Friday, May 21, 2004
Constantine and Helen, Equals-to-the-Apostles
1st Vesprs of Holy Fathers: Genesis 14:14-20 Apostle of Sts: Acts 26:1-5, 12-20 Gospel of Sts: St. John 10:1-9
14-20 LXX, especially vs. 16: "And he recovered all the cavalry of Sodom, and he recovered Lot his
nephew, and all his possessions, and the women and the people." The events which preceded Abram's recovery of the
cavalry of Sodom and his nephew, Lot, greatly illumine the present, brief account of the great Patriarch's retaliatory strike
against the massive armed forces of the kings in league with Chedorlaomer of Elam (vs. 17). Clearly, Chedorlaomer was
the powerful, regional overlord who had long dominated ancient Mesopotamia from Elam, an ancient country that lay to
the east of the great river valleys (in what today is southern Iran). Through wars, this great king had subjugated not only the
vast region that comprises present-day Iraq and Syria, but had extended effective suzerainty far to the west, down the
Jordan river valley, even to the city-states below the Salt or Dead Sea. (Gen. 14:1-3).
However, his vassal kings in the Dead Sea region, far away from Chedorlaomer's center of power, after twelve years of
paying tribute, conspired to cease further payments to him, a rebellion he soon set out to quell (Gen 14:4-8). While
reasserting control throughout the western region of his empire, the great overlord once again easily subdued the rebel
alliance of the Dead Sea Kings and set off north toward Damascus with his army. To punish his vassals in Siddim (those
southern plains below the Dead Sea), the great king took men and women as slaves, stripped the people's food stores, and
seized their other possessions. Lot suffered enslavement along with other citizens of Sodom, All these events were
reported to Abram (Gen 14:9-13).
The Holy Fathers teach us to see these events far less as the old story of conquest, war, and power politics - just another
chapter in the history of sin in human affairs; but to glean from these readings "how harmful are the vices" and to
apprehend from Abram, that great patriarch among spiritual warriors, the calling of every Christian to become a warrior of
things spiritual. First, Abram did not turn to his worldly allies for help in recovering Lot and those who had fallen prey to
Chedorlaomer (Gen. 14:13). Instead, he chose or "numbered" from those born in his own household, a small band of only
318 servants to pursue and strike what apparently was an invincible army of the overlord of Elam (Gen. 14:14). In
answering the rampage of sin amongst our natural passions, let us remember that outward assistance will not avail.
Worldly friends, counselors, or confessors cannot help us. It is from those of our own household, the Church, servants of
our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of the Saints and Angels, and the all-wise counsel of the Holy Spirit, that we must
find help in recovering what we have lost.
Abram's tiny band overtook their enemies in the darkness, as we also must search out, smite, and destroy the dark enemies
of our souls. As St. John Chrysostom makes clear: "the Patriarch prevailed against [his enemies] not by physical strength
but through faith in God....not by wielding weapons and arrows and spears...but with a few retainers of his own household."
What is more, by his faith and with resources which God gave him, Abram recovered that which was lost to him, and he
greatly benefitted many others as well - as this reading shows (vss. 16,17). What untold good the faith of God's people
showers upon others!
Most important, Abram was quick to give thanks to God. In a type of the Divine Liturgy, Melchizedek, the Priest of God
"brought loaves and wine" to celebrate God's victory through Abram; and the Patriarch received a priestly blessing, and
"gave him the tithe of all" (vs. 20). The "tithe of all" was Abram's own humble way of giving thanks to Him Who gave the
victory.
Thou alone, O Lord our God, rulest over those in heaven and on earth; Who art Lord of the Seraphim and King of Israel;
Who alone art holy and restest in Thy Holy Place.
