Homily on the 4th Sunday of Geart Lent.
A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.
Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.” Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He’s dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up. Mk 9:17-26
We all endure spiritual struggles at some point in our lives; for the majority of Christians we will face such struggles until the day we leave this earth and be reunited in Paradise with the All-Holy-Trinity One God!
At times the routine of prayer, fasting and services can become quite intense and one may click over to auto pilot mode; doing things or praying things just out of habit.
Thus, when we find ourselves in this spiritual pilot, mode the safest and sensible thing to do is simplify things! Instead of continuing with, let's just say and Akathist to Jesus; stop and pray to Him from the heart or even stand in silence before His Holy Icon and let Him talk to our heart.
Moreover, the problem with prayer for all of us at times is we do not listen to God but rather ramble on about ourselves/ as reading out of a book and so forth. Does God have no voice? Why are we not allowing God to speak to us in the prayer of the heart? Is it not somewhat rude when you're with a friend and you talk so much that you don’t give that friend a chance to say something? Having stated thus, if we cannot have a coherent conversation with our friends and family members – it is unlikely that we can hear the voice of God through the prayer of the heart!
Therefore, as young children do when we are faced with a situation in life that we do not know how to face; who do we go to? Our parents. We go to them and listen to what their recommendations are for they have more life experience. (Sound advice via experience in contrast to our venting out with aspirations to success!)
Hence, when it comes to spiritual matters that pertain to our souls the best and only logical thing to do is find out what God the Father recommends for us and see what our Mother the Theotoks suggests! (Honor thy Father and Mother! Ten commandments)
Furthermore, it is not only the saints and martyrs that could hear the voice of God within their heart but all orthodox Christians have the grace to hear God in prayer via virtue of Holy baptism! If a person struggles - we have the clergy to assist us in hearing Gods voice!
In addition, clergy also deal with such issues: I personally have battled many times with a spiritual drought so to speak where I find myself unable to complete even a simple prayer structure or services.
That’s where my superiors step in and assist me with my issues. I’m not really sure about what other people think, but for a long time I was under the impression that clergy are exempt from spiritual warfare. In actual fact every single cleric from Subdeacon to Patriarch deals with spiritual struggles within their lives until the day of their earthly departure!
Now does this mean that the cleric is unworthy or shouldn’t be serving the Church of Jesus and His members? (the faithful) Absolutely not (the classic guilt trip...my sins!) in actual fact such struggles help him sympathies with others on a deeper and emotion level!
Then if we read the lives of the saints, most of them went through immense struggles and still went on to become great saints and figures of the Church.
We recall when the Apostles were on the boat when the sea was enraged and the storm was blowing gale force winds. The Apostle Peter saw Jesus and said Lord if that is really you permit me to walk on the waters also. After Jesus told Peter to walk on the waters with Him, Peter became afraid at the sight of the winds and waters and began to sink. Mt 14:22-33
Therefore, even the Apostles feared and doubted God and their faith from time to time. How about the Apostles Thomas Doubting Thomas – unless I see the holes in His hands and feet and place my fingers in His side, I will not believe He has risen from the dead! Jn 20:24-29 Yet he went on to spread the Gospel to Medes and Parthia (regions of Iran), and as far as India.
Having stated thus, when we encounter a spiritual struggle in life, may we always be encouraged by these holy men and women before us who endured the same hardships as we deal with. May their sainthood encourage us to keep going; all the saints were ordinary people whom God called to greatness!
The most important thing to remember in all aspects of life is the quality of what we produce. The quality is far more important than the quantity of what one produces. So, when we pray, it is better to pray for five minutes with every fiber of your being rather than 1 hour of just reciting something that your heart isn't one with.
God desires worshipers in spirit and in truth. Thus, when we pray from the heart, it is worth more to God than all the prayers out of our prayer books combined!
In conclusion as the Apostle Paul undertook, may we also strive to endeavor - running the race, fighting the good fight, and keeping our faith until the end! 2 Tim 4-7
After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?” He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” Mk 9:28-30
Through the prayers of the Theotokos, Jospeh Her spouse, Saint Benedict of Nursia and the Holy Apostles of our Metropolis, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us!
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