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Reflection for the 18th Ordinary Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for the 18th Ordinary Sunday 2025

Christian Witness

Reflection for the 18th Ordinary Sunday 2025

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

16756

Let me say this…
But what if?

Then [Abraham] said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” [The Lord] answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.”

Today’s first reading from Genesis is the story of Abraham’s negotiations with God. Abraham didn’t know what was coming in his discussions (prayer) with God. He was, however, open to listening to God. Abraham’s ears were open to what God had to say. This is an essential aspect of prayer. Prayer is more than just words. We have to put ourselves in God’s presence and be open to His promptings and invitations. Being he was open, God invited Abraham to the negotiating table.

The Lord was looking on the extreme wickedness of Sodom and Gomorrah and was getting ready to judge them. But before he did, he said; “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am doing?” God was giving Abraham the chance to be a great diplomat, negotiator, and arbiter.

We all know someone who can get the best deals. They can dicker at yard sales; resolve disputes; get a new car at a great price; negotiate contracts and come out on top. They have the gift of words – and for some reason people just seem to say yes to whatever they ask. Weather or not we are good with those things; God gives all of us an opportunity to be great negotiators in our prayers.

Abraham started by listening to what God was saying. He considered God’s voice, and thought out its implications. Abraham had self-interest in saving the city – his nephew Lot lived there. Abraham wanted Lot and his family to be protected and he could have asked for their safety – but he never mentioned it to the Lord. Instead, his relationship with God gave him a heart of compassion, a heart that cried out for ANY person who was righteous and who would perish along with the wicked.

Abraham’s relationship with God also helped him to understand God’s character. He appealed to God’s character – His justice: He said: “Would You also destroy the righteous with the wicked?”

Prayer is most effective when we listen and understand the God we serve – knowing His nature and character. It is effective when it comes from a heart of love built up through prayer, worship, and service. It is effective when we keep pressing. Like Abraham we have to stay on it. The degree to which we press God for something reveals our heart. How much do we want God’s will done upon the earth? Finally, like Abraham we must be willing to be used of God. Pray by listening to God, being loving, knowing Him, pressing Him, and doing what is needed. This is great negotiation – prayer!

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

hear

I rejoice in my
…suffering

Brothers and sisters: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church, of which I am a minister in accordance with God’s stewardship given to me to bring to completion for you the word of God

Is Paul saying that Jesus’ sufferings were not enough to save us? We might misunderstand him that way, but what Paul really means is that Jesus’ suffering does not deliver us from having to suffer.

Paul was the perfect example of the fact that Christ’s people have to endure suffering so His word might be prclaimed. Paul labored, was beaten many times, continually faced death, and was imprisoned. He had been lashed, shipwrecked, had been put in danger from Jews and Gentiles alike, was threatened in the city and the country; went hungry, thirsty, cold, and exposed. Besides all this, he had the daily pressure of the Churches; he was weakened by every weak member, and was intensely concerned with every Christian who fell led into sin.

We might think that Jesus endured pain and anguish so that our lives would be easy and painless, but Paul says the opposite. Jesus didn’t die and rise to rescue us from the messy inconvenience of dying and rising. Jesus died and rose so that we could share in His death and resurrection. So too with His afflictions: The Head suffered so that the Body and each member can participate in His sufferings.

Paul didn’t think that his sufferings had any innate value. Rather he rejoiced in the fact that his suffering, all the afflictions he endured were for the sake of the Church. They resulted in spreading Jesus’ gospel far and wide. He was bringing the world what Mary longed for – the ability to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His word.

Some people deal with trouble and pain in twisted ways. Some boast of their pain. The reason is not hard to find. When you’ve lost your health, and your marriage, and your kids, and your dignity, and your job, and your friends – when you have nothing else, at least you have your pain. You can still cling doggedly to your loss. Pain sometimes seems to be the only thing we can call our own. Paul won’t let us have that.

Whatever we suffer, Jesus has claimed that too. It all belongs to Him. Jesus doesn’t just want the best parts of us, the strong and healthy members. Jesus claims every last bit of us, even – especially – our weaknesses. Let us give our all to Him and proclaim Him even in our afflictions. Let others sit at our feat to hear His word in our good and bad times.

