If we expect our children and grandchildren to grow into adulthood as practicing Orthodox Christians, we must give daily witness to the importance of our faith. If we are lax in our fasting, church attendance, and piety, our children will see by our lack of seriousness, a compartmentalized religion that is ultimately of no value to them.
If they do not see us seriously practicing our faith, Orthodoxy will ultimately be rejected by them as something that is of no personal value. If they do not see us praying, they will not have prayer as a part of their lives. If they do not see us putting the divine services before entertainment, they will abandon Orthodoxy as irrelevant to them. If they do not see Christ in us, they will ultimately reject Christ for themselves.
If they do not see in their parents a Christian who is quick to forgive, quick to show mercy, and quick to give to the poor, they will not see Christ. If they do not see in the parent one who loves his neighbor, as Christ commanded, they will not see the Christ that changes and transforms lives.
Just as a child has to be educated in the art of poetry, reading, painting, and the sciences, so too must a child be taught by the example of his parents, the importance of faith. Saint Isaac the Syrian said, “Faith is the door to mysteries. What the bodily eyes are to sensory objects, the same is faith to the eyes of the intellect that gaze at hidden treasures”.
To educate a child in the humanities and the sciences, but to fail to implant faith by our example, is to ultimately cheat the child of the most important gift of all, the gift of faith.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
What are we as Orthodox doing for the next generation as the world’s population grows. Orthodoxy is in no hurry but what is the next step. Yes we as Orthodox are more concerned with antiquity than modernity, but again, what is the next step. The next step is local missions. To learn more and or donate go to our homepage @ www.ocmamerica.org …What gift are we giving to the next generation this Nativity?
STF SMM Coordinator – Eric A. Tweten
