Loving our Enemies (9-30-2018)

   It’s been six years since the Twin Cities was tragically struck by the senseless epidemic of workplace violence. A man, recently fired from his job, took a gun and shot eight people at his work place killing five men. What if this troubled man, and others like him who have perpetrated workplace violence, heard and took seriously Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel reading from the Second Sunday of Luke (6:31-36)? Jesus said, “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (v.31). Jesus did not say, “Do unto others as they do unto you.” Later, to strengthen and deepen His point, Jesus said, “Love your enemies” (v.35) and “be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” (v.36).

   For whatever reason, this man saw his former employers and supervisors as his enemies. What is an enemy? An enemy is “a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; someone we consider an adversary or opponent.” Yet, sometimes our enemies are of our own making. What I mean is that because of our own prejudices and irrational fears, because of our own thoughts (logismoi) we create an enemy where there is none to begin with. Setting aside the evidence of this man’s mental illness, we can sympathize with him in that most of us have been fired or let go from a job. It may have been for just or even unjust reasons. If our ego was invovled, we might have taken offense at our termination. We may have ruminated and obsessed on the situation for days or months afterwards, and perhaps demonized the person(s) responsible for ending our job. But 99.9% of us did not take deadly revenge to exact our own justice. Why? Because we have learned in some measure to love our enemies and to be merciful.

   Let us examine some other biblical passages to strengthen our understanding of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” First, there is a similar teaching of Jesus in Matthew (Friday-Saturday of 1^st Week of Matthew 5:38-48)

³⁸ "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' [Ex.21:24, Lev.24:20, Dt.19:21] ³⁹ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. ⁴⁰ If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also. ⁴¹ And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away. ⁴³ "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' [compare Lev.19:18] ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. ⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? ⁴⁸ Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

   Thus, Jesus is saying number one to not return evil for evil, and number two, He says to return good for evil. Love, bless, do good to, and pray for your enemies. The Apostle Paul furthers the point in Romans:

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. ¹⁹ Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. ²⁰ Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17-21 (Mon.5^th Mt.)

   Now, Jesus and Paul’s teaching were not something radically new. In the Old Testament we see the foundations of the Golden Rule.

⁴ "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again. ⁵ If you see the donkey of one who hates you lying under its burden, and you would refrain from helping it, you shall surely help him with it. (Exodus 23:4-5)

¹⁷ 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. ¹⁸ You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:17-18)

¹⁷ Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, And do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles; (Proverbs 24:17)

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; (Proverbs 25:21)

   In addition, the Book of Psalms, attributed to David the King, are full of prayers regarding our relationship with our enemies. They express a wide range of human experience including lament, anger, seeking of justice and hope in God’s help and victory. The bottom line is that these matters are entrusted to the Lord to handle according to His will.

   St. Paul raises the bar of understanding by stating that we should not consider other people as our enemies.

¹³ But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. ¹⁴ And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. ¹⁵ Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. (2 Thessalonians 3:13-15)

   Rather, the real enemy in our life is the Devil/Satan and his demons. Jesus states as much in the Parable of the Tares (Mt.13:39). St. Paul, when confronting the sorcerer Elymas, called him “son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness” (Acts 13:10). The Apostle Peter agrees and warns us: ⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1Peter 5:8).

   Returning for a moment to the tragedy on Thursday, what if this disgruntled young man had loved his enemy, (whether real or imagined)? Instead, by carrying out his own will, by meeting out his own justice, he became an enemy himself. The Apostles James warns of this danger:

¹ Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? ² You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. ³ You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. ⁴ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (James 4:1-4)

   When Simon Peter’s tried to impose his own sense of worldly justice in opposition to Jesus’ coming Passion, Jesus rebuked Peter saying, "Get behind Me, Satan! For you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men." (Mark 8:32-33). When we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Your will be done,” we live this prayer by giving up our own will for worldly pleasure and earthly justice and by loving our enemies. Amen!

ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH

 Rev. Fr. Richard Demetrius Andrews, Presbyter

1111 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55105, (651) 222-6220, www.stgeorgegoc.org

October 7, 2018                                                                                    THIRD SUNDAY OF LUKE

TODAY’S EVENTS: Greek dance practice 4:30pm.

