Bishop Maxim Urges Seminarians to Engage World's Deepest Questions
What the video says
The speaker cites Saint Justin of Celije, who warned that the Church becomes useless if it fails to answer life's most important questions. A seminarian or future priest must engage with the problems of the world and the concerns of contemporary people to exercise a Christ‑like ministry. Christ, though the transcendent Son of God, entered history as the Son of Man, embracing all that is human except sin.
Therefore, theology students should be open to cosmic reality and the deepest anthropological issues. They must read widely like a bee gathering nectar, discerning what is existentially relevant under their professors' guidance, so they can later address those issues as priests.
Key moments
- Saint Justin of Celije said that if the church does not answer the most important questions of life, the church is useless.
- A seminarian or future priest must take into account the problems of the world and what concerns contemporary man to do a Christ-like ministry.
- Christ, as the transcendent Son of God, became the Son of Man in history, accepting everything human except sin.
- This perspective requires any student to be open to cosmic reality and the deepest anthropological issues.
- When studying, one should read like a bee: from many sources but take the best, the nectar of theology.
- Following professors' instructions and discerning what is truly existentially relevant will help a theology student become a priest capable of addressing the issues.
Bishop Maxim of Los Angeles, of the Serbian Orthodox Church, recently visited Hellenic College Holy Cross at the invitation of the Huffington Ecumenical Institute for a colloquium honoring Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew. As an Adjunct Professor of Dogmatics and Patristics at the school, His Grace addressed students preparing for ministry and parish life.
Drawing on Saint Justin of Ćelije, Bishop Maxim warned that the Church becomes useless if it fails to answer life's most important questions. He emphasized that a seminarian or future priest must engage with the problems of the world and the concerns of contemporary people to exercise a truly Christ-like ministry. Christ, though the transcendent Son of God, entered history as the Son of Man, embracing all that is human except sin.
Therefore, theology students should be open to cosmic reality and the deepest anthropological issues. Bishop Maxim encouraged students to read widely, like a bee gathering nectar from many flowers, discerning what is existentially relevant under their professors' guidance, so they can later address those issues effectively as priests.
The talk underscored the necessity of a theology that is both rooted in patristic tradition and responsive to the existential anxieties of modern humanity.
Main points
- The Church must answer life's most important questions or risk becoming useless, per Saint Justin of Ćelije.
- Future priests must engage contemporary problems and concerns to model Christ's incarnational ministry.
- Christ as transcendent Son of God became Son of Man, embracing all human experience except sin.
- Theology students should be open to cosmic reality and deep anthropological issues.
- Reading widely and discerningly like a bee, guided by professors, prepares seminarians for effective pastoral ministry.