Homily on the 21st Sunday after Pentecost.
“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.” Lk 8:5-8
Earlier this week I was absolutely ashamed and disgusted at the institutional orthodox churches who are battling it out over who is in canonical or uncanonical. In this particular case I'm referring to the Archbishop of Cyprus and the archbishop of Ukraine. How totally UNCHRISTIAN of these clowns promoting hatred against each other all because an archbishop from another jurisdiction was commemorated within the context of the Divine Liturgy.
To the archbishop of Cyrus and all clergy who promote hatred against other jurisdictions around the world, I would like state thus. Firstly, how dare you call yourselves shepherds of the Lord’s flock whilst promoting hatred towards fellow Christians! Have you forgotten that Jesus said - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jn 13:34-35
Secondly, as far as apostolic succession goes, do you not recall the conversation between Saint John the Baptist, the Pharisees and Sadducees at the river Gorden - ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. Jn 3:9
Having stated thus, there is No limit to God’s love; He loves all His creation Unconditionally no matter what the institutional Church may class as sin and forms of heresy ect.... Sadly, nearly all the big/wealthy institutional Churches are being run by want-to-be kings and princes; placing business and power over the salvation of souls and the glorification of God.
Thus, as I have stated many times in the past doves will not come to rest on a surface which is unclean/diseased and the same is with God. If people remove God from the picture via rejecting Him; placing their lust for power over those who truly wish to be saved; God removes Himself for He never imposes or demands as evil personified does.
St John Chrysostom said - “the Church is a hospital”, therefore how is this hospital (institutional Churches) meant to be treating/curing those riddled with all sorts of spiritual infirmities if the clergy have removed themselves from God; placing their egoistical pride over the Lord’s flock? No healing can nor will take place!
When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.” His disciples asked him what this parable meant. He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’ Jn 8:8-10
“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away. The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature. But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Jn 8:11-15
On Saturday night my family and I went to visit my brother and sister-in-law which was well over due. Whilst we were driving, my wife was telling me about her day and what activities she did with our daughters. My wife then turned to me and said - “Oh I forgot to tell you; but be prepared because you are going to cry from joy! Your eldest daughter was saying - “I love mummy and I love daddy, and I love Nonna and Nonno” she then said - “And I love Jesus so, so much!” At which, just as my wife had stated I cried from joy!
We have never brainwashed or forced our daughter to say “I love Jesus” or any forceful manipulation as cults do to its members. All we have ever taught her is the truth and that is - “Baby girl, Jesus love us all so, so much more than anything in the world!”
Hence, this is the result of teaching the young generation the love of God – they will glorify Him and appreciate even the smallest “insignificant” things in life just as Jesus tended and dwelt with the small and “insignificant”! On the other hand, what the institutional Churches are teaching its young via example is - “try and make it to the top in order to have power and lord over the people; and if a person is not of your kind: persecute them via any means necessary because they are filth – as was the case with the Jews and the Samaritans in Jesus’ time!
Therefore, let us pray that the Holy Spirit open the eyes and hearts of those who have wondered from His grace and that they may come to their senses, repent and return to the mission of our Lord and Savior! (the salvation of souls)
Let us remember that our blessed land of Australia is fertile ground where people thirst for the divine and that which is spiritual. Unfortunately, the seeds that were sewn yesteryear where either corrupted or had no life in them to begin with. Hence, it is only through he nurturing of water via the love of Christ for us His church; weak, humble and frail that we can truly rise again on wigs of prayer and allow a new Pentecost to ripen!
Through the prayers of the Theotokos Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us!
Opmerkingen