Friday, January 16, 2004
The Precious Chains of Saint Peter
Kellia: 1 Kings 18:30-39 Epistle: James 2:1-13 Gospel: St. Mark 10:23-32
1 Kings 18:30-39 (RSV), especially vs. 37, "Answer
me, O Lord, answer me, that this people many know that Thou, O Lord, art God, and that Thou
hast turned their hearts back." In the Holy Mysteries of Baptism and Penance, the aim is, as
Elijah pleads, that God would turn our hearts back to Himself, restoring us, in the depths of our
being, to a wholesome relationship with Himself. Our need in approaching the Mysteries is
cleansing - not simply from the stains of obvious, sinful actions, but also from deeper, subtle,
hidden idolatry, dark attitudes that lurk in our hearts and minds, clinging passions, and
unapparent vanity, pride, and self-will. Oh, that God would turn our hearts back!
Hence, in reading this passage, let us seek, in the description of Elijah's offering before the
assembly of Israel, those life-giving elements which are able to guide our restoration to God: the
necessity to come near to the Holy Prophets, Apostles, Evangelists, and Righteous Souls with
whom we are united in the Church (vs. 30), to offer ourselves without reservation along with
God's People (vss. 31-33), and to hold back nothing but to surrender all (vss. 34-36).
The prophets of Baal failed to gain a response from their idol: "there was no voice; no one
answered, no one heeded" (1 K 18:29). Of course there was no action by Baal, because the idol
was a figment of spiritual delusion. Therefore Elijah called the people to himself, even as he
calls us from all idolatry: "Come near to me" (1 K 18:30). His is the message of all the righteous
ones who have preceded us in Faith. Orthodox Tradition brings us very close to the Saints - in
the icons, the Holy Scriptures, the Divine Liturgy, and the treasures of the Holy Fathers.
These Great Ones are very close to us. We might say, "Just an intercession away," but they are
very close, indeed. They pray for us even now, for our healing and restoration, that our hearts be
open to God so that He may turn us back to Himself. As the Apostle Paul told the Christians at
Thessalonica, "So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you...the
Gospel of God" (1 Thess. 2:8). So let us not neglect their call upon our hearts, never!
Observe that Elijah built an altar with twelve stones to be an altar "according to the number of the
tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord came, saying, 'Israel shall be your
name'" (1 K 18:31). His offering was for the whole People of God. In preparing the offering at
the Divine Liturgy, the Priest similarly includes the whole of the Church in the manner of Elijah:
the Theotokos, the bodiless Powers, the Prophets - yes, even Elijah is specifically named - the
Apostles, the great Hierarchs, martyrs, ascetics, unmercenaries, and all the members of the
Church living and in repose that God may "have mercy on us and on [His} world, and save our
souls." As the Holy Gifts are borne to the Throne of the Altar, let us not fail to offer ourselves
completely to our God: "all that I am, and all that I have, I offer unto Thee, O Lord."
Here is the issue: we must offer ourselves without restraint or reservation, totally. The entire
carcass of the bull was placed on the wood and then completely consumed in a flaming holocaust
(vs. 33). The offering was drenched with water so there would be no doubt that God accepted it
despite the soaking. The drenched offering is akin to those parts of ourselves which we are
unable to offer through ignorance and weakness. God knows our seriousness; and He is ready to
receive what we offer, if only we will make a true effort to join with Elijah's prayer - that God
turn back our hearts to Himself. Remember, it was Christ the Lord Who presented the One True
Offering. What we do upon earth always is offering "Thine own of Thine own."
Do Thou Thyself, O Lord, bless our offerings and receive them upon Thine altar above the
heavens, remembering and preserving us blameless in Thy Holy Mysteries.
