Christ in The Matrix (4-28-2019)

   March 31, 2019 marks the twentieth anniversary of the release of the movie titled ‘The Matrix.’ It was little known science fiction action film that developed a cult following ultimately winning four academy awards. It became so popular that two sequels followed almost back to back in 2003. Like many science fiction movies and great movies in general it focuses on a dystopian future where the forces of good battle evil for control of the human race. The Star Wars series was campy but The Matrix, like its forerunner, The Terminator (1984) and its sequels (1991, 2003, 2009, 2015) was more realistic and much darker and incorporated fantastic special effects that were cutting edge at the time.

   I realize that science fiction genre is not everyone’s cup of tea but let briefly explain the premise of The Matrix because I believe it is one of the best metaphoric portrayals of humanity enslaved to sin in need of savior. The plot goes like this: humans created robotic machines which eventually became self-aware and attacked their creators to win control. Since the machines depended on solar energy for power, humans caused a doomsday event that enshrouded the earth in a permanent storm cloud. The machines countered by enslaving humans and using their bioelectricity and biothermality as their new source of power. The machines gained complete compliance from their human subjects by creating a virtual computer-generated world network simulation, called ‘The Matrix’ that their human subjects thought was real. Thus, they lay unconscious in a liquid-filled pod connected to the ‘The Matrix’ as the machines were siphoning off their bioelectricity. Many attributes of The Matrix were quite enticing and satisfying but it was an illusion. Humans thought they were free to indulge all their desires and dreams but in reality they were slaves to a power that was just exploiting them.

   The reason this movie became so popular is because it speaks a basic truth about our existence in a dramatic way. From the time of Adam and Eve, humans became enslaved to the devil through an enticing illusion--the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:17). Satan offers a lie that this fruit would bring us God-like powers (Gen.3:4), when in reality the fruit is mortal because it is born out of our own desires for self-indulgence and gratification. Since the fruit is not life-giving, it can never satisfy our hunger for meaning and purpose that only comes from God Himself, our Designer, Maker and Creator. Thus, we seek to consume more and more of this fruit but it never fills us even though it pleasures us—it feels good. And this is the illusion, that our identity becomes rooted in our desires, rather than in our Creator. The unbridled desires are called ‘the passions.’

   Humanity could not free itself from this state of slavery. Thus, we needed a Savior. In The Matrix movie, the savior is Thomas Anderson, also known as Neo, who possesses superhuman powers and his coming is foretold by the oracle, a prophet-like figure. He joins the war against the machines outside of The Matrix, but it is inside The Matrix that the most important battle occurs. Neo was born inside The Matrix but he learns how to exercise his power from above and beyond its confines. He dies in the battle but is resurrected through the intercession of another character whose name is Trinity.

   In our real world on planet earth, our Savior is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Listen to the Anaphora Prayer from St. Basil’s Liturgy notice the similarities with Neo:

   For, since through man sin came into the world and through sin death, it pleased Your only-begotten Son, (who is in Your bosom, God and Father, born of a woman, the holy Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary) born under the law, to condemn sin in His flesh, so that those who died in Adam may be brought to life in Him, Your Christ.  He lived in this world and gave us precepts of salvation.  Releasing us from the delusions of idolatry, He guided us to the sure knowledge of You, the true God and Father.  He acquired us for Himself, as His chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation.  Having cleansed us by water and sanctified us with the Holy Spirit, He gave Himself as ransom to death in which we were held captive, sold under sin.  Descending into Hades through the cross, that He might fill all things with Himself, He loosed the bonds of death. 

   In The Matrix Neo (btw, notice the similarity between Neo and the New Adam who is Christ) wins the war against the machines but that does not mean that everyone is free because his gift of salvation must be accepted and embraced. That starts with taking the red pill versus the blue pill. The red pill leads to a life of harsh knowledge, desperate freedom and the brutal truths of reality. The blue pill keeps on in a life of luxurious security, tranquil happiness and the blissful ignorance of illusion. The allure of the blue pill is so strong that one character named ‘Cypher’ (notice close similarity to Lucifer) who had been freed from The Matrix wishes to go back to it and he becomes a traitor that leads to the death of three of Neo’s fellow freedom fighters.

