Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Venerable Paul, Founder of St. Paul Monastery on Mt. Athos
Kellia: 1 Maccabees 3:1-24 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 13:4-14:5 Gospel: St. Matthew 20:1-16
1 Maccabees 3:1-24, especially vs. 19: "It is not on the size of the army that
victory in battle depends, but strength comes from Heaven." The portrait of Judas Maccabeus as a warrior putting on his
breastplate, girding on his armor of war, and waging battles by a sword (vs. 3), as well as the descriptions of his two,
opening guerilla campaigns against the Seleucid forces (vss. 10-12,13-24), shows why today's reading begins with a poetic
tribute to this soldier of God (vss. 3-9). His accomplishments illustrate the truth that the People of God receive a heavenly
strength for success unimaginable in worldly terms.
St. Nikolai of Zica wondered at the strength of another small band: "twelve men of simple birth and trade, having
no....earthly glory or might [who left] their homes and kinsfolk and set out over the whole world...this is something
completely new, and...cannot be explained by anything other than by God's help, God's collaboration and God's grace" -
heavenly strength. Judas Maccabeus understood and accepted that he was a warrior of the Lord, fighting in the Lord's
strength for the Israel of God (vss. 1,2). Beloved of the Lord, let this reading remind every one of us that we too are
warriors of the Lord. Let us not surrender to the all prevalent delusion that Christians are simply members of a society
organized to enjoy occasional fellowship and worship - a mere adjunct to the battles of "real" life. Not at all! Like the
Maccabees, we are warriors under endless attacks from Satan and his foul spirits who, in pride and arrogance, are
determined to enslave us (vss. 14,20). These enemies are more intent than even the Seleucids to ensnare us by error, guile,
idolatry, concupiscence, deceit, and uncleanness.
The Apostles and the Holy Fathers so often refer to our situation as wrestling not "against flesh and blood...[but] against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the
heavenly places" (Eph. 6:12). No less a warrior than St. John Chrysostom begs us to remember Christ's warning
concerning the tribulation so that we "not grow careless or over-confident, but...struggle on out of fear. For a person
derives no benefit from the other virtues, even though he dwells in heaven, if he is in the grip of the presumption that led to
the fall of the devil, Adam, and many others."
Like Judas Maccabeus, let us be watchful and alert for the predictable sorties of our mortal enemy. Notice that it is said of
Judas that when he learned of the pending attack of Apollonius, "he went out to meet him, and he defeated and killed him"
(1 Mac. 3:11). He expected attack. He was watching for it. He did not wait passively for the enemy to find him, but
immediately went on the offensive as he became aware of an advance toward him. Satan is always probing, dropping
thoughts, sending his demons to worry, mock, and arouse our sinful passions. Let us develop the watchfulness of soldiers,
keeping our perimeter posted and alert. When the first hint of the enemy comes, let us go out and defeat him in heavenly
strength.
If we are deluded like the Seleucid governor, Seron, and foolishly believe that in the spiritual life we "will make a name for
[ourselves] and win honor in the kingdom," let us realize that we have entered into plain madness. Judas Maccabeus,
soldier of the living God that he was, knew that "It is easy for many to be hemmed in by few, for in the sight of Heaven
there is no difference between saving by many or by few" (vs. 18). Beloved, truly, as another great solider of the Lord said,
"By Thee shall I be delivered from a host of robbers, and by my God shall I leap over a wall" (Ps. 17:29 LXX). Victory is
with the Lord alone Who gives heavenly strength.
I will love Thee, O Lord my strength; the Lord is my foundation, and my refuge, and my deliverer. My God is my helper,
and I will hope in Him, my defender. (Ps. 17:1,2 LXX)
