St. Herman of Alaska Orthodox Church
Items from February 2008 Newsletter
Legalism and Laxity
As Great Lent approaches, we are reminded that serving God faithfully is a matter of avoiding extremes, of keeping the proper and saving balance. As GK Chesterton once said, “It is always simple to fall; there are an infinity of angles at which one falls, only one at which one stands.” One can fall into legalism, or one can fall the opposite way into laxity. We are called to remain spiritually upright. Temptations to fall into either legalism or laxity are common among converts, and that is why we at St. Herman’s must be especially vigilant. The devil, for his part, doesn’t care whether he makes you fall into legalism or laxity, as long he can make you fall. Legalism is a very old temptation for the Orthodox, since we have so many rules. But the main sign that one has fallen into legalism is not a rigorous keeping of the rules. (I am thinking of the saintly Elder Cleopa, who would not break his Lenten fast even in the hospital.) Legalism is present when you are mostly concerned that other people keep the rules, and are easily bent out of shape when they do not. Keep the fast as rigorously as you please, and derive all the benefit you like—just keep your eyes firmly fixed on the plate of food before you, and not on anyone else’s. Your neighbour already has a Judge in heaven who is keeping score for him, and doesn’t need your help on earth.
The opposite temptation to legalism is laxity, and people who are alive to the evils of legalism and especially vulnerable. Laxity is not defined as a willingness to set aside the rules under certain circumstances, for we have the example of saints who would cheerfully set aside their fasting discipline when the demands of charity required it. Rather, laxity is present when one mostly never keeps the rules—when most Fridays come and go and find meat on your dinner table and your conscience never taps you on the shoulder about it. All things being equal, Orthodox don’t eat meat, fish or dairy on Wednesdays and Fridays, and they eat nothing at all prior to receiving Holy Communion. If we call ourselves Orthodox, we need to (as they say) get with the programme, for it is the Church’s programme, not ours.
Keeping balance can be difficult, especially in a militantly secular society like ours. The key is seeking God in humility. As St. Paul says in 1 Cor. 10:12, “Let anyone who thinks he stands, take heed lest he falls.”
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Lawrence
MANY YEARS to
Our new parish council:
Sava Duran
Vivian Hartley
Ramona Wildeman
Greg Wright
Muryn Jordan
Kai Lerche
And to our retiring
members
Athina Parson
Stephanie Quissy
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*New * Diakonia Project!
The winter project of Diakonia collected over sixty bags of needed personal items for distribution to the homeless. The next project will be the collection of baby items for those in need.
Maria Campbell and Angelina Hawrylyshen will also be glad to hear your suggestions for mission and service projects at the local, national and international level.
*************************************************************************
FEBRUARY SPECIAL EVENTS
Sat. Feb 2— 9 AM
Liturgy for Feast of the Meeting.
At 12:30 PM that same day,
David Pasivirta & Laurenn Kollin invite us to the celebration of their marriage at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church, 7838 Canada Way, Burnaby
#################################################
Fasting rules for FEBRUARY 2008
As our new wall calendars include detailed fasting rules re: wine, oil etc., I will only note more general items in this box in future. The new calendars are available in the narthex for a toonie donation to the candle money tin. —Mat. Donna, editor
· All Wed. & Fri. this month, except for the Fast Free Week, are normal fast days—NO meat, dairy, eggs, fish (fish w. backbone), wine (all alcohol) or olive oil.
· Mon. Feb. 18 up to and including Sun. Feb. 24
is the FAST FREE WEEK . All foods allowed
As Great Lent approaches, we are reminded that serving God faithfully is a matter of avoiding extremes, of keeping the proper and saving balance. As GK Chesterton once said, “It is always simple to fall; there are an infinity of angles at which one falls, only one at which one stands.” One can fall into legalism, or one can fall the opposite way into laxity. We are called to remain spiritually upright. Temptations to fall into either legalism or laxity are common among converts, and that is why we at St. Herman’s must be especially vigilant. The devil, for his part, doesn’t care whether he makes you fall into legalism or laxity, as long he can make you fall. Legalism is a very old temptation for the Orthodox, since we have so many rules. But the main sign that one has fallen into legalism is not a rigorous keeping of the rules. (I am thinking of the saintly Elder Cleopa, who would not break his Lenten fast even in the hospital.) Legalism is present when you are mostly concerned that other people keep the rules, and are easily bent out of shape when they do not. Keep the fast as rigorously as you please, and derive all the benefit you like—just keep your eyes firmly fixed on the plate of food before you, and not on anyone else’s. Your neighbour already has a Judge in heaven who is keeping score for him, and doesn’t need your help on earth.
The opposite temptation to legalism is laxity, and people who are alive to the evils of legalism and especially vulnerable. Laxity is not defined as a willingness to set aside the rules under certain circumstances, for we have the example of saints who would cheerfully set aside their fasting discipline when the demands of charity required it. Rather, laxity is present when one mostly never keeps the rules—when most Fridays come and go and find meat on your dinner table and your conscience never taps you on the shoulder about it. All things being equal, Orthodox don’t eat meat, fish or dairy on Wednesdays and Fridays, and they eat nothing at all prior to receiving Holy Communion. If we call ourselves Orthodox, we need to (as they say) get with the programme, for it is the Church’s programme, not ours.
Keeping balance can be difficult, especially in a militantly secular society like ours. The key is seeking God in humility. As St. Paul says in 1 Cor. 10:12, “Let anyone who thinks he stands, take heed lest he falls.”
Yours in the Lord,
Fr. Lawrence
MANY YEARS to
Our new parish council:
Sava Duran
Vivian Hartley
Ramona Wildeman
Greg Wright
Muryn Jordan
Kai Lerche
And to our retiring
members
Athina Parson
Stephanie Quissy
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*New * Diakonia Project!
The winter project of Diakonia collected over sixty bags of needed personal items for distribution to the homeless. The next project will be the collection of baby items for those in need.
Maria Campbell and Angelina Hawrylyshen will also be glad to hear your suggestions for mission and service projects at the local, national and international level.
*************************************************************************
FEBRUARY SPECIAL EVENTS
Sat. Feb 2— 9 AM
Liturgy for Feast of the Meeting.
At 12:30 PM that same day,
David Pasivirta & Laurenn Kollin invite us to the celebration of their marriage at St. Michael’s Orthodox Church, 7838 Canada Way, Burnaby
#################################################
Fasting rules for FEBRUARY 2008
As our new wall calendars include detailed fasting rules re: wine, oil etc., I will only note more general items in this box in future. The new calendars are available in the narthex for a toonie donation to the candle money tin. —Mat. Donna, editor
· All Wed. & Fri. this month, except for the Fast Free Week, are normal fast days—NO meat, dairy, eggs, fish (fish w. backbone), wine (all alcohol) or olive oil.
· Mon. Feb. 18 up to and including Sun. Feb. 24
is the FAST FREE WEEK . All foods allowed
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