   My brothers and sisters, most of us have passed through life-giving water-filled pod of baptism but this was just the beginning of our freedom from sin and spiritual death. In order to continue and grow in this freedom we must continually pop the red pill of our Savior Jesus Christ’s blood in the Eucharist. This will awaken us from the hypnotic false teachings of the worldly matrix that surrounds us and seeks to seduce us. Thus, we can see that our identity rests in Christ Himself and not in any fleshly desire. But just like Neo masters the rules of the Matrix, we must master the rules of the world so that we may supercede them and help others gain their freedom.

   I close with Jesus’ words from His great high prayer in the Gospel of John 17. In this passage, I have substituted the word ‘world’ with the word ‘matrix.’

     ¹¹ Now I am no longer in the matrix/world, but these are in the matrix/world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.

     ¹⁴ I have given them Your word; and the matrix/world has hated them because they are not of the matrix/world, just as I am not of the matrix/world. ¹⁵ I do not pray that You should take them out of the matrix/world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the matrix/world, just as I am not of the matrix/world. ¹⁷ Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. ¹⁸ As You sent Me into the matrix/world, I also have sent them into the matrix/world. ¹⁹ And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth. Amen!

Kalo Pascha kai Kali Anastasi! 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

May 5, 2019                                                                                       ANTIPASCHA- ST. THOMAS

TODAY’S EVENTS: Philoptochos meeting and Sunday School staff meeting, 12pm; final day Festival of Nations.

Epistle Reader: Stephen Kanavati                                       Prosfora: anonymous

Fellowship: Michael, Christina & Andrea Manos              Greeters: Alexis Bighley, Jon Kennedy

Tuesday       05-07     OCF at University of St. Thomas                                                                12:00PM

                                   University of St Thomas OCF at FOCUS MN                                                   6:00PM

Wednesday 05-08     Bible Study                                                                                                 1:30PM

Thursday     05-09     MEOCCA meeting at IOCC Field Office                                                      11:00AM

                                   Camp Task Force meeting at Elsie’s in NE Minneapolis                                   6:00PM

Saturday      05-11    Metropolis Oratorical Festival in St. Louis, MO                                             9:00AM

                                  VESPERS                                                                                                 5:00PM

                                  Youth Night                                                                                              6:00PM

Sunday         05-12    ORTHROS (8:15am) &LITURGY- 3^rd SUNDAY PASCHA - MYRRHBEARERS       9:30AM

                                  Mother’s Day

                                   St. Alexis Toth Lecture at St. Mary OCA Cathedral                                        7:00PM

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Correction: Mrs. Stella Lake was mistakenly omitted from our sympathies and condolences in last week’s bulletin for the falling asleep in the Lord of her brother Chris Georgantones. Our apologies.

Honor Graduates: please send us info about your high school and/or college graduate so we can honor them on Graduation Sunday May 19^th. Please provide school, diploma, special awards/achievements and future plans.

Thank you! To the Festival of Nations co-chairs Tom Lampros, Richard Kanavati and Emilio Kapetanakis and all our volunteers who helped this year!

Think About It:         “Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.”

Philoptochos News: for Mother’s Day, Philoptochos would like to help you honor a special woman in your life. It can be any woman, living or deceased, that is special to you. Complete and drop off insert in the social hall by today, May 5. More info Vicky Paraschou at 763-785-8882. We meet today following Divine Liturgy.

College Scholarship Contest:college students and graduating high school seniors are invited to apply for 2019-2020 academic year by submitting an essay discussing the topic: “How does the liturgical/worship life of the Greek Orthodox Christian Church help you draw/grow closer to God?” Awards:1^st place $1000 by John Pitsavas Memorial Scholarship; 2^nd place $500 and 3^rd place $300 by Missions & Benevolence Ministry Scholarship. Deadline is June 15, 2019. Applications and guidelines are available in the church office.

