of faith and worship. Oh, but it is the only safety in this stormy, troubled world. Lets wake up and start making our way back home where we belong!

return to summary of articles on fasting

[ Home ] [ Articles ] [ Prayer ] [ Saints ] [ Theophilus ] [ Q & A ] [About Us] [ ]