Tag: Hebrews 12:2

From Left to Right – A Great Lent Meditation

Fr Dr Saji K MathewLeave a comment

As we stand at the doorsteps of the Great Lent of 2024, let us submit ourselves to a transformative journey of spiritual growth. This sacred Lent is a divine blessing to immerse ourselves in contemplation, traversing the path of Christ’s suffering for our redemption. As we humble ourselves in fasting, prayer, prostration, and meditation throughout the Lenten season, we are beckoned to chronicle the transformation unfolding within our physical, emotional, and spiritual realms.

Transformation denotes an essential alteration. In spiritual terms, it represents metamorphosis within an individual’s life, signifying a pivotal shift towards the divine. Within the framework of Orthodox Church tradition, transformation is not a static event but rather an enduring journey. To symbolise this, the Orthodox Church fathers instituted the practice of making the sign of the Cross, employing the foremost three fingers of the right hand – namely, the thumb, index, and middle finger—joined in unison. The sequence of this sign, moving from the forehead to the midpoint of the chest and then from the left shoulder joint to the right, symbolises the descent of God from heaven to earth (vertical) and the subsequent transformation of the individual from the fallen state symbolised by the “left hand side” to one represented by the “right hand side,” newness in God (horizontal).

It is pertinent to underscore the significance of being aligned with the “right hand side” from a Biblical perspective. For instance, in Matthew 25: 34 we read: Then the king will say to those at his right hand, Come you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Jesus is glorified as seated at the right hand of God, as we read in Matthew 26:64; Mark 16:19; Acts 2:33 & 7:55; and Hebrews 12:2. The Old Testament also refers to the right-hand side as an honour (Genesis 48:14; Exodus 15:6; 1 Kings: 2: 19; Isaiah 41:10 & 45:1; and Psalm 110:1). The Rabbinic tradition establishes hell to the left hand side of God whereas the heaven to His right hand side (Midrash Psalm 90:12). In Plato’s “Republic”, the just soul travels upwards to the right hand side whereas the unjust souls take the left hand side and downwards. 

Having said, the delineation between the right hand side and the left hand side is not to be interpreted in a strictly literal manner, but rather as symbolic representations serving to demarcate the realm of evil from that of the divine. With this understanding in mind, let us return to the discourse on the process of transformation as a transition from a state associated with the “left hand side” to one characterised by being recognised as God’s children on His “right hand side.”

To commence, let us examine the anatomy of the human brain which is divided into a left hemisphere and a right hemisphere. There are two primary rationales for delving into the anatomy of the brain: firstly, the brain serves as the corporeal locus for the operations of the mind, encompassing faculties such as cognition, emotion, and physical action; and secondly, the Word of God exhorts the renewal and transformation of the human mind as a prerequisite for attaining communion with God. Romans 12:2 says Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect. Building upon this verse, this blog represents a humble attempt to explore the optimal utilisation of our cognitive faculties in facilitating spiritual transformation.

Each hemisphere of the brain embodies unique cognitive functions. Those who predominantly rely on the left hemisphere exhibit traits of dominance, pragmatism, and utilitarianism, prioritising logic over emotion. These individuals, characterised as utilitarians, prioritise their own happiness, often at the expense of others, viewing both people and objects as mere instruments to serve their selfish desires. Their pursuit of self-interest is marked by aggression and a willingness to bulldoze any obstacles, including familial ties, relationships, friendships, and even their connection with the divine. While they may superficially excel in relationships through displays of affection, flattery, and generosity, their intentions are ultimately poisoned by self-serving motives, as illustrated in biblical passages such as Proverbs 5:3; 7:21; and Psalm 55:21. Moreover, they are quick to discard relationships and partnerships when they no longer serve their interests. In essence, such individuals are failures in maintaining stable relationships and lack the capacity for lasting friendships or life partnerships – divorce is their hobby.

The manifestation of aggression inherent in the excessive utilisation of the left hemisphere of the brain is exemplified in biblical narratives such as the account of Jezebel, wife of King Ahab, who orchestrated the murder of Naboth to seize his vineyard (1 Kings 21:8-14). Similarly, in the New Testament, we encounter Simon the sorcerer, whose left-brain tendencies led him to attempt to purchase divine power from Saint Peter and Saint John (Acts 8:18). These instances parallel unfortunate phenomena observed within certain facets of our church life. Echoing the narrative in Acts chapter 8, Simon the sorcerer commodified his acquired skills to cultivate social status, fame, and influence, thus wielding power over the local people. Analogously, individuals akin to Simon often infiltrate the church with malicious intentions, seeking to leverage their platform for fame and popularity. Disguising themselves as pious, and devout worshippers, they gradually attract the attention of fellow congregants and their praises. Simultaneously, they garner favour from the church leadership through their generous donations, mirroring the tactics employed by Jezebel. As an expression of gratitude, church leadership may publicly acknowledge and commend such individuals as esteemed figures, directly feeding their unending craving for fame.

Individuals like Simon, driven by the dominance of their left hemisphere, are primarily attention seekers. In the realm of physical existence, such individuals may engage in flirtation and vanity, while in the digital sphere of social media, they incessantly update their profiles and statuses to accrue praise. One can only speculate on how the immoral Jezebel employed similar tactics to exert control over others. Despite the prevalence of left-brainers, the Bible narrates instances, wherein the boundless grace of God shielded Prophet Elijah from Jezebel’s influence, and safeguarded Saint Peter and Saint John from the machinations of Simon.

