When mixed messages bombard - discernment is warranted!
“When the Son of Man comes escorted in his glory by his holy angels, he shall take his seat on the throne which belongs to his dominion. All nations will be gathered before his presence and it is then that he shall separate the heard as the shepherd who divides the sheep from goats.” (Mt 25: 31-32)
This Sunday’s gospel announces the last of the three preparatory weeks (Trisagion) which shall open the portals to the Holy Season of Great Lent; a time for detox, discernment, nourishment and growth! As the heading of this homily is taken from the Book of Ecclesiastes (3:1-8) given the current security concerns, the Great and final Intervention of the Last Judgement is presented as a means of pruning the edges.
Unfortunately, such a passage becomes the means of an absurd obsession which much of the religious fanatics subscribe too; fanatics from all the denominations that are fuelled by the rhetoric of impending doom – the bloodthirsty deity who desires affliction on all who do not subscribe to the religious platform of any given cult despite mainstream affiliation.
First and foremost, God does not go against the free will he has granted us! Secondly, such have not understood the reason why he came amongst us as Son of Man so that he could free us from fear and deceit. Lastly, the call to love even the outcast and consider the sake of his (Jesus) crucifixion as the means to obtain healing via his wounds (Isa 53:3); God’s testament that he loves us so much that he became the ransom (1 Tim 2:6) so that nothing could separate us from him again. (Rom 8: 31-39)
The greatest impediment that surrounds our society is nothing but IGNORANCE especially regarding historical facts and how they are interpreted in order to promote any given agenda that flees from actual truth! Regarding the present and unfortunate developments in the Balkans, this has been a longstanding issue at which Church and State definitely tango.
It must be considered that there is nothing new regarding one nation interfering with another or wanting to gain lost territory whilst other nations fuel the fire and at the same time contribute to collateral damage. The greatest contradiction present with these two nations in question is that they share ecclesial history and were converted to the Gospel of Christ being sister churches especially during the Mongol Tartar invasions (1237 – 1240AD).
May I share the following historical truths taken from our Apostolic Succession in order to give context to the issue at hand which many do not know nor wish to acknowledge! This in no way justifies the call for war, but it is a call for conversion for sister nations to stop repeating the same mistakes which imminently causes alienation, bloodshed, and severing from the Vine of Christ’s body!
It is worthwhile remembering that within the 12th century, the Mongol invasion was causing strife throughout Kiev and neighbouring cities; a move to a safer place was warranted for the Tartars burnt everything in sight and desecrated that which is holy. Hence, Metropolitan St. (bishop no- 124) MAXIMUS, moved away from Kiev (1299 AD) and resettled in Vladimir.
Despite the political power play (schism) between Constantinople, Kiev, and Moscow - Church and State (1467 – 1560 AD) along with the disapprovals and approvals which later followed - Metropolitans Sts. (bishop no- 125) PETER and (bishop no- 126) THEOGNOSTUS, made arrangements for the Patriarchal See to move to Moscow. This was recognized by the See of Constantinople (1589 – 1591 AD) granting her (Moscow) autonomy!
Considering that one of Kiev’s patriarchs (bishop no- 134) ISIDORE anathematized himself via joining Rome; it is noteworthy to consider the stance of the Catholic Uniate Metropolitan Gregory the Bulgarian who severed relations with Rome and was received by Constantinople (1467 AD) under Patriarch St. Dionysius I. Moscow indeed played an important part in strengthening the Church throughout the years and eventually became the Elder Sister of Kiev.
After (bishop no- 134) ISIDORE split from Holy Orthodoxy and the Patriarchal Throne needed to be secured from Latin invaders (Uniates) and the later admirer of Roman Catholicism Tsar Peter the Great (1682 – 1725 AD) who from time to time pushed the Roman agenda; the metropolitans elected (bishop no- 279) ST. JONAH as Successor of the Apostle Andrew and heir of the Cathedra of Kievan Rus.
Despite the efforts to preserve Holy Orthodoxy, an Isidorian repeat occurred with Metropolitan (bishop no- 291) MICHAEL ROGOZA who aspired to the teachings of the Council of Florence (1438 – 1439AD) which sought to unite all churches under Rome.
