Saint John the Baptist Orthodox Christian Church
  • Home
  • Orthodox Christian Faith
    • What we believe
  • Parish
    • Our Patron Saint - Saint John
    • Our History >
      • Where we were and where we are...
      • "Remember your leaders..." (Hebrews 13:7)
      • What's in the name?
    • Administration
    • Saint John's Faith Formation: Christian Education
    • Chapel
    • Become a member!
    • Parish Library
    • Service request form
    • Donate
  • News
    • Sermons & Articles
    • Pictures & Videos
    • Weekly e-Bulletin
    • Quarterly Newsletter
    • Friends & Neighbors
    • Looking Ahead to Next Sunday (LANS) [archived]
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Useful Links
    • Choose Life!
    • Online Christian Bookstores >
      • St Vladimir's Seminary Press
      • St Tikhon's Seminary Press
      • Holy Trinity Bookstore, Jordanville
      • Eighth Day Books
      • Hermitage of the Holy Cross Monastery, WV
      • Nevsky's Books
      • Fr Daniel Sysoev Bookstore
      • Издательство Московской Патриархии
      • Магазин Сретенского Монастыря, Москва
      • Православный Книжный Магазин
    • Orthodox Intro
    • Orthodox Christian Radio

​Normal? Or the New Normal?

8/24/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Ever since the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown there has been a lot of talk about the normal and the new normal. People have been wondering when (if ever) we will return back to the normal. There are also those who warn that we need to be ready for and embrace the new normal.
These sentiments are understandable; we have, after all, gone through a rather challenging period as the nation, as the state, as the parish, as each family, and personally. And, as of this writing, the pandemic is not yet over. The virus is here to stay till (literally) Kingdom come. Even with a vaccine, it will not simply evaporate.

However, this notion of returning to the normal or getting used to the new normal is misguided at best, and misleading (leading in the wrong direction) at worst. Instead of staying in the present and dealing with what we have right here and right now, we yearn for the things that used to be or for the things that we wish to be. We want to normalize things as quickly as possible because that gives us a sense of comfort and security.

We covet the normal because, frankly, we romanticize the past. Whatever our age, our best memories are in the past (and the future best memories will also be in the past one day). As are the worst memories, but we tend to remember the best, not the worst. We tend to minimize the negative moments of the past experiences and highlight the positive ones.

That family vacation in Florida last year hit your wallet like nothing else, you got sunburnt the first day so bad you had to stay inside for three days, the kids were all over the place, you couldn’t watch your Yankees because the TV was broken. But all you remember is the clear and warm ocean water, swimming with dolphins, having a blast with your kids, and taking romantic sunset walks along the beach with your spouse.

It’s just human nature to look back at the good, old, normal days with nostalgia. At the same time, those calling to normalize the new situation, may or may not have sinister agenda, but the idea is simple – accept things as they are because we need that dose of normal. The current situation is disruptive, unsettling, exhausting, and frustrating, it would feel so good to just have a brain cramp and return to or invent the (new) normal.

Even with all the health risks removed (which at this point is either moderate or high or somewhere else, depending on which “news” channel happens to be on), going back to normal, or hoping for the new normal, only works if there was such a thing as normal pre-lockdown. There can be made a pretty good argument that normal is an illusion because we live in an ever-changing and ever-evolving world. The only normal was, is, and always will be change. What happened in March 2020 is like normal on steroids – mind-boggling change.

For the Orthodox Christians, likewise, normal is a foreign concept. Before I go any further, I just need to put in this disclaimer: I am talking about Orthodox Christians and not Christians in general. As much as we may believe in the same things, there are, sometimes significant, differences between different Christian denominations. As so, I cannot speak for others.

Thus, for the Orthodox Christians there is no such thing as normal, at least not yet, not in this world. “My Kingdom is not of this world,” we hear Jesus declare to Pilate (John 18:36). Through the Incarnation, Resurrection, and Ascension Jesus Christ made His Kingdom not only accessible to us, but unequivocally proclaimed that we belong there with Him. Even though we strive for the life in His Kingdom, we have a job right now as well.

This life is not a throwaway, it’s not just a prologue into the eternal life. This life is part of the eternal life; in this life we already experience God’s Kingdom. “For where two or three are gathered in My Name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). And where God is, there is His Kingdom. And more than that, “The Kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20). We are created in the image and likeness of God Himself (Genesis 1:26); His Kingdom is within us because He has blessed us with it. We bring this Kingdom wherever we go, wherever we witness to the Gospel of Christ with our everyday thoughts, words, and actions.

