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September 2006
San Francisco, California |
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previous page<--- || --->Next Page ~~ Home || Calendar An unfortunate fellow, down on his luck, is desperate for employment. After exhausting all other options he finds himself pleading for a job selling bibles. The manager, with whom he is interviewing, is not terribly confident that the poor soul is up for the task. Taking a chance on him, however, the manager hires him, with one condition; in a month’s time he must have sold at least thirty bibles. At the end of the month, with a smile on his face, the new bible salesman presents himself to the manager to give his report. “Well,” asked the manager, “Did you sell thirty bibles?” “No,” the salesman replied, I sold five hundred bibles!” Amazed, the manager inquires as to his secret of his success. “Oh, it was easy,” replied the salesman, “I went door-to-door and gave my prospects two options, either make the purchase or I’ll read it to you”. If this joke wasn’t so funny, it would be sad; for in fact, the underlying message asserts that most people would prefer to own a bible than read it. Such an assertion is confirmed by the paradoxical fact that the Bible continues to be the most popular printed text in circulation, yet perhaps the least read and embraced. Civilization has Orthodoxy to thank for canon of the New Testament as it appears today. Contrary to popular belief, the New Testament did not drop from the sky, printed and bound in the form we find at Barnes and Noble or Borders bookstores. In fact, because of the plethora of written scriptural accounts in circulation, it became the task of the Fathers of the 1st Ecumenical Council at Nicea (325AD) to sift through the texts and discern which were authentic, legitimate, Christ-centered and helpful in shepherding the Church to Kingdom. In short, the fruit of their prayerful labor was the gift of the canonical New Testament read and quoted, chapter and verse, by all those who profess to be Christians on this planet. For Orthodoxy, the New Testament is not only considered the fulfillment of all that was written in the Old Testament, but the very revelation of God’s will for our salvation. It is the chief icon of the Church, enthroned upon the Holy Altar, carried in procession, proclaimed at the Divine Services. It is inspiration for the musical and artistic expression of the Church, our hymns and icons. It is the foundation upon which our liturgical and sacramental life is based. For our faithful, the Bible is the precious venue through which we are invited to intimately encounter the Lord in our private devotions. The particular Bible I treasure was a gift from my father on my twelfth birthday. For the past thirty-three years that precious book has been the chief source of strength, inspiration and comfort in critical moments. Even opening and reading a random passage, I never cease to marvel at how Lord knows and offers needed counsel. With the multitude of contrary values competing for our attention, acceptance and very souls, the Bible offers us a critical “reality check!” Rather than allow our bibles to collect dust on a bookshelf or nightstand, let us read them with regularity. The reward reaped will not only be of spiritual benefit to ourselves, but an encouragement to our children and those around us to take the initiative needed to change their lives and save their souls!
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