I think that sometimes, we fall into this trap of thinking that living our faith and developing a relationship with Christ is something that is external and intellectual.  We try to cram all of this knowledge in our brains about the faith and watch apologetical conversations on youtube.   We make sure we are checking labels on food items to see if they are fasting foods or not. We stand in front of our icon corners in the morning and at night, not to pray, but rather to fulfill some kind of external obligation.  In some cases, we see our orthodox faith through the lens of some kind of western moralism:  “Do the Right thing, don’t sin…maybe show up occasionally to Church…and you will get to a place called heaven where we can finally put our feet up.” …This is not Holy Orthodoxy. 

How can we not venerate the one who’s voice John the Baptist greeted with a leap of joy in the womb, because it was that voice that heralded the presence of Christ in his midst?

How can we not echo the words of the Archangel in recognizing her as one that is full of Grace…and that she will be called blessed by all generations?

How can we call ourselves Christian and weep for our sins before the Crucified Christ, while ignoring the soul-pierced Mother? 

On Sundays and during weekday Liturgies, we also have a small battle with the internal and external when we approach the Holy Chalice. Externally, we will all cross our hands over of our hearts, cross ourselves, and prepare to take God’s very Body and Blood within ourselves.  Yet what is the inner position of our souls in those moments?  Where is our focus? On the tremendous and dread mystery that awaits us in the chalice…or on the world?  Do we truly know and believe what the Eucharist can do for us…or are we following the person in front of us in line without paying any attention to what we are about to partake and the transformation that awaits us at the chalice?  Are we focused on our outward piety, or on the inner state of our being?

Now that the celebrations, the fireworks, and the excitement of the past few days of celebration are completed, all of us should be taking a moment to reflect on what we have done with this gift of a country that God has given us.  While it is the job of the president and civil leaders to build up and highlight the accomplishments, its often the job of the priests and spiritual leaders to help us sober up and open our eyes to the work that we have yet to accomplish. 

One thing that our Lord tells us, is that the acquisition of wealth can be an addiction.  He is not talking about gambling addictions or dreaming of hitting the lottery…but rather is pointing out how we cannot serve both an addiction and God at the same time.  This truly goes for all addictions…whether it’s money, pornography, alcohol, marijuana/drugs, gluttony…whatever the addiction, we become slaves to it.