As we rapidly approach the Paschal celebration, I want to ask a few questions regarding the living credibility of the faith in the Resurrection and Christ, the core of who and what we are as Christians ...

1. Is 'Christ' the central focus of your community's life and expression of Christianity? (community = family/parish/eparchy/church/tradition) How is that so?

2. How is the Resurrection faith taught and/or evangelized in your community? Explain how 'Tradition' happens? Does it work? Do people get it?

3. What are the greatest and immediate hindrances that aid in extinguishing the Light of Christ in your community? Give examples and solutions in addressing those problems?

4. Is the Resurrection faith a major determining factor in determing one's community's mission and priorities? What other criteria can stand in the way of conveying the Resurrection faith?

5. Does your community's liturgical life help or hinder the Resurrection faith? Is it a worthy medium of Tradition for those seeking faith in Christ's Resurrection?

6. How is the Resurrection Troparion ("Christ is risen from the dead; by death he conquered death, and to those in the grave he granted life") and its core meaning help shape the Gospel initiative in your community? Is it the 'hub' of community life?

7. Does the Resurrection faith have a chance with tomorrow's generation? Are the children excited to continue the race?

8. Do issues and debates about the Pope, jurisdictions, canon law, and Latin dogmas choke the image of Christ in our mission and ministry? Are we handicapped with trying to answer these issues rather than preaching Christ crucified? Is it easier or more difficult to believe in Christ's Resurrection than any of the above issues?

9. What comes to mind with the following words and/or phrases?
a. Pascha.
b. Faith.
c. Lex orandi, lex credendi.
d. Christ.
e. Christian.
f. Gospel.
g. Evangelization.
h. Belief.
i. Ministry.
j. Mission.
k. Transfiguration.
l. Epiclesis.
m. Theosis.
n. Agape.
o. Metanoia.
p. Resurrection.
q. Light of Christ.
r. Partakers of Divine Nature.
s. Tradition.
t. Living Icon.
u. Evangelical Counsel.
v. Restoration.
w. Reformation.
x. Teamwork.
y. Leadership.
z. Direction.

10. If none of the terms and/or phrases in #9 make sense, then what is Christiantiy to you and why, if so, are you a Christian? What does Christ and the Resurrection Faith have to do with Christianity?

Happy Holy Week!

Dear Cantor Joseph,

A truly insightful reflection and review!

1) Christ is certainly the centre of our liturgical celebrations, but a lot of us feel that liturgy is all there is to our life in Christ.

2) Divine Liturgy attendance can be mechanical, but the sermons are very rooted in the Gospel and our priest does a good job of explaining the Gospel to us. More could be done . . .

3) Our parish sometimes develops a "Martha" attitude, rather than a "Mary" one. We get too bogged down in church reno projects, buying food for church festivals, arguments over the fairness of the work load etc. These are all important, but we need to refocus on Christ and not let "sweat the little stuff." Our devotion to our Icon of the Mother of God is literally working wonders to help change that.

4) I think some of what we are about is to provide a witness to "the Ukrainian Catholic Church" in our multicultural community. We are about promoting "our Church" and worshipping Christ within that context. No one is barred from joining us and we have attracted many non-Ukies and even a growing number of Orthodox. I think the sense of "our Church" is overarching - but I wouldn't go so far as to say that it is obfuscating the Person of Christ.

5) We have people with different expectations from our parish's liturgical life. Father walks a tightrope in this regard, but everyone seems content with the way things are. Father's visits to Ukraine have revolutionized his sense of Byzantine liturgical tradition and this is welcome, to be sure. On Pascha, everyone is singing, "Christ is Risen" and, speaking for myself, the parish is bathed in love and hope.

6) I believe the Resurrection ignites initiative in our parish. My father-in-law especially has found new and strong faith as our parishioners bind together in new ways to witness our faith to our surrounding, mainstream community and to the Ukrainian community in Toronto. The ethnic media tend to come to our parish more and more and our Icon of the Zhirovitsi Mother of God is now blessed as a full pilgrimage that attracts people from acros the Province.

7) We have many young people in our parish and even people of my age who are returning to Church after a hiatus. These are usually families with small children and our catechetical group is active in its teaching ministry. The adults too get involved in the classes.

8) We aren't a strict "Orthodox in communion with Rome" parish and so, for this reason perhaps, issues of Latinization, the Pope and other more controversial ones don't come to the fore in our parish. If anyone wants to get involved in such, I often just refer them to the "Byzantine Forum" . But I do think it is easier to be controversial over these issues than to respond to the challenge of Christ Crucified and Resurrected.

9)

a) Pascha - glory, eternal life, Christ is our Pascha
b) Faith - the Ecumenical Councils, personal challenge to live it in daily life, not losing it in life's circumstances

c) Lex Orandi, lex credendi - worshipping as we believe and vice-versa

d)Christ - the goal to be reached, the God-Man, the Saviour, the Source of Divine and Eternal Life

e) Christian - something I'm not most of the time.

f) Gospel - the Good News that has yet to fully get through the thick walls of indifference of my soul

g) Evangelization - preaching Christ for His Sake

h) Belief - Gift of the Spirit, contradiction of the world

i) Ministry - allowing God to work through me

j) Mission - allowing God to speak through me

k) Transfiguration - participation in the Life of Christ

l) Epiclesis - Eucharist, living a transfigured life in the Holy Spirit

m) Theosis - becoming a Temple of the Spirit in which the Holy Trinity may live and act

n) Agape - faith that works through love with all around me

o) Metanoia - an ever developing sense of my failure to love God with all my being and my neighbour as myself

p) Resurrection - hope, this life isn't all there is, future life with Christ and all those I have loved and do love

q) Light of Christ - that which enlightens my darkened inner spirit with the Truth

r) Partakers of the Divine Nature - Holy Communion, Scripture and Tradition, prayer, meditation, fasting, the liturgy, works of charity, the Jesus Prayer, transformation in Christ

s) Tradition - Bible, Fathers, Canons, Councils, witnessing to the Living Christ personally

t) living icon - the goal of the Christian Life, to be an image of Christ

u) Evangelical Counsel - to witness to the healing power of Christ in the Gospel to all those who feel empty because they are without Christ.

You too!

Alex

Thank you, Alex.

I wonder if this topic is as exciting as dogmatic and jurisdictional matters?

Dear Cantor Joseph,

Church gossip and doctrinal arguments do get the blood going .

But I do think we, and I'm among the more guilty ones in this department, focus too much time on such matters, and too little on the important subjects you raise on this thread.

And if being a Cantor entitles you to general absolutions over the internet, I ask for it from you now!

Alex

Alex,

If I posted a new thread to each topic I mentioned above, I wonder if there would be any long drawn out discussions?

So far, you are the only one who replied to this post.

Do you think we spend too much time reflecting on who we are by first 'comparing' ourselves with other, like numerically greater church traditions? Do you think that 'identity' has anything to do with our relationship to Christ as the starting point? His name 'Emmanuel' came up again during Bridegroom Matins. What does this mean? Assuming Christ has meaning for us today ...