Dear Brothers and
Sisters in Christ,
July 2008
The disciple Mark wrote, “Jesus sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the treasury, and many put in great amounts. A poor widow came and put in two small coins, the equivalent of a penny. Then He called His disciples and said to them, “In truth I tell you, this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury for they have put in money they could spare, but she, in her poverty, has put in everything she possessed, all she had to live on.” The widow’s donation in the eyes of the Lord was very pleasing.
A famous Orthodox Bishop wrote, “the news that God believes in each of us, believes in those who do not believe in themselves, believes in us even when we do not believe in ourselves so much that He is prepared to become one of us and die for us, knowing that it is not in vain, because man, not mankind, but each man, each woman, each person is worthy of being entrusted with the life and the death of God. We must bring that into the world: this divine witness that God believes in us and in all of us, in the believers as He does in the unbelievers, that He believes in man and is ready to pay the cost of this belief with His blood, the witness but not only the words, but the deeds, that will make people believe in the love of God that abides in
our hearts, abides in our lives, not within our Christian community alone, but wide enough, powerful enough to engulf all people and all hatred…,” And we are to go into the world, to bring this witness, this message, these good tidings, this Gospel in order that people may again believe in themselves and look up to God and believe in His belief, in love and discover the God of Love, that they may begin to live.
The widow’s donation was well pleasing. She made an extreme effort to make an offering to God. How much more can we give? How then can we share the Good News of the Gospel? It starts with believing and accepting Jesus Christ in our lives. We believe. And since we believe in the love of God then we can share this witness with those around us. We give and we share with what we have and give thanks to God for being pleased with our efforts. God believes in us. We must bring that belief into our lives and those around us. Sharing, caring, giving and trusting are the hallmarks of a Christian nothing more nothing less.
Come to the Chapel of St. Athanasios and make your contribution. It will not go unnoticed by God. As Americans we pledge to uphold, “One Nation under God.”
Rejoice on the 4th of July that we trust in God and He believes in us.
Rev. Frank P. Mayernick