The Kingdom of God is made up of individuals, both here on earth and there in heaven. And these individuals are gathered together in worship with one mouth and one heart. It’s impossible to be a Christian on your own, in the same way you are not a loner in the Kingdom. Everyone is together in the presence of God. Hence, the Kingdom of God is characterized by our relationship with Him and each other. It’s not simply about our feelings for one another, but a real, down to earth relationships.

Therefore, any talk about normal for the Orthodox Christians, has to be done in the context of the Kingdom. How do we resemble it here and now? In the same way it is resembled there and always – together. God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, three Persons having one Being, the Holy Trinity. We resemble God’s Trinitarian life in communion, both with Him and with each other.

Greek word for the church is ecclesia, which means “gathering or assembly of the people.” As in, physical gathering. As comfortable as live-streaming can be, some guys praying in church and a bunch of others watching at home is not church. When we are gathered in worship of the one, true God, we are in His Kingdom, He is with us, and we are one Church.

This is not the first pandemic that has shut down businesses, locked the people in their homes with masks on, and limited the church services. Something very similar happened just a hundred years ago with the Spanish flu. Yes, churches and businesses were closed, and people were ordered to wear masks, and there was a lot of fear and uncertainty. And Spanish flu was about 2.5 times deadlier than the current virus.

It’s perfectly understandable to feel anxiety and be very cautious right now. But is living in fear the new normal? Or maybe we should go back to the normal ways of February 2020? Both options are irrelevant because there is no normal. There is only now, and now we have sacrificed a lot more than some of us could handle, in order to help flatten the curve and prevent overpopulation of the hospitals. Now is still filled with uncertainty. But, that’s all we have.

We can’t continue living in fear because that would wreak havoc on our physical, spiritual, and mental health. We can’t throw all caution to the wind and pretend that the virus is gone. But we can keep making smart decisions, without pining for the non-existent (new) normal, while continuing to develop our relationship with God and one another in the only place God and we are – now.

