Rector's Words | saviourtheredeemer

March 26h , 2023

The Rev. Canon Bahman Kalantari

Logos, Myth, and Lazarus 2023

St. Paul in his letter to the Romans says: The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you (Romans 8:11).

When human beings die, God’s Spirit does not die. God’s Spirit never dies. Whatever we do and whatever happens to us, God’s Spirit who lives in us never dies. The Holy Trinity- the loving Father, His life-giving Word, His Spirit- never dies.

The same law applies to Lazarus’ incident too. Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days; Jesus commands him: Lazarus, come out. Lazarus listens to Jesus and comes out.

Jesus the Word of God, Jesus the breath of God, calls upon Lazarus and Lazarus comes back to life.

Now, I would like to take this opportunity to compare earthly words with the divine word. Earthly words have been recorded in epics, tales, legends, and especially in mythologies. But the divine word has a totally different origin. When we understand the difference between earthly words and the divine word, then we will be able to observe and recognize miracles and the supernatural.

St. John, the Gospel writer, tells us about the divine word in the following way: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1).

The Word in this verse is a translation from the Greek word Logos. Logos is defined as word, speech, or thought , but most importantly Logos means the divine word, the divine breath that took human flesh, was born into a human family, and was called Jesus (John 1:1–14). Jesus is the divine word and breath, and this divine word and breath has the power to create life and brings new breath to all creation.

Let us now see what our New Testament says about earthly words or myths. St. Paul issues the following warning against myths:

When I left for Macedonia, I asked you to stay behind in Ephesus so that you could instruct certain individuals not to spread wrong teaching. They should not pay attention to myths and endless family histories. Their teaching only causes useless guessing games instead of faithfulness to God’s way of doing things (1 Timothy 1:3-4).

The word myth is defined as story, tale, or legend. Some ancient, unknown, and gifted leaders created these tales, legends, or myth. Why?

Because primitive human beings needed some norms, rules and regulations to live by. These myths, tales, and legends gave them an identity, told them what they were, and taught them how to manage their life- a life that was always threatened by nature and rival groups.

When a natural disaster hit these primitive human beings, they thought there was an angry power or unhappy gods behind it. They thought these angry gods were hungry, so they sacrificed some animals for, or offered the best of their products to the angry god in order to satisfy his hunger and extinguish the fire of his anger. This gave these primitive human beings first, a sense of security.

And then, after the sacrificial ceremony, their distress and fear were diminished and relief followed. In time, however, the cycle would begin again. Many rituals and ceremonies were devised in this mythical arrangement to keep the cycle going.

As you see, in a mythical belief system, gods are the reflection of human frightful life on earth. The primitive human beings lived in a fear of the unknown and were powerless when faced with natural disasters. But, through the ceremonial sacrifice they felt a little bit of relief. Perhaps joy was unknown to them.

This is the very reason why God the Father decided to send his word, his transforming breath, his wisdom, his love to earth in order to save human beings from their ignorance and miserable life.

Through St. John’s Gospel, we come to understand that Christ Jesus is the divine word, divine breath, divine wisdom, and divine hope. The heavenly Father brought to life everything through his word and breath.

And now, Jesus Christ, the incarnate word and the breath of the Heavenly Father, teaches us that our Heavenly Father is pure love. As we read in the Gospel of John:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Jesus Christ is the combination of God’ word, God’s wisdom, God’s breath, and God’s love. And this is the very reason why he is capable of pulling out the body of Lazarus from his tomb and giving him a new breath, a new life.

After Jesus’ resurrection, we notice that the disciples of Jesus are now empowered and blessed to do the same thing Jesus did.

The Book of Acts tells us that St. Peter was summoned by some of the disciples. They needed Peter. A devoted woman, Tabitha, had died and the disciples wanted Peter to do something about it (Acts 9:36-43).

Peter went to the house and then he made everyone leave the room. Peter knelt and prayed. Then he turned toward the body and said, “Tabitha, get up!”

Tabitha opened her eyes, saw Peter, and sat up. Peter took her hand and helped her stand up.

Now, the question is how and why St. Peter was able to bring Tabitha back to life. Today, let us meditate on this. Amen.

How to make the Anglican Rosary

Anglican Prayer Beads

A Form of Contemplative Prayer

Anglican Prayer Beads are a relatively new form of prayer, blending the Orthodox Jesus Prayer Rope and the Roman Catholic Rosary. The thirty-three bead design was created by the Rev. Lynn Bauman in the mid-1980s, through the prayerful exploration and discovery of a contemplative prayer group.

The use of the rosary or prayer beads helps to bring us into contemplative of meditative prayer—really thinking about and being mindful of praying, of being in the presence of God—by use of mind, body, and spirit. The touching of the fingers on each successive bead is an aid in keeping our mind from wandering, and the rhythm of the prayers leads us more readily into stillness.

Anglican Prayer Beads.

Symbolism of the Beads
The configuration of the Anglican Prayer Beads relate contemplative prayer using the Rosary to many levels of traditional Christian symbolism. Contemplative prayer is enriched by these symbols whose purpose is always to focus and concentrate attention, allowing the one who prays to move more swiftly into the Presence of God.

The prayer beads are made up of twenty-eight beads divided into four groups of seven called weeks. In the Judeo-Christian tradition the number seven represents spiritual perfection and completion. Between each week is a single bead, called a cruciform bead as the four beads form a cross. The invitatory bead between the cross and the wheel of beads brings the total to thirty-three, the number of years in Jesus’ earthly life.

Praying with the beads

To begin, hold the Cross and say the prayer you have assigned to it, then move to the Invitatory Bead. Then enter the circle of the prayer with the first Cruciform Bead, moving to the right,

go through the first set of seven beads to the next Cruciform bead, continuing around the circle,

saying the prayers for each bead.

