The Stigma of Our Disease

The Stigma of Our Disease

Continuing with the spirituality of Lent, this sermon examines the issues and dilemmas of helping those with uncleanliness and other conditions that have a stigma. What would be the equivalent of the spiritual and social disease of leprosy today? AIDS? Lung Cancer? Obesity? Alcoholism? Mental Illness?

Using the scriptural lessons on the Sunday of the Leper, Fr John Brian's sermon uses the Gospel lesson from Luke (5:12-16; 4:40-41) to bring us closer to that wholeness of spiritual health intended for all.

"Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, I will, be clean; and immediately his leprosy left him." Luke 5:13

"...and He [Jesus] laid His hand on each one of them and healed them." Luke 4:40

This sermon uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara Syrian lectionary and was given on Sunday, February 21, 2010 by Fr John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

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"NEIGHBORS, STRANGERS, AND EVERYONE ELSE" IS NOW AT PUBLIC LIBRARY

"NEIGHBORS, STRANGERS, AND EVERYONE ELSE" IS NOW AT PUBLIC LIBRARY

MADISON, WI - "Neighbors, Strangers, and Everyone Else," the latest book by
Reverend John-Brian Paprock, is now available through the Middleton Public
Library. This means it can be checked out by anyone in Wisconsin's South
Central Library System. This system allows libraries in over 40 communities
to share resources. The book continues to available for purchase through
Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble and at Holy Transfiguration Publications
internet store: www.lulu.com/transfiguration.com.

More information:
Wisconsin's South Central Library System http://www.scls.lib.wi.us
List of SCLS community libraries:
http://www.scls.lib.wi.us/askaquestion/index.html)

More on book content and author:
Spiritual Reflections of Fr. John Brian: New Book
http://frjohbrian.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-book-by-fr-john-brian.html

"'Neighbors, Strangers, and Everyone Else' is an amazing body of work -- not
just the compilation itself, but the witness over a number of years that Fr.
John-Brian has made to understanding and outreach as a way of life which it
represents. I was able to learn a great deal from what Fr. John-Brian wrote
and to get to know Fr. John-Brian and his thought. Fr. John-Brian certainly
has progressed as time went on, in his powers of expression and his
profundity."

- Alexander Patico, coordinator of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship of North
America

"Fr. John-Brian is an excellent communicator. He has a way with words and
ideas. I think this work, "Neighbors, Strangers, and Everyone Else," will be
a great contribution to inter-religious dialog. Autobiographical element
makes it appealing,"

- John Kunnathu, founder of the worldwide Gregorian Study Circle

Neighbors, Strangers and Everyone Else
December 2009, Paperback, 218 pages, ISBN: 978-0-557-20356-7
Holy Transfiguration Publications: www.lulu.com/transfiguration.com
Amazon WWW.Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble www.barnesandnoble.com

The Spirituality of Lent

The Spirituality of Lent

Inspirational and informative sermon on the spirituality of Lent - from an Orthodox Christian perspective - using the scriptural lessons on the Sunday of Cana and discussing two kinds of fasting. Fr John Brian gives a homiletic on Colossians 3:1-17 and brings the miracle at Cana (John 2:1-11) into focus for the 40 days of fasting of Lent.

"This is the fast I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to cut off the bands of treachery, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke;" Isaiah 58:6

"Therefore now, says the Lord, return to me with all your heart, and with fasting and with weeping and with mourning... and turn to the Lord your God; for He is gracious and merciful, patient and of great kindness, and He averts disaster." Joel 2:12-13

"And there were six stone jars placed there for the purification..." John 2:6

"And with all these things have love, which is the bond of perfection (wholeness)" Colossians 3:14

This sermon uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara lectionary and was given on Sunday, February 14, 2010 by Fr John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

If interested in a transcription of this sermon, please contact transfiguration@usa.com

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What is Our Life? 2nd Sermon

What is Our Life? II

Between birth and death, both remembered and celebrated this week (Presentation of Christ in the Temple at 40 days old and the Sunday of All Departed), this is the second sermon that talks about our life in between. Using the Orthodox blessings of candles and the memorial of all the departed, the issues of spiritual life while in between in this world and then ending is revealed.

