These highly-respected meditations on daily Bible readings from the Holy Orthodox Church's Lectionary are provided by Dynamis, a publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral of Wichita, KS. The purpose of Dynamis is to encourage the faithful in daily reading and reflection on the Holy Scriptures, spreading the illumination and joy of daily Orthodox Bible reading.
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DYNAMIS! is a publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral, Wichita, KS
July 3, 2008
St. Matthew 10:23-32 (7/3) Gospel for Thursday of the Third Week after Pentecost
When you are hated or despised for being a Christian, how can you preach Christ fearlessly - “from the housetops”? God provide His grace in your heart, a gift brought by God the Holy Spirit - not so much understood or felt, but a Presence that creates certainty and confidence within.
Discipleship Requirements III ~ Spiritual Provision: St. Matthew 10:23-31, especially vs. 28: “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” In this portion of St. Matthew’s Gospel, we come to the third portion of what we might call “The Lord Jesus’ Orientation for Disciples.” Herein, He commands: “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops” (vs. 27). He gives this directive in the context of persecution (vs. 23) - against Himself and all “those of His household” (vs. 25). Thus, He encourages every disciple not to fear men but to keep heart and mind fixed on the ultimate judgment of God (vss. 26-28), for we have great worth in the eyes of our Heavenly Father (vss. 29-31).
Do not miss His point: the Lord Jesus desires to free us all from the fear of men and establish our hearts and spirits in God our Father. Christ our God understands that fear of men defeats us and the mission of the Church in the world. How then is a disciple to preach fearlessly from “the housetops” whatever he learns from Christ? Each one needs God to provide grace in his heart. God’s grace is not something primarily understood or felt, but a gift from God that creates certainty and confidence despite our feeble spirits.
St. John Chrysostom describes the way by which the Lord Jesus frees us from the fear of men: “...deliverance from death is not nearly so great as persuading men to despise death. You see now, He does not push them into dangers, but sets them above dangers....” How so? Well, there are dangers and persecution - such as the Lord Jesus endured! Hence, realize that the true danger is to lose your soul (vs. 28). Still, God Who values your soul and body - which He created (vss. 30-31) - is the same God Who raised our Lord from the dead. So, despise death, for God our Father will also raise each one from the dead who are “of His household” (vs. 25).
Listen to St. Paul: “Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith...for the joy that was set before Him endured the Cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb.12:2). For joy? How for joy? Because in His human spirit Jesus was united to the Holy Spirit and God the Father. So, rest your heart in the Holy Spirit and do the Lord’s will His way. Then God will transform active repression, abuse, and rejection, because you are united to your Savior and Master (Mt.10:25). Thus, you shall have occasion for joy.
Fear of men and of their power and opinion is spiritual death rising from the well-spring of atheism. Those who fear men do not seek and find the hand of God in all things - in great historic events or even the fall of a tiny sparrow to the ground. Cut the spiritual aspect out of life, and what is left? Existence without Life! God enables those of His household to taste Life directly - to worship Him by the Holy Spirit (Jn. 4:24). Our Father sealed us in His Holy Spirit. As a disciple, you may cry out fearlessly, “God is with us!” (Is. 8:10). Yes, Beloved of the Lord, He is with us in the best and the worst of circumstances.
In conclusion, hear the admonition of the Elder Joseph the Hesychast: “You should have the fear of God as a constant adornment, humility as a modest garment....The death of your soul is walking beside you; it precedes your steps, it hovers around your heart, flies in your eyes, wrestles with your thoughts. Be careful with your life, guard your soul greatly.” Never pass casually over the prayer to ask God to grant that you “may complete the remaining time of [your] life in peace and repentance,” for thus God richly provides His Holy Spirit to each one of us.
O Lord, teach me to treat all that comes to me with peace of soul, and with the firm conviction that Thy will governs all. (from Metropolitan Philaret of Moscow)