The essence of the aforementioned examples serves as a cautionary reminder regarding the perils associated with an unchecked dominance of the left hemisphere, as evidenced by Satan’s attempt to tempt Jesus. In Matthew 4:3, Satan tempted Jesus to employ his divine power to turn stones into bread, appealing to a logical perspective rooted in worldly principles that deems starvation as folly, particularly when one possesses the ability to turn stones into bread. Saint Peter’s reliance on the left hemisphere was rectified by the Lord through a revelatory trance, as narrated in Acts 10:9-16. His self-imposed constructs of morality and discipline were dismantled by divine intervention, wherein God unequivocally conveyed that anything that God has blessed, permitted and purified should not be evaluated using worldly standards.

The right hemisphere of the brain is the area of (divine) consciousness, emotions, holistic processing, spatial awareness, creativity and imagination, intuition and insights- all positive aspects that facilitate connection to the divine. As articulated by Saint Paul in Ephesians 3:18-19, the indwelling of Christ within us transcends the confines of  man-made moral codes and ethical frameworks (left brain), manifesting through a faith rooted in the boundless love of Christ that surpasses worldly knowledge (right brain). Jesus’s response to Satan, “One does not live by bread alone” (Matthew 4:4), underscores the importance of not assigning undue significance to the dictates of the left hemisphere, and a faithful reliance on the right brain.

The journey from the left hemisphere to the right hemisphere represents a profound transformation that necessitates the renewal of the mind. In the narrative of a saint’s spiritual journey, the transition from an excessive reliance on the left hemisphere to the activation of the right hemisphere can be likened to a tectonic shift. An illustrative case is found in the life of Saint Paul, who was deeply entrenched in Jewish dogma until the moment his right brain was awakened at the gates of Damascus (Acts 9:3). In his subsequent declaration, …it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me (Galatians 2:20), Saint Paul articulates a profound transformation wherein the “I” symbolises the left hemisphere he has relinquished, opting instead for “He” (Christ) demonstrating alignment with the right hemisphere. Indeed, the union with the divine may be conceived as the restoration and sustenance of connection to the right hemisphere, embodying a state of sublime spirituality.

This restoration is facilitated by the grace of God, who descended to effect a permanent shift from the left to the right. The disciples (except Judas), and the saints were able to maintain this shift, remaining steadfast in their reliance on the right hemisphere of the brain. They resisted the temptation to regress. Despite the inherent human nature to fall back as lamented by Saint Paul (Romans 7:14-25), their faith in the grace of God empowered them to overcome this inner conflict between the left and right hemispheres of the brain, in terms of its properties. Noteworthy here are the hymns of Saint Ephraim the Syrian (c.306 -c.373 AD), which implore the grace of God to prevent a regression to the dominance of the left brain.

The teachings of Jesus are directed towards effecting a transition from the left to the right hemisphere of the brain. For example, as we approach the Great Lent, it is profoundly beneficial to contemplate Matthew 5: 23-24: …when you are offering your gifts at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. In these verses, Jesus emphasises not if we hold something against someone, but if someone holds something against us. This highlights instances where our relationships have faltered due to our failure to engage with others using the empathetic and compassionate nature inherent in the right brain. Jesus instructs us to rectify this error, recognising that such reconciliation necessitates a shift from the dominance of the left brain to the realm of the right, characterised by love, forgiveness, and positive emotions.

Great Lent presents an opportunity for us to transition our reliance from the attributes of the left hemisphere to those of the right hemisphere. The Orthodox Church emphasises devoted attention to the Word of God and meditation on the Word (see Psalm 1:2) during the Lenten season. Whereas the left hemisphere governs an individual’s acquired skills, the right hemisphere is associated with mystery and prompts towards spiritual renewal. Therefore, as we approach the Great Lent, we do so not with reliance on our acquired abilities, but with a spirit of submission and receptivity to the divine, facilitated through reading and meditation. This approach reflects the principle articulated by Jesus in Matthew 4:4, emphasising our dependence on the Word of God for sustenance rather than acquired skills and abilities. Engaging in meditative reflection on the Word of God enables us to dismantle the barriers separating the self (ego) from the divine (left from the right), as elucidated by Saint Paul in Ephesians 2:14 wherein he describes how Christ has broken down the dividing wall. Through this process, we are united with God, as articulated in Ephesians 2:16, echoing Jesus’ confident declaration in John 10:30: The Father and I are one. This sense of connectedness can only be experienced upon transformation from left to right.

The Orthodox Church fathers faithfully ascribe the focus on Christ, His Cross, and reading and meditating the Word of God during the Great Lent as a pilgrimage towards the primal, unfallen state of mankind. In the pristine Garden of Eden, the first man and the first woman possessed a healthy and harmonious connection between their right hemisphere of the brain and the divine. In this state of purity, they beheld nothing but the Creator in all things. However, this state of purity and holiness was disrupted when Eve was deceived by the devil to perceive an alternative deity in the forbidden tree, a clear manipulation of the left hemisphere of the brain. Thus the devil succeeded in disrupting the equilibrium of the human brain’s perfection, shifting its balance from the dominance of the right hemisphere towards the left.

