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.
Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 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 4:18-23
Today we have heard/read the recount of the first Apostles called by our Lord at the sea of Galilee. As we are well aware Christ in His infinite love called men that were humble, broken, rough around the edges, drunks and what many would have considered as being vagabonds (Living an unsettled, irresponsible or disreputable life)!
Thus, one may ask why didn’t Jesus choose men that were of a higher class or that were well educated and prominent members of society; esteemed by many such as the Scribes and Pharisees.
Unfortunately, in the majority of cases when one gains status and prestige within society or in this case religious institutions, most of the time they become so wrapped up in their own lives and fame that they forget or don’t know what it is like to live rough: struggle finding a job, having very little too no money, going through family breakdowns and feeling like they are not good enough. The way things really are for the majority of us in the real world!
Therefore, God cannot use these high classed people so to speak due to their arrogance and ignorance. He (God) uses those who know suffering, who know what it's like to feel alone or to go through life's daily and sometimes unending struggles. The only criteria that must be meet is humility! Having the humility to acknowledged one’s shortcomings and fragility and asking the Lord for help to overcome them!
Hence, many people assume that clergy are exempt from these worldly struggles because they are the ones whom the faithful go too for advice and so forth. However, this could not be further away from the truth. The fact is that even clergy can get “down in the dumps” as we say in our Australian slang, meaning that even they succumb to depression or anxiety from time to time due to HUMAN NATURE!
At times we may forget that ALL clergy are human and deal with similar if not the same struggles everyone else goes through. That’s why in monasteries monastics live together so they may give support to one another because they go through the same struggles; they understand what the struggle is and how to overcome it.
Hence, that’s why within the diaspora most of the clergy are married so as to give advice and support to the faith via their own experiences and how they have dealt with them in the past.
For example, the past month has been very difficult for me spiritually and physically speaking. I found it hard to pray at times and I was constantly bickering with my wife over the smallest things. I felt sentiments of unworthiness, like I had lost my faith and all sorts of unpleasant thoughts.
Thus, this is due to two things: firstly, because I too am human, broken and fragile. I had reverted to my teenage years where I allowed my past guilt complex (Sin) get the better of me. This happened because I became a bit too comfortable within myself and became lazy and I had let may guard down.
Lastly, it was also an attack by the unholy because the minute they see us on the right path and see that we are strengthening our faith in Christ, they will do everything and anything to stop that. We mustn't forget that they are very Inteligent and will twist truths around – making it very convincing at times however, that’s why it is important to have a spiritual Father (Priest/Bishop) to discern when we cannot.
Hence, last week as I was praying, I decided to venerate all the icons of the Saints and ask for their prayers. However, little did I know at the time (for my mind was elsewhere due to struggles) it was the feast of All-Saints! The Holy Spirit had moved me to venerate and ask for the intercessions of these Holy men and women who have gone before us; spreading God’s Love and Word (Jesus) throughout the world!
Therefore, God had given me encouragement by this realization because of the state I had placed myself in. The daily struggle of living out our Christian faith is real and it can become extremely hard, however that is why we have each other to lean on when times get tough as the Church family (The body of Christ)!
Thus, just as Christ called the Apostles who were imperfect, the same Lord calls each of us to leave behind our guilt complex (sin) and to allow Him (Christ) to perfect what is good within each of us. We all have a purpose and function within the Body of Christ; one thing is for sure - God’s love for us is infinite and He proved it too us via the wood of the cross!
Therefore, as we see in the icon of the resurrection, Christ lifting up Adam and Eve out of the tombs, for us in today's gospel reading we can apply that image, however Christ is pulling us out of our sufferings and imperfection so He (Jesus) can make us perfect in Him!
Through the prayers of the Holy Apostles, the intercessions of the Theotokos and through the prayers of Her spouse Saint Joseph, Lord Jesus Christ reach out onto us via your compassion and mercy; saving us as the physician of souls and lover of all of creation!
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