Move It!

Passages: Is. 63:18-64:12; Titus 1:1-11; Jn. 7:37-52
Ընթերցուածքներ՝ Եսայ. ԿԳ 18-ԿԴ 12; Տիտ. Ա 1-11; Յով. Է 37-52

In the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen!

“Sitting will kill you” was a CNN headline back from 2015 that spoke about how research has revealed that a sedentary lifestyle will shorten our lifespan and diminishes the quality of life. Physical activity is needed for us all, this is nothing new. Yes, there are plenty of health benefits to being physically active on the biological and chemical level yet, movement is not just physical and it is a natural part of our humanity, as something that even the ancient philosophers have spoken about as necessary. Aristotle took it so far as to say, that even God (regardless how he understood as God) who is the unmovable mover, through an active intellect is always working and moving. Therefore, we as God’s creation are also inclined to move, whether that means physically, emotionally, psychologically and even more so spiritually. Physical can be walking, running or lifting weights; emotional movement can be writing in a journal, praying and being with people we love; psychological or mental movement is seeing a therapist or priest, avoiding social media and it’s false narrative, doing puzzles and keeping our mind busy. Spiritual movement is not going from one religion to another; spiritual movement in the Christian sense is not about shopping for the nicest Church, or friendliest pastor or community. What is therefore this spiritual movement?

In the Gospel of John 7 we read today, “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and proclaimed, “If any one thirst, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart shall flow rivers of living water.’” So, is spiritual movement about us coming to drink from Christ and what does that even mean? If we are thirsty, we go grab a glass or bottle of water, or open the refrigerator and drink something that quenches our thirst. This approach is not what is means to be spiritually moved or to drink from Christ. To understand this look at the word or phrasing that Christ Jesus specifically uses – living water. We have seen this phrase in several other areas throughout the Gospel’s as well. Living waters means flowing or running water. Running water is not about us opening the tap and watching the water flow into the pipes below. Have you ever been to Starved Rock National park? Maybe Niagara Falls; Or perhaps other state and national parks were there are waterfalls. Even from a distance, before we see anything, we can hear the running and flowing waterfall coming and crashing down below. The closer we get, especially on a warm day, the breeze and droplets of water against our face refresh us. When we come closer and finally see the power of that waterfall, we see how it has carved away the stones, we begin to appreciate the power and magnificent of this running water and if we pay attention to where that fresh water flows downstream, we ultimately see vegetation, and greenery. Because the water has provided the nutrition for new life to grow and flourish.

That my dears, is the living water that will flow from us when we drink from Christ. To drink from Christ therefore, means to respond, to move and to live by the faith we have received. Our faith in Christ Jesus is not about convenience, where we only follow Jesus when life is good. Our faith in Christ Jesus is not an object, like juice or pop, which we can grab and take a drink from before going on our way; where we only pray or come to Church when we need something. Our faith in Christ Jesus is unending, powerful moving water that is cleanses us, carves away our bitterness, our ego, our pride, our hatefulness and provides the means by which new life grows. But we also truly appreciate the closer to get. That is what being spiritually moved is – to be moved by the Spirit. God the Holy Spirit moving us, illuminates us, fills and strengthens us towards Christ Jesus, the living water, who through His death and resurrection brings us into Communion and renewed life with God the Father. And when we are with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, out of us will flow those living waters; from us the world will know the resurrected Lord Jesus Christ.

That is why Scripture says, that “on the last day of the feast”. What Feast? We read that it is the Feast of the Tabernacles. During this feast, the Jewish priests would draw water from the pools of Siloam and after they would pour out wine and water into specifically placed basins around the Temple Altar. During the prayers, the priests would pray for rain and for the resurrection of the dead. This is the scene, as people are participating in this service, where Christ tells us that those who come to Him, those of us who drink, having been baptized and reborn from water and the Holy Spirit, out of us will continue to come living waters. Living water that like rain and a powerful waterfall can cleanse this world; flowing waters that can through God not only cleanse us but also help new life grow from us. Out of us will come prayers of renewal. Out of us will come compassion and mercy. Out of us will be revealed the presence of God. My dears, the water that Christ invites us to drink from moves us to His grace and peace as St. Paul says. A grace and peace which is given to us all but which demands a response, a movable act. Because when we respond and live and move as God commands, then through us God begins to reveal Himself in this world to others as well.

Just like before you see the powerful actions of a waterfall, we hear its movement – likewise, through the Holy Scriptures and the Holy Church and through each other, we hear the commandments and about works of God. Even from a distance as we move closer to the waterfall, the soft dew and droplets of the water refresh us on a hot day – likewise, even if we are a bit distant from God but moving towards Him, we are refreshed and renewed by the drops of love and compassion and mercy God shows us through each other. Until we finally observe the power of the flowing and living water, and the new life that comes from it – likewise, we observe the power of God, the new life and strength. When we approach and drink from that water, when we are baptized and reborn, when we participate in the life of the Church through repentance, confession and ultimately when we approach and drink and eat from the Cup of Holy Communion, the body and blood of Christ Jesus, then out of us will flow living water teaches Christ. Meaning our response to the grace and love of God, our drinking from Christ, will be that our life will be transformed, that we will physically, psychologically, emotionally and spiritually be moved so that through us others will begin to moved and be refreshed and ultimately see the power of God.

If physical movement is necessary for a healthy life, if reading and puzzles are good for our mental health and journaling and friendships are productive actions and movements for our emotional health – imagine how important moving towards God and with God is for our and the worlds spiritual health. St. Clement of Alexandria says, “The Christian life is a race to be run.” Following the words of St. Paul, in 2 Tim. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” Let us keep the faith and move my dears. Let us come and hear, open our Scriptures, ask questions and desire to grow and learn. Let us run this race and approach our Lord Christ Jesus by receiving Holy Communion and asking for the Holy Spirit to move us, illuminate our heart and mind. So that from us, from our heart will flow living water, so that we will not be spiritually sedative which is far worse for our health. Let all of us together, as one body, move and come to see the power of God. And may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to move us all, Amen!