It is suggested that you pray around the circle of the beads three times (which signifies the Trinity)

in an unhurried pace, allowing the repetition to become a sort of lullaby of love and praise that enables your mind to rest and your heart to become quiet and still.

Praying through the beads three times and adding the crucifix at the beginning or the end, brings the total to one hundred, which is the total of the Orthodox Rosary. A period of silence should follow the prayer, for a time of reflection and listening. Listening is an important part of all prayer.

Begin praying the Anglican Prayer Beads by selecting the prayers you wish to use for the cross and each bead. Practice them until it is clear which prayer goes with which bead, and as far as possible commit the prayers to memory.

Find a quiet spot and allow your body and mind to become restful and still. After a time of silence, begin praying the prayer beads at an unhurried, intentional pace. Complete the circle of the beads three times.

When you have completed the round of the prayer beads, you should end with a period of silence. This silence allows you to center your being in an extended period of silence. It also invites reflection and listening after you have invoked the Name and Presence of God.

Closing your Prayers
The following ending can be used with any of the prayers in this booklet. After three circuits around the prayer beads, you may finish as follows:

Last time through:

Invitatory Bead
The Lord’s Prayer

The Cross
I bless the Lord.

Or, in a group setting:
Let us bless the Lord
Thanks be to God.

Prayers
You may mix and match or put together your own.

Bless the Lord

The Cross

Blessed be the one, holy, and living God.
Glory to God for ever and ever. Amen.

The Invitatory
O God make speed to save me (us),
O Lord make haste to help me (us),
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

The Cruciforms
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord. You that stand in the house of the Lord, lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord.

The Weeks
I lift up my eyes to the hills;
From where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord,
The maker of heaven and earth.

Trisagion and Jesus Prayer

The Cross
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Cruciforms
Holy God,
Holy and Mighty,
Holy Immortal One,
Have mercy upon me (us).

The Weeks
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
Have mercy on me, a sinner.

Or, in a group setting:
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy upon us.

*Trisagion means "thrice Holy"

Agnus Dei Prayer

The Cross
The Lord’s Prayer

The Invitatory
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."—Psalm 19:14

The Cruciforms
Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world
have mercy upon us,
Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world
have mercy upon us,
Oh, Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world
give us Thy Peace.

The Weeks
Almighty and merciful Lord,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless us and keep us.
Amen.

*Agnus Dei means "Lamb of God"

Julian of Norwich Prayer

The Cross
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Cruciforms
God of your goodness, give me yourself,
For you are enough to me.
And I can ask for nothing less that is to your glory.
And if I ask for anything less, I shall still be in want, for only in you have I all.

The Weeks
All shall be well, and all shall be well,
And all manner of things shall be well.

In His love He has done His works, and in His love He has made all things beneficial to us.

This prayer was created by Sister Brigit-Carol, S.D.
www.solitariesofdekoven.org

A Celtic Prayer

The Cross
In the Name of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Cruciforms
Be the eye of God dwelling with me,
The foot of Christ in guidance with me,
The shower of the Spirit pouring on me,
Richly and generously

The Weeks
Pray each phrase on a separate bead.
I bow before the Father who made me,
I bow before the Son who saved me,
I bow before the Spirit who guides me,
In love and adoration.
I praise the Name of the one on high.
I bow before thee Sacred Three,
The ever One, the Trinity.

This prayer was created by Sister Brigit-Carol, S.D.
www.solitariesofdekoven.org

Come Lord Jesus Prayer

The Cross
"Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen."—Revelation 7:12

The invitatory
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble."—Psalm 46:1

The Cruciforms
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless God’s Holy Name."—Psalm 103:1

The Weeks
"Come Lord Jesus, draw us to yourself."—John 12:32

Saint Patrick's Breastplate

The Cross

I bind unto myself today the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same, the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation, eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation, salvation is of Christ the Lord.

The Invitatory
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me.
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

The Cruciforms
I bind unto myself today
the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One, and One in Three.

The Weeks
1. I bind this day to me for ever, by power of faith, Christ’s Incarnation;
2. his baptism in Jordan river;
3. his death on cross for my salvation;
4. his bursting from the spicèd tomb;
5. his riding up the heavenly way;
6. his coming at the day of doom:
7. I bind unto myself today.

1. I bind unto myself the power of the great love of cherubim;
2. the sweet "Well done" in judgment hour;
3. the service of the seraphim;
4. confessors’ faith, apostles’ word,
5. the patriarchs’ prayers, the prophets’ scrolls;
6. all good deeds done unto the Lord,
7. and purity of virgin souls.

1. I bind unto myself today the virtues of the starlit heaven,
2. the glorious sun’s life-giving ray,
3. the whiteness of the moon at even,
4. the flashing of the lightning free,
5. the whirling of the wind’s tempestuous shocks,
6. the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
7. around the old eternal rocks.

1. I bind unto myself today the power of God to hold and lead,
2. his eye to watch, his might to stay,
3. his ear to hearken, to my need;
4. the wisdom of my God to teach,
5. his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
6. the word of God to give me speech,
7. his heavenly host to be my guard.

Words: attributed to St. Patrick (372-466)
translated by Cecil Frances Alexander, 1889
Adapted for use with Anglican Prayer Beads by Laura Kelly Campbell

An Evening Prayer

The Cross
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be for ever. Amen.

The Invitatory
Open my lips, O Lord,
and my mouth shall proclaim
Your praise.

The Cruciforms
Guide us waking, O Lord,
and guard us sleeping;
that awake we may watch
with Christ, and asleep
we may rest in peace.

The Weeks
Jesus, lamb of God, have mercy on us.
Jesus, bearer of our sins, have mercy on us.
Jesus, redeemer of the world, give us your peace.