Homily on the Sunday after the Baptism of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ
Matthew 4:12-17.
This Sunday is an important Sunday as the Gospel recounts the beginning of our Lord and Saviour’s ministry - for we read that as soon as Christ hears that St John the Baptist is in prison He begins to preach that the ‘Kingdom of God is near’ (Matthew 4: 17). Now yesterday was the great feast of the Theophany of our Lord and Saviour it is in this feast that the Church celebrates the revelation of Christ’s divinity. In the Gospel yesterday, as soon as Saint John the Baptist had finished baptising Christ the All-Holy Spirit was seen to descend on Christ in the form of a dove. Those who were present there then heard these words coming from Heaven stating:
“…this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Matthew 3:17).”
Prior to this occurrence, there had been other indications that Christ was indeed the Son of God such as Saint Simeon recognising Him as such when He was presented to Him in the temple (Luke 2:22-39). However, these occurrences were more or less not revealed to many people – meaning that there were not many people present when they happened. The difference here at Christ’s Baptism is that the voice from Heaven is publicly confirming that Christ is the Son of God and as such - the long-awaited Messiah.
Truly, Theophany is a wonderous and joyous celebration in the life of the Church. Theophany is a time where the Church has the ceremony of the Great Blessing of Water – this blessing of water symbolises Christ’s Baptism as well as reminds us of our baptisms for the thrice-holy hymn for this feast is:
“all those who have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ Alleluia (Galatians 3:27).”
This alludes to the great mystery of the Holy Mystery (Sacrament) of baptism, it is by being baptised into Christ that we put on Christ – meaning, that it is by Holy Baptism that we are able to partake in the life of Christ beginning the process of Theosis (a transformative process where one gradually enters into a deeper communion with the All-Holy Trinity). For by baptism we are made clean and forgiven our sins and enter into a deep union with Christ- a union that enables us to be united to Him in His death, burial and resurrection. This is why the Holy Mystery of Baptism is so important for the life of the Church for without this Mystery no one could be joined to our Lord and Saviour!
Unfortunately, we now live in an age where the divine aspect of our Lord and Saviour’s personhood is being doubted. How many documentaries try and explain away the miracles and healings performed by Christ? Indeed, how many people now think that the supernatural is a figment of an overactive imagination? This is problematic for if Christ was simply a nice guy – what is the point in believing his message? Furthermore, if Christ was simply a nice guy - why do the Gospels recount all the miracles that were performed by Him? Why did the early Christians go so readily to their deaths rather than deny the Divinity of Christ if He was simply a nice guy? If there was no resurrection, then what is the point to our faith (seemingly all Christian Martyrs would have died for nothing)? Unfortunately, attitudes like these that seek to deny the Holy, lead down a slippery path that ultimately leads to spiritual death - in a place where there will be much suffering at the hands of the evil one! It is attitudes like these, that seek to deny the supernatural, that eventually lead people to believe that there is no good or evil and that all there is - is what can be seen through the lens of science! However, let us not forget the lessons learnt from the socialist political systems (Communism and Nazism) where good and evil were seen to be relative- how many people died because human life was seen to be disposable -neither good nor bad! For if there is no God then one can do what one likes with no consequence – even kill! Whilst science is good in many ways and has led to many great advances in civilisation, it is only as good as the people behind the science. Therefore, it must be conceded, that science should be used as a tool to study the beauty of the All-Holy Trinity’s creation, as well as a tool to better conditions for mankind - in areas such as medicine and technology.
Finally, let us remember that the All-Holy Trinity has intervened many times in the life of the Church. For instance how many times have great Saints had visions of things to come like Saint John of Kronstadt who had a vision of Saint Seraphim of Sarov in 1901. In this vision, Saint John was shown by the Saint the future of the Russian Orthodox Church, and indeed the future of the whole Orthodox Church in the 20th century – including the fall of the Czar in 1917! There are many more miracles that could be recounted here, however, the point here is to highlight that there are things that cannot be explained by human reason alone (science) and as such, as Christians we must trust in the love and benevolence of the All-Holy Trinity! For truly, there are things that human reason (science) cannot and will never be able to explain - remember science in and of itself is limited and not infinite - like the wisdom of the All-Holy Trinity which cannot be limited. Therefore, let us see any miracles as spiritual gifts that are given to the Church, to not only help her but also encourage Her on Her way – for like a teacher the All-Holy Trinity gives little rewards to His children to encourage them on their spiritual journey!
댓글