In conclusion, it would be erroneous to deem the left hemisphere of the brain as inherently devoid of value. On the contrary, this aspect of cognition, like all creations of God, possesses intrinsic goodness. However, it has been subjugated by the devil to exert control over humanity, overshadowing divine influences. While God’s creation is inherently good, He also bestowed upon us responsibilities and guidelines. Adam and Eve were entrusted with instructions encompassing both directives and prohibitions. Regrettably, Satan led the first humans astray towards the path of prohibition, thereby ensnaring them within the dominion of the left brain, as evident from Satan’s conversation with Eve. The harmonious equilibrium that existed between the left and right hemispheres of the brain was disrupted by the ‘fall’. Consequently, God descended from heaven to restore this equilibrium, liberating the left brain from demonic colonisation, which had previously stifled, oppressed, and usurped the rightful influence of the right hemisphere.

The purpose of the descending of God was the restoration of humanity to the pre-fallen state wherein a harmonious balance between the left and right hemispheres of the brain prevailed. Several instances from the gospel narratives elucidate this principle. For instance, Jesus’ response to the devil’s temptation – One does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4) – epitomises this perfect equilibrium. Furthermore, Jesus’ admonition to His disciples : See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16) underscores the nuanced role of the left brain, albeit subordinate to purity and holiness, as symbolised by innocence. Despite the acknowledged role of the left hemisphere in language and logic, Jesus cautioned against sole reliance on it, as evidenced in Matthew 10:19: When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time. Here, Jesus advocates for trust in the guidance of the right hemisphere, which leads to a state of renewal – a divine gift bestowed from above.

Jesus descended to liberate us from the depths of the corrupted left brain, leading us towards the realm of renewal embodied by the right brain. May this Great Lent serve as an opportunity for us to restore and reforge our connection with “the right.” The Cross is our way to achieve this transformation. As said in the beginning, the Cross represents the descend of the Lord to transform us from left to the right.

As Saint Paul said, May I never boast of anything except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me and I to the world (Galatians 6:14).

Amen!

Faith in the faithfulness of God: A meditation

Fr Dr Saji K Mathew2 Comments

Jesus Christ is the pioneer/author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The definition of ‘faith’ requires excluding the worldly ownership of it which otherwise credits only the flesh. Anything of the flesh gets reduced as a reason to boast in it, leading to Satanic pride. On the contrary, ‘faith’ as a gift from the one who pioneered it (Jesus Christ) opens up to a world of spiritual absoluteness. Therefore, faith is a journey that starts in the human life from the moment s/he is gifted with it, grows every moment by remaining connected to the source of faith, until it is perfected in the kingdom of heaven. Hence, God said, I am the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 1:8). 

Faith as a higher order (spiritual) entity is not a quality developed and shaped within the human faculties, and demonstrated as an individual’s spiritual efficiency. Instead, faith is a journey to the assured destination (Hebrews 11:1), which begins with Jesus, advances through Jesus, and culminates in Jesus by being with Him forever. This means the world cannot experience true faith by ignoring the source of faith. Hence Jesus is the Alpha of our faith, clearly representing human dependency for faith on the divine. 

Jesus Christ being God incarnate, faith could be traced as (in other words) originating from God. If we have to name the source of faith, we can name it as the faithfulness of God. More clearly, human faith originates from the faithfulness of God. Therefore, a brief understanding of the faithfulness of God is essential. 

Deuteronomy 7:9 and Isaiah 49:7 unequivocally state that God is faithful. The faithfulness of God is embedded in the covenant He made with mankind at different stages of history. As a matter of fact, a covenant is  a mutual relationship between two parties to it. God’s relationship with mankind starts with a covenant as read in Genesis 1:28 – God blessed them, and God said to them, Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.  

If we look back to history, we will acknowledge and appreciate that mankind’s fall and roller coaster relationship with God never tainted the latter’s promise as His faithfulness is to all generations (Psalm 100:5) and endures forever (Psalm 117:2). The visible evidence of God’s faithfulness is the fertility and dominating presence of mankind on the earth.

God continued repeating His promise to the following generations, as a reminder of His faithfulness. For instance, we read about God’s covenant with Noah in Genesis 6:18 But I will establish my covenant with you….., as an assurance that though He is destroying the wicked generation, the first promise remains intact. Moreover, the ‘first covenant’ is repeated as we read in Genesis 9: 1-2 …..Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth. The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea, into your hand they are delivered. We see here a reminder that God’s faithfulness does not change.

Moving forward in history, God has never tried to forget or bury His promise, a mark of His faithfulness. After Noah, Abraham was assured of God’s faithfulness, this time by means of an oath (Genesis 22:16) – so that mankind could understand the way they understand. This oath followed a repetition of His promise of multiplication …..I will make your offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven, and as the sand that is on the seashore….(Genesis 22:17).  Moreover, God made sure that Abraham’s son Isaac, and his grandson Israel are aware of the covenant as we read in Genesis 26:4 and Genesis 35:11 respectively. 

