Comments for Wonder

Comment on Saint Innocent’s Rules by kristiuppstandelse

kristiuppstandelse — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 19:37:33 +0000

Enjoyed your post. I hope that we learn how to put St. Innocent’s teachings to good use in our local mission!

Comment on Because of that Charlie Brown Christmas Special by Fr. Timothy Sas

Fr. Timothy Sas — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:44:51 +0000

I’ve read all of the ‘answers’ or testimonies, if you will. They are fabulous and immensely useful. Knowing 2 of the writers was great. I must say though, that this William Kopcha (whom I don’t know) was superb. Hopefully, he’ll contribute again.

Comment on Because of the Words of Eternal Life by Fr. Timothy Sas

Fr. Timothy Sas — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:34:48 +0000

Beautiful! May God bless your ministry, Vladika!

Comment on Because of that Charlie Brown Christmas Special by ocawonder

ocawonder — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:11:41 +0000

Dear Dasha, Thanks for you comments and critiques. In response to the title of the piece, perhaps not made clear in the article, the author is responding to the question "Why are you still here?". For a full list of articles responding to this question, please go here. . Thanks for your input! -Andrew Boyd Managing Editor

Comment on Because of that Charlie Brown Christmas Special by Dasha

Dasha — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:06:46 +0000

I always had the idea that in the last scene, where they all sing “Hark the Herald Angels”, that despite their focus on material things, the other kids did have some idea of “…what Christmas is all about” after all. I’ve always been Orthodox, but in some ways feel more like the “other kids” than Charlie Brown: pushed by the world’s expectations, but deep down, you know what’s right and the real meaning of things.

You say for “no apparent reason” the kids finally see beauty in the bedraggled tree. But there is a reason: When they extend themselves to take a second longer look at the tree, they see it has value. If kids are taught to take a second, longer look at someone they may be mocking, they will see the other kid has value. The interesting thing is that the members of Peanuts gang who steer them towards that conclusion, (Charlie Brown & Linus) are themselves sort of the “mocked & downtrodden” of the group. Isn’t that a running theme throughout the entire Bible? The least among the group turns out to be the wise leader.

It’s also a great Christian example. Love because God’s creation has value. You just need to see it! I personally am very happy that Charlie Brown is still being shown: I’m happy whenever any Christian message is allowed to be expressed, whether it’s overt or not!

God created people as complex beings, with good and bad and many shades of gray usually existing in the same person. Your examples of the nun and abbott allude to this. Everyone has had these experiences. But Orthodoxy is the guide, the road, the narrow gate, that seeks to diminish the negative and offer a way “home”; towards perfection with Christ as the ultimate model and guide. Knowledge of Orthodox Christianity is what makes you feel bad when you realized you’ve judged the person on a hurried, surface level!

You didn’t complete you title: Because of that Charlie Brown Christmas Special….what??
And, next time you watch a Charlie Brown show, watch it as a kid,not as an adult. And just enjoy it.

Comment on Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems: Faith in a Consumerist Society by Mark Pearson

Mark Pearson — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 16:03:04 +0000

This is an amazing talk. Replete with insight, pithy comments and profound wisdom. This is one to print out and chew over before prayer. Metropolitan Jonah reveals himself as a true inheritor of the tradition of St Isaac the Syrian, St Herman of Alaska, and other prophetic voices speaking true Christian wisdom to the society of the day.
A true blessing and gift for us this festal tide.
A hearty thank you for posting this.
Mark Pearson

Comment on The Life of the World Revisited: Christmas–Not Material Enough by Missy

Missy — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:12:23 +0000

I really enjoyed this article – much food for thought and as a former Evangelical, “anti-materialist” I found it quite enlightening. Thank you for writing it. And have a merry, materially-correct Christmas!

Comment on The Manger and the Mall by Archpriest William DuBovik

Archpriest William DuBovik — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 18:17:16 +0000

A Special Time
We share again this message with the prayerful hope that it may contribute in us the spirit of this holy season:
This is a most special time for all as we near the Nativity of Christ, or Christmas. It is a time during which we prepare in many ways.
There is appropriate criticism that this Great Feast Day is being secularized by a fallen society. However, even this world, entered into by Christ, cannot hide nor overcome the reality of our Lord’s Nativity, His coming to us in the flesh.
Trees, lights, garland, snowmen, Santas, are all decorations found in the secularized world, and yet all point in some way to a happening that was Holy—the incarnation of God in the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Many times in history, Christians have come upon societies in which God was alien to the people. And many times, Christians infused those societies with Christian ideas and ideals. From the earliest records of the Bible, we see that the Chosen Jewish people turned from the worship of golden images and pagan symbols, and embraced the one true God, Yahweh.
And later, a Jewish teacher, Jesus Christ, would come, and through His teachings, the Gentiles of those times would be converted from false gods and rituals, and embrace Him as the Son of God.
Today is very similar, as Christians encounter many non-believers. We are not called to conquer them with swords, but to offer them the teachings of Christ in words and actions, and win them, too, with love. Christ’s lessons to us speak of the truth of God and those actions of love and forgiveness, of caring and compassion.
That is the Christmas gift we can offer all those with whom we have contact—in our Churches, our homes, in our schools, at our workplaces, in chance encounters, in communities and throughout the world.
And this year when we hear so much about the secularized world, let us resolve to be different and to infuse that world again with the Holy. May every festive light remind us of His light, which could not be overcome by the world’s darkness; every twist of garland, remind us of His seamless robe; every snowflake of His gentle and pure coming; and every tree of his saving acts upon the Cross.
May we have a joyful Nativity.
Fr. William DuBovik

Comment on Remember Your Leaders by Fr. Michael Carney

Fr. Michael Carney — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 19:31:48 +0000

The story about (then) Fr. Leonid being dragged out of the St. Nicholas Church by the NYPD is not apocryphal – the incident got him a prominent picture in the New York Times!
He had been assigned there by the legitimate Church authority, and he refused to abandon his post.

Is there any progress toward his glorification?

Comment on The Poverty of Loneliness by Fr. Daniel Mathewson

Fr. Daniel Mathewson — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 19:41:46 +0000

So true my Brother. Thank you for this article. i am going to pass this along to the youth of my parish. I think all young people need to consider the truth of dealing with relationships in a realistic way, as opposed to the world’s view which is self seeking and therefore empty. My wife loved your quote: “Living on the level of emotions and feelings is very shallow water which has the ability to drown.” So true. I have alway taught young people to not trust their emotions and to live in sobriety and discernment as you spoke of. Thank you again.
Fr. Daniel Mathewson – St. Mary’s OCA Coaldale, PA