The Lord who calls the most unlikely and least to service!
The Lord took his disciples and began to journey towards Jerusalem – they were amazed that he would do so in the hope of his promise, yet afraid about what may occur. At this he took the twelve aside and addressed them regarding all which would take place. (Mk 10:32)
This Sunday Gospel passage written by the Apostle Mark who was first Bishop of Alexandria/Egypt – docking into the last Sunday of Great Lent, it is a time of renewal and nurturing, many of us perhaps initially planned that this year we would make the most of it; detoxing from various aspects in the physical and spiritual sense – yet striving psychologically to re-adjust in this post Covid 19 phase, many of us as still a tad disorientated.
Let’s not mention the latest attacks around the country – where the gift of freedom in the expression of faith is at times tainted with the fear of redefining one’s personal concept which can be steeped in misinformation; outbursts of fragility often caused by a deep fear of maintaining a form of identity. It is a constant commitment in maintaining healthy mindsets which calls for calm in order to avoid ugly confrontations pertaining to passionate issues within the fragility of our human condition.
Regarding fragilities, many of us who struggle with various issues – weight being mine, find that the Lenten season is a period of time that helps contribute to our spiritual and physical wellbeing. Again, this timeframe I and perhaps many of you also have found ourselves in the same shoes of the Apostles at Gethsemane (the prayer garden) where the Lord gently reprimands them - regarding their failing to honour the task in keeping watch with the words: “The Spirit is willing but the Flesh is weak!” (Mt 26: 40)
As we know very well, we get caught up with various situations which can have positive and negative effect upon our wellbeing. Thus, the Lenten detox period of renewal and growth is prescribed for such reasons so that we can have a decent and wholesome Pascha; a spiritual boost to the immune system of Christ’s mystical body on earth – us the Church!
When this doesn’t happen and our prayer life which pertains to our spirituality diverges via other matters taking precedence – we recourse to our comforts; the innings of a quasi-spiritual depression taking root. We see this with religious people especially within their scrupulosity; if set prayer routines are not honoured – fear kicks in along with a sense of divine displeasure which begins to pulsate within the fortress of the mind.
In many ways, and as the Apostle Paul rightly refers to one’s spiritual life alike the training of athletes (1 Cor 9:25) there is a tendency to overdo one’s gym routine…..yet that is something I seriously need to take up again as I too have been most lazy in terms of fitness – winter approaching and comfort food beckoning!
Moreover, the Church as the institution it has unfortunately become, aligned itself rather, with the world in terms of reality shows; you need to look a certain way, be a certain way, think a certain way, act a certain way, aspire a certain way, and belong to a particular class in order to fit the criteria mould – the voice, so you can dance, the Batchelor and so forth!
The reason why the Church has not made any progress in the last two decades as an example is precisely due to its fitting the mould mentality. We are all different, our needs are diverse and so are our lifestyles, we may have some of these in common, yet we are discovering that humanity is much more complex than we ever thought possible – two ships in the night as it were!
When the Incarnation took place (Jesus amongst us) he came for all people and tended to all needs and as we know – many things were withheld (not being written down: Jn 21:25) precisely due to such reasons. Just as he sent the Apostles away at the Well of Jacob (Jn 4:4-26) when he conversed with the Woman of Samaria (St. Photini/Illuminata/Clare)
Hence, just as Jews and Samaritans despised one another, so too does the Lord keep things (people) apart and in secret (as he forbade people he healed and ministered onto to keep quiet) so that He through his Apostles throughout the centuries may minister onto his sheep who are not part of the greater fold! (Jn 10:16)
Thus, throughout Salvation History, the Lord called the most unlikely and the least of society precisely because they were the ones that had a heart and bore the capacity to love and see things differently – discovering the potential in others through their own struggles which bore gifts in nurturing others via their own personal development.
As we know and you may all see via our Apostolic Succession documentation, we received canonicity through the Apostle Andrew who was a remarkable man. He was rather tall, solid and strong, yet he was a gentle giant and got along with everyone; he was deeply loved especially by the Calabrian populace of the time.
Throughout his apostolic missionary journeys, he made many friends which he considered family and why? He learnt to listen, to learn, to appreciate, embody and reconcile differences through his Lord who came for all people! Hence, the Church being as St. John Chrysostom Archbishop of Constantinople (398-403AD) exhorted: The Spiritual Hospital where all are treated and made whole – Not the Court House where all are tried, imprisoned and executed – there is a phenomenal spiritual death out there!
On this Last Sunday of Great Lent, Holy Mother Church presents us with a remarkable woman who was spiritually dead, neglected, cast out and in need of nourishment. For when people are in such a state; we begin craving comfort and desire the affection of others especially when we are isolated due to various means – the mind being the most common. Thus, we recourse to things that indeed provide temporary contentment, yet shortly after - loneliness of soul and emptiness within life begins welling up once more which seeps through the walls of our very existence.