By the time of Moses, God extended the message of His faithfulness from individuals (Adam, Noah and the Patriarchs) to cover the entire population as we read in Exodus 19:5 and Deuteronomy 29:10-11. As a faithful servant, Moses made sure that God’s covenant was known to all the people by way of arranging it to be read in public (Deuteronomy 31:10-11). Prior to this, God Himself ordered that the future king of Israel should have a copy of the covenant, read, and follow it, so that he may never think of himself above the covenant (Deuteronomy 17:18). This means the king should be drawing regularly from the faithfulness of God and guiding his subjects. The failure of the first King could be traced to his failure in relying on the faithfulness of God. Saul’s failure led to the rise of King David who not only submitted himself to the faithfulness of God, but also paved the way for the fulfilment of God’s faithfulness through a renewed covenant (Jeremiah 31:31; 2 Samuel 7:12-13).  

As said earlier, covenant  represents mutual relationship, and it embodies the faithfulness of God. A metaphorical description of this could be the spiritual visualisation of the covenant as the outer shell/layer of God’s faithfulness which is the core. Unfortunately, mankind often failed to maintain the same degree of commitment to the covenant relationship that God extended, as evident from the history recorded in the Old Testament. This failure prompted God to offer a renewed covenant through prophet Jeremiah 31: 31-34 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah……..

The author of Hebrews exposited this in 8:6-13. Accordingly, there are better promises in the new covenant. Moreover, there is now a mediator (Jesus Christ), anointed to pioneer and perfect the faith of mankind, by being faithful to the faithfulness of God. A point to note here is that the new covenant was not because God’s initial covenant had flaws. Hebrews 8: 9 allays such doubts by stating explicitly that since the people did not continue in my covenant…, the aim and objectives of it could not be achieved. This said, Hebrews 12:32 does  praise a few Old Testament personalities who submitted themselves to the faithfulness of God and even suffered for it. However, the conclusion is Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect (Hebrews 12: 39-40).  

The summary of the faith of the Old Testament generation could be described as their failure in staying focused on the source of true faith, the faithfulness of God. Instead, the people and later the Kings were found wandering away from the faithfulness of God, and trying to build up a faith system which was worldly and demonic- faith in foreign gods and idols. Yet, the faithfulness of God remained unaffected, and sent His only begotten Son out of His steadfast love (see John 3:16) who would help mankind with faith. Thus, Jesus Christ became the incarnation of God’s faithfulness, and a source of faith for mankind who were reeling under the weight of failure to build up true faith. As we read, Jesus offered the spring of faithfulness to all those who are thirsty (John 7:37 cf. Isaiah 55:1). Hence Hebrews 12:2 glorifies Jesus as the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

The Greek word used for ‘pioneer’ is archegon which means originator, author, founder, prince and leader; and for ‘perfecter’ is teleioten which also means completer and finisher. These two words take us to Revelation 21: 6 …I am the Alpha  and the Omega, the beginning and the end, which sheds more light in understanding Jesus Christ as the author and finisher of faith as said in Hebrews 12:2.

Since Jesus Christ is the source of our faith, we have no alternative choice but to draw near to Him to build up true faith. Jesus brings everyone thirsty (of faith) to the source of faith which is the faithfulness of God. Revelation 21:6 relays the Lord’s announcement, To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life (also see John 7:37-38). These verses nullify the scope of faith independent of the faithfulness of God. In other words, faith is drawn from the faithfulness of God, and hence no room and scope for any form of demonstration of human capabilities.

The invitation to the feast of God’s faithfulness is extended to the entire humanity (Matthew 22: 9 cf. Luke 14:21-23), and to receive and accept the invitation is a blessing (see Revelation 19:9). 

The Hebrew word for faith, aman, clearly points to the dependability factor. Aman  has several meanings in Hebrew as listed below:

  1. To support with the arm, to carry a child- for e.g. Isaiah 49:23 (support); Numbers 11:12 (carry a child); Isaiah 60:4 (carry).
  2. To guard and bring up – Esther 2:7 (bring up); 2 Kings 10:1 &5 (guardian).
  3. To nurse (Ruth 4:16; 2 Samuel 4:4). 
  4. Sure, enduring, firm – Hosea 5:9 (sure/certain); 1 Samuel 2:35; 2 Samuel 7:16; 1 Kings 11:38 (enduring); Isaiah 7:9; 22:23 &25 (firm).
  5. Assured, lasting – Isaiah 33:16; Deuteronomy 28:59. 
  6. Faithful, trustworthy – Deuteronomy 7:9; Numbers 12:7; 1 Samuel 22:14; Proverbs 25:13; Jeremiah 42:5 (faithful); Isaiah 8:2 (trustworthy/reliable); Proverbs 11:13 (trustworthy); Job 12:20 (trusted); Isaiah 28:16 (trust); Psalm 78:22 & 32 (faith, believe); Isaiah 7:9; Psalm 106:24 (faith); Genesis 45:26; Exodus 4:1 & 5; Job 9:16; Proverbs 14:15 (believe),
  7. Verify, confirm – Genesis 42:20 (verify); 1 Kings 8:26 (confirm).
  8. Stand still – Job 39:24. 
  9. Right (turn to) – Isaiah 30:21.

