Wednesday, August 18, 2004
The Venerable John of Rila
Kellia: Joshua 5:1-4, 8-12 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 6:11-16 Gospel: St. Mark 1:23-28
1-4, 8-12, especially vss. 10, 12: "And the children of Israel
kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening to the westward of Jordan on the
opposite side of the Jordan in the plain...and they took the fruits of the land...." The imagery of
this passage from Joshua forms an icon of the life in Christ. In the flow of the narrative, the
initial entry into the promised land has already been attained by the People of God following their
passage through the waters of the Jordan from the East into Canaan (Josh. 3,4). Similarly, all
who are united to Christ have entered into the new life through the waters of Baptism. Unseen to
the eyes of the world, terror has been struck in the heart of Satan and his minions (Josh. 5:1).
Under the new Covenant, Holy Baptism has replaced circumcision as the rite of initiation into the
People of God (vss. 2-3). In the Lord, we are purified; the reproach of the Egypt of this world is
taken away (vss. 4,8,9). The Faithful now celebrate the eternal Pascha, partaking of the bread of
Angels, that the living bread, which if anyone eat, he will live forever (vss. 11,12).
Recall that when the Lord Jesus had come "into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two
possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce" (Mt. 8:28). One should note
especially the reaction of these demons who had been inhabiting the two unfortunate men to the
mere presence of Jesus: "they cried out, saying, 'What have we to do with Thee, Jesus, Thou Son
of God? art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?'" (Mt. 8:29). The Holy and
Almighty, even in flesh as a man, is a terror to the principalities and powers who rule over the
affairs of this world. When "the spirit of error, the spirit of guile, the spirit of idolatry and every
concupiscence; the spirit of deceit and of every uncleanness which operateth through the
prompting of the Devil" are exposed to Christ, they beg to be removed into swine (Mt. 8:31).
During Exorcism in Holy Baptism, let us not miss the destructive threat of God which can only
terrorize Satan and all his angels. The beginning of the new life in Christ is a dread moment for
the Devil, for his lair is exposed to the true Light of Him Who holds the power of all beings in
His hand. The kings of the peoples of Canaan knew indirectly in their hearts the fear which the
powers of darkness that ruled through them were experiencing directly (Josh. 5:1). Of course,
Baptism removes "the reproach of Egypt" (Josh. 5:9) from those who enter the life in Christ.
Having wandered in the desert of this present world, the new Christian rejoices in the lifting of
the weight of sin and of purification before God. The new life cuts away the impossibility of the
past with its obstructing, deadening separation. We do not idly say, "Christ is in our midst; He is
and shall be!" It expresses a profound truth: slavery is gone. Yes, there are terrible battles and
temptations ahead. There will be failures and repeated efforts necessary to gain the kingdom of
God fully. As the Lord warns us, it must be taken by violence (Mt. 11:12).
Everyone who knows the Orthodox Christian Faith at first-hand realizes that Pascha is the central
point of the liturgical year. The familiar Trisagion is set aside so that we may offer the special
hymn, "As many of you who have been Baptized into Christ, have put on Christ. Alleluia" (Gal.
3:27). And since every Lord's Day is a fresh Pascha, we now taste regularly the fruits of the land
into which we have entered as we receive "the communion of [the] Holy Spirit, unto the
fulfilment of the kingdom of heaven" in the Holy Gifts. The manna of this world, albeit provided
by God, now fails to satisfy in the way the true Bread does, that Bread which cometh down from
heaven and now gives the greater and better life in Christ (Josh. 5:12; Jn. 6:33).
In the gathering places bless ye God the Lord from the springs of Israel. O Son of God, Who
didst rise from the dead, save us who sing unto Thee. Alleluia.
