Judgment Sunday (Farewell to meat!)

Meatfare Sunday--the day we give up our carnivorous ways until Pascha. It is also the day on the calendar where we reflect on the judgment. It's "get right with God" Sunday.

The passage the Church gives us today is the parable of the sheep and the goats (made me think of Keith Green). It always makes me very somber, though I'm not sure if it's the part where they say "Lord", or the part where He says "Depart from me..."

I could write about eternal security, how that played into my journey, or talk about the importance of doing His work here, as a vital part of our faith. But I won't. I'm going to stray a bit from the blog (I know, after just outlining its purpose).

There's an icon with Christ in the center, and a river flowing upward to heaven, and a river flowing down, toward hell. The river finds its source in the One in the center of the icon--Jesus Christ. The river, Fr. Isaac said, expressing the views of early Christian writers, is the love of God, both in heaven, and in hell.

For those who spend their lives denying the love of God, running from it, avoiding it, and hating it, such brilliant love would be blinding, painful, like the midday sun to a mole. Instead of providing comfort and safety, it would be the last thing they would want. As St. Isaac the Syrian said, what would be worse than the scourge of love. And, it would be something they would do themselves--a torment of their own earthly and spiritual choices.

Conversely, for those who have embraced Him and His gifts, that love would provide life itself. They would not be able to get enough of it, drinking deep, finding all they need inside. It is what we were created for.

Behold, what manner of love the Father has given unto us: that we may be called the sons of God!

Drink up!