Monthly Archive for October, 2009

Sitting on the Ash Pile

Published
by
frjohn
on October 28, 2009
in Uncategorized
. 1 Comment

Let’s be honest. Whether you are Orthodox or not, there are times when life really sucks. At such moments, we wonder where God is and why He allows bad things to happen to “good” people. The philosopher Hume once said that the question of evil is the hook upon which all philosophy comes to hang. It seems that when bad things happen to us, we are often too ready to hang our faith on the same hook.

This scripture lesson came up the other day: “We would not have you ignorant, brethren, of the trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed beyond measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life.” (2Corinthians 1.8) “Despaired even of life”- now that must have been a really bad situation. I’ve been in some tough spots, but never any that bad. Why w ould God let such things happen to his chosen disciples? I can understand some sacrifice, some opposition, and a few nights in jail, but to despair of life? Isn’t that a bit much?

For philosophers, the Book of Job has never answered the question of the nature and origin of evil. Job, the righteous, not only suffered the loss of all of his material possessions and bodily health, he lost seven children in one night. In his terrible grief, he sat on an ash heap while his friends tried to comfort him by engaging in a theological debate. Certainly, since God is just and only punishes the wicked, they argue, Job must have committed some sin which resulted in his punishment. Job protested that he is innocent and doesn’t deserve such treatment. At the end of the Book, God makes an appearance and you think that we will finally get the answer to the experience of suffering.

Let me paraphrase the next part. God asks Job that if he had been around when He created the universe, could he have advised God on where to put the stars or how to set the bounds of the sea. Job replies that he could not have advised God.  God then concludes that even if he explained evil and suffering to Job, he wouldn’t understand it.

All right, I get it, but it doesn’t satisfy my intellect at all. Then Job says something interesting: “I’ve heard about you, but now I see you with my own eyes. Therefore, lI abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42) As I said before, this is not an answer that satisfies the philosopher, but it satisfies the Christian. It is the Presence that resolves all issues. It also gave meaning to the experience of St. Paul in Asia. “We had the sentence of death in us, so that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead…” I marvel at this statement and at the faith and understanding it exhibits. Again, this doesn’t explain why bad things happen, but it shows that when the Lord lives in our hearts, there is deeper meaning and purpose to all of life, including the bad times.

You learn this lesson when you stand beside a widow during a funeral reception. People come forward and say some of the worst things you could say in a situation like that. I know that they want to try and console the widow because they love her. I also know that they want the grieving to stop because most of us are uncomfortable in the presence of grief. We just feel that there must be something that we can say that will help. In the presence of profound grief, theological debates will have not resolve the pain. It is the Presence that makes the difference, and so, you stand by the widow and say nothing. You endure the uncomfortable feeling of helplessness, and your continued silent presence does more to comfort than any word that you could say.

We need not hang on the hook of Hume because there is One that hung on a Cross. He is with us even when we despair of life, and gives meaning to the ash pile.

Drag-net

Published
by
frjohn
on October 8, 2009
in Orthodox Life
. 0 Comments


I don’t know if you like to do it, but my wife loves to fish. Her idea of heaven is sitting by a creek or pond and wetting a hook. I don’t have the patience for it. I once brought her a fly rod. Now some people think this is a great sport, but I don’t get it. Why do I want to stand in cold water and try my best to land a fake fly in front of a fish in such a way that the fish will bite it? Are you kidding? Deep-sea fishing is more my style: throw it in, wham, and pull it out. Then repeat and repeat for hours.

Doesn’t the word "evangelism" make you nervous? I think of flashy big hair preachers with make-up laden wives pleading for souls. So, when Jesus says we are to be fishers of men, it makes me a bit nervous. I think I have to be a theologian, or a flashy preacher, or a miracle worker, or at least good looking! I mean if I have to fish for men like fly fisherman do for trout, then there’s no way that I’m even going to attempt it. I’m just not smart enough to do it on my own. So, I think I’ll let an expert fish for men.

Well then, there’s good news for us reluctant fishers of men. The Lord doesn’t plan to give us a fly rod to fish with. In fact, he’s going to hand us a net and a big one at that. When Jesus spoke to the Peter and Andrew, they were casting nets. Now that’s how to fish. Through it in and drag it out and count the fish! Of course, Peter and Andrew weren’t the only ones in the boat. It takes a good crew to get the net out and to haul it back in.

So, relax. You don’t have to be a great talker, a deep thinker, a scholar, or even a skilled fisher of men. Oh, it’s good if you have these skills, but all that’s required is that you are in the boat and pull with the rest of the sailors. Don’t expect the priest and his family to be the only ones at the net. It takes the entire church with each one doing his part to make a successful run. How do we make the great Gospel net? We join hand to hand in love and in service. We live the Christian life together and strive to realize the Life of Christ in all its fullness. We drag the net, and the Lord brings the fish to the net.

So, not much skill is needed, but faith, courage and a strong back. I guess that’s why the Lord chose fisherman because they have strong backs (and idiots like me). They know how to work through plenty and want. They never give up because perhaps today, there will be an abundance of fish. You never know until you cast the net.  We should all find our place on the boat because there’s nothing harder than to look back for your fishing companions, only to find that some have gone below to take a nap.

"I will make you fishers of men", the Lord said. We don’t have to be skilled fly fishermen. Just grab the net, my friends, and pull. Pulling with us are Patriarchs, Archbishops, bishops, clergy, monastics and many loving souls.  Once we were caught in the great Orthodox net and so the fish now become fishermen. .

May God helps us to work together to cast the net, to be patient as the net does its work, and then to pull with all of our might. If we don’t catch anything today, then tomorrow is just another day to fish.