Christian Witness, Homilies,

Reflection for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

8444-2

Thank You for
…Your constant support

Or who ever knew your counsel, except you had given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high? And thus were the paths of those on earth made straight.

Last week we discussed whether Jesus’ directions were too hard to follow. They might seem difficult, but nevertheless we are to go out; reach out. We are to trust that God will provide for us while we exercise our mission of loving others, living the life Jesus showed us, and leading everyone we can to Jesus.

This week we reflect on the theme of God’s refuge. Webster defines refuge as: shelter or protection from danger or distress; or something to which one has recourse in difficulty.

With all the storms and flooding that has surrounded us we can easily relate to the idea of refuge, that safe place one can go in the midst of a storm.

Unfortunately, we tend to think of refuge, including God’s refuge only in times of distress or persecution.

The Book of Wisdom shows us that God fills us with His wisdom, and fills us with His spirit. We are created to be one with Him. If we understand and feel the way God dwells in us we know that we can rely on Him for more than just refuge in a storm, but everyday, at every moment.

God reveals himself through Holy Scripture and the Tradition and teaching of the Holy Church. These are the tools of His refuge. He infuses us with His grace everyday as long as we work in accord with His will. This is the dynamism of His refuge that constantly surrounds and protects us.

God is the “Covenant maker” and continues to provide us with the refuge of His providence.

His refuge is more than a place, more than a moment of respite in times of trouble. It is an on going giving that shapes the way we live, think, read, do theology, provide respite for others, and serve the Church.

Paul writes to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. Onesimus was Philemon’s runaway slave and Paul was sending him back. It could have been scary for Onesimus even though he was carrying Paul’s letter. But Onesimus wasn’t scared. He was confident because he had the constant refuge of God’s presence in his life. As Paul points out: Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother, beloved especially to me, but even more so to you, as a man and in the Lord.

We are all in the Lord and we have the confidence of His refuge. He is our constant support everyday as we journey to heaven.

** Note: Readings for this Sunday are taken from the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time. **

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

16809

Your directions are
…hard to follow.

“Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’ If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.”

We know this story. Having spent the month of June reflecting on and praying for the gift of vocations to the Diaconate and Holy Priesthood we hear Jesus’ words echoing, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few.”

There are several ways we might reflect on today’s gospel.

There is the obvious – we need to listen for God’s call and go out to do His work. God’s field awaits workers. We have to be the ones who listen to Him and set out to do His work, to bring His good news to those who are unaware of His marvelous promises. We have to be the ones willing to sacrifice what everyone else thinks is “normal” to follow His call to serve our brothers and sisters.

The other part, the less obvious, is the aspect of trust we must exhibit in following Jesus.

The seventy-two who were called to go out and spread the good news might well have been shocked by Jesus’ directions: “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals…” Think how those words might sound to us today: “Carry no cell phone, suitcase, wallet, purse, shoes or sneakers.” Just go out, march down the road to the next suburb, knock on a door, and see if you are welcome. Whatever house you go to, say “Peace to this household.”

If we reflect on the picture at the top of today’s bulletin, this is what Jesus asks us to do, to first love. Wish peace upon everyone, in every encounter, at every doorstep. Place our trust that Jesus will fulfill our wish for peace and give that peace to those who accept Him.

Next, live. We cannot just exist. With Jesus in our lives we have purpose and reason – a beautiful existence, a wonderful life, and most importantly a life that will never end.

Finally, lead. Knock on those doors and live life based on trust in Jesus. The cell phone, suitcase, wallet, purse, shoes or sneakers are just things. We have to show what we truly value by our example. We have to show others that our trust is in the One who makes money bags, sacks, and sandals of far lesser importance. Then we have to lead by loving, living, and speaking that trust, helping them to see beyond perceived importance to true importance, true vitality, change we can believe in: true life with Jesus.

Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , ,

When did this happen?

The Mel Brooks show features Mr. Brooks and his wife Anne Bancroft performing Sweet Georgia Brown in Polish. They had performed this piece in their film “To Be or Not to Be,” a 1983 remake of the 1942 Jack Benny comedy by the same name. The story centers on a Polish theatrical company that goes underground and takes on Nazi Germany during World War II.

This performance took place in the early 1980’s after marshall law was declared in Poland to suppress the Solidarity free Labor Union movement.

