In preparation for a parish retreat later this week, I’ve been perusing On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius. We (myself included) do not read from Holy Scripture near enough, and these words by St. Athanasius in his conclusion should be worthy words of encouragement for us all to open up those Bibles!

Here, then, Macarius, is our offering to you who love Christ, a brief statement of the faith of Christ and of the manifestation of His Godhead to us. This will give you a beginning, and you must go on to prove its truth by the study of the Scriptures. They were written and inspired by God; and we, who have learned from inspired teachers who read the Scriptures and became martyrs for the Godhead of Christ, make further contribution to your eagerness to learn. From the Scriptures you will learn also of His second manifestation to us, glorious and divine indeed, when He shall come not in lowliness but in His proper glory, no longer in humiliation but in majesty, no longer to suffer but to bestow on us all the fruit of His cross—the resurrection and incorruptibility. No longer will He then be judged, but rather will Himself be Judge, judging each and all according to their deeds done in the body, whether good or ill. Then for the good is laid up the heavenly kingdom, but for those that practice evil outer darkness and the eternal fire. So also the Lord Himself says, “I say unto you, hereafter you shall see the Son of Man seated on the right hand of power, coming on the clouds of heaven in the glory of the Father.” (Matthew 26:64) For that Day we have one of His own sayings to prepare us, “Get ready and watch, for you know not the hour in which He comes.” (Matthew 24:42) And blessed Paul says, “We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive according as he practiced in the body, whether, good or ill.” (2 Corinthians 5:10)

But for the searching and right understanding of the Scriptures there is need of a good life and a pure soul, and for Christian virtue to guide the mind to grasp, so far as human nature can, the truth concerning God the Word. One cannot possibly understand the teaching of the saints unless one has a pure mind and is trying to imitate their life. Anyone who wants to look at sunlight naturally wipes his eye clear first, in order to make, at any rate, some approximation to the purity of that on which he looks; and a person wishing to see a city or country goes to the place in order to do so. Similarly, anyone who wishes to understand the mind of the sacred writers must first cleanse his own life, and approach the saints by copying their deeds. Thus united to them in the fellowship of life, he will both understand the things revealed to them by God and, thenceforth escaping the peril that threatens sinners in the judgment, will receive that which is laid up for the saints in the kingdom of heaven. Of that reward it is written: “Eye hath not seen nor ear heard, neither hath entered into the heart of man the things that god has prepared” (1 Corinthians 2:9) for them that live a godly life and love the God and Father in Christ Jesus our Lord, through Whom and with Whom be to the Father Himself, with the Son Himself, in the Holy Spirit, honor and might glory to ages of ages. Amen.

I was thinking that one of the goals of life is to not take God for granted. It sounds simple, but I know it’s not easy. Each day brings with it temptations that keep us from remembering God. And, I guess it’s not even enough just to remember Him—we need to remember His love for us, His mercy for us, and how he continually forgives us. And that’s probably not enough either! We need to be mindful that God, being who He is, hears our every word, and knows our every thought. I know, personally, I sometimes feel like a kid who took a piece of bubble gum from the store and thought he got away with it. That’s taking God for granted!

So many people, Orthodox Christians included, now say: “It’s all one God and it doesn’t matter what religion you are.” First of all—of course, there IS only ONE God. (I believe that’s in something called the “Creed.”) Secondly—if it doesn’t matter what religion you are, then it must not matter that Christ came into the world and died on the Cross. Everything we believe as Orthodox Christians is based upon a man (who is one of the Trinity) being born of a Virgin, dying on a Cross, raised on the third day, and ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father. It DOES matter if you believe the Virgin birth is a myth. It DOES matter if you believe Christ was only a human being. People can believe what they want, but the bottom line is that we don’t always agree. “Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” “We preach Christ crucified” and for many this is foolishness. But for us, without the Cross there is no life.

When St. Mary of Egypt, much like the Prodigal Son, "came to her senses," she was able to avoid falling into a very common temptation. She realized she needed to change her life—the temptation would be that she knew many others who needed to change their lives. Instead of following the path of "at least I’m not as bad as so-and-so" she took care of herself. And now every Orthodox Church in the world will have her icon in their church tomorrow giving us a good example to follow. She scolded no one, she yelled at no one. "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)

Inevitably, someone will comment about St. Basil the Great and refer to him as "the long-winded." Poor St. Basil. In his Prayers of the Anaphora, he gives us a complete Orthodox Christian Catechism in a very "short" period of time. Shame on us for thinking they are "long." Here are some important words from St. John of Kronstadt to the priest (from his book "Counsels on the Christian Priesthood."): "When you are reading a lengthy form of prayer aloud in the presence of the people, the enemy may try to disconcert your heart and mind, and to quench the words on your lips, by the thought that the people do not understand much of what you are saying, and that to read such prayers is a useless waste of time. This is folly. for what of the Holy Spirit, the teacher of all truth? Have you forgotten about Him? Is He inactive? Does He not enlighten all of us? Have you not yourself experienced the enlightenment of your mind and heart by the Holy Spirit? There was something you did not understand, and suddenly the Holy Spirit opened your mind, and your heart also was suddenly enlightened. Be assured that the same thing happens to others also. Read the prayer with steadfast heart. It is for you but to sow the seed—God will give the growth."  Remember how concise and to the point St. Basil was the next time you visit your local movie theater!