In this last Sunday of Great Lent, the Church focuses on two people in the journey of our communion – Miriam of Egypt (344-421 AD) and a remarkable pastor whose heart was compassionate onto all regardless: Zosimas of Palestine (460-560 AD). The contrast of the two is the story of how one’s holiness was brought to humility within true DIAKONIA and the other’s shame was transformed into fame in the humility of her state which reflected holiness. The whole account is available on the webpage of the Orthodox Church of America. I present the account in a nutshell so to speak/write with the following as an alternative.
On one had we have Zosimas who was a monk and presbyter thus raised in a monastery since he was quite young….and on the other we have Miriam who was of Egyptian nobility thus ran away from home – loved life and indulged in its pleasures to the point of inviting others to enjoy the pleasures of the flesh. Zosimas tried hard in the ascetic life (contemplative observance) whilst Miriam enjoyed earth bound pleasures and yet came to excel in asceticism via grace – a bit like the story of the prodigal son who came to his senses.
It was custom that in the monasteries of Egypt and Palestine – the monks would leave its precincts for all of Great Lent and dwell in the desert as hermits thus returning for Holy Week. Yet whilst Zosimas was in the contemplative mind frame, he freaked out when he saw Miriam coming towards him especially because she was naked. After clothing her with his cloak she told him her story which brought the monastic to tears and humility before this woman was rendered.
Miriam unfolded her story in the context of the Mystery of Absolution (confession) affirming her conversion. She was in her native town on the slopes of the Nile and a pilgrim boat came to take people to Jerusalem for the feast of the Exultation of the Lord’s Cross. She saw this as a golden opportunity to have fun with a variety of young men who sure enough thus indulged.
Yet, when she followed the crowd to the basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, she like others approached the doors, but as she attempted to walk in three times – it’s as if an invisible force was withholding her access. This then was the mirror to which she saw herself for the first time and lamented over how far gone and empty she had become….. After which she saw an icon of the Theotokos above the doors hence appealing to our Mother in asking her to intercede for pardon from the Lord: a burden lifted off her imminently and she couldn’t get in quick enough to render thanks………
When we think of any kind of suffering, we tend to whitewash it with various means…..but when we come to the realisation that through suffering we become organic people not synthetic, we can relate to and with others – extending onto them our ear, aid and experience so that they too may come to wholeness. The path to wholeness is not easy, there are many falls, many reservations, but it’s when we are given courage – fed and nourished by the strength of those who truly care, we begin to grow, sort ourselves out and strive to become!
Hence, our Holy Metropolis consecrated to the Lord’s Holy Apostles is a place and a CANONICAL CHURCH which embraces all people regardless - via the Lord’s cross, the fragility of others are nailed through him so that authentic transformation and resurrection may occur in the least and unwanted!
We are not a church who pretends to love and then viciously backstabs in crippling others, but THE CHURCH which embraces all people from all walks of life and conveys the Lord’s message: “Be not afraid but come as you and Love one another as I love you!” For we must bear in mind that we are all broken and must certainly stop pretending to be something we are not in the hope of genuine wholesomeness and grace to be rendered!
We are all broken in various ways, yet we are bound together by the glue of God’s Grace which gives us that second chance to become resourceful – alike a personal favourite cup or jug that is too precious to discard but reused as the means of nurturing the moment again and again. Hence, I had the privilege to prepare the funeral arrangements for the mother of one of my clerics this weekend.
I would like to share with you one nurturing comment made by our subdeacon’s mum who was a humblehearted and true academic whilst she was alive. Many of us find ourselves in a place we thought we would never imagined us to be in, others perhaps in a profession or circumstances that may not have been the ideal or what have you.
As stated in the beginning – we are fragile! Despite the place we find ourselves in, the certainty of knowing that one is loved, cared about, and wanted truly makes our day – brings light in our darkness. “Son, you were my true diploma from God, and no degree I earnt could ever replace the prize given me when you were born!”
As we come to the conclusion of our Lenten observance which is the springtime within, may we begin to cultivate the terrain of our persona and allow ourselves to be watered by the love and mercy of God (Jesus) May we draw froth onto the Lord’s Pascha with an abundant harvest and have the grace, humility and willingness to bring these fruits (our gifts given us) to the table so that those who are lacking in various areas may be found not wanting (filled): resurrection within (dignity restored).
Keep in mind that the time for me to ascend the Temple is coming and with this comes the betrayal where I the Son of Man will be handed over to its administration; they will condemn me and deliver me to the godless. Mocking, scourging, acts of indignities along with condemnation shall be cast on me until they will have their way and kill me. Yet remember that on the third day I will rise!!! (Mk 10:33-34)
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