Monday, July 5, 2004
Venerable Sergios of Radonezh
Kellia: 1 Samuel 17:17-27 Epistle: Romans 16:17-24 Gospel: St. Matthew 13:10-23
1 Samuel 17:17-27, especially vs. 26: "For who is this uncircumcised
Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" The Holy Fathers are wary of human wrath, anger, and
indignation, realizing that almost always "the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (Jas. 1:20). Still, it
seems that outrage does have a rightful place in the spiritually mature. Such a recognition led St. John Cassian to say
cautiously, "Our incessive power can be used in a way that is according to nature only when turned against our own
impassioned or self-indulgent thoughts. This is what the Prophet David teaches when he says, 'Be angry and sin not' (Ps.
4:5 LXX)." Hence, as a Christian gains the grace of detachment through godly struggle within himself, the desire for God
predominates in his soul, and that alone will give rise to an anger "in accordance with nature," a godly anger which, as St.
Isaac the Solitary says, "flares up against all the tricks of the enemy."
The Lord Jesus Himself warns the Faithful against the common anger of fallen mankind: "I say to you that whoever is
angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (Mt. 5:22). Even here, St. John Cassian cautions
us about this teaching of the Lord, for he leaves out the phrase, "without a cause," explaining that "this is the text of the
best manuscripts; for it is clear from the purpose of Scripture in this context that the words 'without a cause' were added
later. The Lord's intention is that we should remove the root of anger, its spark, so to speak, in whatever way we can, and
not keep even a single pretext for anger in our hearts, otherwise we will be stirred to anger initially for what appears to be a
good reason and then find that our incessive power is totally out of control."
Today's reading reveals an instance of true, godly indignation, an outrage awakened within the anointed of God, David the
Prophet - anger precipitated by the insolence of the champion, Goliath, of the Philistines, against "the armies of the living
God" (1 Sam. 17:26). David saw Goliath come "out of the ranks of the Philistines...and David heard him" (vs. 23).
Furthermore, he saw that "all the men of Israel...fled from him, and were much afraid" of Goliath (vs. 24). Knowing that
the desires of the People of God always should long for the Lord alone - both constantly and entirely, David's indignation
awoke in a natural and righteous manner. He exemplified St. Peter of Damaskos' teaching: that "the incessive power
should actively oppose only what obstructs this longing, and nothing else." Goliath plainly opposed the desire of God for
His people, and so we may fairly say that David's outrage fit the exception set by St. Peter.
It is clear that God Himself unleashes His righteous anger upon His enemies who persistently, stubbornly, and arrogantly
oppose His purposes. The Psalmist recalls that God wrought His signs in Egypt as "He sent forth against them the wrath of
His anger, anger and wrath and affliction, a mission performed by evil angels. He had made a path for His wrath, and He
spared not from death their souls, and their cattle He shut up in death" (Ps. 77:53,54 LXX). Also Christ Jesus our Savior in
His zeal drove out the moneychangers doing business in the Temple with the command: "Do not make My Father's house a
house of merchandise" (Jn. 2:16). Often when Holy Scripture reports moments of anger arising in God's Prophets, it uses
the phrase, "then the Spirit of God came upon..." (Jdgs. 14:19; 1 Sam. 11:6). Surely the Spirit of God came upon David as
God's anointed when he observed Goliath's outrageous actions. Pray that our anger always is "of the Lord" and never
insults "the Spirit of grace" (Heb. 10:29).
Grant, O Lord, we beseech Thee, Thy helping grace, that we may obediently walk in Thy holy commandments and lead a
sober, righteous, and godly life, ever remembering Thy mercies.