Stewardship 2019: Theme is “All things are possible to the one who believes in Christ” (Mark 9:23). 107 pledges have been received averaging $1,589, total $170,029. Three things to do: 1) pray for God’s inspiration and guidance, 2) plan-budget stewardship first, 3) give generously and sacrificially, at least three percent (3%) of gross yearly income. We thank you for supporting the ministries of our parish!

St Alexis Toth Lecture: nextSunday May 12, 7pm, at St Mary's Orthodox Cathedral. Dr Bogdan Horbal, Curator of the Slavic and East European collections at the New York Public Library will speak about Orthodox and Rusyn resources in the library as well as “Lemko Folk & Religious Music on Mainstream American Labels, 1928-1930”. See posting in social hall or contact (612) 781-7667 or info@stmarysoca.org for more information.

Wisdom from the Fathers: Among your religious duties is that of loving your fellow humans and always to forgive them. If you do this, you will be filled with joy, and with health both of soul and of the body.             St. Raphael of Lesvos (+1463)

Spring Cleaning: will be Saturday May 18^th 10am to 2pm. Top priorities include raking/blowing leaves from parking lot and landscape rock/beds, picking-up sticks, branches and debris, organizing external storage areas, clearing rooftop and drains, clean exterior windows. Many hands make for little work!

Pan-Orthodox Women’s Tea: will be held on Saturday, May 18, 3-5pm at St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 505 4^th Street NE, Minneapolis. Please bring a dessert or appetizer to share and plan to attend Vespers at 5pm. For more information, contact Julie Pawluk at wdowychyn@q.com.

Strategic Planning Update: based on everyone’s input, the mission statement was recently finalized "St. George Greek Orthodox Church: A Christ-centered community that inspires faith and worship, cultivates spiritual growth and fellowship and encourages benevolence and outreach.” We now move into our next phase, which is called a SWOT survey. We invite your feedback about Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats regarding our parish community. Complete survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/J9LH9FG

Patristic Wisdom: When we teach children to be good, gentle, forgiving, generous, to love others, to regard this present age as nothing, we instill virtue in their souls and reveal the image of God within them.        St. John Chrysostom (+407)

St. Mary’s Summer Camp 2019: Registration now open; fee is $495. Registration closes Thursday May 23 at 4:30pm. For more info visit https://stmaryscamp.com/summer-camp/ Camp will be held at Camp Wapogasset in Amery, WI from Saturday June 29 to Friday July 6. Every St. George Camper will receive $100 assistance!

Summer Camp Scholarships: James Nickitas Memorial Camp Scholarship is available to St. George youth with financial need. Contact Fr. Rick asap. Presbytera Mary Coniaris and James H. Zubulake scholarships will be awarded to two winners based on essays on 2019 camp theme: “Journey to the Joy of Pascha!” Essay question: “What is your favorite part of Holy Week, and Why?” Submit entries no later than May 19, 2019. For more info and to submit essays, email: stmaryscampscholarship@gmail.com

Church Fathers Speak: The Lord does not send suffering to the servants of God without purpose. It tests the genuineness of our love for God the Creator. Just as athletes win crowns struggling in the arena, Christians are perfected by the trial of their temptations if they patiently and gratefully accept what God sends them.        St. Basil the Great (+379)

Youth Minister Position Open: applications are now being accepted for this part time position. To apply, email a resume, cover letter and two references to Fr. Rick at fatherrick@stgeorgegoc.org.

Metropolis Listserv Sign-Up: His Eminence Metropolitan Nathanael personally invites all of us to sign up with the Metropolis of Chicago listserv in order to receive announcements, news, and messages directly from His Eminence. Please honor the request of our chief shepherd and help strengthen the bonds within our Holy Metropolis. Fr. Rick and the Parish Council strongly encourage you signup. http://chicago.goarch.org/signup.

Silent Auction Bidding: adult parishioners are invited to place written bids for items on the monthly silent auction table to benefit Missions & Benevolence. Parents, please refrain from having your children scribble on the bidding sheets. Thank you!

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