The above meanings invites us to the varied and rich properties of faith which can only be drawn from the faithfulness of God. We also get to know how these varieties (as evident from the different meanings) converge in one true God. The different varieties that the faithfulness of God contains are support, nursing, guardianship, firmness, trust, assurance, confirmation, stability, and more of heavenly experiences, as the Hebrew word aman means. 

The richness of the faithfulness of God enables us to understand mankind’s need for someone who could guide them to the source of faith, the faithfulness of God. The provision of “something better” (Hebrews 11:40) justifies the difference between the faith of the Old Testament generation and the one pioneered and perfected by Jesus Christ. The “something better” or rather the best of faith cannot be achieved without the help of Jesus. In fact, it is He who distributes faith in varied measurement (Romans 12:3) not as a reward but as a gift (Romans 5:15; also see 1 Corinthians 12:9). 

Saint Paul explains how Jesus was qualified to pioneer and perfect the faith for the sake of mankind. …..He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death-even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted and gave Him the name, so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bent….(Philippians 2:8-10). The humility of the last Adam (Jesus Christ) demonstrated His faithfulness, and through the authority, He could fulfil the faithfulness of God promised to the first Adam (Genesis 1:28). Accordingly, we see Jesus measuring out faith to be “fruitful and multiply”, in John 15:5; and “fill the earth and subdue it” in Matthew 28:19-20; and dominate it in Mark 16:17.  

Since faith is a gift measured out by God, we look up to the mercy seat in the heavens (Psalm 123:1) in the same way ….as the eyes of the servants look at the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress….(Psalm 123:2). Moreover, faith is not acquired by one’s own work but is a grace of God, there is no room for humans to boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). This is evident from the example of Jesus’ brief conversation with the father of a boy with a spirit of seizure. When Jesus clarified the unlimited expanse of faith, the boy’s father cried out Lord help me with my unbelief (lack of faith) (Mark 9:22-24). 

As said in Romans 12:6, faith is measured out and bestowed to individuals in different proportions. This does not mean that the individuals just walk away with whatever they have received and use it at their own discretion. The expectation regarding its use is embedded in the fact that faith is collective. This means the varied measures of faith received by each individual must be used for helping others, as each person is a member of the body of Christ (Romans 12:4-5). In other words, faith, though gifted on an individual basis, can only be enjoyed collectively, by sharing with one another. Hence, we see Saint Paul not considering himself high but humbled longing to share and draw encouragement from the faith of the Romans (Romans 1:12). This mutual sharing leads to fructification and multiplication (Genesis 1:28) of faith, of course by living in the faithfulness of Jesus Christ (John 15:5). 

In summary, God’s eternal relationship with mankind started when Adam and Eve were created. The faithfulness of His relationship was articulated through his covenant (Genesis 1:28). This covenant relationship continued through Noah, Abraham, Moses and the Old Testament generation. The faithfulness of God was given a human embodiment through Jesus Christ, at the appointed time. 

The gospel witnesses the descending of the faithfulness of God through Jesus Christ who first pioneered and perfected faith, and imparted the faithfulness of God to mankind. The vertical dimension of faith is thus discerned when God descended to earth from the heavens. Once descended, the first step was to pioneer and perfect the faith so that everyone thirsting for faith knows the sources and could draw from the faithfulness of God. The pioneering of faith is evident through the faithfulness of the Son of God (Philippians 2:6-8), who after being successful, qualified Himself to measure out faith to mankind. The humility of Jesus Christ was the point of initiation of the horizontal dimension of faith, through the disciples (Matthew 28:19-20), which then spread out to the whole of mankind, and is continuing until the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

The vertical and horizontal dimensions of faith represents the vibrant relationship between mankind and God. Jesus Christ opened a new and living way for us (Hebrews 10:20), and whoever approaches God through this living way has full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:22), which is the vertical dimension. In the same way as God is faithful (Hebrews 10:23) in His relationship with mankind, the responsibility to honour this relationship rests with mankind who is expected to drive the horizontality of the relationship by loving one another and sharing (Hebrews 10:24-25) the faith drawn from the faithfulness of God. 

In short, we draw faith from the faithfulness of God, and keep growing our faith by sharing it with our fellow beings, and look forward to perfecting our faith in Jesus Christ at His second coming.

May God help us to develop faith in the faithfulness of God!!

In Lord’s service

Fr Saji K. Mathew

The true wine that demolished Satanic strongholds and transformed the world!: Wedding at Cana (John 2:1-11).

Fr Dr Saji K Mathew2 Comments

The brief conversation between Jesus Christ and Mother Mary has generated a lot of curiosity in the theological colloquium. Jesus’s response to Mother Mary, Woman, why does this concern us? (John 2:4) has often led to a kind of misunderstanding that attempts to distance Mother Mary from Jesus Christ. This misunderstanding could only be corrected by Jesus Himself in whom God the Father has set forth His wisdom and insight (Ephesians 1:7-9; Matthew 13:11). Therefore, at the outset, let us submit to the pioneer and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2) who has promised the Holy Spirit to be guided in the truth (John 16:13). 

