Homily on the twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost
Luke 10:25-37.
In today’s Gospel Saint Luke recounts the conversation Christ had with a lawyer regarding what the lawyer must do to inherit eternal life. Christ tells the lawyer in no uncertain terms that the way to gain eternal life is through love – love for the All-Holy Trinity and love for one’s neighbour. As Christians we are called to bear the love of Christ to the world for in today’s Epistle Saint Paul exhorts the readers that Ephesians 5: 8:
“…you are light in the Lord. Walk as Children of the light. (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness and truth.)…”
What this essentially means for us Christians is that if one is in perfect communion with Christ then one will be a light to guide the people of the world, for Christ exhorts in Matthew 5: 14-16 that:
“You are the light of the World. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.”
Our Lord and Saviour is clear that it is through deeds that our love for others is expressed for in today’s Gospel our Lord recounts the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this Parable, Christ makes clear that the one who helped the man was the one that was his neighbour – meaning that by his actions towards the injured man, the Good Samaritan showed the injured man, the love of All-Holy Trinity. This is contrasted with the actions of the Jewish Priest, who refused to help the man lest he become ritually unclean- Do not forget, in Christ’s time (as today), the Samaritans were looked down upon by the Jewish community as they were deemed to follow a corrupted form of Judaism. Now what is significant in this parable is that it was the very person Jewish society rejected that showed the most humble and pure form of charity – that of providing aid to the man when he was at his most vulnerable. This is what Christ calls us to do as well for if men see our good works and love then they most certainly will come to wonder, ‘who is this Lord that teaches men to love?’ Furthermore, Christ showed us by His interaction with Saint Photini (a Samaritan women) that His Salvation is for all and all are invited to the heavenly banquet which is the Divine Liturgy (John 4: 4-26).
One controversy that has plagued certain Christian sects is whether or not faith is enough to save. In James 2 : 14-26 it is clear that faith without deeds to accompany it is a dead faith and as such, cannot save as it is cut off from the source of all the life – the All-Holy Trinity. Think of it in this way if one wants to run a marathon, one needs to start an exercise regime that will enable one’s body to become fit and healthy. However, if one does nothing and just has a belief that one can run the marathon then one will almost certainly not complete the marathon. Saint Paul is clear on this fact as he uses the metaphor of athletes competing to illustrate the rewards of a well-lived Christian life - a reward that is not perishable. For He states in 1 Corinthians 9:25 that:
“Everyone who competes in the games trains with strict discipline. They do it for a crown that is perishable, but we do it for a crown that is imperishable.”
This then reminds us that all that we do in the Christian life is geared towards Theosis (our salvation) so that one day we to may say:
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith”.
Although our salvation is an individual matter, remember that it is vital that we help one another, as essentially Christ’s Body the Church, is a community that is joined together through the action of the All-Holy Spirit through the grace provided by the Holy Mysteries (sacraments). It is vital that we in our lives as Christians show our love to the world as too many people have this idea that Christians are loveless, judgmental Pharisees. Whilst it is true that there are some Christians that could indeed be perceived as thus, we must aim to be the exact opposite. Remember, if you want to draw people into the truth that is the faith, then it is better that one does so lovingly. Who has ever heard a protestant bible toting street preacher preaching Hell, fire, and brimstone and thought, ‘what a lovely faith how do I join?’ It is highly unlikely that this minister would bring anyone over to his point of view as quite simply it distorts the truth of the faith. Whilst it is true that the choices, we make now will affect whether we are saved or not - However, remember that our faith is a faith of joy and love. The All-Holy Trinity loves us, and He calls each and everyone to come closer to Him so that we may live. The All-Holy Trinity desires that all may have life within them that is why our Lord and Saviour instituted the great Mystery of Holy Communion, for as He states in John 6: 53, if one does not partake of His Body and Blood in the Mystery of Holy Communion one, does not have life. Let us always as Saint Paul says in Philippians 4: 4:
“Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.”
For truly the All-Holy Trinity has shown us the depth of His love for as Saint John states:
“God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, the whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Truly we have been blessed and will continue to be blessed if we keep growing in the faith for the All-Holy Trinity is a loving God who loves mankind!
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