Ungratefulness rendered when goodness is taken for granted
Once the men freed were freed from the demonic entities, the keepers of the swine heard went into their town to tell the people what had occurred and who had freed the possessed. At this, they as a townspeople gathered and went out to seek Jesus, as soon as they came to him they pleased for him to go from their town’s surroundings for they feared that such an occurrence would bring scrutiny upon them. Therefore, Jesus left them via climbing into the boat and left that region until he came upon the shores of his own surroundings. (Mt 8:33-34 9:1)
This subject has many dimensions “unholy entities – possession” there are extremities; either the narrowing of all negative occurrences to the embodiment of evil, or the diagnosis of psychological disorders. Whatever may be the case, one aspect is certain – the incarnation “God’s intervention” happened in order to free us from these and all irregular blunders in nature. Further, the Gospels are clear about spiritual, mental and physical paralysis!
We need to understand that such arguments pedalled by sceptics as “that was the only way to explain it due to poor understanding” does not stand. Rather, such cultures and most advanced educations within various traditions especially encapsulated with the philosophical mindset is the par excellence of any school of thought!
Thus, away from these arguments that philosophers and theologians quarrel over; the issue that requires careful attention within our circle of belonging “Church” is the presence of disunity, misunderstanding, jealousy, competition, racism and spite harboured which is the presence of the unholy!!! There have been times where I have reached out to other sheep that are not part of my fold – and I took the risk for their sake so that they would not go without!
Yet, the so called shepherds of that fold were not interested in that, rather they wanted a victim, they wanted blood, and would do all within their power to misrepresent me and crucify me for this act of kindness, care and concern. In most extraordinary circumstances, should it not be the wholehearted objective of a shepherd to reach out onto the sheep that are in distress – even if they are not his own??? This in all truth is the blindness, the spite and the vile nature of those powers who rebelled in the beginning PRESENT AMONGST THE CLERGY AND IN THE CHURCH; those very powers who seek to pervert and destroy the Holy Spirit’s workings via clouding those minds from seeing the truth!
Such are present also amongst the so called religious people who seek to misrepresent something they do not understand via negatively labelling that which God has given or rather sent them. I can remember quite clearly when I was appointed parish priest of East Hawthorn – despite me bringing the young together; the youth who would not go to Church, I was seen as a destroyer of the community.
I was not Greek enough, I was not monastic enough, my hair was too short “can’t help my baldness” and my employing English so that the youth can understand was considered an act of treason. When I was parish priest of Spring Street, I was subject to the administrating lay board who governed the establishment with an iron fist – I was at their mercy and had to preach, teach, and act accordingly however my stomach turned within!
This is not to place my resume for canonisation, because anyone who says they are holy are as I have stated in previous blogs: “as holy as a block of Swiss cheese” – full of holes! I was not only priest, for I was not free to deliver sermons because in their books – I was not orthodox enough, but I was the cleaner and if things were not done - there would be problems. This was a true religious concentration camp and it’s only by God’s grace that I can confidently state and place my hand on the book of gospels that rests on the altar affirming: “I have not lost my mental faculties via God’s intervention and presence!” For at one stage I was desperately gasping for air so to speak/write!!!
Having stated thus, I must remind each and every one of you that the Church is HOLY and is the mystical body of Christ where his Spirit presides, but it’s the people inside that can be the cancer which tarnishes the hearts and minds of believers. The source of my strength against such putrid individuals that say all sorts of calumny against me and our Holy Exarchate is that I look too and invoke the prayers of our people “the martyred saints” who were robbed of their dignity in the terrible tortures exercised by communist regimes in Slavonic lands.
These holy ones were betrayed, tortured, and executed by their own people, yet their faith in the Lord of the Church was their strength that rendered nourishment in times of depravation. They had no places, nor churches to offer the divine services, yet when possible, they gathered in secret within cells, forests, huts and rivers ‘the catacomb Church’ risking their very lives in order to be nourished by the Lord who is Bishop of his Church. Unfortunately, history repeats itself and it’s the very people that should be nourishing others via their ministry that are the very ones who bring on persecution amongst their own.
It is also a time where people like those in the gospel take things for granted and want quick fixes…sometimes at the expense of others. One may exhaust oneself to try and get others right ‘rendering care and rehabilitation’ – once these have what they want they ‘these people’ dust you off very quickly and may deny that they know you or conveniently cast calumny upon you! It is a serious matter that we need to consider and acquire the spiritual grace to discern and come to a realization that the Church as an institution “the people who have hijacked positions that are not suitable for them” has reached a climax of spiritual paralysis – God is not there if love is absent!
We true believers should bare one important aspect in mind, and that is when opposition comes in from all four corners, it is a sign that you are on the right path. Evil personified has set to destroy God’s desires in bringing forth whatever option possible for people to come onto him. As we know, we orthodox of the ELDER Tradition (Old Calendar observance) are not set up like the rest of them, we are not sustained by our Church, we make our own way to survive – yet we gather wholeheartedly around the Altar of God offering him the best we can afford.
Although we are hated “are the thorn in the side” by mainstream orthodoxy “the state churches” along with others due to ignorance, yet we stand strong in the Lord even if such seek to block us from rendering service onto God. The Lord is alive in his Church and he proves it onto us again and again at each service – how many people who are and are not of our fold keep coming back saying: “We are at peace here!” “We feel him here!” “Miracles have happened in our lives!” “We can truly pray and feel complete!”
People of God, when you feel that you are undergoing stress, temptation, ridicule, depression, or even being unjustly victimized never give up but stand your ground and fight the good fight! You are never alone for all that is needful is to ask the Lord your GOD in prayer to INTERVENE and he will without question! For there is a grand difference with a wholehearted prayer that is offered in supplication ‘asking’ and that which is made according to the fluctuating emotions in demand ‘want’ – the reason why trust must be the foundation of prayer!
Therefore, never be afraid of what man ‘people’ can do to you even if they supposedly attempt to represent God – for the Lord will guide, guard, defend and strengthen you with his grace, presence, providence, and above all LOVE! Yes, a word, emotion and state of being that many are fearful of because it makes one aware of who they truly are, what they try to hide and ultimately brings one to their knees!!!
Then the possessed cried out in anxiety: “Why have you come now to impede us from tormenting these? It is not yet time for your kingdom come Son of the Most High!” Near the vicinity of the tombs were some farmers tending to their swineherd. Then the fallen powers pleaded with him saying: “When you cast us out permit us to seize the swineherd!” At such a request he commanded them saying: “Go!” Hence, they withdrew from the men and directly entered into the swine heard! Thus, they unveiled their objective which is death and confused the swine via marching them down a Clift into the sea to which the swine drowned. (Mt 8: 29-32)
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