The enigmatic nature of Jesus’ response (to Mother Mary) could be witnessed in His conversation with others too. For instance, in his statements to Nicodemus (John 3:1-8) and the Samaritan woman (John 4:10-14) Jesus opens the door of divine mysteries which otherwise would have remained inconceivable to carnal minds. At a deeper realm, the nature of such conversations demonstrate a perfect balance between Jesus’ human and divine nature. Jesus is seen using His human faculties to help, encourage, support and motivate mankind transformed from ‘natural man to spiritual man’ (John 14:17; 1 Corinthians 2:14). This subscribes to Clement of Alexandria’s (AD 150-AD 215) statement, ….the Word of God became a man so that you might learn from a man how to become a god. 

The inseparable role of Mother Mary in the earthly ministry of Lord Jesus Christ is clearly visible in the gospel of Saint John where we see Mother Mary physically present from the beginning (John 2:1) till the end (John 19:25). Moreover, the role of Mother Mary is extended to be included in the ministry of the Apostles. Hence Jesus handed her to his disciple and said Here is your mother (John 19:27). This verse continues saying From that time on, the disciple took her into his home. The tradition of the church has it that, ever since, Mother Mary was a key and respectful figure in the ministry of the Apostles until her death. This traditional ascription of a ‘status’ to Mother Mary continues ever since in the Orthodox Church, her role being elevated to an intercessor. More importantly, at the beginning of the Great Lent, her words Do whatever He tells you (John 2:5) clearly demonstrates the Mother’s spiritual guidance helping us to be transformed as the children of resurrection (Luke 20:36). 

The (six) stone water jars (standing nearby) were customary to the Jewish tradition, and were meant for purification (John 2:6). Jesus re-interpreted the Jewish purification process by taking those present through a spiritual journey of first asking to fill the jars with the same water that they had always been using, and then to draw the same water out which was transformed by His word. Jesus’ statement You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you (John 15:3) underpins the church’s faith, tradition and rituals firmly rooted in the word of God. The stone jars were standing there for ages but had never produced wine. However, when the word of God was pronounced the water that they were holding immediately turned into wine.  This discernment prompts us to humble ourselves during this Great Lent that we are just earthen vessels and need divine guidance from the Holy Church enriched with the word of God. Saint Paul reminds us of the need for this humility when he said, But we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us (2 Corinthians 4:7). 

The Great Lent in the Orthodox Church begins with an official ‘Shubkono’ (reconciliation/forgiveness) service, during which we humble ourselves and seek reconciliation with our fellow beings through forgiving and forgetting. Once reconciled, we enter into a spiritual fellowship with other members in the body of Christ to forge unity to fight against Satan and his army. Saint Paul continued, We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; prosecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies (2 Corinthians 4:8-10).  These verses reflect how our Lenten journey would look like. In simple terms, Saint Paul’s statements in this section could be linked to the 40 days of tough fight against Satan, before the beginning of which reconciliation and unity with our brethren, and forging of unity is essential. No matter how beautiful and strong the earthen vessel is, only unity and nothing else can deliver a strong blow to Satan.  

The spiritual transformation of mankind was the primary purpose of Jesus’ ministry. The transformation of water into wine as a sign at the start of His ministry signals the beginning of something ‘new’. Isaiah prophesied this new beginning and said Remember not the former things, nor consider things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth….(Isaiah 43: 18-19). This vision was validated by none other than the Son of God, in the revelation to Saint John, Behold, I am making all things new (Revelations 21:5). Isaiah’s prophecy (43:18) could be seen fulfilled when the master of the banquet called the bridegroom and said Everyone serves the fine wine first, and then the cheap wine after the guests are drunk, But you have saved the fine wine until now (John 2:10). As a matter of fact, the fine wine was only served from the cross of our Lord, after which He said It is finished (John 19:30). It is spiritually enthralling to see that Jesus received the cheap wine on the cross (John 19:30) and gave back the fine wine (His blood) to mankind before concluding His mission on earth. 

As soon as Jesus uttered the last words It is finished (John 19:30), the kingdom of Satan was rocked and shattered by the blood (new wine) of Jesus Christ. This was the beginning of the realisation of transformation for mankind. The new fine wine that dismantled the demonic stronghold was manifested on the day of Pentecost when suddenly from heaven there came a sound of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit….(Acts 2:1-4). The transformation that started at Cana and finished on the cross was first experienced by mankind on the day of the Pentecost. This was witnessed by thousands, including those who were still under the influence of demons who sneered and said They are filled with new wine (Acts 2:13). The clear surrender of Satan to the ‘transformation’ is clearly reflected in this statement. This helpless statement reminds us of the lamentation of the Pharisees among themselves You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him (John 12:19). 

The power of transformation is clearly reflected in the Pharisaic lamentation and the demonic sneering. The Great Lent enables us to achieve this transformation and prevail over the gates of Hades (Matthew 16:18). In order to achieve this power we need  to unite with the spiritual world where we have Mother Mary, the disciples and our fore-fathers, and with this world where we have our brethren and fellow citizens. This tripartite agreement and unification is the power that we acquire during this Great Lent- to fight and dismantle all demonic resistances and strongholds. Let us submit ourselves to the word of God so that Lord Jesus may transform us to a new life in Him. 

Wish you blessed Great Lent.

May God bless you. Amen.

In His service

Fr Dr Saji K. Mathew 

Greater than Jonah is my Lord.

