Our New Church Address is: 5004 Cross Keys Rd, Mt Crawford, VA 22841

Doctor of Motors

October 02, 2022

My father recently passed at the age of 88, and as we were going through some of the things he treasured, I noticed two documents framed and hanging on the wall in his bedroom. They were certificates declaring him as a Doctor of Motors! I thought that was pretty neat as I had never considered him that way. He usually came home with his shop clothes on and a slight smell of grease and automotive smells. I did spend a little time with him over the years at his shop or his vehicle hospital, and most folks will tell you that he had a gift! I however did not inherit that gift but my nephew did, and he excels!

Well the truth is we all have a gift or two!! I do have some mechanical gifts but they differ a good bit from that of my father. But there are other things I struggle with or I am not gifted, like paying attention, completing tasks and of course, communication! I am glad some of you are strong in these areas of everyday life.

Those gifts we all have been given are spoken of in the Gospel reading this morning and we are instructed of just how to invest our time and this talent! And our Lord also warns us all of what will happen if we are stingy and never make time to help. We are called to offer our gifts to help others and to build His church. And we are told: “For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.” (Matt 25:29) Saint Chrysostom directs us this way: “Let us contribute alike wealth, and diligence, and protection, and all things for our neighbor’s advantage.

For the talents here are each person’s ability, whether in the way of protection, or in money, or in teaching, or in whatever such thing....For this end God gave us speech, and hands, and feet, and strength of body, and mind, and understanding, that we might use all these things, both for our own salvation, and for our neighbor’s advantage. For not only for hymns and giving of thanks is our speech serviceable to us, but it is profitable for instruction and admonition....And what are the things which He wishes us to speak?

Words full of gentleness and meekness, even as He Himself used to speak.” [Ib., P.G. 58:754, 755 (cols. 714, 715).]

This world wants us to busy ourselves and focus inwardly to the point of seclusion. For those self-centered, I never have time folks, heed this warning: “His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.”(Matt 25:26, 28) Or in simpler terms, use it to the Glory of God, or lose it!

I don’t know what talents you are a “doctor” of, but I know there are plenty of opportunities around you to help others, and there are constant pleas from me your priest to help build His church, a sacrifice of your time to the Glory of God! Blessed Theophylact explains it as such: “To him who has the greater diligence, more grace will be given and in abundance. But from him who is not diligent, even the gift which he thinks he has will be taken away.” (Blessed Theophylact, The Explanation pg 218)

If you need some help in finding ways to help build His church by loving your neighbor with your gifts or by actually helping prepare our new church building for us to occupy and worship, just ask. We will help you find a way to use your doctorate degree. And we still need fund-raisers and building funds and we need help picking the kitchen cabinets. We need help installing the electrical wiring and the gutter drains. We need lumber for our altar flooring and lumber for our wainscoting on the walls surrounding the nave. We continually need new folks to come in to our church services and learn what it means to worship God correctly as the Apostles taught. We need an abundance of prayer and lunch on occasion. Some of these tasks needed you do not need experience in as you will learn on the job to the Glory of God, we just need your time and willingness!

And most importantly, we need YOU! You just can’t out-give God!

Fr. Gabriel Weller 10-2-2022

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Doctor of Motors

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