Reflection

Published by the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, October 2004

Orthodox Daily Reflection

     My wife once wrote an icon of the saint whose memory we celebrate today, St. Kyriakos the anchorite. On it, the saint holds a scroll with one of his sayings : “either flee or deride this vain world.” Now, the word “flee” makes sense, especially if uttered by a hermit. Flee the world, flee temptations, flee the sin-causing conversations of other people. But “deride”? A synonym for this might be “ridicule”, “mock”, or “laugh at.” In what way should we deride this world?

     I can remember times when I, as a child, would become excited about some new thing - some music group, some new sport, TV program. etc. The world would revolve around my new interest - it fulfilled me! It was just what I was looking for!

     But then someone would point out some weakness about my new favorite interest - perhaps my parents or brother, perhaps a friend of mine who didn’t share my enthusiasm. Then everything changed. I might be heard to say, “stupid old Superman (or whatever it was), I never did like him that much.”

     What had happened? When someone made fun of what I thought was the new greatest thing in the world, I felt a discouragement, I saw in that person’s attitude that my new love was not perfect. As a child, the things I loved were suppose to be perfect in themselves, and it was a great disappointment to see them from the perspective of others, and learn that they weren’t.

     This is the attitude St. Kyriakos calls us to embrace. Look at the sins in your life, and how often you use them to seek fulfillment apart from God, how you cling to them like a child with a new toy. Perhaps you can’t escape them, but you can do something just as good - mock them. Look at their ridiculous nature. And then see, in their shortcoming, your own juvenile attitude toward what they offer your life.

     This is hard advice - the advice of hermits is always hard. But perhaps in St. Kyriakos’ words you may find today one more way that the church helps you overcome the grip of sin on your life.



Volume 6 Number 40 - Tuesday, October 4th, 2004	A Publication of the ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN LAITY