Monday, September 20, 2004
The Great-Martyr Eustathios and His Family
Kellia: Jeremiah 13:15-27 Epistle: Ephesians 1:22-2:3 Gospel: St. Mark 10:46-52
Jeremiah 13:15-27, especially vs. 17: "But if you
will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run
down with tears...." By means of today's reading the Lord seeks to save us from the shame and
destruction that inevitably accompany pride. In this prophecy, the Lord illumines seven of
pride's traps, and reveals seven actions we can take to keep out of these traps. Let us listen to the
Lord and do good (vs. 23) and be made clean (vs. 27).
Pride infects the one who will not "hear and give ear" (vs. 15). His confidence is "encapsulated"
in pride, and foolishly he thinks he has the capacity to "look for light" and to find it. Hence, he
searches for light in the "twilight" of human reasoning, and, in due course, God "brings
darkness" and "turns it into gloom and makes it deep darkness"(vs. 16). Since the proud man's
encapsulated confidence cannot admit that "the Lord is my Light and my Savior" (Ps. 26:1 LXX),
he stumbles "on the twilight mountains" (Jer 13:16).
What is the way out of this? "Give glory to the Lord your God" (vs.16), for, after all, any light
we have is from Him. Any capacity we have to look for light is given by Him. Because Christ
our God is "the light of the world," those who are united to Christ give glory to Him, follow Him
and do not "walk in darkness, but have the light of life" (Jn. 8:12).
Second, the "king of pride" scorns the "peasants" from his high throne and does not know that
soon his "beautiful crown [will] come down from [his] head" (Jer 13:18). Let us listen to the
Lord: "when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place" (Lk. 14:10), "for whoever
exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Lk. 14:11).
Consider the question: "Where is the flock that was given you, your beautiful flock?" (Jer.
13:20). What is the final destiny of all your good looks, your strength, your wealth and your
position? Have the invaders "from the north" come yet and taken them from you? In time, they
will ravage you! Have no doubt, for "all are dust, all are ashes, all are shadows." Do not waste
time training your "friends" to feed your ego and inflate your pride. Rather, listen to the Lord
Who says, "deny [yourself], take up [your] cross, and follow Me" ( Mt. 16:24).
When bitterness strikes, pride asks, "Why have these things come upon me?" (Jer. 13:22). St.
Symeon the New Theologian teaches us why: "temporal chastisements have been laid upon the
whole human race for the transgression of...Adam." Pride prevents us from receiving
punishments with thanksgiving, but induces us brazenly to "murmur because of them." Let us
confess the "greatness of [our] iniquity" (vs. 22) in repeating Adam's sin and falling into pride.
The Lord not only reminds us that we "are accustomed to do evil" (vs. 23), but also jolts us so
that we shall see how deeply the habit is ingrained, as firmly as the color of our skin. Pride, like
a fixing agent, has hardened us in the greatness of our iniquity. Without God's help there is no
hope of breaking our sinful habits. Let us pray to the Lord to free us, help us, and save us.
Shame is the portion God measures out when we have forgotten Him and "trusted in lies" (vs.25).
Here the Hebrew literally reads, "trusted in the lie," that is in the lie of the serpent, the lie which
evokes pride when we believe in it: "you will be like God" (Gen. 3:5). Let us "trust in the LORD
with all [our] heart, and lean not on [our] own understanding" (Prov. 3:5).
God tells us plainly in this prophecy: "I have seen your abominations" (Jer. 13:27). Is it not time
to seek His grace for making ourselves clean, a work He alone can complete in us? Cleanse my
soul, O my Creator. Sanctify my mind. Make firm my knees and likewise my bones. Enlighten
my five senses. Establish me wholly in fear of Thee, and purify me, O Lord.