Mission Monthly – August 1997
“I saw that there was no tragedy in God. Tragedy is to be found solely in the fortunes of the man whose gaze has not gone beyond the confines of this earth.”
Archimandrite Sophrony
The context of the above quote is a recollection of Archimandrite Sophrony from when he was a young man experiencing the devastation of the First World War and the Russian Revolution. I am so moved by his observation, his sensitivity, his ability to see beyond and transcend the moment. Brothers and sisters in Christ, how many will join me in the admission of having played the “blame game?” Possibly even having gone so far as to doubt God because of some social calamity or to blame God for some personal misfortune?
If any of you have read the life of St. Seraphim of Sarov maybe you will remember the episode where this humble man, who was rumoured to be harboring a great treasure in his forest hermitage, was beaten severely by local robbers? Thankfully he was able to crawl his way to his home monastery for help and rehabilitation (though he was permanently left as a hunchback). When the trio of criminals were eventually caught Father Seraphim refused to press charges. Fully repentant, the three men came and threw themselves at the old man’s feet and begged his forgiveness. He, of course, gave it.
Can you imagine this revolutionary faith? This extreme forgiveness in the face of such ignorance and evil? Is it actually possible to follow the radical words of Jesus embodied in the example of Saint Seraphim, “But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also… I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”(Mt. 5:39-44)?
Tragedy in the world can take many forms. It may be the sudden death of a healthy new born infant or the madness of ethnic cleansing in the former Yugoslavia. It may be the physical and emotional abuse of an alcoholic parent or the coldness of a drive-by shooting. It may be the proliferation of abortion and its grisly means or our nations aged being left to die in nursing homes. It may be the folly of political intrigue or the pollution of our natural resources for the sake of corporate profit. It may be an old person robbed of their financial savings by a fast talking con-man or a homeless mother stealing food to feed her hungry children. It may be young black children killed in a church bombed by racist hunters or a poor, old monk beaten for possessions he is only rumoured to own.
Is it any wonder that we have a Generation X, a generation of young people who are said to be living without hope or purpose? One Orthodox theologian even wrote a book about this called “Nihilism,” from which one could conclude that Archimandrite Sophorony’s quote may no longer be simply a personal tragedy but rather the social reality of our western, materialistic, God-forgotten culture.
The actuality of the above mentioned examples may exist, as well as the cynical and aimless trends of our Generation X; but IN NO WAY have we been left hopeless or helpless. Could there be any greater joy than to call upon Christ in the midst of any and all calamity? Could there be any greater possibility than the piercing rays of God’s Love and Power as we contend against the misfortunes of our day? “God’s scripture gives proof in numerous passages that man must undergo many disturbances in this life and also that many consolations are at hand. With these, a spirit of sufficient vigor and awareness of the right should overcome present discomforts and look to those things that promise everlasting joy. The consolations do indeed outweigh the discomforts, because they impart calm in present difficulties and the hope of things to come…” (St. Ambrose of Milan).
The easy route is to give way to the pangs of self-pity, or to be filled with doubt, blame, or even rage. It can never be forgotten that we are creatures created in the image and likeness of God. Ours is an essentially good nature and with God’s Grace and firm conviction we can rise above the limitations of this blessed, though fallen, life. The Kingdom of God within us is worthy of the invitation expressed through the great Promise of Jesus, “And lo, I am always with you…”(Matthew 28:20). The vision of God’s Kingdom can and will carry us beyond any difficulty, if we allow it. Let us turn our gaze to the Word of God, the words of our Holy Fathers, the lives of the Saints, the life of our Church’s Liturgy, and we will see and hopefully know the place where this life’s tragedy is joyfully crushed beneath the weight of God’s Glory! May the gaze of Heaven be ours as we seek to grow in faith, love and thanksgiving, and in the witness of God’s Kingdom within us!