Fr Dr Saji K Mathew4 Comments

see, One greater than Jonah is here! (Matthew 12: 41)

The Nineveh lent attracts greater significance in the year 2021 as the world is caught in the web of COVID19 and its variants. The Orthodox church stands out in ascribing and adoring the observation of this lent as it is considered as a precursor to the Great Lent that concludes in the passion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The context of the statement presenting Himself (Jesus) as someone greater than Jonah draws a lot of similarities with what we see in the present generation of the body of Christ, unfortunately. In plain language, there is an over reliance on activities that attempt to darken or supersede the Word of God with temporary visual treats. An unfortunate notion has creeped in and now fairly weaved in the faith system that highlights miracles as ‘faith builders’ and ‘faith confirmers’. Jesus has categorically rejected visual treats as faith-builders through His words to Saint Thomas” …..have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe (John 20:29).

It is a surprise and a paradox to see that most of these so-called faith-building activities in the form of miracle performances happen among those groups that strongly advocates for adult baptism on the principle that only a person who qualifies as a believer should proceed to get baptised. It is a paradox because those who have believed and accepted Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Saviour, are still dependant on visual treats for faith-building. The scribes and the Pharisees were authorities of the scripture, and were the sentinels and custodians of ‘faith’. They did not need a miracle to further build up their faith; neither did they ever felt the need for an upliftment of their faith- as we read in John 9:34 …..are you trying to teach us? But, the same folks are seen asking Jesus to perform a miracle (Matthew 12:38).

Since signs and wonders are not faith-builders, the ‘drum-beating’ of those in ‘worship gatherings’ could be misunderstood as nothing but a commercial hype rooted in the free-market principles of competition and survival of the fittest. This diverts the focus from the Word of God to ‘customer satisfaction’, where the ‘viewers’ as customers confirm the quality of preaching, teaching and worship. The performance criteria for this, thus, are the variety and quality of visual treats. It is the same situation as Jesus encountered when people said to Him What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? (John 6:30). As we see here, the key performance index (KPI) for Jesus to be accepted was a sign without which He had no place in their lives. The Chief Priests, the scribes, and the elders also placed a demand: …let Him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in Him (Matthew 27:41); and so did say one of the criminals crucified alongside: ….Are you not the Messiah? Save yourselves and us! (Luke 23:39), both indications of asking for a sign.

We are living in a world, where the central factor of our spiritual life, the Word of God, is pushed to the periphery and peripheral factors such as material prosperity are placed in the nucleus. As a result, it is saddening to see groups that have degraded themselves to the status of many scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ time, who replaced the core with peripheral factors. Jesus exposed (these groups) in Matthew 23:16-24. Reading through these verses, the greed-enabled exploitation of faith becomes clearly visible to the readers. In such and similar situations, customer satisfaction becomes the sole focus and it is the gathering that confirms the brand of spirituality. Remember, the dubious means the scribes and Pharisees adopted to cheat the folks, as given in Matthew 6:5; 23:5&14.

Miracles and wonders are not faith-builders, neither are the gatherings faith-confirmers. They were used to influence those who were non-believers. For instance, we read about many miracles performed by Moses during the early days of the formation of Israel (for e.g. see Exodus 7-12). Jesus performed many miracles, but He never wanted to be known as a miracle worker- hence insisted don’t tell anyone (Matthew 8:4; Mark 8:26). Having said, Jesus did give authority to the disciples to heal the sick, caste out demons, raise the dead, and cleanse the lepers (Matthew 10:8; Luke 10:8). However, it is to be noted that the power to perform these were weaved into the proclamation of the ‘good news’ about the Kingdom of God.

The foundation of faith cannot be a human being as we see today- many ministries are named after its human founders. It is Jesus Christ who is the founder and perfecter of faith (Hebrews 12:2). The former often attains a cultic status starting and ending with an individual, whereas foundation in Jesus (the true faith) may appear withered to a material world but the root never dies, and will blossom (Isaiah 11:1) at a time when people will realise that despite all the hip-hops they are still in dark. Neither can an individual or his/her deeds per-se work as a faith-builder nor his/her gatherings be faith-confirmers. However, God uses people to be faith-builders but the chosen needs to follow not his/her own logic but strictly use and follow the Word of God. The ‘Great Commissioning’ is to baptise and to teach the Word of God further to the baptised (Matthew 28:20). The confirmation of the Word of God preached and taught comes from God Himself, and not from the hearers. As is said in Mark 16:20, the disciples, after being commissioned, proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. As per this verse, there are two important things happening when the Word of God is proclaimed: 1. The Lord also works alongside His servants in the preaching and teaching process; and, 2. The Lord also confirms the preaching and teaching by signs.

When a person ignores or forgets the fact that the Lord is working with Him alongside, and it is He who will confirm, it could mean that Jesus is not with the worker and assumes that the poor preacher or teacher is left alone to establish his credibility among the gathering. Hence, they are misguided to perform miracles as a necessary means to establish and sell his/her brand. The other unfortunate meaning could be that like certain scribes and Pharisees, the person may have certain hidden aims such as mansions, luxury cars and private jets, which contradicts the basic qualification set by Jesus Christ for Kingdom workers (Matthew 10:9-10; Mark 6:8-9; Luke 9:3& 10:4).

