Homily on the 14th Sunday after Pentecost
2 Corinthians 1: 21-2: 4; Matthew 22: 1-14.
In life, we are always confronted with sets of choices which each lead to different outcomes. Unfortunately, there is a tendency in the modern world to deny man’s faculty of free will. People search in vain for genes that can explain away choices that people make in their day-to-day lives. For instance, there is a movement to try and blame violent behaviour on a person’s genes as opposed to the choices that they consciously make.
Oftentimes criminals get lighter sentences because they claim that they were the victim of their own insanity. Whilst it is true that some people can commit heinous acts whilst not being in their right mind – most crimes are committed by people who choose to commit their crime whilst in their right state of mind.
This trend, to try and link behaviours solely to genes, is an attempt by those who choose not to believe in the All–Holy Trinity to deny the existence of evil - for to accept that evil exists is to have to admit that there is more to this world than what one can observe with one’s eyes! This is why the existence of evil has become one of the biggest metaphysical battlegrounds of our age!
In today’s Gospel, our Lord and Saviour recounts the Parable of the Wedding Feast. In this parable, a king, representing God the Father, invites his guests who represent some of the people of Christ’s time, to the Wedding feast of His son – Christ.
Now it is clear that the religious leaders of Christ’s time had faith in God the Father but they had let their own spiritual arrogance blind their faith. So much so that some of them accused our Lord and Saviour of working His miracles through the power of the evil one (see Matthew 12:24).
These scribes and Pharisees had been issued the invitation to the Wedding Feast at the moment our Lord and Saviour was born in that humble cave at Bethlehem.
Indeed, the Annunciation of the birth of Christ to the Holy Theotokos by the Archangel Saint Gabriel, is the moment in which the invitation to the Wedding Feast is made possible through the incarnation of the Bridegroom – Christ (Luke 1:26- 38).
Furthermore, the All–Holy Trinity had given His chosen people the opportunity to repent and see that Christ is His beloved Son for when He entered the waters of the Jordan it was made clear to the crowd that Christ is the God-man by the voice that came from Heaven (Matthew 3: 13 – 17).
Christ by entering the waters of the Jordan hallowed these waters through His Blessed Person taking the human action of washing and empowering it via the All-Holy Spirit with Divine grace! For it is by the Mystery of Baptism that one puts of Christ and is able to enter into His Body the Orthodox Church – the Communion of Saints (Galatians 3: 27)!
Let us now turn our attention to some of the events surrounding Christ’s Birth for in them we have a key to further understanding today’s Gospel.
When trying to understand the deeper meaning of this parable we must look at two key events in His life, the adoration of the Shepherds and the adoration of the Magi.
In the time of Christ Shepherds were seen as a group of people not to be mixed with even though they performed an important task – guarding an important food source for the people of Israel!
Thus, it is clear that the adoration of Christ by the Shepherds hints at a deeper reality, that it is those who are shunned by society who will often become the most ardent followers of Christ (Luke 2: 8 -20).
Moreover, the visit of the Magi is prophetic, as it clearly points to the sentiment often expressed in the Old Testament that all nations will come to worship the Lord (see - Isaiah 2: 3; Isaiah 66: 23; Zechariah 8: 22; Zechariah 14: 16; Psalm 86: 9 to name a few such references).
Essentially, these two adorations by two despised groups makes it evident to all that it is people such as these little ones who are the lost sheep whom the Good Shepherd seeks to unite to Himself - for at His birth the All-Holy Trinity chose to proclaim His glory to lowly shepherds and not mighty lords ( Luke 15: 1-6)!
Furthermore, it was the Magi who realised the significance of the star over Bethlehem and not the men charged with Israel's spiritual and temporal well-being - King Herod, the Scribes, and the Pharisees (Matthew 2: 1-12).
Also, this is why Christ uses the example of Children to show His disciples that they too are to be childlike and protect those little ones so that they may not falter (Mark 10: 14; Luke 17: 1-2).
Furthermore, these two adorations show us that it is often the people whom we judge as not being worthy who are often the most faithful people because of their lowly nature. It is in their faith, humility, and lowliness that they become like the Suffering Servant - In that, they are despised and rejected yet through their childlike love and faith they are the ones who show us how to be truly Christlike (Isaiah 53 : 3)!
Why did our Lord and Saviour admonish Saint Peter when he doubted as he began to walk on the water in the storm?
Christ rebukes Saint Peter because he does not have faith that he will not sink into the water. If Saint Peter had believed in the same way as a child trusts his parents, it is certain, that he would have not sunk and would have been able to walk on the water to the shore (Matthew 14: 22-23)!
