What Are We Chasing? Rethinking Our Priorities Within the Armenian Church

Deacon Garo Balian

Many of us struggle with the desire to accomplish more in our daily lives. We live in a world that moves faster every day, filled with constant updates, expectations, and pressure to keep up. It often feels as though if we slow down or fall behind, we are somehow failing. We become consumed with doing more, earning more, learning more, and achieving more. Yet in the middle of this constant pursuit, we rarely pause to ask ourselves: What are we really chasing?

This question is not new. King Solomon wrestled with it long before us. In the Book of Ecclesiastes, we encounter the reflections of a man who had everything the world could offer: wisdom, wealth, power, and pleasure. Yet after experiencing it all, he came to a sobering conclusion:

“I hated life, because the work that is done under the sun was grievous to me. All of it is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” (Ecclesiastes 2:17)

These words are striking because they come from someone who had reached the height of human success. Solomon devoted himself to wisdom, great works, and earthly enjoyment, yet he discovered that nothing under the sun could fully satisfy the human heart. He also realized a truth that applies to every generation: regardless of our achievements, status, or wealth, we all face the same end. Everything we gain in this world remains behind when our life on earth is complete. When life is centered only on earthly pursuits, it eventually reveals its emptiness, like chasing the wind.

At first glance, the life of Elijah teaches a different story, but it carries a similar lesson. After his great victory over the prophets of Baal, Elijah expected immediate transformation in Israel. Instead, he found himself alone, afraid, and discouraged. His expectations did not match God’s unfolding plan.

We often find ourselves in the same place. We set goals, work hard, pray, and hope that once we reach certain milestones, everything will finally fall into place. But when life does not follow our expectations, discouragement can easily take over. We begin to focus only on what is missing or what has gone wrong, losing sight of God’s presence in the journey.

Yet God did not abandon Elijah. Instead of immediately changing his circumstances, God first cared for his basic needs. He gave him food, rest, and strength, sustaining him for the journey ahead. Before revealing greater direction, God reminded Elijah that His care is present even in moments of exhaustion and uncertainty.

These struggles are not only found in Scripture; they are present in our own lives today. The Church does not leave us without an answer to this tension between worldly pressure and spiritual emptiness. In fact, she gives us a living experience of unity, humility, and purpose in the Divine Liturgy.

The Divine Liturgy (Badarak) is perhaps the most vivid expression of this truth. Every Sunday, the Church calls each one of us to leave behind the worries, accomplishments, and divisions of this world and gather as one Body in Christ. Before God, there is no distinction between rich and poor, successful and struggling, strong and weak. We stand together, pray together, kneel together, and confess our sins together, recognizing that we all stand in need of God’s mercy.

Before approaching the Holy Communion, the Armenian Church invites us to exchange the Kiss of Peace. This sacred moment is more than a tradition; it is a proclamation that we are reconciled with one another in Christ. The peace that comes from the Holy Altar is shared among the faithful, reminding us that in the Church we are one family. At that moment, worldly divisions lose their meaning. Status, achievements, and titles no longer define us. What matters is that we stand together as brothers and sisters in Christ, united in faith and love.

We then approach the same Holy Altar and receive the same precious Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. No one receives more of Christ than another. No one stands closer because of personal success or human achievement. We all come as sinners in need of His grace, and through Holy Communion we become one Body in Him.

The next time you participate in the Divine Liturgy, remember that the Church is one of the few places where the world’s divisions disappear. We do not come before God because we have earned a place, but because He has invited us by His mercy. In the Badarak, we are reminded that our true identity is not found in what we accomplish, but in belonging to Christ.

As Solomon reminds us, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). And as the Gospel assures us, God calls us not to anxiety or comparison, but to faithfulness and trust in Him.

Instead of chasing the wind, may we learn to live in Christ. When our hearts are rooted in Him, we discover that true fulfillment is not found in what we achieve, but in becoming part of His living Body, the Church, where we are united, healed, and made whole.