Friends,
This are few thoughts on topic of having good sermons in the church.
I agree that this is a good suggestion, but it might be good for us
to take care of one aspect -
When we say we need good speakers, we must not criticise an Achen if
he is not a good speaker. This is because, ordination to priesthood
does not automatically mean that you become an orator, nor should
this be enforced ever. We, the faithful, need to be able to see the
difference. You aspire to become a priest, not because you want
to "move" the audience with words, but because you feel you are
being called to serve the Lord in a very special and dedicated
manner. This service of a priest can be a humble and subtle manner
also, it does not necessarily mean that Lord would use a priest
to "speak" to the audience and "move" their souls. Moses, the great
leader of the Jews, was never a good speaker, yet the Lord used him.
The disciples whom Jesus chose, were ordinary timid fishermen, who
ran away in fear and terror at the time of our Lord's passion, but
who were transformed by the Holy Spirit to be the pillars of the
church.
My point is that - while oratory is a good virtue, it is not a
prerequisite to being a good priest. I have known Achens who do not
have great oratory skills, but who work with you much more, and are
more approchable than the other more proficient speakers. This
would, I guess, be because, these low profile leaders do not have to
deal with the issues of bloated ego, prestige etc..that the more
recognised orators suffer from. We are blessed with a lot of such
low profile leaders in our church, and, with due respect to all the
great orators in the church, I think these low key leaders\workers
are real treasures of our church, and they are the true workers in
the vineyard.
Also, I am not only speaking of Achens or Thirumenis, I am also
reminded of many of our nuns, sisters, also ordinary workers both
men and women, who witness Christ without uttering a word, who
inspire many to follow their path, by the works that they do daily -
they are the true leaders and workers who are fulfilling our primary
mission of witnessing Christ. We do not know most of them, but they
are always there, steadily doing God's work, and inspiring many more
to be like them, in the process. May God bless us with more such low profile
leaders.
Regards,
Mathew Samuel
Austin,TX
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/7372
This are few thoughts on topic of having good sermons in the church.
I agree that this is a good suggestion, but it might be good for us
to take care of one aspect -
When we say we need good speakers, we must not criticise an Achen if
he is not a good speaker. This is because, ordination to priesthood
does not automatically mean that you become an orator, nor should
this be enforced ever. We, the faithful, need to be able to see the
difference. You aspire to become a priest, not because you want
to "move" the audience with words, but because you feel you are
being called to serve the Lord in a very special and dedicated
manner. This service of a priest can be a humble and subtle manner
also, it does not necessarily mean that Lord would use a priest
to "speak" to the audience and "move" their souls. Moses, the great
leader of the Jews, was never a good speaker, yet the Lord used him.
The disciples whom Jesus chose, were ordinary timid fishermen, who
ran away in fear and terror at the time of our Lord's passion, but
who were transformed by the Holy Spirit to be the pillars of the
church.
My point is that - while oratory is a good virtue, it is not a
prerequisite to being a good priest. I have known Achens who do not
have great oratory skills, but who work with you much more, and are
more approchable than the other more proficient speakers. This
would, I guess, be because, these low profile leaders do not have to
deal with the issues of bloated ego, prestige etc..that the more
recognised orators suffer from. We are blessed with a lot of such
low profile leaders in our church, and, with due respect to all the
great orators in the church, I think these low key leaders\workers
are real treasures of our church, and they are the true workers in
the vineyard.
Also, I am not only speaking of Achens or Thirumenis, I am also
reminded of many of our nuns, sisters, also ordinary workers both
men and women, who witness Christ without uttering a word, who
inspire many to follow their path, by the works that they do daily -
they are the true leaders and workers who are fulfilling our primary
mission of witnessing Christ. We do not know most of them, but they
are always there, steadily doing God's work, and inspiring many more
to be like them, in the process. May God bless us with more such low profile
leaders.
Regards,
Mathew Samuel
Austin,TX
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/7372
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