Thus, saith a Man of the Cloth!

Last evening I was in JR's buying cigars. One of the salesmen, David and I got into another interesting, but fun subject about faith. During the short observations we shared I, for the first time, said aloud I didn't rely on faith when it came to moving on to the next phase of my life. No, it was a matter of flowing and following the vision of the 'why' of my existence. Discussions about faith often burden down with theory and suppositions, doom sometimes. The flow of life is the substance of living. It is like water. It is like air currents. - Gregory E. Woods 1.25.14

Faith alone is not enough

Anjelica Huston

 May 12, 2011 

Very few folks in America vote against God. The vast majority say they believe in God. The better questions is which god they believe in, and what they believe about God. But rarely are those questions pursued in public discourse or even in "mass evangelization." For our nations Protestant roots have embedded in us the notion that it is simply enough to believe. So much is this false notion embedded within us that we often hear the slogan absent the object: "Just have faith" or "You've gotta believe." As if faith alone is enough.

Commenting on the Last Judgment scene in Matthew 25, St Augustine confronts head-on the false theology which says that faith alone is sufficient. When examining that scene, he points out that Our Lord charges the condemned "with having failed, not in faith, but in good works."

He does not rebuke them because they have not believed in him, but because they have not done any good works. For assuredly, lest anyone should promise himself eternal life by reason of his faith (which without works is dead), He went on to say that He would separate all nations, which before had been herded together, and were accustomed to use the same pastures... These [condemned] had believed in Him, but had not taken pains to do good works, as though they could achieve eternal life by means of that same dead faith.

Notice how our holy father among the saints characterizes the understanding of faith alone, or faith without works. He says that it is "dead faith." Living faith, however, is what Our Lord desires; and it is that faith which attains eternal blessedness and grants us the beatific vision. This living faith is active in love; in fact, the two are inseparable. For to believe in God is both to love Him and to love Him in others.

St Augustine indicates that this is the point that not only St James, but also St Paul also makes when he says, "Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."

- Fr. John W. Fenton, 

Monday March 5, 2012  

Personal Attention

Anjelica Hudson posing on a balcony in Cannes, France in a pants ensemble
and large hat that flows with the tempo of the airs
she keeps to herself. May 16, 1996 

"One likes to look up daily to see something refreshing. It is not uncommon a desire. We all yearn for it if gone too long away from the sensation. Within the beauty of a person and the perception(s) of a person are varying lines of agreement about what within them is refreshing. When those questions arise and you are the subject of disdain it is temporary because it is really a wake up call. It is an arousal tinkling complacency, making  you look around within to see what has fallen dormant. What needs refreshing? Who needs refreshing? We do. We all do from time to time need to be refreshed." ~ Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 1.25.14

16 Mai 1996

Fete de Cannes. 

Idol Worshiping

"Each time I see into Angelica Houston's face I think, "With a look a strong man will drop humbly to his knees to intuit what, or rather who is with us on this plane, and beyond the scope of average intelligence. . ." - Gregory E. Woods, Keeper of Stories 1.25.14

Angelica Huston, actress
May 10, 2011 

Kissing Metal

See. 

Amongst the Byzantine and Slavonic Orthodox churches, the First Sunday in Lent is known as the "Orthodoxy Sunday" or "Sunday of the Triumph of Orthodoxy." That day commemorates both those who suffered or were martyred for defending icons, and the victory of Orthodoxy over iconoclasm. Above all else, this Sunday reiterates the confession that in Christ God assumed created matter, and so is able to be depicted. Hence, the prohibitions in the Old Testament do not apply to Christ Jesus or His saints (in whom He lives), or any likeness (e.g., dove or cloud) in which the Divine reveals Himself. (As an aside, while the West did not suffer iconoclasm in the 8th and 9th centuries, they consistently agreed with the doctrine and confession of the Eastern churches.)

Icons are not only the chief expression of this doctrine; they are a particular visible form of confession amongst the Orthodox generally and the Byzantine and Slavonic churches specifically. Hence, icons are consistently venerated, particularly by being kissed. (Notice: there is a clear distinction linguistically and theologically between "veneration" and "worship.") These icons are made of various media; most commonly painted wood, mosaics, or enameled or painted or engraved metal.

Because of our practice of venerating icons, Orthodox Christians are often accused of greater or lesser degrees of idolatry. The most virulent will recite the words, "Thou shalt not make any graven image/icon" while others will confuse the veneration of the icons with the adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. In the case of the former, the particular doctrine described above is not understood; in the case of the latter, the distinction between sacrament and sacramental is lost.

The irony of this criticism is clearly shown when one remembers the ceremony that took place a few weeks ago at the end of the Super Bowl. One by one, players and coaches from the victorious New York Giants football team lined up to kiss the Lombardi trophy. No one took that ceremony as strange. No one accused these men who were kissing engraved metal of idolatry. In fact, most everyone understood what they were doing - giving true lip-service to their joy at having reached their season-long goal.

If football players are permitted to kiss their metallic symbol, then why should anyone look askance when Orthodox Christians affectionately kiss their symbols of faith? If athletes can venerate their signs of victory, then why is it hard to understand Orthodox Christians who venerate the signs of their Victor and victors? If it is accepted when others hug tightly those things which depict such mundane and fading accomplishments, then surely there should be no qualms with Orthodox Christians embracing sacramentals which which depict their God and Lord, and His glory in His saints.

Of course, there are qualms; the veneration is not understood; and the kisses are denounced. And I suggest that this occurs because those who reject such Christian piety understand precisely what the Orthodox Christian is doing; he is confessing that Him whom the world cannot contain was conceived in the flesh of the Virgin; and that this same Virgin together with all the saints pinned their hopes to their undying victory in this God-Man.

Posted by Fr John W Fenton at Sunday, March 04, 2012 

Progressive Christianity

Epitome of...

"Actress Angelica Huston is an exquisite beauty disciplined in her profession and compelling whose enduring presence, in my mind, lingers as a standard." - Gregory E. Woods May 12, 2011