|
|
|
02 in Luke 0cala 2/9/05 It was during the first weekend of this month in 1997, when the eyes of our Country were focused on Washington, to see the human ocean of almost 1,000,000 people, gathered to re-affirm their faith in God. Also to take an oath to themselves, that they would make every effort to right the wrongs in their life, and to align themselves with God's Commandments. This was a tremendous movement of force and dedication. There were various comments, and the liberals, who do not like such mass gatherings in God's Name, sought every opportunity to minimize this grand showing of the multitudes, who manifested by their efforts, that "man cannot live by bread alone, but from the words that come out of God's mouth." Witnessing the massive gathering seven years ago, a phrase came to my mind, from the 119th Chapter of the Psalms, verse 30 which states: "I have chosen the way of truth!" Then I thought, --- shouldn't these words be the motto of every Christian? --- To be sure, that must have been the uniting symbol, or slogan of the Promise-Seekers in Washington seven years ago. I am only sorry. that this march on Washington did not become an annual movement, which perhaps could have let God re-enter our public Institutions, from which He was expelled systematically, over the years by the verbal minority! The vitality of the Christian Faith is every Christian's business regardless to which Church he or she belongs. Truthfully, --- can we all make the redeeming declaration, that we have chosen the way of truth as the Psalmist states? Truth is synonymous with God. Did not the Lord, declare, "I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life?" --- Isn't it odd though, that while we do know that God is the Truth, and can lead us to the ultimate, somehow humankind will still persist on their own, in searching for the truth. Some years ago, I got into a discussion with a young scientist, who insisted that the ultimate truth lies in science, and the creation comes only through experimentation. --- This idea of course, was rampant in the last century, when science was posed contrary to religion, but this does not stand today. Since the last century, our universe has really shrunk; our world has become a neighborhood. New chemical processes, and electronic developments benumb the mind, and stagger the imagination! The scientists' conception of truth has widened to include spiritual truth. At the same time, people of faith alone, have ceased to fear what science as such, might do to religion. People have come to a better understanding of the nature, and place of scientific truth. Together, the scientist and the man of God, together may well declare with the Psalmist: "I have chosen the way of truth!" In all of this interplay of minds and ideas, at least three considerations emerge, to guide our understanding, of these two great creative forces, of science and religion. Firstly, modern science supports the Christian idea of the spiritual nature of man and the universe. The eminent scientist Sir James Jeans plainly stated: "The universe begins to look more like a great thought, than a great machine. Mind no longer appears as an accidental intruder into the realm of matter; we are beginning to suspect, that we might rather hail it, as the creator and governor of the realm of matter." Sir James, as well as countless others, conforms to the truth, that the very order and laws of the universe themselves, point inevitably toward a Creator mind! In the first chapter of Genesis we read: "In the beginning God created" etc. This ancient faith was never lost in the Church, and is being confirmed today. Our world is not rigid, mechanical, or fixed. It is not accidental, nor blind, nor doomed. In the world's heart, there is spirit, --- force, --- energy, and mind. In this heart, there is room for personality, for free will, for love and for ideals. Secondly, Christianity accepts all scientific truth, as sourcing from God. Christianity is not afraid of truth. --- Any truth.-- Christianity accepts the scientific method, as a valid instrument of truth-seeking. Christian teaching at its best, has always accepted the belief, that all truth is from God. The Christian mind as well as the scientific mind is open and free.-- It is important then, for both the scientist and the religious to know the purpose, and the field of operation of both science and religion. They complement one another. Indeed, it is only as the scientist and the religionist work hand in hand with intelligence and faith, that the Kingdom of God will ever come on earth. Thirdly, scientific achievements must be directed by moral principles and spiritual ideals. The scientist cannot claim immunity from responsibility of his or her creation. Science does not operate in chaos, nor in a vacuum. It is free to create,--- but it is also free to choose the ends and objectives, for which it uses its endeavors. These goals in a free society, must be the same as those of the person of faith. They are summed up in the words of one of our greatest scientists, Arthur H. Compton, who said: "These common goals, are to build a society of men and women, who find and make life worth while." It is person's spirit, inspired by God, that can set up standards, and pass judgements, and hold ideals. It is the possession of these qualities, that makes possible man's mastery over the world. All these qualities surely do come from God, the Giver of all good gifts. This mastery of the world however, becomes possible, only when man's spirit has the courage, and no less the humility, to claim the products of science, as emanating from God. Here then, is one of the central problems of the world. It is to reaffirm the sovereignty of God, in the universe of created things. A person cannot save himself or herself by their own clever doing. They cannot find their way, without some fixed sense of direction, and some supreme objective. Men and women have achieved almost the ultimate in the material world, --- yet there is unhappiness and a feeling of not being fulfilled. To be happy and balanced in life, we need spiritual insight, and moral conviction„ as well as scientific learning. The gods we have created in the laboratories, and in the classrooms, must be brought under the subjection to the Almighty God of humanity,--the Lord of Hosts, --- the Creator of all things, both visible and invisible. This is the opportunity of the Church, and of men of God everywhere. The Promise-seekers of 1977 were simply a symptom of the need for spiritual manna. These people revealed a spiritual hunger, and the need for a spiritual revival in our Great Country. It is a quest to find the true and genuine happiness and fulfillment. We who believe in God and goodness, --- in persons and personality -- in righteousness and love, -- must make every effort, and indeed exert ourselves in every way possible, to claim the human kingdoms of this world for the Kingdom of God. Amen. + Fr. George Papadeas
|
|
Back to home page
Send mail to
epantaz@yahoo.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|