Saturday, October 2, 2004
The Hieromartyr Cyprian the Confessor
Kellia: Jeremiah 32:36-42 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:30-45 Gospel: St. Luke 4:31-36
Jeremiah 32:36-42, especially vs. 40:
"I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to
them; and I will put the fear of Me in their hearts, that they may not turn from Me." In reading
this passage from Jeremiah, do not overlook the little "turn of speech" which the Lord uses to
reveal His lovingkindness for His People. Before declaring their return from exile (vss. 37-42),
God reminds Jeremiah of the primary message which He Himself has given him repeatedly,
"concerning this city of which you say, 'It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by
sword, by famine, and by pestilence'" (vs. 36).
Then, in the next sentence, He uses the pronoun, them, as the object of the verb: "behold, I will
gather them from all the countries to which I drove them...." (vs. 37). We need not look back to
discern whom God has in mind in this pronoun; but it is this city, by which He means the entire
People of God (see vs. 38). How little God cares for human constructions - for cities and houses.
His love is for His People! When He speaks of "this city," He is speaking of the People whom
He "will bring...back" (vs. 37).
Let every Orthodox Christian remember that we are those People of whom the Lord is speaking.
There is an unbroken continuity between the ancient People of God in Jerusalem and the One,
Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. Together, we are one People. We are united in Christ
Jesus through time by our only true Lord, God, and Savior. Our ancient history included exile to
Babylon and a return to Jerusalem. Literally, our holy forefathers went through a specific time of
alienation "for our learning" (Rom. 15:4) and for their correction, as well. Mystically, their exile,
brought about by the sin of "turning away from God" (see Jer. 32:40), is the same alienating sin
of everyone of God's People, including all who name Christ as God and King.
Therefore, it is not surprising that God should use the historic moment of exile to speak of His
great, once-and-for-all, bringing back and gathering of His People. For "all we like sheep have
gone astray" (Is. 53:6), and the Shepherd of us all, anciently and to this very day, is searching - in
cities like Babylon and in all those places we make waste by our sins - to bring back "the one
which is lost until He finds it" (Lk. 15:4). God will always speak to us of His "everlasting
covenant" in Christ Jesus in seasons of "sword, famine, and pestilence" (vs. 36).
What is this wondrous covenant that is "everlasting" but the "New Covenant in My Blood" (Lk.
22:20) - the Covenant renewed at each Divine Liturgy? Who gathers at the Holy Table? Who
cries out, "Save us, O Son of God, Who art risen from the dead?" Who prays for "the precious
gifts now offered?" Who offers "the Holy Oblation in peace?" Who dares to "call upon the
heavenly God, as Father, and to say, 'Our Father'?" Is it not we who "with fear of God, and faith
and love, draw near"? To the Faithful He declares, "I will be their God" (Jer. 32:38).
Our Lord has given us "one heart and one way" (vs. 39), the Life in Christ. He has given us His
Holy and Life-giving Spirit to "put the fear of [Him] in [our] hearts, that [we] may not turn from
[Him]" (vs. 40). No moment comes upon us in which He ceases to "rejoice in doing [us] good"
and in planting us in His Kingdom "in faithfulness" (vs. 41). In times of old, He brought "great
evil upon [His] people," but according to His word given through His true Prophet Jeremiah, He
also has brought upon His People through all time "all the good that [He] promises them" (vs.
42).
Let our mouths be filled with Thy praise, O Lord, that we may sing of Thy glory; for Thou hast
permitted us to partake of Thy holy, divine, immortal and life-giving Mysteries. Establish us in
Thy Sanctification, that all the day long we may meditate upon Thy righteousness. Alleluia!