Homily on the 5th Sunday after Pentecost.
“What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” Mt 8:29
This week I celebrated my first anniversary to the priesthood; and what a year it has been. I have experienced many highs and also a few lows, however all in all it has been the greatest experience of my life; equally alongside the birth of my two daughters Mia and Lucy and the day I married my wife Presbytera Lianna.
Since a very young age my greatest desire was to serve God within His temple. God has truly rendered meaning onto my life by gifting me the greatest honour in becoming a servant of His Church in the rank of the presbyterate.
One the many things that I still find overwhelming is the grace to call upon the All-Holy-Spirit to transform ordinary bread and wine into the very Body and Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
As a young boy I was under the impression that the priest was a perfect man with the best life that never endured hardship; holding all the answers to life's problems being somewhat a spiritual superman. How cute and naïve of me.
The truth of the matter is that the real priest is a very ordinary man that deals with all the same problems as any other person in the world. He still at some point will come face to face with problems such as depression, anxiety, pride, lusts, anger, laziness, gossip and many more.
However, due to the formation he has received, it is hoped that he can overcome such struggles; of course, with the help of his bishop or spiritual director.
Therefore, one of the many wonderful things that the Church teaches us is when one falls into the mud or “sin” we must get out of it; clean ourselves and move on. The “sin” itself irrelevant, it is of no consequence. The “sin” is when you lay in the mud and refuse to get up and try again.
The Orthodox Church does not place a guilt complex on its faithful as many other religions do.
Now today we read about Christ’s encounter with demons who out of fear need to escape from the Lord’s presence because evil cannot withstand Jesus’ radiance; it burns as wood in an oven for He (Jesus) is the purifying lava!
Hence, I would like to share some of my experiences with you concerning the unholy attempting to stop me and my family from coming onto the Lord.
Thus, on the day I was being made a catechumen I recall the then Archimandrite Raffaele pulled up in front of my house. Upon seeing him park his car, great fear came over me and all I remember thinking to myself was “he cannot come into my house - he needs to leave”. The exact feeling the demons of today's gospel felt when they saw the Lord!
However, when the then Archimandrite Raffaele entered my home, he immediately saw the fear within me, for my face had turned white and I was not my normal self. He then placed his hand upon my head and immediate peace came upon me and the fear was driven out! The same peace the Christ spoke of that the world cannot give. Jh 14:27
The next time I experienced a spiritual resistance was when I was asked if I was ready for ordination to the diaconate. Again, I experience fear, however this time it was in the form of sentiments of impurity and unworthiness; remnants of the guilt complex placed upon me whilst in the Roman Catholic church.
More recently, six months after ordination to the presbyterate again sentiments of doubt and unworthiness came upon me. Thoughts such as - “I'm unworthy to stand at the altar and is the Holy – Spirit coming down at the epiclesis? (Calling upon the Holy-Spirit upon the gifts).
Having stated thus, priesthood is extremely rewarding in that we are called as ordinary men to perform extraordinary tasks in the All-Holy name of Jesus Christ, however it is no holiday camp. It is extremely difficult at times to balance family, work and service to the Church; along with problems you are facing whether it be financial, marital or mental. Everyone has their own issues.
At the end of the day all one needs to remember is the Resurrection – this must always be our focal point. Christ has slain evil for us to live with and in Him; thus, rendering evil powerless over us! Hence, when we call upon the All-Holy name of Jesus Christ, evil is stopped in its tracks; returning to hell where it belongs!
\I would like to give just another example of what I do when unholy things try to assail my thoughts. I pray the Jesus prayer - “Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy upon me a sinner” and one hundred percent of the time, the Lord hears my plea; the evil thoughts banish and peace is restored onto my heart.
This week the Church celebrated the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and the Synaxis of the twelve Apostles. May they all be an inspiration for us, as they were ordinary men to perform extraordinary tasks in Christ's Holy name.
As we know, most of them died teaching the gospel becoming martyrs of the Church. May the blood they shed for the continuation of the gospel be an encouragement for us to never fear evil for Christ’s is the victory!
Therefore, I would like to take this time to thank our Metropolitan Archbishop Raffaele and Bishop Elect Markus for all the support, spiritual formation, academic formation, guidance, counselling, love, prayers and fraternity they have given me throughout the years.
In addition, I would to thank my wife presbytera Lianna for her wholehearted support from the beginning of our journey within Holy Orthodoxy until the present day. Furthermore, for putting up with me 24 hours a day and for correcting my homilies.
Moreover, I would like to thank each and every one who has prayed for me throughout these years. Without your prayers I may not be here today serving God, His Church and its members which make up His body!
Therefore, through the prayers of the Holy Theotoks, Joseph Her spouse and the Holy Apostles, Lord Jesus Christ our God have mercy on us and save us; giving us the grace to never fear evil but to call upon your All-Holy name as our salvation and defence unto the ages of ages. Amen
He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. Mt 8:32
Comments