Wednesday, November 17, 2004 Nativity Fast
Gregory the Wonderworker, Bishop
Kellia: Judges 19:10-21 Epistle: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12 Gospel: St. Luke 12:48-59
Judges 19:10-21 LXX, especially vs. 12: "And his master
said to him, 'We will not turn aside to a strange city , where there is not one of the children of
Israel, but we will pass on as far as Gibeah.'" The first portion of the account of the wayfaring
Levite tells us of true, lavish, and loving hospitality (Jdgs 19:1-9); but once the traveler decided,
against his father-in-law's counsel, not to spend yet another night enjoying the protection and
cordiality of his wife's father in Bethlehem, shadows began to gather over his journey.
He and his companions made only six miles when advancing night became apparent even to his
young servant who suggested that they resort to the available refuge providentially at hand - the
city of Jebus. The Levite, with all apparent wisdom, chose rather to press on to a true Israelite
settlement - either Gibeah or Ramah; for he distrusted the prospect of lodging among idolaters.
By the time the travelers covered the short distance from Jebus to Gibeah, they were forced to
stop by total nightfall; yet, ironically among their own, no one offered hospitality. The natural
fall of darkness was matched by a surprising unnatural social darkness. Still, an old man from the
Levite's homeland took them in and cared for all their needs.
The mix of irony and providence is something which all human beings experience in our present
existence. Sometimes, we find that people or events oppose whatever we seek to do, but other
times, matters seem to come together so as to promote our accomplishments and progress. At
some junctures, we find that we are able to perceive the hand of God in ironic turns of events or
providential coincidences. On other occasions, it seems that God has withdrawn His protective
hand from every aspect of our best choices and efforts. How then do we proceed when there are
no certain indications of the best path, the God-pleasing way ahead?
First, Christians should consider the societies in which we find ourselves. Let each one of us
realize that increasingly the communities of the contemporary world are best described as
"pluralistic," meaning that their members are of diverse ethnic, racial, religious, and social
groups, each with special interests and values within larger shared civilizations. Such diversity
marks the majority of world's nation states whose boundaries often have been arbitrarily set by
fortuitous events or accidents of history. This certainly was true of Palestine in the age of the
Judges, a land in which the twelve tribes of Israel were scattered among a number of pagan
Canaanite peoples. For the Levite to seek for shelter among Israelites of the tribe of Benjamin
was by all appearances much the better plan, far better than risking himself and his companions
among Jebusites, a community of practicing idolaters who knew not the Law of God.
Second, the thoughtful, God-fearing person ought never to forget that all human beings are fallen,
wounded by sin and death, and liable to wrong-doing despite the teachings of their family, tribe,
and religion. It is possible to receive God-pleasing treatment among foreigners and to fare ill at
the hands of those of our own Faith and kind. The poor Levite and his companions discovered
that the people of Benjamin did not even maintain the barest regard for hospitality. Finally, let
none of us who call ourselves Christians place ultimate trust in man, but in God alone. As the
Prophet David declares: "in God have I put my hope, I will not fear what man shall do unto me"
(Ps. 55:10 LXX). Why not fear what man can do? Men do terrible things! Before God it is
better to trust in Him and never trust in men, for our relationship with God has eternal
consequence, even if men should shun, abuse, or kill us.
My God is my helper, and I will hope in Him, my defender, and the horn of my salvation, and my
helper. With praise will I call upon the Name of the Lord. (Ps. 17:2,3 LXX).