Hence, Kiev was under the Polish administration of King Sigismund III Vasa, (1587 – 1632 AD) who promised to allow all Ukrainian churches to continue in the Byzantine Rite – an endeavour to keep Russian rule and influences away from Ukraine: the Union of Brest-Litovsk (1596 AD) under Pope Clement VIII (1592 – 1646 AD) this union was challenged by various orthodox bishops and laity which resulted in the forming of orthodox brotherhoods/confraternities throughout Ukraine. Hence, Constantinople appointed Exarchs to Ukraine (1596 – 1679 AD) to secure Holy Orthodoxy.
There is a great difference from safeguarding ones nation from attack and besieging another via retaliation due to a political situation which has also turned into an ecclesial outrage; a concoction of crusade and inquisition. There exists a demonic plague when strong religious countries feel that they have been given a divine right to divide and conquer; mocking the Incarnation which occurred for our salvation as opposed to our damnation! (Jn 3:16)
When the Incarnation of God the Son occurred, those in power felt threatened via a new rule not known to them dawning. Thus, they had to do all they could within their power to remove the threat of being overthrown by the new born King of Bethlehem. Thus, as the Church, we stand in solidarity with both Israeli and Palestinian communities who have been traumatized by the annihilation of holy innocence – young children who have not been given the chance to grow and reshape the world around them.
The parable of poor Lazarus and the rich man (Lk 16:19-31) also encapsulates the issues at hand; those who have been coveted by evil via enslaving others either by physical force or mental manipulation – the religious kind particularly causes emotional homicide!
We still haven’t understood that if we forsake another human being or entire nation – we have forsaken the Heavenly Kingdom which is made up of the Communion of Saints from all parts of the globe! We desire to twist Holy Scripture and ignore central parts - alike the reference in the same parable above. Further, we constantly fashion a deity and sanctified meeting place that reflects our limited understandings and fragile likes rather than worshiping the one whose image and likeness sanctifies all who come into the world! (Gen 1:27)
Every time a crisis emerges within the world – all the supposed visionaries and direct heavenly hotline brigade come out of the woodworks creating further confusion and spiritual unrest. It is a known fact that the world – the people in it and those in power of course tend to repeat past blunders precisely because we haven’t learnt to grow correctly!
God indeed does bestow signs and wonders through the divine economy of his grace according to his Holy Will; yet at the same time his message is consistent, he does not play games, and will not go against his law of mercy. We see this when the clowns of the temple and their party tried to outsmart him (Jesus – God the Son) with the Law of Moses regarding the harlot which they desired to stone and shamefully failed especially in the attempt of declaring him a charlatan. (Jn 8:1-11)
Thus, regarding visions……on Wednesday we will commemorate St. Marin the Merciful who was bishop of tours (316 – 397AD) Martin came from a prestigious military family in Hungary and of course was expected to fulfil the family legacy. Yet, at an early age his heart was set upon the Lord and after some years, he received baptism much to the surprise of his pagan family and peers.
Although he was a skilled soldier especially in the art of defence, yet he could not reconcile war with his Christian faith. Hence, alike Daniel who tamed the lions in the den via the Angel of the Lord, Martin left the military at which it was seen as an act of cowardice; considering the accusations, he then stood unarmed before the opposing side – they then saw angels encircling him and immediately retreated.
Before he took up the monastic cowl, whilst still a soldier and catechumen, Martin met a poor beggar who was shivering in the cold; he sliced half of his mantle with his sword and wrapped the beggar to provide him with a little warmth.
That very night, the Lord came escorted by angels to his sleep via a dream saying: “Although he is a catechumen, yet he wrapped my body with his cloak…..I will vest him with glory in the waters of baptism!”
Therefore, that poor man need not have been the Lord as many people desire to fantasise within their prayer life - regarding the complex state of mind and power of suggestion; the reason why our Church Fathers insist that we turn away from imaginations. Yet, the Incarnation is real, and we being his Icon, his hands and feet in the world is the mission of wholehearted believers!
In conclusion, this is the season of reminder - the call to be mindful in how we treat each other and render accordingly; encountering the Lord through the other person: Christ in the poorest and least! (Mt 25:40) As we approach the portals of Holy and Great Lent – the established timeframe where we tend to our nurturing and growth, may we bear in mind that our actions rendered onto others gives witness to our true convictions!
“I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not clothe me, sick and imprisoned yet you neglected me.” (Mt 40: 42-43)
Comments