Yours in the Lord,
Father Aleksey

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016

    Categories

    All
    9/11
    Abortion
    Adam's Rib
    Addiction
    Advent
    Akathist
    AmazonSmile
    American Saints
    Anaphora
    Announcement
    Annual Report
    Annunciation
    Apostles Fast
    Archbp Dmitri Royster
    Ark Of Salvation
    Asceticism
    Baptism
    Baptismal Liturgy
    Beheading Of Saint John
    Be Still
    Bible
    Bible Study
    Bishop
    Calendar
    Canaanite Woman
    Children And Life
    Christian Burial
    Christianity
    Christ Is Risen!
    Christmas
    Christmas Sermon
    Clay In The Hands Of God
    Clean And Unclean
    Coming Home
    Compassion
    Conception Of The Theotokos
    Confession
    Conform To Christ
    Conversion Story
    Converts
    Coronavirus
    Courage
    Creation
    Creed
    Cross
    Death
    Deny Yourself
    Depression
    Division Vs Unity
    Donate
    Donations
    Dormition
    Dormition Fast
    Doubting Thomas
    Drug Of The 21st Century
    Elected By God
    Eve
    Faith
    Fasting
    Father Alexander Schmemann
    Father Andrew Stephen Damick
    Father Chad Hatfield
    Father Lawrence Farley
    Father's Day
    Father Sergei Kosich
    Father Stephen Freeman
    Father Thomas Hopko
    First Light
    Forgiveness
    Forgiveness Sunday
    Foundations
    Freedom In Christ
    Fullness Of Faith
    Funeral
    God's Invitation
    Gospel
    Grace Of Christ
    Great Flood
    Great Lent
    Grief
    Halloween
    Health & Happiness
    Help Wanted
    Hollywood
    Holy Friday
    Humility
    Icon Of Nativity
    Iconography
    Infant Baptism
    Interview
    Jesus Christ
    Journey
    Joy
    Keeping Kids Christian
    Kids And Faith
    Kids And Porn
    Kids Vs Technology
    Kiss Of Peace
    Kitchen Upgrades
    Knowing God
    Lamb Of God
    Lesson
    Life After Death
    Liturgical Commentary
    Liturgical Year
    Liturgy
    Living Together
    Lost Sheep
    Love
    Love Your Neighbor
    Maintenance
    Marked By God
    Marriage
    Mary
    Memory Eternal
    Mission Of A Parish
    Mission Of Orthodoxy
    Moral Compass
    Nativity Fast
    Nativity Of Christ
    Nativity Of Saint John The Baptist
    Nativity Of The Theotokos
    Newsletter
    New Testament
    New Year
    New Year Resolutions
    Normal?
    No War
    Nudity And Movies
    Orthodox Christianity
    Orthodox Church
    Orthodox Community
    Orthodox History In America
    Orthodox Saints
    Orthodox Wedding
    Orthodoxy & Catholicism
    Orthodoxy In America
    Orthodoxy Is Life
    Orthodoxy Is Not Religion
    Orthodoxy & Lutheranism
    Orthodoxy & Protestantism
    Paralytic
    Pascha
    Patience
    Patron Feast Day
    PayPal
    Pictures
    Pilgrimage
    Podcast
    Polemics
    Porn
    Porn And Brain
    Porn Is A Lie
    Porn Kills Love
    Power In Weakness
    Pray At Home
    Prayer
    Prayer Of St Ephraim
    Prayer Rule
    Prayers To The Theotokos
    Procession
    Pro-life
    Publican And Pharisee
    Reading Bible
    Relics
    Religion
    Repentance
    Resist Porn
    Royal Priesthood
    Sacraments
    Sacred Space
    Saint Alexander Hotovitzky
    Saint Alexis Toth
    Saint Herman Of Alaska
    Saint Innocent Of Moscow
    Saint James The Brother Of The Lord
    Saint John Chrysostom
    Saint John The Baptist
    Saint Juvenaly
    Saint Nicholas
    Saint Patrick Of Ireland
    Saint Peter The Aleut
    Saint Raphael Of Brooklyn
    Saints Peter And Fevronia
    Saint Theophan The Recluse
    Saint Thomas Sunday
    Saint Tikhon Of Moscow
    Salvation
    Sanctity Of Life
    Seal Of The Holy Spirit
    Search For Christ
    Self-care
    Sermon
    Seventh Day
    Sexual Revolution
    Sharing Faith
    Silence
    Sin
    Skillful Children
    Sower
    Sunday Of Orthodoxy
    Sunday Of The Blind Man
    Sun Of Righteousness
    Teaching The Faith
    Telling The Truth
    Temple Of God
    Temptation
    Thanksgiving
    Theophany
    Theotokos
    Thorn In Flesh
    Tolerance
    Tree Of Life
    Triumph Of Orthodoxy
    Unchangeable Christianity
    Unity
    Weakness
    Why Confess To A Priest
    Woman
    Words
    Youth Ministry
    Zacchaeus
    Антоний Сурожский
    Архим. Ианнуарий Ивлиев
    Вера и знание
    Воспитание
    Дети
    Иоанн Златоуст
    Исповедь
    Молитва
    Новый Год
    о. Александр Шмеман
    о. Ианнуарий Ивлиев
    Пасха
    Подготовка к исповеди
    Подготовка к Причастию
    Подготовка к Рождеству
    Пост
    Причастие
    Проповедь
    Проповедь
    Пятидесятница
    Рождественский Пост
    Рождество
    Современное поколение
    Троица
    Христос Воскресе!

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016

Picture

Jesus said to the crowds about John, “I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John the Baptist.” (Luke 7:28)


Address

29 Weaver Street
​Little Falls, NJ 07424

Email

StJohn.Singac@gmail.com

Telephone

(973) 256-0314

Join our mailing list

* indicates required
Picture
Picture
Picture

Search our website

  • Home
  • Orthodox Christian Faith
    • What we believe
  • Parish
    • Our Patron Saint - Saint John
    • Our History >
      • Where we were and where we are...
      • "Remember your leaders..." (Hebrews 13:7)
      • What's in the name?
    • Administration
    • Saint John's Faith Formation: Christian Education
    • Chapel
    • Become a member!
    • Parish Library
    • Service request form
    • Donate
  • News
    • Sermons & Articles
    • Pictures & Videos
    • Weekly e-Bulletin
    • Quarterly Newsletter
    • Friends & Neighbors
    • Looking Ahead to Next Sunday (LANS) [archived]
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Useful Links
    • Choose Life!
    • Online Christian Bookstores >
      • St Vladimir's Seminary Press
      • St Tikhon's Seminary Press
      • Holy Trinity Bookstore, Jordanville
      • Eighth Day Books
      • Hermitage of the Holy Cross Monastery, WV
      • Nevsky's Books
      • Fr Daniel Sysoev Bookstore
      • Издательство Московской Патриархии
      • Магазин Сретенского Монастыря, Москва
      • Православный Книжный Магазин
    • Orthodox Intro
    • Orthodox Christian Radio