CONTAGIOUS VIRUS OF LOVE

In 1966, when I was a third-grade student at Theological Seminary in Antelias, which is equal to 8th grade of high school, each class was expected to present a cultural program every other month. When it was our turn, we selected a historical figure, King Ardavazt, the son of King Dikran the Great. It fell on me to present the life of this highly educated king, an art lover and a Hellenophile. I described how, during his reign, an actor came to the stage carrying the cut head of Crassus, a greedy Roman consul, with the mouth filled with gold, and concluded my words saying: “Alas, Crassus didn’t realize that greed is like salty water: it doesn’t quench thirst, but rather the more you drink, the more thirsty you become.”     

The Dean, Bishop Karekin, later Catholicos, was highly appreciative of our presentation and concluded his remarks by saying: “Students, it’s true that greed is condemnable, yet I command you to be positively greedy, not in wealth but in knowledge and book reading.” The message we got since then was that attributes considered vices could be transformed into motivation for empowerment for good, such as positive pride, positive envy, righteous anger, to mention a few. 

Years later, when I was preparing my doctoral dissertation on Archbishop Nerses Lambronatsi’s “Commentary on Wisdom of Solomon,” I was surprised to learn that how this saintly clergy used the carnal term trp’ank’ (amorous desire) and appropriated the concupiscent power of the soul with great art to intensify the desire for God (p. 66). The message was, again, very clear. A clean heart and intention may transform everything into good.  

You may ask why I’m sharing past experiences rather than current issues. The reason is that a few weeks ago I referred in one of my previous videos to the praiseworthy charity actions of one of the members of our retired clergy, Archpriest Nerses Manoogian, who was bringing joy to the lives of 130 families in Lebanon with large sums. The next day I received a call from Archpriest Mesrob Lakissian, pastor of the St. Illuminator’s Cathedral, who said: “Srpazan, I am proud to say that the Board of Trustees and I were inflamed with good envy by reading the heart-touching charity story of Der Nerses, and we would like to create joy in the life of suffering mothers in Lebanon on Mothers’ Day.” 

At that very moment, I was so humbled, almost close to tears, that I only managed to whisper a few words, “Der Hayr, may the Compassionate Lord fulfill all your noble wishes,” and hanged the phone, while the echo of the decades-old message of our dean, “positive pride, good envy,” was sounding in my ears along with Archbishop Lambronatsi’s words for amorous love for good works.  

Yes, my dear brothers and sisters, Love transcends time and brings forth joy, comfort, hope, and all good things forever.  

I wish the contagious virus of love, kindness, and gentleness infects us to do good works as St. Paul says: “Love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor” (Rm 12.10).