Memorial: Mary Giavassis (1 year)  Prosfora: Christina Manos

Epistle Reader: Steve Kanavati        Greeters: Dan Simon & Joe Weiser    Fellowship: Connie Manos-Andrea           

Tuesday       10-09    Catechism Class “Christ II-His Work & Teachings” with Fr. Jason Houck                   7:00PM

Wednesday 10-10     Bible Study at church                                                                                           1:30PM

Thursday     10-11     MEOCCA meeting at St.Mary’s GOC in Minneapolis                                                11:00AM

Friday          10-12     Family Camp in Maple Lake, MN through October 14                            

Saturday      10-13     Lecture “Death: the Final Frontier” at St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral                      1:00PM

                                   VESPERS                                                                                                              5:00PM

                                  Orthodox Game League at St. George Antiochian                                                  7:00PM

Sunday         10-14    ORTHROS (8:15am) &DIVINE LITURGY-7^th ECUMENICAL COUNCIL                        9:30AM

                                   Philoptochos meeting                                                                                          12:00PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Twin Cities Marathon Today:Summit Avenue and other roads will be closed to traffic starting at 6:00am. Please allow extra time for parking and driving to church. Cross Summit by using Ayd Mill Road.

Church Music Sunday: Thank you to our choir members and chanters for their diligent effort to be present every Saturday and Sunday and sing with faith in the Lord. Thank you to Denise Smith and Steve Arsenault for leadership. We encourage everyone, especially our young people, to join the chanters and the choir to begin learning the beautiful hymnology (theology in melody) of our Orthodox Church.

Exterior Restoration- Brick, block and tuckpointing have been completed. The cost of the project is $113,000. All parish council members and many others have already pledged or given their financial support. A brochure was mailed in October Glad Tidings. Please join us in this important work. Thank you!

Think About It: Great thoughts speak only to the thoughtful mind, but great actions speak to all mankind.     Theodore Roosevelt

Youth News: Sunday School classes have begun. Please bring your children and have them participate. Classes begin after Holy Communion but everyone should be here for start of Divine Liturgy at 9:30am or earlier. Youth will be visiting the Twin Cities Corn Maze on Saturday, October 20^th at 12pm. Everyone welcome!

Greek School: Modern Greek language classes for kids and adults are held at 12:15pm in the lower level classrooms. Classes offered for preschool, beginners and advanced students. All are welcome! Contact Stella Hofrenning at hofrenni@augsburg.edu or Angela Mortari at 651-730-1652 with any questions.

Join Greek Dancers of MN: practice is every Sunday 4:30-6:30pm at St. George GOC. There is no fee. You do not have to be Greek or Orthodox. Contact Angela at 651-730-1652 or email greekdancersmn.com.

Missing Anything? Please check the Lost & Found area near the coat rack in the lower level for items that have been left at church. Anything not claimed by November 15 will be donated.

Congratulations: Dimitrios Kalliontzis, who was recently awarded a Ph.D. in Structural Engineering by the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and subsequently accepted a one-year job offer for postdoctoral research at the University of California at San Diego. Dimitri was a regular worshipper at our parish during his studies.

Patristic Wisdom: Obey the commandments of God in the Decalogue and in the Holy Gospels. Do them all with simplicity and without exceptions. The Lord commanded that we observe all that He has commanded (Mt.28:20). We must not observe some and neglect others.                St. Nicodemus the Hagiorite (+1809)

MCP Fundraiser at Lift Bridge Brewery: Tuesday, Oct 9, 3-10pm, 1900 Tower Drive W, Stillwater. Grab a beer (including Root Beer) for a good cause! Every beer sold will raise $1 for the Medical Crisis Program.

Bible Study: Wednesday, October 10 from 1:30-3pm at St. George. Topics and future meeting times will be discussed. Please contact Kathy Ryan to RSVP at aikatepivn@aol.com or (651) 292-9948.

