WHITEWASHED

The blood of those who struggle

Jesus was leaving a certain town but upon approaching the walls of that city – two blind men were pleading with him saying: “Son of David, have mercy on us!” At that he entered into their hut and spoke onto them saying: “Do you believe that my mercy accomplishes that which your heart’s desire?” (Mat 9:27-28)

Belief in general these days has sadly conformed into tokenism – we have it at the back of our minds in the sense that we may have grown up with certain religiosity, but such may not be

active when truly needed/warranted. Unfortunately our ideology of God can reflect as either confined to rituals, traditions, and rigorous structure, or a totally loose conception that is in a constant state of flux which undoubtedly backfires. It is a rarity that we come to terms with ourselves and that which we hide inside especially when part of a structure that forbids certain avenues; wanting desperately to reach out but become bitter and perhaps begin to compensate – letting ourselves go.

With that, our initial vision of what we embarked on – commitment to faith or service to a centre which supposedly represents thus can slightly cripple us if we are not strong and ultimately allow the currents of prevailing mentalities in our circle to overwhelm us. We may know the faith, we may teach thus well and represent the institution we serve also with honour, but do we really mirror that same Jesus in the Gospel’s and administer that same compassion he charged his apostles, disciples and those after them to render, or have we totally marred ourselves into otherness; a high society gents club where the average Joe (within our church) is not our problem!

Unfortunately, there is a trend especially amongst the clergy when one does not fit a certain clerical club to render life difficult for that person even if such may be one of deep faith. The problem these days are that the expectations are way too high and when standards begin to drop; crisis emerges. This is the problem with role models especially for the youth who look up to such people in the sporting and arts fields; the media is filled with falls from grace as it were yet these days it’s fashionable.

It is also fashionable for people to wear religious symbolism which has become another décor and very popular in body art made available via tattoo. One can’t help notice the contrast in the Italo - Greco world where we have pagan and Christian symbolism intertwined and how many times have I heard it from the mouth of supposed Christians: it keeps away the evil spirits – if this is not a recipe for a quasi-voodoo cocktail I don’t know what is! This is what happens when there are two extremes; either mysticism has been ripped away from a centre of faith, or people can’t understand the language, culture and symbolism of what’s going on and it becomes mumbo jumbo!

After we have peeled away all the fragilities of such, we are exposed to the bare essentials – which can be rather confronting and a shock to the system. Hence, at this point, are we ready to process that which we have discovered via the harsh experiences whilst laying aside the anguish others have rendered us and once again leap up and reach out onto that same Jesus who said: “Come to me!” The world and its ways may pedal the logic of their wise telling us this

is all wishful thinking; likewise the Church institution may present us with a God foreign to the one we have heard utter unconditionally in sacred texts: “Love one another!” Is our faith greater that we can reach out beyond our walls that confine us like those two blind men and say: “I need you Lord! Please come to me!”???

They then affirmed their faith saying: “All is possible for your Lord!” At this he extended his hands onto them and touched their eyes saying: “Let that which you have desired now be bought to completion!” Hence, upon his words their eyes opened and then the Lord sternly warned them saying: “You are not to tell anyone what I have done for you!” Their joy could not be contained and this impeded them keeping the Lord’s command thus telling all in that district what wonders had been accomplished for them. (Mat 9: 29-31)

These days miracles which unfortunately are rare certainly in the diaspora and where comfort surrounds (a discussion for another time) yet when a grace is bestowed; it’s closed down – whitewashed! I have noticed that to the anger of many in my position – they don’t like it when the Holy Spirit acts outside their comprehension and visits others not of that fold!!! One of the first arguments I hear is; “It is not possible because that person is not a believer and not one of us!” Lastly, similarly as recorded in the following gospel passage: “It is demonic!”

How many people are blinded by employing a zealous subscription to the faith they follow and when someone who is different comes in our midst and voices their creed; the zealousness kicks in and resembles the animal instinct of an ambush of the prey! What melted hearts of stone in biblical times was nothing but LOVE and this LOVE proved itself by voluntarily and wholeheartedly giving us the proof that nothing can separate us from him if we choose too. Blood was that proof and that lifeblood flowed through the veins of others who laid down their arms and leapt in his arms through the means of witness via their own blood.

