Fighting Klingons (Seizing the Sword)
Tuesday, Jul 21, 2009
The Panagia is the prime example for men and women. She is the person of prominence in the Orthodox Church. She presents us with two ways of relating to God.
- 1. The first in her way of saying “yes” to the Holy Spirit, this in agreeing to bear the child of God.
- 2. The Panagia’s assent is unconditional and unwavering; it is a total submission and acceptance. It is a full and total response and acceptance on her part.
- 3. By giving her assent; the Panagia becomes the Theotokos – the bearer of God. As such, she becomes The temple of God; God, as the baby Jesus will be carried by her; dwelling within her in his fullness. This mirrors St. Paul’s exhortations that our bodies are temples of God as well, as long as we allow the Holy Spirit to enter into us. Remember that with free will, it is up to us to accept and allow the Holy Spirit into ourselves.
We are reminded that each of us, created in the image and likeness of God, is a living eikon and as such we should treat each other as a Christoforos (Christ bearer).
In her acceptance, a response of total submission and trust in God, Mary, the Panagia, Theotokos is second on the eikonostasis, immediately next to her son Jesus Christ the Theoanthropos.
Fr. Frank related how many people are seeking “virgins” as their spouse; yet they have had multiple sexual partners in their lives. It is an ironic double standard, to say the least. He also told us that empirical studies support that more serious issues arise between couples who have had multiple partners prior to marriage than with couples who did not.
Secular psychologists seem to favour multiple partners as a form of experience. In contrast, Fr. Frank pointed out that marriages based on Christ stand longer and stronger than this not based in Christ.
In the marriage ceremony, St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 4:17-32 and 5: 25-32 is read. This is the moral lesson. The epistle is an exhortation to live and speak as the “new man” created in God (i.e. mild speech; letting anger be resolved before sunset, being kind).
