An Apology to My Orthodox Readers

Osculetur me osculo oris sui....

Origen begins his homilies on the Song of Songs commenting on the first verse, "Let him kiss me with a kiss from his mouth". The mouth and the kiss, of course, is the Incarnate Word of God, uttered by the lips.

Thinking about lots of things the other night, I thought that this is the reality of Christianity. One of the most influential books that I have read is the biography that Archimandrite Sophrony wrote of St. Silouan of Mount Athos. In that biography, the simple peasant monk is confronted at one point by a priest missionary monk who was a true firebrand. When the latter began to rail against the heretics, St. Silouan reminded him that it might perhaps be better if the good father told his auditors what they were doing right rather than what they were doing wrong. In that sense, their hearts would then be open to what he would have to say.

(My favorite saying by St. Silouan is: "Our brother is our life.")

You Orthodox are resilient, your liturgies are beautiful, and you have always treated me in a welcoming and kind manner. I have learned so much from the Orthodox Church, and it has only been my time amongst the Orthodox and Anglicans that has made me realize what I was truly looking for as a Christian: to be a full human being. Christ only has the satisfaction for this desire, and I see now that God writes straight with very crooked lines. You are my brothers, and I pray for you and with you. The fact that we cannot share the fruits of the Eucharistic table does not distress me. At least you give me some of the crumbs, but you do it so lovingly that I think of it as the sweetest delicacy.

I don't do theology because I don't understand theology. I'll rant sometimes, and sometimes I'll writes things that look theological. But in the end, anything I do that is close to theology is what I do in church, and that's pray. You don't see that, but I would hope that it would show a little bit in what I write here. And I hope you will continue to welcome me into your churches, so I can venerate the icons, light a candle, and prostrate myself before the cross. It is only in this intimacy, in this coming together, that God nourishes my heart.

Brothers and sisters, forgive.


If anyone wonders how Jesus raised the dead,

don't try to explain the miracle.

Kiss me on the lips.

Like this. Like this. (Rumi)