New Year's Resolution/Wish for 2007: Prayer

Published December 30, 2006

IN THEORY

New Year's Resolution/Wish for 2007

Q:

What's your New Year's resolution/wish for 2007?

A:

If anything, I wish for more prayer in my life. It seems like everything is progressing in fast motion these days. It's hard to believe that we're seven years into the new century. (Seems like yesterday that we were cautiously anticipating Y2K?) And life has become very cluttered with "stuff" to do. Multi-tasking has become the norm rather than the exception to the day's activities.

Prayer is a means of focusing, of prioritizing and then attacking life head-on. It's an incredible tool which is so underrated, perhaps because it is misconstrued as a conversation with God rather than a multidimensional exchange of thought and energy. Jesus teaches that our prayers should not only be conversations with the Divine but also with ourselves. In fact, one of the Orthodox teachings on prayer emphasizes Christ's caution to not heap "empty phrases... for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6.7-8) Clearly, if God knows our needs, then the purpose of prayer is for us - ourselves - to recognize what is important in life. Once we prioritize, then we are able to efficiently deal with what life throws at us.

On the eve of 2007, it is disheartening to note the many problems facing our world and our society. We enter the New Year with war, poverty and disease all around us. It is overwhelming. And so my wish for 2007 is that we pray, realizing that prayer should awaken our sense of responsibility toward the world we live in.

FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN
Armenian Church
In His Shoes Mission

Remembering the Meaning of Christmas

Published December 16, 2006 IN THEORY Remembering the Meaning of Christmas Q: With the holidays upon us, do you find yourselves getting caught up in the frenzy over shopping and gifts and all the related hustle and bustle? How do you deal with it, and do you worry that the true messages of the season get lost? A: A quick look around the world will point to the lost message of Christmas. It's difficult to imagine war in Iraq, genocide in Darfur or just plain intolerance toward our neighbors if the message was taken seriously. In our own backyard, would we be consumed with petty politics, rather than showing concern for the health and education of our children, if the message of Christmas was more than the decorations at the Galleria? Yet, the fundamental message of Christmas is that of hope. It's a trust and faith in tomorrow, beyond our understanding. That is the promise of the Christ child: that God continues to nurture and save us, despite ourselves. At our parish, St. Peter, we challenge our congregation to celebrate the birth of Christ by giving him the gifts he requests. We find his shopping list in Luke 14:12-14: "Give to those," Jesus says, "the poor and suffering - those who have no means of paying you back." It is a simple way to emphasize the message of Christmas. Furthermore, as Armenians we celebrate the Nativity on Jan. 6. Because we have a double Christmas, we have made it a policy at our church to acknowledge and live the Christmas message all year round. The celebration of "Love being born" is not confined to a date, but it is a way of life. We established the "In His Shoes Mission," which provides a constant challenge for members to rise from their humanity and live the Christmas message all year long. By walking in the shoes of others, we acknowledge and realize that it is up to us to work for a better tomorrow. Therein, we tie ourselves to the message of hope that is Christmas. FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN Armenian Church In His Shoes Mission

Nativity Story: Learning from Mary

Published December 2, 2006 IN THEORY Nativity Story: Learning from Mary Q: A new movie, "The Nativity Story," puts a new spotlight on the life of Jesus' mother, Mary. It even reportedly has Protestants using the movie to talk more about Mary -- discussion that has reportedly in the past gone by the wayside in some religious circles. What can we learn from Mary? Has she been ignored? A: In the Armenian Orthodox tradition we refer to St. Mary as "Asdvadzadzin" which literally means the "Bearer of God." It is akin to the Greek word, "Theotokos" which is her title in the Orthodox Christian world. She has a unique position among the saints, because from her Love is born. St. Mary's message is simple, yet difficult. At a time when women were not much more than property, when the punishment for pre-marital pregnancy was capital (usually by stoning), Mary answers the call to give birth to the Christ child by saying, "Let it be to me, according to your word." (Luke 2) This 'yes' is unique in all of history, because in it we find humility, sacrifice and submission to God's will. In a word, St. Mary's "yes" is the articulation of Love. As a result, Love was born from her. Today, St. Mary's example must challenge all of us. We are called to give "birth to love" everyday, in our relationships and our lives. The consequences are sometimes just as difficult as those faced by the Holy Virgin. Saying 'yes' to God means dropping the ego and humbling ourselves. It means sacrificing for others, rather than holding on to selfish desires. It involves nurturing love within us so that it can be born of our actions. Hers is a formula for peace. Hers is a birthplace for love. FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN Armenian Church In His Shoes Mission