Sunday, April 25, 2004
Christ is Risen! (Tone 2)
The Myrrh Bearers, Joseph, & Nicodemos
15th of the Paschal Vigil: Song of the Three 1-23 Apostle: Acts 6:1-7 Gospel: St. Mark 15:43-16:8
Song of The Three 1-22 RSV, especially vs. 5: "Thou hast executed true judgments in all that Thou hast
brought upon us and upon Jerusalem, the holy city of our fathers, for in truth and justice Thou has brought all this upon us
because of our sins." St. John Chrysostom noted a profound truth in the prayer offered by Azariah when the three young
men were thrown into the fire: "And the Three Children were in the fire, and in the midst of the furnace, and what did they
say? 'We have sinned and committed iniquity with our fathers.' This it is to have a contrite heart....So even after they had
fallen into the furnace they were exceedingly humbled, even more so than they were before. For when they saw the miracle
that was wrought, thinking themselves unworthy of that deliverance, they were brought lower in humility."
What sort of inner realization illumined the heart of Azariah that in the face of a God-given miracle of survival he could
say, "Thou hast brought all this upon us because of our sins" (vs. 5)? As St. John notes: "This it is to have a contrite
heart;" yet the question concerning the sort of inner process of heart remains even as we acknowledge that, indeed, Azariah
showed a profoundly "contrite heart." What characterizes such a heart? Let us look with prayer into this reading that we
may discern the essentials of what God teaches here about contrition, keeping in our hearts the petition that He would grant
us the grace of this same humility before Him.
First, let us conclude and then admit to God that He only is blessed, just, glorified, and true (vss. 3,4). As St. John
Chrysostom warns us: "Many are elated on account of their humility, but let us not be so affected....Such was the
Pharisee...but not so the Publican (Lk. 18:13)." Let us also be wary, as St. John of the Ladder warns, for "The spirit of
despair rejoices at the sight of increasing vice, and the spirit of vainglory at the sight of increasing virtue."
Second, without evasion, let us affirm that no calamity, deprivation, or misfortune befalls us in this life that is not just and
right. This proposal may not 'go down easily' in us, which indicates how far we have to travel before we can say without
reservation as did Azariah, "Thou hast brought all this upon us because of our sins" (Sng. of 3:5).
Third, let us confess that our whole life is laced with sin, and that even in our best actions we have "sinfully and lawlessly
departed from" God and His highest and best (vs. 6).
Fourth, should we receive the grace to see our entire life and all our motivations through God's eyes, let us wholly admit
that we "have sinned in all things and have not obeyed" His commandments (vs. 6). Now, then, let us pull away the layers
of self-justification and approval.
Fifth, let us frankly concede that truly we have nothing to say in self-defense before God, that "we cannot open our mouths;
shame and disgrace have befallen" (vs. 10) us all our days on this earth. As the Prophet Isaiah says, "But we are all as an
unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags" (Is. 64:6). That is our true condition.
Sixth, affirming all that we have said above, let us confess, because of God's mercy and lovingkindness, that we have only
one plea before Him: "May we be accepted" before the Great Judgment Seat of the Lord (Song of 3:16).
Finally, we are ready, without hesitation, to beseech God, concerning those who have done us wrong, that He would
graciously bring them to the knowledge that He alone is "the only God, glorious over the whole earth" (vs. 22). These
seven actions of the heart are the primary steps for achieving a contrite heart, which God assures us He "will not despise"
(Ps. 50:17 LXX). Behold my weariness. Forgive me all my sins, O God of all, that with a pure heart and fearful mind and
contrite soul, I may partake of Thine all-pure mysteries and be enlivened.
