Monday, Dec. 6, 2004 Wine & Oil
Nicholas the Wonder-worker, Archbishop of Myra
3rd Vesp Nicholas: Wisdom 4:7-15 Epistle: 2 Timothy 2:20-26 Gospel: St. Luke 19:37-44
Wisdom 4:7-15 LXX, especially vs. 12: "For the bewitching of naughtiness doth obscure things that are
honest; and the wandering of concupiscence doth undermine the simple mind." Listen to the wise Solomon warning
against trust in the human heart, soul, and will; for, all around us in this life, naughtiness obscures truth, justice, and
honesty. Do not be misled by this term, naughtiness, as a word limited to the correcting of children. Look at its root,
naught, meaning, nothingness, that which is devoid of truth, justice, and honesty. In this nihilistic age, acting from our
reason, we are forced to grope to get at the truth, and, instead, we are bombarded with cliches, opinions, and the current
wisdom of the street. We are ensnared by an avalanche of words empty of truth, sweeping us away from truth, alluring and
bewitching us. Worst of all, within our own breasts concupiscence lurks to undermine us stealthily whenever we try to
reason out the truth on our own. We defeat our own simple minds. Within and without we are doomed!
Let us not despair, however; for the burden of what God teaches in this present passage is that there is a better way to find
and live the truth, to live honestly, to retain a pure and simple mind. It is possible to attain to old age having an "unspotted
life" (vs. 9). One may reach "honorable age" by living a "righteous" life (vss. 8,7). It is that simple; yet we are tempted to
hopelessness before this assertion, knowing that we have already soiled and fouled our lives. What is worse is that we are
unsure of what soils and disfigures life. Given the naught-producing conditions of this existence, how can we ascertain
what stains the soul?
Listen to Solomon again. The key is to focus our thoughts and acts always to "please God" (vs. 10). Then He will love us;
and He will reveal truth, justice, and honesty even while we are "living among sinners" (vs. 10) so that "wickedness" (vs.
11) will not "alter [our] understanding, or deceit beguile [our] soul"(vs. 11). There is hope in that possibility. Think of it!
Should we see and know the truth clearly, embrace it and practice it, then we could fend off all the assaults of
"bewitching...naughtiness" and our own "wandering concupiscence" (vs. 12).
There's the rub! How are we to please God in thought, word, and deed, given our frailty? The Lord gave Solomon great
wisdom in this matter, so let us listen to him. He notes that the righteous man was "made perfect in a short time" (vs. 13).
The word made perfect in the original is teleiotheis, and means to be made complete. Being completed as human beings is
a work of restoration, a process of putting thoughts, inclinations, desires, and actions back into their intended place and
functioning. And Who does this? God, of course, Who can make perfect "in a short time" (vs. 13).
In the last verse (14), Solomon provides the essential component in the perfecting or completing process - "grace and
mercy" from God (vs. 14). The wise Prophet of God assures us that the Lord "hath respect unto His chosen" (vs. 14). How
do we become the chosen of God? St. Paul teaches us that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes
to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Our Lord Jesus appeals to us
in this matter, Brethren: "you believe in God, believe also in Me" (Jn. 14:1). He begs us to trust Him, surrender our wills to
Him, and submit to Him. You want to know firmly what is true, just, and honest? Hear St. Paul again: "those who are in
the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you" (Rom.
8:8,9). Cry out to the Lord, confess confusion, and He will heal and complete!
O Master, Who couldst not endure to behold mankind oppressed by the Devil, but came and saved us: we proclaim Thy
mercy. We conceal not Thy grace. Save and help us!
