Homily on the 1st Sunday after Pentecost.
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Mt 10:32
In today's Gospel proclamation, our Lord talks about several things. He speaks about leaving behind ones family to follow Him. Further taking up ones own cross in following Him. And to those who deny to be a Christian in front of man will be denied entry onto paradise when their time comes.
Now, the last message here - to deny Christ before man will result in the same treatment before God the Father is clear, plain and simple. It need no interpretation or elaboration. We deny Him, He will deny us!
However, when Christ says - "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" Mt 10:37 He is not referring to a normal and healthy Christian relationship between parent and child. There is no way that the the All-Holy-Trinity would ever want anyone to give up a person who is loved! It totally goes against the commandant to love! How can God say one thing and then the total opposite? Well the short answer is He (God) doesn't! God speaks plainly and clearly in all things! He is totally transparent when He acts in justice, mercy and compassion! There is NO deceit in God. Period!
No! Rather, He is referring to those who immortalise a person in their lives such as a parent or a child to the point that whatever they say is the only truth; even if it goes against the only true gospel of the Lord!
If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed! Gal 1:6-12
I will share with you one example of immortalising a person that I personally know of. I have a friend who is around my age. This friend behaves like his parents are the king and queen of the world. Everything they say is law! Nothing and no one including his own wife dare say other wise. He will defend his parents actions at all costs.
Unfortunately, my friend has allowed his parents to take over his whole life including his marriage. For example, if his wife would say or do something contrary to what his parents believe, he will have an argument with his wife or force her to change in order to suit her in-laws.
Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. Mt 10:29
Furthermore, another example of this control would be when it came time for the baptism of his child. My friend grew up in a non practicing Roman Catholic family. However, like the majority, "Christians" (generally speaking) they never go to church except for weddings, funerals, baptisms or the occasional Christmas/Easter service. Let's not kid ourselves, it's all for show and because it's a so called tradition.
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Mt 10:37
Therefore, my friend was very happy to baptise his child in the Orthodox Church. He could see himself, his wife and child coming to the true faith; he admitted that he felt a sense of the sacredness and belonging. However, his parents had other plans. You can only imagine what his parents had to say about that. To cut a long story short the child was baptised in the Roman Catholic church because his parents said so.
Thus, this brings us back to what Jesus was saying about loving ones mother, father, son or daughter more than Himself (Jesus). He was referring to this example of a toxic and controlive relationship that so many young adults are subject to all over the world!
And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me, is not worthy of me. Mt 10:38
Having stated thus, our Lord then speaks about one carrying his own cross. Well a perfect example of a burden or cross as our Lord calls it would be to break apart from controlling parents like those of my friend.
To break away from them regardless would be tremendously difficult because at the end of the day they are mum and dad, son or daughter they are family. However, something that impedes us to grow in the Lord and live in Him must be removed. Remember we are all God's children and what did He say in the Gospel of Mark chapter ten verses fourteen to fifteen - “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
Therefore, a person who is an impediment between God and a child of God will have a lot of explaining to do when their time comes.
Having stated thus, we must never allow a person to deter us from the love of God. No matter how difficult or heart breaking it may be, that persons behaviour must be cut off! We must always anchor onto Christ and His teachings because He is the only Truth! Anything contrary to the All Sacred words of our Saviour must be completely disregarded because they stem from the evil one whose job it is to convince us otherwise.
In addition, we must always keep in mind that evil will mask itself as the angel of light to convince us that it comes from God. It is sneaky, conniving and knows very well our thoughts and our past; manipulating such experiences to benefit itself - ultimately resulting in our fall a living hell (the absence of God) if ones succumbs to it.
However, when we truly and wholeheartedly live in the Lord, we are protected by the armour of light, (Jesus) the communion of saints, the Angel of peace which was assigned to each one of us at birth and the intersessions of our All Holy Mother Theotokos; who crushed satan under Her feet when She brought forth the Emmanuel into the world for our salvation!
Through the prayer of the Holy Theotokos, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us. Amen