Words were that which placed people into an empty space – the means of their own confrontation, yet such words did not shake ones very foundations; these words rendered foundation! Misconceptions were torn asunder whilst the reality of the human person, uniqueness and value were raised to great heights – the means of communion with the heart of our God! A revelation took place, and its message is that the divine is not above and beyond but so very close to us as he exhorted various times: ‘The kingdom lives in you!”

The beauty of the Orthodox Liturgy which is the ancient faith, is that the Saviour’s very words become the reality encapsulated at the beginning of each Divine Liturgy/Eucharist where we are joined with heaven at the words: “Blessed is the Kingdom of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit!” This wonderful tapestry of sound that radiates colour, light, and energy is the means of savouring that which has been promised, that which many voluntarily gave their life; a witnessing of joy that never ends and solid proof that LOVE DOES NOT DIE!

As Jesus was traveling further, the town’s people presented him with a man afflicted by a demonic entity which caused muteness. Thus, the Lord expelled it from the man to which the people marvelled saying: “No one has ever had such power to accomplish as we have beheld in the history of Israel!” At such a comment made in sincere faith, the Pharisees quickly desired to tarnish the reality of what had taken place stating: “He casts out demons by the power given them by their own demonic sovereign!” (Mat 9: 32-34)

Love does not die! Today the Church commemorates one such witness that followed the Lord at first because her love was lustful, but when the Holy Spirit held up a mirror to her face via the Saviours words; a love that mortified all desires via transcending mortal aspiring. Miriam Magdalena we know was a lass with a past and one who loved life, the world, and all it can offer. Although I touched on spiritual entities in a previous homily; all I will say which was the case in Miriam’s previous chapter: when one follows worldly pursuits and at times becomes enslaved via such – there are forces one can be exposed too in such avenues that can lead to emptiness and depression; nothing fills/satisfies anymore!

Looking at various centres of faith – they did not tend to treat these people very well and often condemned them and executed them; we don’t have to look at the Middle East so much or deluded cults in the United States that render likewise, but supposed religious people and a few clerics tend to brush such people off! It is a grand contradiction and defiantly one that is alive and well amongst us – the problem is that we allow the Levitical law to hijack the Law personified (Jesus) who reminded that Judgment is his alone and he is the Immaculate one who can only cast a stone!!!

Therefore, what caused a radical change in the life of Miriam Magdalena was that same mercy rendered onto the women the Pharisees used as a scape goat to have stoned in order to have Jesus arrested earlier. He (Jesus) asked that poor soul a question after he disbanded them via uncovering their hearts secrets: “Where are they that condemned you? I will not condemn you!” Such was similarly rendered to the woman of the well in Samaria (St. Photini) who would only come to draw water in the heat of the afternoon to avoid everyone’s slander! Again, LOVE made itself a dwelling in the hearts of those who thought were remotely far from him, and for them to feel that they were worth love – that in itself brought them to their knees; metanoia/a total

change!

Such was Miriam’s commitment to the gospel of the Lord that she fearlessly out of true untainted love for Christ went to Rome and began helping the church grow in those regions. We may see her with a red egg in various icons and that may bring to mind the paschal red dyed eggs we use – the tradition is ancient and was also a revered custom amongst Roman Christians before the Latin invasion. Miriam was invited by the Emperor Tiberius to a banquet for the emperor was fond of her and knew her origins. Yet, when he teased her regarding the Lord’s resurrection – he affirmed that: “The possibility of Jesus rising from the dead is the same as the egg before you turning red!” At that the egg not only turned red but started bleeding……

Not many know the next chapter of this account, but Miriam then spoke up about how Jesus was staged and unjustly condemned which moved Tiberius to summon the high presbytery of the Jews Annas and Caiaphas to Rome for trial – one (Annas) died violently (intestines erupted) off the coast whilst the other (Caiaphas) suffered an enormous stomach tumour who then was later executed.

On the subject of justification, there has been that many concoctions of all sorts which are quite blasphemous, but laying that aside and the Dan brown conspiracies, we probably are aware of the various art works (Da Vinci’s Last Supper) that portray Miriam close to Jesus as opposed to John…..I would like to make clear that art was the ONLY powerful means to make a point NOT ABOUT THE FAITH but about WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE CENTRES OF FAITH AT THAT TIME!

After this event, Jesus went about various villages and entered the local synagogues where the people gathered to hear him open the scriptures; revealing the kingdom of the promise to come as the gospel of truth. With this, he reached out onto many and healed those afflicted with all types of disease. (Mat 9: 35)