Soul Saturday

On the OCA (Orthodox Church of America) website, I always enjoy the Feasts and Saints section which shows the icons of the day of Saints who are being honored, as well as telling their stories. I found in today's search that it is Soul Saturday. There is a custom, in honor of the soul of one who has reposed, that a donation is given, as well as prayer, as a remembrance to God.

In the printout it says:

"The angel who spoke to Cornelius testifies to the efficacy of almsgiving, 'Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God." (Acts 10:4)

That is an interesting thought to me-of the spirit of giving ascending to God as a prayer, as alms. Here are a spiritual treasure and a material object side by side.

Somehow this 'picture' is very intriguing to me.

I have been thinking a lot lately about 'Mystery'. That is, that which is hidden and suddenly revealed. How are mystery and miracle alike?

An illustration of mystery:

I have had a lot of conversations with different people in the last few days about wild animals that have suddenly come into view, always surprising the viewer.

Depending on where you live that sometimes happens often, still it always seems a surprise when suddenly they are there. One realizes that they are around you, perhaps even seeing footprints showing that they are there, but not seeing the actual creature until whoa...there it is.

Mystery has that element of surprise. All of the sudden a 'wow' or
'look!' sort of thing.

Going back to the original theme, (giving alms in memory of someone, as a memorial to someone), I tend to think of that kind of gift primarily as a comfort to the family of the reposed, when in fact there is a MUCH bigger motion involved. It is an act that contains amazing mystery, an act unexpected in its outcome. Giving from your treasure (that which is carefully used, guarded even) in memory of a person for whom you have a regard.

It says that giving -period- has that power, but giving of what you guard...what you find most precious, has an even greater power.

That is a surprising mystery!