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Gen:1:3,4,31:- "And
God said "Let there be light"; and there was light. And God
saw that the light was good; ...... and God saw everything that he had
made, and behold it was very good."
God's creation is good and
beautiful. Yet Adam in his disobedience and pride damaged this perfect
world and marred his God-given image. Creation fell with Adam and the
apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans writes, (8:28):-
"For we know that the
whole creation groans and labours with birth pangs together until now."
The "groaning"
is a yearning or desire for transformation to be eternally in harmony
with God's rule as it was in the beginning before the Fall. Yet, creation
has not totally lost the beauty the Creator bestowed upon the world. Whenever
man responds to the grace of God there is a re-creation and that initial
relationship is restored. For man is essentially a eucharistic creature
and his soul longs for the life giving waters of God to quench his thirsty
soul. The soul is at peace when it worships and gives glory to its Creator.
Reflecting the light of God is the true nature and purpose of man and
is at the heart of what we mean by "glory."
One hears of the monks of
the Holy Mountain of Athos purifying the very air they breathe with their
unceasing practice of the Jesus prayer and playing with the animals who
come to the monks in trust and friendship in order to be fed. Staretz
Amvrosii, a renowned ascetic of the Russian Church tells this story:-
" A certain devout Christian
had a myna bird in his house, which he was teaching to speak. The bird
also learned the words " Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy
on me," which the Christian repeated often. One summer day the bird
found the window open and flew out into the street. Then a hawk saw it
from on high and rushed towards it. The bird surprised by the attack,
instead of another cry, cried out the prayer and the hawk-a wonderful
thing! - pulled back at once as if someone was chasing it away."
"What do we notice here?"
the staretz asked. "That even if the Jesus prayer is said unconsciously
it has results and makes possible the impossible." So we see that
Divine Grace is attracted by prayer and operates not only upon the soul
but all creation. The presence of the All Holy Spirit fills man with a
yearning for His Creator and creation. He restores the immortal language
of love divided at Babel; He brings a compassion and a broadening of the
heart for all nature; He encourages in man an embrace for that stewardship
that God intended for His image-endowed creatures. Such an opening of
our heart to the Paraklete fills our senses with the beauty God has given
to His world.
Luke.12:27 :- "Consider
the lilies how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to
you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Even the flowers of the field
give glory to their Creator. We too should immitate this glory by our
simplicity, humility and generosity of spirit. Our obedience to the Divine
Will makes us beautiful for God.
Illustration 1: There once
was an old man whose hard life had made him bitter, resentful, mean and
consequently isolated. Some new neighbours moved into the next door flat
and bought him a beautiful bunch of flowers. This kind gesture touched
the old man's heart and he said to himself: "I must go and buy a
vase in which to display these lovely flowers." So he did. He put
the vase of flowers on the window sill and he noticed how shabby the curtains
were. so without delay he went and bought some new ones. Soon he was buying
carpets, repairing furniture, painting the walls and decided to invite
his new neighbours around for a meal. That one beautiful gesture became
not only a critic on his dismal surroundings but a catalyst that changed
his whole attitude to life. It is important to try to do something beautiful
for God every day of our lives for Our Lord Jesus Christ is the most beautiful
gift to us and He transforms lives.
Illustration 2: A mother
visiting her son away at college was saddened at seeing some rude posters
on his bedroom wall but instead of criticizing her son she left an Icon
of the Theotokos and an Icon of the Saviour in his room. The next time
she visited him the posters were gone and had been replaced by the Holy
Icons. When Christ enters into our lives the beauty of His presence makes
us ashamed of our sins and moves us to repentance. Christ's presence makes
our lives more beautiful and good. The fragrance of His grace lingers
like incense making our lives holier. Why don't you buy some flowers for
someone today and see what happens! Their face will light up with joy
and their smile will be a wonderful testimony to the truth that we are
indeed eucharistic creatures reflecting the beauty of Our Creator. "Come
Lord Jesus Christ enter my life today and make it beautiful. Glory to
You O Lord Glory to You. Amen."
July
1999
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