Homily on the 8th Sunday after Pentecost.
When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food. Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
“Bring them here to me,” he said. And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
In today’s gospel we have received a foretaste of what is to come on Holy Thursday – the institution of the only acceptable sacrifice one can offer onto God; His (Jesus’) very own body and blood (Eucharist) for the remission of sins and eternal communion with Him! (The All-Holy-Trinity)
As we know all too well, working to provide for our family and further to sustain ourselves can become quite exhausting at times. Perhaps we can become irritable at certain moments and may want to lock ourselves up inside; not wanting to talk to anyone, which of course is good for our mental health from time to time – the monastic within.
Thus, the Apostles had been following our Lord and learning how to tend to His flock when the time for His (Christ’s) earthly departure would inevitably come. Therefore, they had been ministering to the people for quite some time and had become extremely tired; only wanting to stop in order to have some quite time with Christ and bask in His Glory.
Hence, because they were tired and wanted to be left alone, they also via human fragility became irritable and supplicated Jesus to send the multitude away to fend for themselves. However, Jesus in His infinite love could not send them away empty and hungry.
May I put it this way, if a family member or close friend comes to visit us at our home and it is around dinner time, is it not the normal thing to do to ask them to remain and share a meal with us? After all they are the ones whom made the effort to come and visit us regardless the time convenient or not.
Moreover, let's hypothetically say - your child came to you pouring their little heart out with all their worries, anxieties and problems. Would we in turn send them away because we couldn't be bothered dealing with their pain? Of course we wouldn’t, no parent in their right frame of mind would do such a thing!
Thus, that is exactly what had happened on that very day when the multitude came to our Lord. Therefore, when Jesus saw the multitude in their desperation to be healed in mind, body or spirit via His (Jesus’) salvific words, He could not turn them away for He is the very word and breath which breathed life into this world! The Father Pantocrator!
In addition, as the same Christ provided for the Israelites when they were in exile with the Manna (flake like substance from heaven) in the Exodus, so too has He (Jesus) provided us with the Heavenly bread from the heavens; Himself in the greatest mystery of mysteries – the Holy Eucharist. Thus, via the Sanctified and Holy Bread (Holy Communion) we may never hunger and live in the absence of God but live in and through Him every day of our Christian lives; in the sure hope that we truly are sons and daughters of His eternal Kingdom!
In today’s epistle reading, the Apostle Paul addresses the Church in Corinth saying - I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized in my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with wisdom and eloquence, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
Sadly, since the times of the Apostles, Bishops and so-called successors of the Apostles, have abused their honour, thus turning and twisting the Church of Christ into their own kingdom; where they thrive off the admiration of others just as we saw with the Pharisees in the Jewish temple; making grand gestures and long-winded prayers which don’t stem from the heart but are rather empty words and motions just as their (Pharisees) very souls!
Thus, it is true that the clergy are set apart from others via Apostolic succession by way of the laying on of hands in Holy ordination/consecration. However, at the end of the day they are all Human and share the same fragilities as all people; if not more so because they are constantly battling not only evil within their lives but also in the lives of others that God has placed under their care!
Therefore, everything that the clergy do - blessings, the Divine Liturgy, prayers, pastoral care and all that comes with being a cleric is done in and with the All-Holy name of Jesus Christ our King and our God! The moment a cleric even attempts to do something of his own accord and not in the name of the All-Holy-Trinity, it is the equivalent of boiling a pot of water without fire/heat - it just can't be and will remain cold water useless to cook with!
On Friday evening the Church commemorated the feast of the Procession of the precious wood of the Life-Giving Cross.
In orthodox lands/countries the Lord’s Glorious Cross would be processed through the streets with songs, hymns, prayers, incense and icons. Thus, by the faith of the people the Lord’s Cross would miraculously heal sickness, disease and all sorts of plagues such as the great plague, Spanish flue and Covid 19!
However, these days people see the Glorious Cross as a means of death, torture, a good luck charm and even used by people that don’t even know it, for example.
We have all heard the saying touch wood. In a sentence it would sound something like this - “Oh did you hear there is a new strand of Covid going around, touch wood it doesn't come here.’ Thus, meaning let hope or have faith.
Therefore, on Good Friday what do we do when we go to Church to remember our Lord’s death? We go to the foot of the Cross to touch and kiss it; not as a sign of good luck but rather as a sign of thanksgiving because He (Jesus) paid the ultimate price for our salvation via the shedding of His Precious blood!
Furthermore, when people cross their fingers and say things such as - “fingers crossed it doesn't rain on the weekend because I want to go for a walk.” In actual fact they are making the letters IX the initials of the All-Holy name of Jesus Christ!
It is in a similar way the priest/bishop imparts God’s blessing upon the faithful with his hand; along with the addition of the letters NI KA meaning victorious – because Christ conquered death (evil) via His death upon the wood of the Cross and His Glorious Resurrection!
In addition, old believer orthodox Christians do the sign of the Cross in a same manner. They cross their index and middle finger resembling the two natures and the Cross and join the little finger, the ring finger and the thumb to resemble the Holy Trinity.
Moreover, we have all seen the image of the skull and two bones crossing themselves to signify that - something may cause death! However, this is how the bones of Martyrs, Saints and Christians were often placed within the catacombs; symbolizing that they were Christian!
Thus, evil always tries to diminish the All-Holy name of Jesus and His Glorious Cross but it can’t be so because God always has the final say! Thus, evil thought it had won at the fall of our first parents Adam and Eve however, when Jesus ascended the wood of the Cross, died and descended into hades; shattering its gates and liberating those wrongly placed their - evil had once again failed to take the place of God! BTW, Jesus was crucified at the location of Adam and Eve’s resting place. (Golgotha/The place of the skull) – He who became Son of man raises man or mankind into sons and daughters of God!
Therefore, may we remain strong in faith and anchor onto Christ and His glorious Cross and truly believe that it has become and is an instrument of healing, love and a weapon against evil!
Troparion
O Lord, Save us Your people and bless us Your inheritance. Grant Victory to us over our enemies and protect us by Your Precious and Life-Giving Cross. Amen
Through the prayers of the Theotokos and Her spouse Joseph, Lord Jesus Christ our God, through the merits of thy precious Cross have mercy on us and save us!
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