Veritas

Homily on the 19th Sunday after Pentecost.

Do to others as you would have them do to you. “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. Lk 6:31-34

Yesterday I received a message from a good friend of mine, which was a link to a video of an American evangelical pastor “preaching”/ giving his opinion on the subject of the anti-christ; who it might be and where the event would take place.

Thus, my friend wanted my opinion on the topic – asking if I could give some clarity on the subject. My friend is of Macedonian heritage, in fact he was born there. Therefore, unfortunately there are many old folk laws and superstitions in ancient orthodox lands/countries that hijack the Church's addenda; placing conspiracy theories, man-made invented fables and old pagan beliefs/traditions over the gospel that the Apostles taught and handed down to us throughout the centuries. 

Having stated thus, when people come to the orthodox church it holds up a mirror to each person's face and it forces that person to see who, what and how they really are; at which people either learn to ask for help in bettering themselves and perfecting aspects about themselves that could have some improvement or they completely ignore what is in front of them – perhaps choosing an easier path.

Moreover, if one believes in the One All Holy Trinity and wants to live their earthly pilgrimage in the sanctuary/security of Holy Mother Church, it then means that the person is no longer in control of their lives but are conditioned because there is other! (God) There are rules and obligations one must fulfill wholeheartedly, and that scares many people because – let's face it, no one likes being told what to do! A trait that steams from our infancy that oftentimes stays with us through the course of our lives.

In addition, people who refuse to live in the security of God’s unwavering love choose a different path! A path with no rules, obligations and tasks that may be required at any given time. Such people would rather focus all their energies on the evil of this world; attempting to unravel conspiracy theories in order to satisfy their unhealthy obsession with the paranormal. This of course leads to all sorts of unpleasant situations ei demonic possession, evil entering a home and terrorizing the family or the gradual mental deterioration of a person; another form of possession but under the guise of mental illness!

Hence, as I explained to my friend yesterday, we mustn't forget that the fallen powers are angels who once dwelt in heaven and served God! Just as God gave human beings free will to do and choose at our own leisure, likewise He bestowed thus onto His angels out of His infinite love for ALL of His creation!

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.  Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Lk 6:35-36

Therefore, as we know the Holy angels and bodiless powers have the ability to see what goes on in the world; having the capacity to know what we think and what lies in the depths of our hearts via the grace God gives them to oversee our progression through life. Thus, when the fallen powers where ejected from the Heavenly Kingdom, God still in His loving kindness did not take their powers/abilities from them. Choices have consequences therefore such happened via their compliance to the prince of darkness; the willfully disfiguring themselves via becoming the vilest, disgusting and loathsome creatures – the opposite of goodness, wholesomeness and that which is sacred!

Thus, these fallen powers must not be underestimated! Their main objective is the destruction of our souls and to separate us from the love of God via any means necessary - ie, obsessing about the anti-christ, the end of times, chasing and researching evil........ virtually anything and everything where there is the absence of God. Considering the upcoming season – Halloween!

Having stated thus, for the very few true and faithful Christians out there, all these things do not matter in the slightest nor do they cross our minds for a millisecond! We have no fear because Jesus Christ has destroyed death by ascending the glorious cross, dying in the flesh, destroying the tyranny of death (evil) and it’s hold over so many and through His glorious Resurrection we have been given the grace to live in Him in this life and the next!

Moreover, via the Mysteries of the Church – Communion, absolution, anointing.... we have been given an armor from all things evil! However, there is one particular gift that is so precious to us and is held with the greatest esteem, love and honor and that is the Theotokos (The Mother of God)

Our Holy Mother loves us so much that She is constantly interceding for us to Her Son (Jesus) to all that is good and needful and each time we ask for something in Her name Gods listens for just as a good son listens to his mother, so too does Jesus with His Mother! (Honor thy Father and Mother)

Last Wednesday the Church celebrated the feat of the Protection of the Theotokos, where St Andrew the fool for Christ beheld a vision of the Theotokos crying and praying for orthodox Christians around the world.

I personally can testify that there have been countless times via our Holy Mother’s intersections I have been liberated from unpleasant situations. In particular I recall a few years ago, for approximately one week I could not bring myself to pray or to just be in my home chapel. I couldn’t explain it, the thought of standing there and praying seemed like such a chore. However, one day I had enough because I knew that what was happening was not good in the slightest; a part of me was also afraid to turn to God because I had ignored Him all week.

Therefore, just as children when we are afraid of being repremanded from our parents we are always scared of our dad’s in particular, so what do we do? We run to our mum’s and that’s what I did! I turned to the Theotokos because only She could comfort me with Her Motherly tenderness!

I asked Her to help me restore my relationship with God and to help me not be afraid of Him. Thus, low and behold, after thus I remember falling down in prostration Glorifying God for delivering me from the prison-house, I had placed myself in: offering an Akathist to the Theotokos!

In conclusion, when the worries of the world startle us or we see ourselves beginning to focus on destruction instead of Salvation, let us turn to the Theotokos for she is our protection and our intercessor. Through Her prayers God will certainly deliver us from whatever predicament we find ourselves in weather we placed ourselves in it or just fell into it. Why? Did not Emannuel take bone flesh and blood from Her in order to reach us, enter into the very fabric of our being, incarnate totally into humanity so that we could not separate ourselves from His love. Therefore She (Mariam) is the new ark of the covenant who hosted He (Jesus) who is the Holy of Holies.

Therefore, when Archangel Gabriel addressed Her as blessed among women the Holy Spirit overshadowed Her and the fullness of God's grace (Christ) dwelt in Her hallowing Her as the Mother All Holy. Just as sacrament/mysteries (Baptism ect....) cannot be canceled so too can nothing take away the blessedness and holiness bestowed on our Mother Mariam of Nazareth! In actual fact our Mother Mariam bore the fulness of witness to Christ via virtue of her womb becoming the reception of the gospel. He replied, "Blessed indeed are those who hear the word of God and obey it." Lk 11:28

Through the prayers of the Theotokos, Lord Jesus Christ our God have Mercy on us and save us!

Troparion to the Theotokos

O Victorious Leader of Triumphant Hosts! / We, your servants, delivered from evil, sing our grateful thanks to you, O Theotokos! / As you possess invincible might, set us free from every calamity / so that we may sing: Hail, O unwedded Bride! 

Theotokon

You are worthy to be blessed, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and all pure, and the Mother of our God. More honorable than the Cherubim, and more glorious beyond compare than the Seraphim, in virginity you gave birth to God the Word. True Theotokos we magnify Thee!