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Art, Perspective, ,

Mobility – White Cane or Marching Band

The Grand Central Art Center a unit of California State University Fullerton’s College of the Arts in Santa Ana is featuring a performance art piece “Mobility Device: Carmen Papalia,” a short documentary film by Mickey Fisher.

Artist Carmen Papalia started using a white cane when he began to lose his vision nearly ten years ago. For one day, through his performance piece titled Mobility Device, he replaced his cane with The Great Centurion Marching Band of Century High School, Santa Ana.

Christian Witness, Homilies, ,

Reflection for the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

5035

What!?!
…no pillow either?

As they were going along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.”

For the very poor of the East, in ancient times as now, the “bed” was and is, as a rule, the bare ground; and the bedclothes, the gown or “outer garment,” worn during the day. When one was on a journey, or watching his flock by night as a shepherd, such a “bed” was the most natural, and often a stone would serve as a pillow. Over time the use of a mat on the floor as a bed, with or without covering, became more common. At first it was literally laid on the main floor of the home in some convenient place near the wall; but later it was put on an elevation, either a raised part of the floor, or a bedstead, which gave rise to the expression “going up to the bed.” With later development, “beds” came to be built on supports and constructed in different forms. This fact is reflected in the variety of names given the “bed” in Hebrew and related languages. The pillow was likely formed of sheep’s fleece or goat’s skin with a stuffing of cotton.

These beds and pillows are a far cry from what we have today. We can get adjustable beds, harder or softer beds, memory-foam beds and pillows – and beds of all sizes. We likely have a favorite pillow and hopefully we like our beds.

Jesus’ reference to no bed or pillow may have seemed odd to the person pledging to follow Jesus because he knew that preachers like Jesus had no bed. It seems equally odd to us. Do we have to sleep without a pillow for Jesus?

No. Jesus isn’t telling us to grab a rock for a pillow or sleep on the ground. What He is calling for is a life of total commitment. Jesus, who lived the life of an iterant preacher, had no place to lay His head. Rather, He lived and modeled the total commitment we are to have. He was the Shepherd, on His journey for us, following the Father’s will, showing us the way we must go, the life we must lead.

To follow Jesus requires that we make a conscious and consistent effort to live the life He calls us to live. Does it involve sacrifice in the present for His promised eternal reward? Certainly!

Jesus points out that thoughts of material things or present day rewards from following Him lead us “nowhere.” Instead we have to be people following His journey into eternity, life forever. We too must be shepherds, out in the fields and roads day and night living up to Jesus’ teaching, leading others to Him.

When we get in bed and grab our pillows let us commit again and again to Him.

Christian Witness, Events, PNCC, Poland - Polish - Polonia,

Holy Synod of the Polish Catholic Church in Poland

Synod2013_06_18_1aThe Holy Synod of the Polish Catholic Church (Kościoł Polskokatolicki) was held of June 18th in Konstancin near Warsaw, Poland. The Holy Synod is the highest legislative authority of the Church and is held every five years. Delegates to the Holy Synod, two priests and two lay people, are elected from all the deaneries in the dioceses of the Church. Outgoing members of the Synodal Council are also delegates.

The Most Rev. Anthony Mikovsky, Prime Bishop of the Polish National Catholic Church in the United States and Canada attended the Holy Synod as a guest along with Rt. Rev. Paul Sobiechowski, Bishop Ordinary of the Eastern Diocese and the Very Rev. Gregory Młudzik.

Prime Bishop Mikovsky offered wishes for fruitful synodal discussions and reaffirmed the brotherly unity between the Polish National Catholic Church in the USA and Canada and the Polish Catholic Church in Poland. While each Church maintains independence of jurisdiction and a separate administration there is full communion between the Churches and a common understanding of faith and morals in complete fraternity. The Polish Catholic Church is the only Church in Poland recognized by and in union with the PNCC. Prime Bishop Mikovsky and Most Rev. Wiktor Wysoczański, head of the Polish Catholic Church, emphasized this unity in their speeches before the Holy Synod.

