Posted on 03/20/2021 5:53:17 PM PDT by Carpe Cerevisi
It has been said that the whole of Orthodox theology and teaching can be found in a single, well-executed icon. I believe it to be true. Over the years, I have found that certain icons have been invaluable in efforts to teach a class of inquirers or catechumens about certain aspects of the faith. Those “certain aspects” could easily be expanded until, time permitting, the whole of the faith would be expounded. I daresay that some evenings in such classes, the students probably thought that time was permitting.
My thoughts turn to this understanding each year as we approach the “Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy,” the first Sunday of Great Lent. Ostensibly, it commemorates the return of icons to the Churches in the year 843, after the final condemnation of the iconoclast heresy. It is worth noting, however, that it is called the “Triumph of Orthodoxy,” and not the “Return of the Icons.” The Christian world outside of Orthodoxy remains clueless to this understanding, assuming that it is a lot of fuss about some pictures, about which they themselves remain dubious.
Like so much else in our world, we see icons only fleetingly. The culture glances at them and says, “Oh. A religious picture.” We see much of the world in the same manner. Our lives are marketed to us, primarily under the guise of emotional experiences. We are sold things for the sake of “enjoyment.” One enjoyment passes into another as we seek to construct a “good day.” In our enjoyment, we are diminished.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.ancientfaith.com ...
ping
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Matthew 7:21: "Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
Luke 6:46: "Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?"
If you decide to turn yourself over to Jesus, there's no more spectating and fence-sitting. He doesn't allow it.
Hi, ‘pod. How are ya?
Glad I dropped by.
Not too bad for an old guy ;-)
How ‘bout you?
Enjoying my break from posting. Spent five hours today doing my taxes. Having a high old time!
That’s why I pay a CPA to do them. 😁
My BS in BusAdmin featured an emphasis in accounting, so I just do them.
I’m an engineer by training. I can work with numbers, just not stupid, useless piles of paperwork to pay my taxes.
Our Congress at work.
Orthodox ping!
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