Saturday, September 25, 2004
Repose of the Venerable Sergios of Radonezh
Kellia: Jeremiah 16:1-13 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 14:20-25 Gospel: St. Matthew 25:1-13
Jeremiah 16:1-13, especially vs. 9: "For
thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will make to cease from this place,
before your eyes and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the
bridegroom and the voice of the bride." The present passage is a shock both to read and to
contemplate, since the directives of God to Jeremiah serve only further to isolate the Prophet
socially from friends and neighbors. God effectively turned Jeremiah into a strange, lonely figure
withdrawn from participation in all normal events and joys of life. He is not to marry. He is not
to "rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Rom. 12:15). Rather, he is
to pour all his energy and attention to the message of judgment for which he is so well-known;
and if he is challenged about the unrelenting message that he has as a God-given task, he is to
repeat the same message from God yet again: "every one of you follows his stubborn evil will,
refusing to listen to Me; therefore I will hurl you out of this land into a land [to] serve other gods
day and night, for I will show you no favor" (Jer. 16:12,13).
Why does God require celibacy and isolation of some of His servants? Why are some called by
the Lord to undertake the monastic way or step out of the 'mainstream" in other ways? Why are
some called to serve as clergy and yet restrained from marrying and having families? Why are
none who are called to the Episcopacy married? Three of God's reasons will be found in this
passage: because the Lord calls some to the celibate way, to focus their energies solely in His
service and, thus, to call the rest of the People of God to consider their lives and how they may
best serve our one and good Lord and Master.
Notice the wording of the text when God directed Jeremiah not to marry: "the word of the Lord
came to me: 'You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place'" (vs.
1,2). God told him not to marry. Celibacy was a Divine calling upon him. The word came from
the Lord. While Jeremiah was free not to keep this command, yet his whole life was attuned to
God. Hence, while marriage was taken as man's natural state (Gen. 1:28; Deut. 7:14) and a joy
given by God for life and celebration (Jn. 2:1-10), yet for Jeremiah, the Lord gave another path.
Monastics and the unmarried clergy are called of God not to marry, and their way of life should
be seen primarily as a Divine vocation and only secondarily as an accepted choice.
The entire separation of Jeremiah from normal social relations, a life to which God called him,
went beyond a vocation to celibacy. It also embraced the very unusual requirement to withdraw
from weeping with mourners and celebrating the normal joys of life (Jer. 16:5-9). God had a
purpose for this special sort of life. He wanted all of Jeremiah's energies dedicated to
proclaiming His word to His People. Jeremiah was to be "as My mouth" (Jer. 15:19) everywhere
and at all times, wholly withdrawn from life's special occasions and requirements so that all his
vitality could be devoted solely to God's word that the Lord was withdrawing His
"peace...steadfast love, and mercy" (Jer 16:5) from His People.
The situation facing God's ancient people was gravely serious. By radically separating Jeremiah
from "normal" life, the Lord meant to engage the Prophet in a serious dialog with all His People
concerning their lives, their sins, and their need for repentance (vss. 10-13). The whole purpose
of the dialog was to help them hear the cause of the impending disaster. Why? That they might
understand their need to be fully committed to God, as was Jeremiah.
Grant, O Lord, in Thy love and mercy, that we may complete the remaining time of our life in
peace and repentance, having a good defense before Thy dread Judgment Seat.
