BHAG
At the simplest and the most fundamental level, the goal of every Christian is to be like Christ. Our Big Hairy Audacious Goal is to "be perfect, therefore, like your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48).
Some will counter that the goal is rather to simply be with Christ forever (as opposed to spending eternity with the Devil) ... others argue our goal is to escape punishment. Some even teach that we have no control over what God does to us, and essentially we are born lucky or unlucky, loved or unloved.
The message in the Gospel emphasizes a God who is Love, and the early Church writings uphold this Truth. Moreover, Christ provides clear instruction to His followers e.g., teaching in the temple, Jesus taught, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). But, in the Sermon on the Mount, we see Him seated with His disciples and teach, "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).
The message throughout the Gospel is clear i.e., be like Christ. But, to be like someone, we have to know who that person is ... so to be like Christ, we have to know who He is.
The start of the Liturgical Calendar of the Indian Orthodox Church is known as Koodhosh Eetho, or Sanctification of the Church, and in the Gospel reading for this day we hear Christ asking His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:13-23). The following week (Hoodhosh Eetho, or Dedication of Church), we hear Christ say, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:22-38).
We have to know Christ and recognize His voice, and through a personal relationship with Christ we continue to know Him. Each interaction is one of growing understanding and enrichment, and our relationship goes well beyond any obligation or namesake.
For a Christian, these interactions occur through prayer (i.e., talking with God) and Scripture (i.e., the written Word) ... but we also know from the Holy Scripture that there is direct interaction with Christ when we have fellowship with others (Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them”) and the Eucharist, the real Body and Blood of Christ (John 6:53-58).
This was the marks of the early Church i.e., Acts 2:42 - "And they continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in prayers".
If we avoid, disregard or diminish the importance of any of these opportunities to know God, we simply will be unable to experience the fullness of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Let's be clear - there is no doubt that there are Christians who, even without having this fullness, live very Christ-like lives. But, this really is not for us to judge. We can definitely learn and apply the good actions and behaviors to our own situation ... but we are not to make any conclusions on the "effectiveness" of Scripture over prayer, Eucharist over fellowship, etc. This fullness in Christ is what we simply know "The Way", and we are to willingly and obediently follow even if things don't quite make sense. This is the definition of Faith.
Not surprisingly, we can again turn to the Gospel for guidance - in Luke 24:13-35, two disciples (St. Cleopas and tradition says the 2nd was St. Luke himself) were walking away from Jerusalem to Emmaus after the Crucifixion of our Lord. As they were walking, Christ Himself came into their midst but "their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him" (v16). During this memorable walk, the disciples gave witness, they discussed Scripture, they were in fellowship .. we see they had passion, as their hearts were "burning" (v.32) .. but not until Christ "sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them" (v.30) were there eyes opened and they saw.
The Orthodox Study Bible notes, our hearts do burn as this is "the inescapable effect of hearing the Holy Scriptures taught correctly and with faith. This burning is the conviction that the words and promises are true". And then, when "all who commune with the Lord in His risen Body in faith", our eyes are opened, "for the Lord is known most perfectly in the breaking of the bread".
This is our understanding of the Holy Eucharist (i.e., the Holy Qurbana) - not as rituals, customs, rules .. but as a Holy and most perfect interaction with our Lord. And, it's very important to note, if we partake without prayer, preparation or understanding, we are condemning ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).
We must know Christ, and we must be like Him - not just partially, but in His fullness. That is our goal - our BHAG.
Some will counter that the goal is rather to simply be with Christ forever (as opposed to spending eternity with the Devil) ... others argue our goal is to escape punishment. Some even teach that we have no control over what God does to us, and essentially we are born lucky or unlucky, loved or unloved.
The message in the Gospel emphasizes a God who is Love, and the early Church writings uphold this Truth. Moreover, Christ provides clear instruction to His followers e.g., teaching in the temple, Jesus taught, "I am the light of the world" (John 8:12). But, in the Sermon on the Mount, we see Him seated with His disciples and teach, "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14).
The message throughout the Gospel is clear i.e., be like Christ. But, to be like someone, we have to know who that person is ... so to be like Christ, we have to know who He is.
The start of the Liturgical Calendar of the Indian Orthodox Church is known as Koodhosh Eetho, or Sanctification of the Church, and in the Gospel reading for this day we hear Christ asking His disciples, "Who do you say that I am?" (Matthew 16:13-23). The following week (Hoodhosh Eetho, or Dedication of Church), we hear Christ say, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand." (John 10:22-38).
We have to know Christ and recognize His voice, and through a personal relationship with Christ we continue to know Him. Each interaction is one of growing understanding and enrichment, and our relationship goes well beyond any obligation or namesake.
For a Christian, these interactions occur through prayer (i.e., talking with God) and Scripture (i.e., the written Word) ... but we also know from the Holy Scripture that there is direct interaction with Christ when we have fellowship with others (Matthew 18:20, "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them”) and the Eucharist, the real Body and Blood of Christ (John 6:53-58).
This was the marks of the early Church i.e., Acts 2:42 - "And they continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of the bread, and in prayers".
If we avoid, disregard or diminish the importance of any of these opportunities to know God, we simply will be unable to experience the fullness of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God. Let's be clear - there is no doubt that there are Christians who, even without having this fullness, live very Christ-like lives. But, this really is not for us to judge. We can definitely learn and apply the good actions and behaviors to our own situation ... but we are not to make any conclusions on the "effectiveness" of Scripture over prayer, Eucharist over fellowship, etc. This fullness in Christ is what we simply know "The Way", and we are to willingly and obediently follow even if things don't quite make sense. This is the definition of Faith.
Not surprisingly, we can again turn to the Gospel for guidance - in Luke 24:13-35, two disciples (St. Cleopas and tradition says the 2nd was St. Luke himself) were walking away from Jerusalem to Emmaus after the Crucifixion of our Lord. As they were walking, Christ Himself came into their midst but "their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him" (v16). During this memorable walk, the disciples gave witness, they discussed Scripture, they were in fellowship .. we see they had passion, as their hearts were "burning" (v.32) .. but not until Christ "sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them" (v.30) were there eyes opened and they saw.
The Orthodox Study Bible notes, our hearts do burn as this is "the inescapable effect of hearing the Holy Scriptures taught correctly and with faith. This burning is the conviction that the words and promises are true". And then, when "all who commune with the Lord in His risen Body in faith", our eyes are opened, "for the Lord is known most perfectly in the breaking of the bread".
This is our understanding of the Holy Eucharist (i.e., the Holy Qurbana) - not as rituals, customs, rules .. but as a Holy and most perfect interaction with our Lord. And, it's very important to note, if we partake without prayer, preparation or understanding, we are condemning ourselves (1 Corinthians 11:27-29).
We must know Christ, and we must be like Him - not just partially, but in His fullness. That is our goal - our BHAG.
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