How often do we Christians listen to the storms that are around us and give into fear like Saint Peter did on this occasion?
Now turning our attention to the Scribes and Pharisees it is important to explore what kind of people they were. Because this parable is directed at them by our Lord and Saviour for they had hardened their hearts!
These Scribes and Pharisees were so convinced of their importance that they had to make sure that everyone knew when they were in the Temple praying. These men, whilst outwardly appearing to follow the laws of Moses, failed to keep the most important law – that of charity and love.
Christ is clear that only two commandments have summed up the ten commandments to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbour (Mark 12: 28-31).
Saint Gregory the Dialogist of Rome puts it thus in his homily on the Wedding Feast when he explains the meaning of the wedding garment:
“What is meant, brethren, by this wedding garment? It cannot signify either Baptism or faith, because who can enter this marriage feast without Baptism or without faith? Because undoubtedly the mere fact of not believing excludes one from the Church. So what can we understand by this wedding garment but charity? We must suppose then, that this man enters without a wedding garment who is a member of our Holy Church by reason of his faith, but who lacks charity. It is so-called with good reason because our Maker wore it when He came as a bridegroom to unite Himself to the Church. There was no other means than God's love by which the Only-begotten could unite the souls of the elect with Himself. This is why John tells us: God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son (John 3:16). He who came to men for love's sake, calls this love the wedding garment.” (see Pope Saint Gregory’s Homily on Matthew 22: 11 – The Wedding Garment).
Therefore, had the Scribes and Pharisees had love and charity in their hearts they would have seen He who was standing by them offering them an invitation to His Wedding Feast the Holy Mystery of the Eucharist. Had they believed and trusted in Him their spiritual blindness would have been healed in much the same way which Saint Paul’s spiritual blindness was healed
(Acts 9: 1 – 18).
Saint Paul is important for he shows that there was hope even for the spiritually blind Scribes and Pharisees for Saint Paul began his life as part of the Pharisaical sect of Judaism.
Therefore, all have the opportunity to be saved should they be like little children and seek the forgiveness of God.
Moreover, in the above quote from Saint Gregory’s homily, it is made clear that if we have not charity and love in our hearts we cannot wear the Wedding Garment - for the Wedding Garment is in itself the love that we have for God and the love that we show others through our deeds.
Too many people in the Church think that it is enough to go to Church and pray for people and that is it. However, more is required; we as Christians are to be as Christ to others. We are called to help others in whatever way we can.
Christ is clear that when we feed the hungry or clothe the naked we do the same to Him (Matthew 25: 31 – 46)! That is not to say that the Church is a social justice agency, but rather, that we as the Church have a divinely given mission to bring others to Christ - for it is in the Church that they will be given sustenance through the Holy Mysteries of the Christ to continue on their journey toward their Heavenly home!
Yet part of being alive is our physical reality we all need to look after the needs of the body. If the Church does not help those in need what does it say about Her faith?
We all know that in life love is best shown through actions and not words. Words are cheap and disposable! Think of politicians, they will say anything to get into power and hold onto power – ‘I don’t recall being their most often used expression’, when challenged about any decision or action!
If a Christian only goes to Church and does not care for those around them then their prayers are only lip service. Lip service was precisely what the Pharisees were giving to God – they wanted men to see how righteous they were yet their hearts were far from God (Isaiah 29: 13).
This is why in the parable why Christ prophesies that the very people offered the first invitations will beat and kill the servants sent to deliver the invitation to the Wedding Banquet to them. In a way, our Lord and Saviour is also preparing the Apostles for the reality, that they bar one, will become Holy Martyrs for their faith in Him carrying their Crosses (Matthew 22 : 6; Matthew 16: 24 - 26).
Moreover, Christ is making it clear to the Scribes and Pharisees that the very people whom they despise the Gentiles, and Samaritans will be some of the first ones who accept the invitation to His Wedding Banquet (the Eucharist).
Also, note that it is at a wedding banquet where Christ performs His first public miracle - a sign of the Heavenly Banquet to come for it is through partaking in the Holy Mystery of the Holy Eucharist one is brought into communion with one's Lord and Saviour (John 12: 1-12).
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet is a metaphor for Theosis - the process whereby an Orthodox Christian is brought into deep Communion with his Creator through the worthy reception of the Holy Mysteries of His Holy Orthodox Church!
Finally, this week we celebrate an important feast in the life of the Church that of the Nativity of the All-Holy Theotokos. Many Heterodox groups cannot stand that we Orthodox venerate the mother of our Lord and Saviour. They accuse us of worshipping her and making up false doctrines yet it is they who have made up false doctrines like those in Romans Chapter 1 who ended up worshipping the creature and not the Creator (Romans 1: 25).
