Monday, May 30, 2005
CHRIST IS RISEN!
Isaac, Founder, Dalmaton Monastery
Kellia: Deuteronomy 4:15-24 Apostle: Acts 12:12-17 Gospel: St. John 8:42-52
St. John 8:42-51, especially vs. 44: "You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your
father you want to do...." Many observers might find three recent news events unrelated, for they occurred in different
parts of the world and concerned very different experiences. They do share a superficial connection in that they all
involved Orthodox Christians: a group of Islamic militants burst into a village church in Egypt and machine gunned a
young peoples' meeting, leaving at least a dozen dead; American Orthodox missionaries in Romania attending Divine
Liturgy at a local Cathedral found scores of people amazed that there were Americans who were Orthodox, who cared
about them, and who did not think Romanians were pagans needing to be converted; and, finally, an article in a major
national news magazine reported the details of Mafia-type operations plaguing Russia, but, strangely, the report was
bannered with a picture of a high-level United States official greeting the Patriarch of Moscow. For those ready to indulge
in "conspiracy" theories, the three events could be seen as illustrations of a worldwide, anti-Orthodox plot. However,
looking at these events through the lens of today's Gospel, a deeper, more troubling connection emerges. The Lord points
out in today's reading that there is a "conspiracy," but He traces it to the devil; and He identifies four kinds of opposition to
Himself, all of which Orthodox Christianity confronts today.
First, there is hatred. The Lord said to His opponents, "If God were your Father, you would love Me....You are of your
father the devil...." (vss. 42,44). They hated Him, and true Christians should expect the same (Mt. 10:22-24). Let us never
be deceived because people are "tolerant" or "polite," nor simply because the Church currently enjoys a certain freedom to
teach and preach the great truths of the Faith. The present cultural tide is running against Christianity throughout much of
the world, and Orthodoxy, as the staunch guardian of the fullness of Apostolic Faith, readily serves as a target for hatred, as
the incident in Egypt demonstrates.
Second, those in the first Century as well as today who oppose the Lord and His Church "do not hear" His words, because
they "are not of God" (vs. 47). How often even the mention of the Name of Jesus evokes offense or "blank" stares? The
reason is not hard to discern. Today, a generation has come of age ignorant of the essentials of Christianity, "...foolish,
disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasure, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another" (Titus
3:3). It makes perfect sense to such secularists, as they write about crime in Russia, to use an obviously "Russian"
photograph in order to "catch their readers' eyes," and so they paste in a colorful picture of the Patriarch of Moscow.
"What's the contradiction?" Third, the Lord said, "...the desires of your father you want to do....there is no truth in
him....But because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me..." (vss. 44,45). Brethren, how great are the temptations to
follow pleasant lies, to "enjoy" temptations, to adapt the Faith, to accept watered-down Christianity as the whole truth!
Many advocates of some of the current expressions of "Christianity" actually think they will save the world, including the
poor, deluded Orthodox Christians. The devil was and "...is a liar and the father of it" (vs. 44).
The final form of opposition to the Lord is to dishonor Him. "...I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me" (vs. 49).
Remember how the devil dishonored the Lord, insinuating what was contrary to fact: "If Thou be the Son of God..." (Mt.
4:6). He knew Christ was God, yet he vainly hoped to cast a shadow of doubt into His Incarnate human mind. Absolutely
insulting!
O God Who dost guide the meek, grant us, Thy people, grace in all our uncertainties to ask what Thou wouldest have us to
do, and save us from all false choices by Thy pure Light.