Death- The Final Frontier: A Saturday retreat on October 13^th 1-4pm at St Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral - All welcome. Speaker is the Very Reverend Dr John Behr, who is the Fr Georges Florovsky Distinguished Professor of Patristics St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, New York Metropolitan Kallistos Chair of Orthodox Theology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam.

Church Fathers Speak: One must not accept the following two thoughts: 1) fornication, and 2) judgment of one’s neighbor. When the enemy presents one of these, we must rise up and pray; and pray again if necessary, with tears to God and God will deliver us.               St. Sarah of Egypt (2^nd cent.)

Game League Returns! Saturday October 13^th 7pm, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in West St. Paul. For adults 18+ to learn a new game, play a classic, teach a game, and have fun! Flyer in social hall; contact Nikki Beauchamp 612.910.2943 for details

Young at Heart Lunch: Tuesday, October 23 at 1:30pm at the Naughty Greek, 2400 University Ave, St. Paul. Owner Angelo Giovanis will join us! Please RSVP to Sue Gnetz at gnetzsue@gmail.com.

Twin Cities IOCC Dinner: Thursday, November 8, 2018, at St. Mary’s Greek Orthodox Church. Come and learn how your support is helping families in Greece, Syria, Ethiopia, and right here at home in the US. Pan-Orthodox Vespers will begin at 6:00pm, followed by a reception, dinner, and special IOCC presentation at 6:30pm. Join us! Tickets are $45. For registration and sponsorship information, visit iocc.org/minneapolis.

Wisdom from the Fathers: To have faith in Christ means more than simply despising the delights of this life. It means bearing our daily trials that bring sorrow and distress. We should bear them patiently for as long as God wishes and until He comes to visit us. For it is said, “I waited on the Lord and He came to me” (Psalm 40:1).              St. Symeon the New Theologian (+1022)

Place for Rent? If looking (or know someone who is) for a female roommate or renter for six months to a year, as soon as possible. please contact Aida at 651-434-7826 or aabebe74@gmail.com.

Metropolis Clergy Laity: the Twin Cities has been chosen to host the next Metropolis Clergy Laity September 25-29, 2019. The St. George and St. Mary Church communities will co-host. Stay tuned for more details!

IOCC Emergency Kits: September was National Preparedness Month. IOCC is encouraging everyone to take the time to create emergency supply kits, for both your family and your parish. To assemble your kit, store items in airtight plastic bags, and put them all in one or two easy-to-carry containers. Be sure to include enough food, water, and medical supplies to last for at least 72 hours. See checklist posted in social hall or iocc.org.

Welcome Visitors Thank you for joining with us in prayer and fellowship. The worship of the Orthodox Church is deeply rooted in and very similar to that of the early Christian Church. Unique sensory stimuli and mystery are elements that go back even to the liturgy of the Jewish temple. Everything in an Orthodox Christian church communicates the majestic presence of God the Holy Trinity with His Saints. It is literally heaven on earth. It is a sad consequence of the divisions in Christianity that we cannot extend a general invitation to receive Holy Communion. Visitors are invited to receive the blessed bread (antithoron) at the conclusion of the liturgy. We pray and work for the reconciliation and unity of all Christians. If you are interested in learning more about Orthodoxy, please contact Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org. We are proud of our Greek heritage, but one does not have to be of Greek descent, nor speak Greek to be a Greek Orthodox Christian.

Note to Orthodox about Holy Communion: Receiving the Body and Blood of Christ is one of the most Holy experiences for a Christian in order to be granted the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life. We are never worthy to partake of Divine Nature. Yet, it is essential that we prepare ourselves for this sacred Communion by constant prayer, reading the Scriptures, regular fasting and periodic Confession. At a minimum, we should fast all morning before Communion, arrive at the beginning of Liturgy, and come for Confession at least once a year. In addition, we should not have separated ourselves from the Church through serious sin. Otherwise, please refrain from Communion to avoid “judgment…not discerning the Lord’s body” (1Cor. 11:29). Contact Fr. Rick for pastoral guidance.

Glad Tidings deadline: The 10th of each month. Glad Tidings email: gladtidings@stgeorgegoc.org  Sunday Bulletin Deadline: Wednesday Noon each week.  Email: office@stgeorgegoc.org