Many of these Heterodox Groups interpret the Holy Scriptures in an ahistorical manner. What I mean by ahistorical manner is that they interpret the scriptures in a subjective way to suit their particular beliefs which have no continuity with the Tradition of the Orthodox Church which goes right back to the Holy Apostles.
Yet historically, the Church, understood that the Scriptures came out of the truths revealed to Her by the All-Holy Spirit- in that the Church predates the Holy Scriptures, and as Christ’s Body on Earth, has the power to interpret these scriptures via the guidance of the All-Holy Spirit– this applies to both Covenants for the Church is simply the fulfilment of the promises of the Old Covenant!
The implication here is that men in the Church with the Cooperation of the All-Holy Spirit wrote the Holy Scriptures and as a result, the Holy Church through the Ecumenical Councils and Church Father's writings which accord with these Ecumenical Councils has preserved the correct interpretation of the Holy Scriptures for Christ promised that the gates of Hell would never prevail against the Orthodox Church (Matthew 16: 18).
Therefore, through this Holy Tradition we the Church have latched on to the truth of Christ’s Gospel which is our rock in these turbulent times. Anyone who chooses to interpret the Holy Scriptures in a way that does not accord with this Holy tradition has cut themselves from Christ’s Body the Church.
Nowhere in Holy Tradition are we told it is wrong to venerate the All-Holy Theotokos for there are many references to her by the Church Fathers moreover they go to great lengths to make it clear why we should venerate her.
Saint Ephraim the Syrian says this about her in his work Songs of Praise:
“Come, let us wonder at the virgin most pure, wondrous in herself, unique in creation, she gave birth, yet knew no man; her pure soul with wonder was filled, daily her mind gave praise in joy at the twofold wonder: her virginity preserved, her child most dear. Blessed is He who shone forth from her!”
Saint Cyril of Alexander writes thus in his third letter to the heretic Nestorius:
And since the holy Virgin hath borne after the Flesh God united Personally to the Flesh, therefore we do say that she is also Mother of God, not as though the Nature of the Word had the beginning of It’s existence from flesh, for It was “in the beginning and the Word was God, and the Word was with God” [John 1:1], and is Himself the Maker of the ages, Co-eternal with the Father and Creator of all things: but (as we have already said) seeing that He united human nature to Himself Personally and underwent fleshly birth from the very womb, not as though by any necessity or for the sake of His own Nature needing the Birth in time and in the last times of the world, but in order to bless the very beginning of our being and that, because a woman bare Him united to the flesh, the curse against our whole race might at length be stopped, the curse which sends to death our bodies of earth, and the words, “in sorrows shalt thou bear children” [Gen. 3:16], through Him abolished, He might manifest that true which is uttered by the Prophet’s voice, “Death in its might is swallowed up, and God again removed every tear from off every face.” [Isa. 25:8 LXX] For this reason do we say that He economically blessed marriage itself also and when bidden in Cana of Galilee went thither together with the holy Apostles.
These things have we been taught to hold by the holy Apostles and Evangelists and the whole God-inspired Scripture, and by the true Confession of the blessed Fathers: to all of them must thy Piety too assent and consent without any guile.”
What is clear in the above quotes by these venerable Church Fathers is that they venerate the All-Holy Theotokos because she bore God’s Son Christ the Bridegroom!
Note that Saint Cyril is quick to point out that these beliefs about the All–Holy Theotokos have been handed down to us from the Apostles and Evangelists no less - showing continuity with what is believed now in the Church and the Church in Her formative years!
Moreover, think of the adoration that a little child has for his parents - in the same way, the Church Venerates Her mother because she was given to us at the foot of the Cross by none other than our Lord and Saviour (John 19: 26-27).
Therefore, to claim that these Church fathers were wrong about the veneration and Doctrines surrounding the All–Holy Theotokos 1495 years later simply cannot stand, as any historian worth their salt will tell you.
It is like a scholar who is studying an historical document written by an historical figure claiming that this person was wrong because - he the scholar- knows the historical figure's mind better than the historical figure who wrote the document in the first place! How does that work?
Therefore, we have a venerable tradition which we can trust and from this Tradition, we learn that we can and must honour our Mother the All-Holy Theotokos.
Also, let us be thankful that we have such a great advocate for us in the person of the All-Holy Theotokos for she can ask her Son anything and it will be done.
Let us pray that she may protect us under her holy mantle as we joyfully celebrate her birthday this week.
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