Approximately, three years ago, I read an essay written by R. Monk Hilarion regardng both European and American football. I received a phone call because a parent thought I was attacking the sport. Let's try this again ONLY AS AN EXERCISE IN CRITICAL THINKING. I am a big NASCAR fan as well as Basketball. I AM NOT SAYING TO AVOID WATCHING SPORTS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS POINT! By the way, congratulations to the New York Giants on their narrow victory. I believe this was an evenly matched Super Bowl 46. We can discuss this on Sunday if you wish! ! !
How many of you know people who are obsessed or adicted with anything that lead them astray? If you do, what sort of effect does that person have on his/her family as well as those around him/her?
The monk who wrote this artical, "On Football" made an argument that seems to have relevance today as it did when he wrote it.
"Herein lies the demonic element in football-be it American football or soccer. The hypnotic effect of these games is seen in the consequences it has for the psyche of its devotees. They become obseed with the game. They are mesmerised not only while watching the matches on television or in the stadium but also at other times. Their lives and their thoughts become focused on soccer or football...they hypnosis that the devil casts over football's devotees makes them incapable of anything spiritual. When the matches are on, such people are willing to give up the most important things in their lives in order to see them. And when the games are over, they continue to live their obsession [through the] magazines, newspapers, and television...while the cult surrounding the lives of the game's heroes approaches that of pagan worship.
This essay is longer and it contains statistics of how many people died during riots at these games. If you are ever interested, I can make a copy of the monk's essay.
What is the point the monk is making? Do you agree with it? Do you know anyone who is consumed by sports? What do you say to him/her/them?
What was the monk's goal in wriring this essay? Do you see the same effect in our own Cathedral in Hartford? Look at yesterday's numbers to help answer this.
Did they really have an excuse not to show up in Church? What time is Church over? What time was the game last night?
To the five in my class yesterday, THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Mike Hatzikostantis
7th/8th grade teacher
I do know people that let some other things get in their way of worshiping God. For example, a lot of my girls in school go shopping on Sunday morning because they tell me that's when there is usually the most sales. Instead of being at the mall, I would prefer to be at church thanking our Lord for all the things and blessings He gave us. Those girls in school distract their friends and their family by trying to bring them along. I also believe that in this essay the monk is trying to say that common things in our lives are interfering with our prayer or church. I think he is also trying to say that this is a distraction from what really matters in life. He also states that this was the devil's plan on bringing us farther away from God, therefore making soccer of football and "evil" sport. I don't mean to call it "evil" or a "sin" only that if it becomes a distraction it could be considered as "evil". Please forgive me if anyone was offended, I don't mean to say the sport is bad or that you should not play anymore. This is what I believe the message was. Please remember what Theio Mike said above "ONLY AS AN EXERCISE IN CRITICAL THINKING. I am a big NASCAR fan as well as Basketball. I AM NOT SAYING TO AVOID WATCHING SPORTS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THIS POINT!"
ReplyDeleteEffie Makris
Dear Effie: Exactly. I am not saying that playing the sport is a sin at all. This is why that parent called me. It is the "distraction" it causes. The "hypnotic effect" football/soccer causes with several people. It prevents them from doing anything spiritual. Since you are in church and attend Sunday School, this is not an issue.
ReplyDeleteHow about all those people who did not show up on Sunday? The game was at 6:30pm. They could have come to Church still. Right? There would still be 5 1/2 hours to go home and cook buffalo wings.
There is a time and a place for everything. Sunday from 10-1230pm is Church. Do not become obssessed with sports or even worse, GAMBLE on them. I think that is what the monk was trying to say in his essay.
Great job Effie. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
Theio Mike
Theio Mike: I agree with you also! I don't know about you but when I go to church I feel so close to a family and even when I go to church I feel much better because that is the place where I recieve my strength. Also afterwards in the social hall is fun for me too because I see all my fellow Christians and Greeks. Also another awesome part is your class!!!!
DeleteEffie:)
There are many distractions in life that help us, as human beings, escape from our problems. It could be that one sport you could spend all day watching or buying that new shirt because it will make you feel beautiful for the day. Any of these small distractions will offer us not only escape but temporary happiness. The key word being temporary. Yet, people don't see there is a way to have eternal happiness--and that we can all discover by being closer to God. Why escape life's difficulties when you can face them with strength in church? I know from personal experience that there is only so many things you can tell others--sometimes personal reflection in the pew is so much more rewarding than our obsessions with sports or fashion. And being a teenager, I see obsession in my friends over a certain boy, getting the perfect grades or even being the most popular. It happens very often that the masks we put over ourselves and the things we let get to us cloud our minds and take us away from the enlightened path. The devil uses these distractions to keep us from getting close to God, and so this means we have to take charge of our lives and realize that the true thing we should be worrying about is going to church every week and strengthening the relationship we have with God. Of course it's great to sit down and watch football during the Super Bowl, yet if it interferes with church we need to have inner strength and place God as our priority, because we are His priority. And I can't deny that a new outfit can make my DAY, but God can make my whole LIFE much brighter and filled with love.
ReplyDeleteNefeli Makris
I think that the devil loves to distract us and to keep us away from God and the Church. The devil uses obssessions to his advantage. An example would be 'Super Bowl Sunday". The game did not start until 6:30, so why did so many people not come to Church that mornning? Many people choose to skip church because they "don't want to miss the game." Something like that, which you may think is harmless, is not. Its the devil working inside of you. He works in many ways and we might not even notice. But its not only football. We could even be obessessd with having all the money in the world while our neighbors starve. This "hypnotic effect" keeps us from doing our Christian responsibilities. The essay is talking about the "Hyptonic effect" not the sport or buying a shirt from time to time. It is the ultimate rejection of the individual's spiritual life in the name of sports (i.e. game, magazines, ESPN,gambling, clothing, etc) without end.
DeleteKonstandina H.
Konstandina,
DeleteExactly, I agree with you. But I also have another question for you, would you consider it a "sin" to miss church for something that God would want us to do? For example I know some GOYANS two weeks ago missed Church to go volunteer at a homeless shelter. Would you consider that a "sin" even though we are helping the poor but we still are having the absence of God. What do you believe??
Effie :)
Dear Effie: Of course not. To miss Church to help the poor is not a sin. Again, we have to look at the quote. My Dad was talking about IGNORING YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE AND RESPONSIBILITIES. That was the point. Don't you agree? I think that is why he changed the font; to stick out. I also feel like Father George on Sunday's after Church...it is like my "batteries are recharged" using his statement. Do you feel that way also? We had a nice class on Sunday. We missed you very much!
ReplyDeleteKonstandina H