The Holy Synod elected new leadership for the Church for the term 2013-2018:

  1. Bp. prof. zw. dr. hab. Wiktor Wysoczański was unanimously elected to the office of President of the Church and Chairman of the Synodal Council;
  2. Members of the Synodal Council;
  3. The Audit Committee;
  4. The Bishop’s Court; and
  5. The Financial and Economic Commission.

godlo polskokatolickieThe Holy Synod failed to elect Bishops for the dioceses of Kraków-Częstochowa and Wrocław by the necessary two-thirds margin.

The Holy Synod adopted a policy paper on the pastoral and missionary nature of the Church presented by Very Rev. Antoni Norman as well as resolutions and provisions relating to the activities of Polish Catholic Church in Poland through June 2018.

Christian Witness, ,

Eternal Memory Ś+P Father Garen Gdanian

A good friend, and member of our local North Colonie Clergy Group, Father śp. Garen Gdanian who had served St. Peter Armenian Church in Watervliet, New York has reposed in the Lord. May his memory be eternal. May God enlighten Der Garen’s soul and bring peace and comfort to Yn. Zabel and family.

Latham – Father Garen Gdanian, 88, passed peacefully on Thursday, June 27, 2013, surrounded by his loving family. He was the second child of the late Kevork and Siranoosh (Tavookjian) Gdanian.

Fr. Garen GdanianFather Garen Gdanian was born on February 1, 1925 in Aleppo, Syria. His baptismal name was Sarkis. He attended local Armenian schools; first, the Nersessian School, then Zavarian, and later Gertaisratz School.

At the age of 13, he entered the Armenian Seminary of Jerusalem and studied there six full years. In 1944, he returned to Aleppo and taught in the Zavarian Armenian School for one year. From 1945 to 1947, he studied at the Armenian Theological Seminary of Antelias, Lebanon.

In the year 1947, Father Garen came to the United States as a student upon the invitation of then Primate, Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan. He studied at the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, MA, where he received a Master of Divinity degree in 1950. He continued his studies one more year by attending the Harvard Divinity School.

Father Garen was ordained a deacon in January of 1948 and was assigned to Lowell Armenian Church as Deacon-in-Charge. On December 19, 1948, Archbishop Tiran Nersoyan ordained him as a priest at St. Vartanantz Church of Lowell, MA, giving him the priestly name ‘Garen.’ Father Garen served this parish nine full years as its pastor.

It was at this parish that Father Garen met his soul mate, Zabelle. In 1952, Father Garen married the former Zabelle Kludjian and together they had three children.

In September of 1957, Father Garen became pastor of St. Gregory the Illuminator Armenian Church in New York City. Archbishop Mampre Calfaian, who was the Primate at that time, made the change in assignment. In 1964, he was given permission to wear a pectoral cross. Father Garen stayed in this second parish for 13 years, until 1970.

Father Garen was elected Pastor of St. Peter Armenian Church of Troy, NY and began serving this community in September 1970. The parish was building a new church sanctuary in Watervliet and in two months’ time the church community moved from Troy to Watervliet. Father Garen faithfully served this third parish for 19 years. Following his retirement in September 1989, Father Garen continued to serve the St. Peter parish and community as Pastor Emeritus up until the time of his death.

In 1977, Father Garen received his floral Pilonium and in 1984 he was elevated to the rank of Avak Kahana or Arch Priest. He served on the Diocesan Council from 1971-1975. The St. Peter Parish and Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America honored and celebrated his milestones of ordination to the priesthood in 1973 (twenty-five years), 1988 (forty years), 1998 (fifty years), and 2009 (sixty years).

Father Garen continued his studies by joining various workshops and seminars and by attending courses at the University of New York at Albany and Siena College in Loudonville, NY. He has been a member of the Watervliet Clergy and Capital Area Clergy Support Group.

He has also published several inspirational books based on his sermons and life experiences.

Although retired, Father Garen always helped out by filling in as a priest when needed in the Diocese, including the nearby Springfield and Binghamton parishes. He also travelled to serve parish communities in Texas, Ohio and Florida, as well as two preaching missions in Armenia.

Father Garen was a well-loved, kind, gentle and intelligent man. His passion for his church and for the people he served never ceased to be a second priority. His family was always number one. As a dedicated husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, he filled his family’s lives with knowledge and joy that will stay with them for a lifetime. As an important figure in the Capital District community and throughout the Eastern Diocese, he will be dearly missed. His accomplishments not only lie within his priesthood, but within the friendships he developed and kept over the years.

