Homily on the 11 Sunday after Pentecost.
If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.
My defence to those who examine me is this: Do we have no right to eat and drink? Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working? Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock?
Do I say these things as a mere man? Or does not the law say the same also? For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain.” Is it oxen God is concerned about? Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope. If we have sown spiritual things for you, is it a great thing if we reap your material things? If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more?
Nevertheless, we have not used this right - but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ.
As frustrating as lockdown may be, it has truly been a blessing from God in that we have been forced to slow – down from the rush of life; working too many hours, participating in sports, spending too much time with friends at the pub rather than our family and many other hobbies/activities that take up much of our lives.
I know for some people issues that impleaded their relationship have now been resolved because they are forced to deal with them due to having nowhere to run and escape as before lockdown.
We have once again sat down at the dinner table as a family should and have spent much needed quality time together; learning things about each other that perhaps we weren't aware of – likes, dislikes and so forth.
In addition, we are also aware of the reality of the increase in domestic violence against both women and men; a truly diabolical act of evil which wills the separation of humanity with its creator (God) and human to human in general. (family unit breakdown)
Sadley and obviously, this happens when a person severs themselves from Christ the vine (not in the madness of cult) – for if a branch (the person) is removed from the vine (Jesus) it dries up, dies and withers away into nothingness! (Darkness/the absence of God)
Thus, for those of us that have soldiered on so to speak, prayer has been our greatest aid in always being united as the one family, the one body of Jesus Christ! (The Church)
When we pray for each other, it is as we are gifting each other a body-suit of armor to be protected from the assaults of evil. Therefore, as we know from the teachings of the Apostle Pual to the Church of Rome, we are to put on the armor of light (Jesus the Lord) in order to- Fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith! 2 Tim 4:7 as he (St. Paul) stated to the Apostle Timmothy.
Therefore, that is why we must pray for each other, we are all susceptible to the attacks of evil no matter who we are clergy, laity, saintly or non-believer.
I remember last year serving as a deacon, I was praying for a person and as I was praying for that persons deliverance, I was compelled to take the Lord’s Cross and form the sign of the cross in the air as I prayed. Thus, as I lifted the cross in the air and continued to pray it felt as if a beam of indescribable power came out of it – at which I became quite emotional because I knew without a doubt my prayers had been energized by the power of the All-Holy-Spirit!
Furthermore, I recall when I was a catechumen (person learning the orthodox faith) one Sunday morning I was praying in my prayer corner at home when I felt what can be described as a wave of running water and electricity rushing through my entire body from head to toe - at which I began to cry uncontrollably from happiness because I knew then and there it was the All-Holy-Trinity giving me a taste of His indescribable love for me and for all!
Therefore, prayer made in true and fervent faith has the same power as it has for a patriarch, bishop, monastic, priest and deacon because it is not the persons position within the Church, it is the persons faith in Christ. Jesus exhorts many times within Holy Scripture - “Go in peace, your faith has made you well!” Further, in the Gospel of Mark Jesus says - Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Thus, to some all this may sound childish or something out of a child's story book, however from personal experience and from many testimonies like the recounts of the lives of the saints, it is a mystical and supernatural truth that one must and can experience for themselves. For this very reason the Churches Theology is mystical as opposed to scholastic!
Furthermore, Jesus clearly states - “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Mt 18 : 3 Therefore, we mustn't ever worry about what others may think or say about us when we heed to the instruction of our Lord in becoming like children. We must pray for such people because they are the ones who are missing out on the love of God and the miracles He continuously works for us; showing us that we are never left alone as orphans!
Therefore, let us not be discouraged because we are separated physically from each other as I stated earlier, we are always together spiritually, for we all live, breath and exist through Christ the Vine!
Through the prayers of the Theotokos, Her spouse Joseph and brother of the Lord Jude Thaddeus who we commemorate today, Lord Jesus Christ our God hear the prayers that thy people make onto You in sincere faith. Bless them, keep them and protect them always under the shelter of thy wings. Amen
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