Homily on the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed Him. Mt 4:18-12
Growing up within Western Christendom, I was always led to believe that the gospel of the fisher of men was to explain/inspire a vocation to service, whether that be as a nun, monk or priest; gathering earthly souls for the kingdom of heaven.
However true this explanation may be, there exists a greater truth and meaning to it; the last judgement! Now I don’t particularly enjoy discussing the topic of “doom and gloom” as we say in our native tongue, because the purpose of God’s divine intervention was to bring salvation! However, from time to time we may need a wake up call and be reminded that not all Christians wish to live in God. There are the people who are Christian by name, however they lack the one or two vital elements in their lives; charitable works and rendering due praise/worship onto God! (to give of one's self to someone in need – Keeping the Sabbath/ regular prayer)
I am not a fisherman, the only thing I have ever caught off the Rye fishing peer was some sort of plastic wrapper; which by the way, I was so excited as I reeled it in and a star fish the next catch! However, I do know that commercial fisherman use large nets to catch their fish. Thus, when the net is full it is drawn out of the waters and brought back to a factory for the separation of fish from other creatures.
Therefore, returning to the gospel – the world in which we live in represents the ocean/waters, the fish represents all of humanity and the net represents the last day where all shall be gathered together in the one place to be separated as Christ states in the gospel of Matthew - All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. Mt 25: 32-33
Hence, when poor souls have been hurt/traumatised by the institutional “church”, many of these souls resort to their own invented forms of religious beliefs due to the fact that their faith was tarnished by an ambitious monster who lusts power and prestige dressed in black! (Cleric)
Furthermore, God truly is the merciful and ever forgiving Father! He is always ready with His arms outstretched;(As they were on the Holy cross) waiting for us to return to Him when we are in need of His loving kindness! However, if we remove ourselves from His grace; allowing anger and hatred to become our focal point and begin to spread false doctrines – then that may be the cause of all sorts of dire consequences!
The Laudable Apostle exhorted to the Church in Galatia - I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel - not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to that which you received, let him be accursed. Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ. Gal 1:6-10
Early this week I came across an article online which truly saddened and disappointed me to the core! The article was in relation to a comment that a certain archbishop Job of Telmessos made in regards to the distribution of the All Holy Mystery of Communion and Covid 19. In a meeting of the world councils of Churches he stated that - “The communion spoon is an instrument through which the virus can be transmitted.” In addition, he states that orthodoxy should take note of the Church in Rome and the Protestant Churches by indefinitely stopping the distribution of communion; orthodoxy should adopt this method more so because it distributes Holy communion to the faithful via spoon.
He further adds - “One has to keep in mind that the communion rites have evolved throughout the course of history and that this is not the first time that the Church has confronted such debates in times of epidemic...”
Moreover, this discussion/debate can go on for hours on end but I shall not delve into it much further however, what I will say is that throughout the course of history the faithful of yesteryear continuously recourse to the sacred mysteries of the Church for spiritual and bodily healing and it worked! God defended the people from all sorts of plagues and epidemics! It is recorded throughout history where the faithful would gather together (whether it was a Church or a home) to pray and receive the sacraments and they are untouched!
Thus, how is it that a bishop of the Church who is meant to be an Apostle; leading the Lord’s flock to salvation stand there and say - “Perhaps we should cease the distribution of Holy communion until this epidemic is over? (The Protestant reformation) Are you not meant to be encouraging the Lord’s flock to not be afraid about life's perils by anchoring onto Him who is Salvation?
Hence, why is it different nowadays! What has changed? Have we lost faith in Christ and His Church or where our brethren gone before us mentally unsound???
The state institutional Church needs to take a step back and look at itself long and hard; asking itself - “is it still Orthodox or has it become like the others reformed and uncanonical???”
*****
As a parent, I often ask myself - “Am I raising my girls with the same morals I grew up with and handing down our Christian faith which is orthodox to the best of my ability? Will my girls grow up to be role models within society?
My nearly three-year-old daughter Mia is going from skill to skill; learning to ride a bike too reading small books on her own. However, for quite some time she has been saying to me - “Daddy I'm scared to walk down the hallway because its dark and the monster will get me!” Sometimes refusing to go to the toilet without me or my wife. She broke my heart because I know first-hand what it is like to be scared of the dark and to be spooked by perhaps unholy entities! So, I gave her the only advice that would help her overcome her fears and that would be affective; I said to her - “Baby girl, don’t be scared! Jesus is always here and as soon as these monsters come, Jesus will catch them and give them a big slap and make them go away! All you have to say to Jesus is, “please help me I'm scared” and He will make everything all better!”
Thus, last week Mia approached me some time after dinner and said - “Daddy, I’m going to the toilet all by myself and I’m not going to be scared because Jesus is there and He will make all the monsters go away!” That statement brought a tear to my eye because at three years old she is already showing signs of a strong faith! Furthermore, on contemplating the above I re-asked myself the question - “Am I bringing my daughters up morally correct and teaching them the faith according to the Apostles teachings?” The answer was Yes! I am by no means the best parent in the world that award goes to the many parents out that work several jobs just to make ends meat, however to hear my daughter say “Jesus will help” is reassuring that she will do well in life because she will depend on Christ as we all should!
In conclusion, our children are the new blood that runs through the veins of Christ’s Church! We as parents and teachers of the faith have a great responsibility to ensure that these little ones are taught the correct way (Orthodox) and taught to never be ashamed or afraid to profess the faith; not as the religious bigot dose on the corner of Flinders Street screaming and shouting repent! But by the very actions they see you perform in their childhood, giving the time of day to the person that society shuns and turns away due to little or no stature within society!
There is one commandment that the Lord exhorts we keep at all times – if we fail this command, we should renounce what we believe and move on because God clearly is not in our midst when love is not there. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jn 13:34-35
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. Mt 4:23
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