Monday, May 31, 2004
(Memorial Day USA)
Monday of the Holy Spirit
3rd Vespers of Pentecost: Ezekiel 36:24-38 Apostle: Acts 5:8-19 Gospel: St. Matthew 18:10-20
Ezekiel 36:24-28, especially vs. 24: "For I will take you from the nations, and gather you from all the
countries, and bring you into your own land." The nationalist longing of Jews around the world for a homeland is, in part,
a lineal result of Prophets like Ezekiel, who was himself an exile in Babylon. Beginning in the middle of the 19th century
AD, Jewish thinkers advanced a "back to Zion" movement, which in 1897 became the Zionist Organization, dedicated to
securing a home in Palestine. "Practical Zionism" at first could do little more than establish a few isolated Jewish
agricultural settlements in Palestine, but in the 1920s, after the area became a British Mandate, more land was purchased
and immigration increased. Both in 1929 and 1936 there were major protests by the Palestinian Arabs, Christians and
Moslems alike, which led to the idea of partitioning. In the post World War II era, Israel became a national state after two
local wars. Large-scale immigration has followed, with no lessening of tensions.
How then are Orthodox Christians, as the true Israel - the true People of God - to understand Ezekiel's prophecy? What is
meant by "coming into our own land," for we are a worldwide people of many lands? While the first and last verses of this
prophecy speak of "land," the reading actually is concerned with God's promise to transform the hearts of His People by
His Holy Spirit, which makes these verses appropriate to the Feast of Pentecost. It is the work of the Spirit in the hearts of
God's People which enables us to "walk in [His] statutes and be careful to observe [His] ordinances," and be His People for
whom He is God (vss. 27,28).
The Orthodox prayer for the Holy Spirit used regularly at the beginning of our services, teaches us that the Holy Spirit is
"everywhere present and fillest all things." Hence, there can be no land which is not under the sovereignty of God nor is
beyond His rule and providence. Therefore, wherever we are is "our own land" as long as we are seeking the infilling of
the Spirit and in all things endeavoring to follow and observe His gracious governance. Most of all, "our own land," is the
Kingdom of Christ; but, as the Lord Jesus told Pontius Pilate, it is "not of this world" (Jn. 18:36). Still, we do approach its
"boundaries" each time we gather as the Church.
It is when we are assembled as Church that the Spirit especially is known to "come and dwell in us and cleanse us of every
stain of sin," as the prayer of the Spirit reveals. In fact, if He does not come and cleanse us and dwell in us, we cannot even
be the Church. His renewing and purifying work becomes most evident as we receive the Christian Mystery, for thereby
God bestows upon us "a new birth through water and the Spirit." By His action, we are empowered to cast off the idols
that pollute our hearts, separate us from God and plunge us into spiritual death.
The Christian Mysteries received in the assemblies of the Church are the very means by which God "gives us hearts of flesh
and puts His Spirit within us" (Ezek. 36:26,27). This is why at every celebration of the Divine Liturgy we pray the Lord to
"send down Thy Holy Spirit" not only on the "Gifts here spread forth" but also "upon us....unto Communion of the Thy
Holy Spirit, unto the fulfillment of the Kingdom of Heaven, unto boldness toward Thee, and not unto judgment or unto
condemnation," so that we "may....observe [God's] ordinances" (vs. 27).
While the Jews desperately still are looking for their "own land" and to establish it by their own human strength, we are
blessed, time and time again, to experience the Kingdom over which God rules. Beloved, we are enabled by the power of
the Spirit to "dwell in the land which [the Lord] gave to your fathers;" for we are His People, and He is our God (vs. 28).
All-Holy Spirit, issuing from the Father and coming through the Son upon us, save and sanctify all those who know Thee as
God, Life, and Life-Giver.
