Confusione

Homily on the 1st Sunday of Great Lent.

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; he chose to be ill-treated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasure of sin. He considered the reproach of the Anointed greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the recompense. Heb 11:24-26

In his letter to the Hebrews, the Apostle Paul reminds them about the importance of remaining focused on their salvation - rather than obsessing over old folk laws which have no relevance to eternal life or salvation: Jesus Christ.

Hence, to this present day we find ourselves in a society polluted with old folk law fairy tales such as – “il malocchio” the evil eye and certain remedies for thus.

I have a vivid memory of my grandmother who has now gone to God preforming a non-Christian ritual to remove the “evil-eye” that a person supposedly placed on my mother. Thus, my grandmother instructed my mum to sit on a chair whilst my grandmother held a bowl filed with water over her head; further putting olive oil in it and chanting some mambo-jumbo. If you ask me, it sounds like they were brewing potions and casting spells.

Therefore, I remember feeling quite uneasy over the whole ordeal, however being only 7-10 years of age, I forgot about the whole ordeal; never giving it a second thought until now. It pains me to say that Europeans Italian’s, Greek’s, Slavs ect have a deep fascination with such things as the evil eye, voodoo, spells and so on.

However, have these people ever once approached the local priest to seek his advice or purely have the Church intervein considering they are dealing with the supernatural. (Yet many clergy and church bodies see this too as a superstition and offer very little help to those affected by spiritual pollution.)

Moreover, if a person was feeling sick with a temperature would they go to seek the advice from the local pizzaiolo or would they seek professional advice from a general practitioner?

One thing that I have learnt throughout the course of these few years is that when we face certain factors in life; they must be dealt with as quickly as possible and should be done so with and by professionals.

Therefore, when facts that pertain to the Church arise, we must allow the Church to deal with thus accordingly. When things that pertain to the human body and health arise, we must seek medical advice from a doctor.

In addition, I remember when a family friend was pregnant, my mum asked for her wedding ring. She then placed the ring on a piece of sowing thread; hovering over our family friend's hand.

Thus, if the ring spun in circles, she was having a girl and if it swung in a straight line, she would have a boy.

When we heed to alternative spiritualities and customs pertaining to thus we run the risk of derailing from sound ground.

What more shall I say? I have not time to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, did what was righteous, obtained the promises; they closed the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped the devouring sword; out of weakness they were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders.

Women received back their dead through resurrection. Some were tortured and would not accept deliverance, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others endured mockery, scourging, even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed in two, put to death at sword’s point; they went about in skins of sheep or goats, needy, afflicted, tormented. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered about in deserts and on mountains, in caves and in crevices in the earth.

Yet all these, though approved because of their faith, did not receive what had been promised. God had foreseen something better for us, so that without us they should not be made perfect. Heb 11:32-40

On Monday the Church celebrated the feast day of the Holy Martyr Euthalia of Sicily.

The Holy Martyr lived in the town of Leontina on the island of Sicily with her mother and brother. Her mother suffered a horrendous illness in which she would lose enormous amount of blood.

Thus, whilst sleeping the Holy Martyr beheld a vision of the Holy Martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus and Cyprian and they told her that if she and her mother would profess Christ as their God and be baptized her mother would be loosed from her infirmities.

Hence, the mother and daughter confessed Christ risen and were baptized into the communion of saints; as we all are in the Holy Mystery of baptism.

Therefore, Euthalia’s brother being a devout pagan became enraged with pure hatred at the fact that his mother and sister had converted to Christianity. He thus set out to kill them, however the mother was able to escape her son’s fury.

Thus, when he caught his sister Euthalia she succumbed to tremendous amounts of torture and was finally beheaded via the sword at the very hand of her very brother.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. Heb 12:2

In conclusion, may we find encouragement from the Martyrs and Saints of God for they have as the Apostles Paul writes to the Apostle Timothy – fought the good fight, run the race and kept the faith! Let these Holy men and women be a source of encouragement and guidance for us especially in a world that thrives of dabbling in the a cult.

Through the prayers of the Holy Theotokos and of Her Spouse Joseph, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us, and save us and keep us in the Holy Orthodox faith.