If we wish to share the truth of the Orthodox Faith, and Christ Who is her head, we must give witness to the love of Christ by loving everyone. Without Christ, Orthodoxy is just another religion, devoid of the power to transform and deify the human heart. Without Christ the Church is nothing but a human institution, no different than a political party.
For the Church to be herself, Christ must be visible in the love of her bishops and priests. Christ must be seen in the love of her people, and the charity and kindness that is displayed by all who call themselves Orthodox.
Without Christ our world is devoid of hope, and for others to know Christ, they must be able to see Him in us. The light of Christ must shine forth through the love of His Church and be made manifest in the works of His people. Without this love there is only darkness upon the face of the earth, and the world will remain without hope.
Others can not know they need Christ if they do not see Him in us. They do not know this Christ fills hearts and transforms lives if they do not see transformation in us. If we are fearful, angry, judgmental, arrogant or aloof, the world will see nothing in our Orthodox Christian faith worthy seeking.
If others do not see in us a forgiving heart, how will they know there is forgiveness in Christ? If others do not see in us a heart filled with joy, how will they know they need the very Christ whom we proclaim as our Lord and Savior? If others see in us a judgmental, narrow minded, unhappy person, why would they be drawn to the Orthodoxy we claim is the true faith?
Christ empowers us to change the hearts and minds of others by the example of our allowing Christ to change us. In the words of Saint Seraphim of Sarov, if we “acquire a humble and contrite heart, a thousand around us will be saved”.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