Father Garen is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Zabelle (Kludjian) and his three children; daughter Arpy Gdanian Ernest, son Kyn (Maureen), daughter Garyn Ahearn (Brian), six grandchildren: Katrina Ernest Mayba (Christopher), Lucy Gdanian Stoyles (Gregory), Naomi Gdanian, Anna Gdanian, Josiah Gdanian (Chelsea) and Gregory Gdanian. He also has two great-grandchildren. Additionally, he leaves behind several nieces, nephews and cousins. He was pre-deceased by two brothers and one sister.

The funeral service, which includes the celebration of the Divine Liturgy and the final anointing of Father Garen, will take place on Tuesday, July 2, 2013 at 11 o’clock AM in St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church, Watervliet. Interment will follow in Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, NY.

Relatives, friends, clergy and parishioners are invited and may also visit with Father Garen’s family on Monday from 3 until 7 PM in St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church, Watervliet. A wake service will take place, in the church, on Monday evening at 6:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Peter Armenian Apostolic Church, Building Fund, P.O. Box 196, Watervliet, NY 12189.

Read more, including Dar Garen’s essay “What is Man” at the website of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

Current Events, Events, Media, Perspective, Poetry, Poland - Polish - Polonia, , , , , , , ,

The Cosmopolitan Review – Summer Edition

The Cosmopolitan Review, A Transatlantic Review of Things Polish, in English has issued its Summer 2013 edition jam packed with books, art, poetry, events, and excellent information.

CR welcomes summer, as does Poland. And nowhere is the summer solstice more beautifully welcomed than in Poland, with the ancient festival of Wianki (wreaths), when barefoot girls in white dresses bring floral wreaths to a river’s edge, cast them in the water, and leave them to fate’s caprice.

The wianki, elaborate works of art involving branches, flowers and candles, float downriver to the delight of children and adults alike. More wreaths are fashioned into floral crowns embellished with figures of birds, butterflies and anything else the artistic imagination can come up with. Extravagance has no limits on this day; the hats of Ascot pale by comparison perhaps because wianki – as opposed to hats – is not a commercial enterprise. One can only hope that this festival will forever stay as it is, that Hallmark will never create Wianki greeting cards, and shopping malls will never have Wianki Day Specials. Though purveyors of food, drink and music are welcome. And we’ve just learned that there is a Wianki fest in Washington, D.C. Good to know in case you don’t make it to Kraków next year.

Luckily, “Poland” is wherever Polish people are, as is stated so eloquently in Hanka Ordonówna’s wonderful book about children when their Poland was just “two rooms.” For thousands of us, Poland has been, at one time or another, in India, Africa, New Zealand, Mexico and beyond.

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In this issue, we highlight India, mainly because of the marvelous book by Indian author Anuradha Bhattacharjee, The Second Homeland: Polish Refugees in India. That Polish landscape included elephants, exotic fruit, generous Maharajas and a superb cast of characters ranging from cabaret stars to theosophists.

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Books, as always. Michał Kasprzak weighs in on Marci Shore’s The Taste of Ashes; there’s a review of Magda Romanska’s new anthology of Bogusław Schaeffer’s works. And two writers have a problem with Agata Tuszyńska’s Vera Gran.

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On the light side, an Englishman’s adventures – misadventures? – begin with his future bride’s father saying “No.” He also notes that while English weddings are heavy on speeches, Polish weddings emphasize food and dancing. He indulges in the eternal rivalry between Kraków and Warsaw as well, so to cool that, CR puts the spotlight on enchanting Zamość.

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And now to food! As noted in The Guardian: No processed cheeses, no tinned fish, no just-add-water packets… think Provence, with beetroot. Which brings us to two new Polish cookbooks, Polish Classic Desserts and From a Polish Country Kitchen, both reviewed in this issue.

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Finally, as noted above, Poland is wherever Polish people are and for several summers they were in Canmore, Alberta, at Poland in the Rockies. There were fond hopes that a new cycle of this lively symposium would begin again in 2014 but fate decided otherwise. In this issue, CR bids a formal Farewell to Poland in the Rockies.

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