The tendency to place signs and wonders above the Word of God (Jesus Christ) contradicts what Jesus said, One greater than Jonah is here. Jonah refused to share the Word of God with the people of Nineveh and followed his material instincts until he was corrected by God. As Jonah 4: 2-3 reveals, the prophet had a parsimonious approach to the Word of God. As verse 2 indicates, when God asked him to preach His Word to Nineveh, Jonah argued with God. He would have said, Oh common God, I know you well. You are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and ready to relent from punishing. So why should I waste my time. Let me do something else. Jonah’s refusal only shows his misunderstanding about the importance of the Word of God.

The Word became flesh (John 1:14) to prioritise and establish the name of God above every name (Philippians 2:9). For the scribes and Pharisees, signs and wonders were important. But Jesus refused. He said, …..no sign will be given to this generation (Mark 8:12); and if at all they are willing to accept, the only sign that I can give is (author’s words) the sign of Jonah (Matthew 12: 39). I used ‘if at all’ to better understand Jesus’ words …an evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah (Matthew 12:39). Paraphrasing this verse, the only way to be saved from evil and adulterous way of life is through participation in His death and resurrection which could be somewhat compared to the sign of Jonah. It is something much greater than what Jonah went through; and is offered by someone who is greater than Jonah. Jonah did not die for his or others’ sin, but only stayed in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights (Jonah 1:17) whereas Jesus died for the sins of the entire generation past and present. Hence, Jesus is greater than Jonah, not only in the context of that conversation but beyond all comparisons.

The church, from the time of the disciples, never focused on miracles as a means to the end. Instead, the focus was always on sharing the Word of God. Acts 5:41 says that the disciples rejoiced when they were flogged for sharing the Word of God. In fact they were never punished for performing miracles, neither was Jesus crucified for performing miracles. Jesus and His disciples were punished for sharing the Word (teachings). The devil will only be partially uncomfortable with miracles because they know that as long as there is no Word of God, they can re-enter the person from whom they have been cast out (see Matthew 12: 43-45).

For those who are really keen on the miracles should know that the greatest of all the signs and wonders ever is the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the remembrance of which is the called the Holy Eucharist. The church glorifies it as the “queen of all sacraments”. Even the sign of Jonah staying in the belly of the sea-monster is less significant when compared to Jesus’ stay in the heart of the earth (Matthew 12:40), and His resurrection on the third day. The call is to participate in this suffering, death and resurrection to receive a faith that will never fade away and live eternally with Him (John 6:56).

Saint Paul realised this and repeatedly said about participating in the ‘greater than Jonah’ spiritual phenomenon. Hence he said, I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings by becoming like Him in His death (Philippians 3:10). This is diagonally opposite to the question of those who asked What sign are you going to see us then, so that we may see it and believe you? (John 6:30). Whilst the latter wanted a visual treat to believe, Saint Paul wanted to experience first-hand the greatest of all signs. The faith in the Holy Eucharist prompted the Saint to say For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His (Romans 6:5). More than anything else, Saint Paul preferred to carry the death of Jesus in his body so that the life of Jesus could be made visible (2 Corinthians 4:10). For Saint, the participation in Jesus’ death is the real transformation (baptism) which proceeds as a faith builder to receive the power of resurrection (Colossians 2:12).

In order to receive the power of resurrection of our Lord, which leads to our transformation through baptism, the Word of God works as a repentance initiator Acts 2:37 and faith builder (Acts 16:5). After Jonah came out from the belly of the sea-monster, he was again assigned by God to share the Word of God with the people of Nineveh. And, as soon as the Word of God reached Nineveh, the people turned to repentance (Jonah 3:5). No signs and wonders have ever worked like a sword piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow, or been able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). But the Word of God is able to achieve all these as we read in Acts 2:37 and Acts 24:25.

The Word of God works in different dimensions in those who are willing to hear. For example, Felix, the governor (Acts 24:25) was frightened hearing the Word of God, though it did not lead him to repentance whereas the same Word of God led the people of Nineveh to full repentance (Jonah 3:5). And, when the Word of God was standing right in front of him, an evil and adulterous King Herod was only keen to see a sign (Luke 23:8). He was unable to recognise someone who was greater than Jonah (signs and wonders).

Signs and wonders are temporary whereas the Word of God is eternal. Jonah died but Jesus lives forever. The people who tried to fill themselves only with signs and wonders had only a temporary relief and did not live eternally as Jesus said in John 6:49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. He said, Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you (John 6:27). Signs and wonders are not primary. They are to be experienced through the partaking in the Holy Eucharist which is joining in the Word of God.

The Word of God (Jesus Christ) is greater than Jonah (signs and wonders). It is for the salvation of His creation. Jonah was not a saviour. In fact, even after proclaiming the Word of God, he waited on to see what would happen to Nineveh (Jonah 4:5), and perhaps hoped to see its destruction. Jesus’ greatness is to save everyone and not to lose even a single person. Therefore, let us turn on to our Lord Jesus Christ through repentance and receive Him into our lives through Holy Eucharist which is the miracle ever happened.

God bless you. Amen.

Note: Please do not hesitate to contact me should you need any clarification or have a prayer request.