"Now, let me depart in peace, O Lord, for my eyes have seen Thy salvation..." Song of Simeon

"...For what is our life? It is but a vapor, which appears for a little while and then vanishes away..." James 4:14

This sermon uses the readings and services appointed from the Malankara lectionary and was given on Sunday, February 7, 2010 by Fr John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

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The Four R’s - Spiritual Tasks of Dying

The Four R’s - Spiritual Tasks of Dying
By Rev John-Brian Paprock
For Capital Newspapers
Originally published in Life & Legacy, November 1, 2009

Original photo by John-Brian Paprock published with article
Life & Legacy is a publication of Capital Newspapers, Madison, Wisconsin

Dying has been considered an auspicious and sacred time of life as long as humankind can remember. Religious rituals, reaching back to the beginning of human awareness, are filled with symbols and explanations of the great mystery of human limitation. Funerals and memorials are among the grandest and most elaborate ceremonies in all cultures. Even when the personal experience of dying is limited by abrupt causes of death, religion and cultural practices can help in coping with the loss of life.

Living the days and moments as death approaches can also be an intensely intimate and deeply spiritual time. Before the moment of death, there may be opportunity to bring conscious closure to one’s life, to tie up the loose ends and put things in order.

In the last twenty years, a lot of study has been done about the needs of the dying patient. Researchers have noticed that, beyond the medical issues, there are psycho-spiritual needs. At a personal level, it can be hard to separate psychological, spiritual, religious and cultural needs. There is agreement that the patient’s non-medical needs are as important as the medical needs at the end of life. Hospice and palliative care programs have incorporated a team approach which includes medical staff in conjunction with social workers and chaplains.

Dying patients can be enabled and empowered to control the circumstances of their death, the completing of their life, where there can be peace. This is a major part of what is called “quality death.” Everyone is unique and so which of the tasks of dying will vary according to time, energy and inclination. Here are some the tasks that dying people can use.

RECONCILIATION

For most people, there is some need to reconcile the past. There are two kinds of reconciliations: forgiving someone and asking for forgiveness. Sometimes this can still be done in person. Sometimes this needs to be done symbolically or with some restitution or repentance. This is also a task to integrate difficult experiences and regrets of unfulfilled dreams and expectations.

REMEMBERING

Every life is unique and has value. Remembering key events with loved ones or with the world through story-telling or life history reflection with a volunteer can help put things in order. This is a task to let loved ones know how special and unique they are and that will be missed. This is also a task of gathering gratitude.

One issue that comes up for the dying is what they are leaving behind. So, in this task of remembering is also being remembered. One activity can be developing a spiritual legacy by writing an ethical will or gathering letters and testimonials or planning a community and/or religious memorial. The planting of a tree is a popular choice.

RITUAL - RELIGION

For many, their religion and culture rituals can fulfill many of the needs of dying. Along with simple family rituals, like Thanksgiving gatherings, they can bring spiritual nurturance and meaning. For many, pastoral visits by a spiritually significant person can be important – priest, shaman, imam, rabbi, minister, family member.

Even without religious connotations, a simple ritual in the context of one’s spiritual beliefs can bring meaning and communicate the significance of one’s life in the grand picture of life.

RELEASE

Letting go of life can be hard even with all the comforts of medicine, family and religion. Coming to final peace and saying good-bye can be considered acts of courage for many. Giving the time and space for individual good-byes is a gift that is the treasure of both the dying and the living.

SUMMED UP

In the book Dying Well (Ira Byock), the tasks of dying are summed up in five statements to say to loved ones: 1. Forgive Me. 2. I forgive you. 3. Thank you. 4. I love you. 5. Good-bye.

The tasks of dying can be overwhelming at times. If there are places and times of distress, confusion or other difficulties during the dying process, there are people who can help. One thing can be assured – others have gone through this before.

After reviewing these tasks of dying, they seem to be tasks the living could be doing long before dying.

Rev. John-Brian Paprock is the Orthodox Priest of Holy Transfiguration Orthodox chapel on Madison's northside and a chaplain at University of Wisconsin Hospital and HospiceCare, Inc.

What is Our Life?

What is Our Life?

Between birth and death, both remembered and celebrated this week (Sunday of Departed Clergy - Presentation of Christ in the Temple at 40 days old - Sunday of All Departed), this sermon talks about our life in between. Using the parable of fig tree in Luke 13 and the end of James 4, we are given insight into the spiritual life while in between in this world.

"...For what is our life? It is but a vapor, which appears for a little while and then vanishes away..." James 4:14

"...My Lord, let it remain...until I work it and fertilize it. It may bear fruit..." Luke 13:8-9

"He who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." James 4:17

This sermon uses the readings appointed from the Malankara lectionary and was given on Sunday, January 31, 2010 by Fr John Brian Paprock at Holy Transfiguration Orthodox Mission Chapel, Madison, Wisconsin.

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