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We're all in the same boat!
Yes, it’s true that we are all in the same boat and that many are experiencing the full range of anxieties, fears, and a sense of helplessness. Most of our lives we have been led, or mislead to believe what exactly the faith will accomplish. Or even the extent to what the Church truly is, and what it stands for.
 Until now, our journey has been on relatively calm waters. Yet now we begun to embark upon troubled waters. This is truly a human response. For example the story from the gospels:
One evening when Christ and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat. Suddenly a furious storm came up, with the waves breaking over the boat so that it was nearly swamped. Christ was asleep in the stern, and the disciples woke him and asked, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"
He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea,
"Peace! Be still!"
Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" (Mark 4:35-41)
For the ancient Jews, water meant death! The Old Testament is full of examples of this nature of water thus equating death being the product of chaos and for many today, chaos seems to be ruling our lives.
Why are you afraid? Have you no faith? These questions posed to His disciples, the men who were called and lived on daily basis with Christ Himself and were so filled with panic that our Lord had to command to “be still!”
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"But we're only human"
We see our human frailty once again; when on stormy seas, His disciples saw Christ walking on the waters (death).
"Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
“Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:25-32)
This boat for the Orthodox has become our ship of salvation (from the Greek meaning healing and not judgement). As we face the coming days and events, we need now more than ever to bring stability into our now chaotic lives.
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Often, we mention how a stool needs three legs to be stable. We also need at least three legs to support us, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. When these legs stand strong no weight can disturb our stability. Worldwide, the Orthodox Church prays universally with one voice for this current pandemic to pass peacefully. We pray that Christ the Pantocrator (the ultimate All Might) will quickly subdue any pandemic.
As Orthodox Christians we are called upon to follow Christ…even through his trials and passions. We pray before icons and see that He will not leave those who haven't already left Him (Icons are the windows into heaven).
During this time our homes should be an extension of our Church, which will open again soon, to welcome our church family.
Together with our Lord, we His church, pray to strengthen our spiritual support, to provide our family and friends the emotional stability, and equally to ask for physical protection. We ask not only for ourselves and those whom we know, but the many in the same boat.
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It is very difficult to encourage the participation of regular and special services of the Great Lent in this time. We still actively offer prayers for you all, and hope that soon we assemble again, and become Christ’s Church!
Remember the words spoken to those nearest Him:
“Don’t be afraid.”
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It will be hard. We will be here.
Please call Father Rade.
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