Thursday, January 20, 2005
The Venerable Euthymios the Great
2nd Blessing of Water: Isaiah 55:1-13 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 4:6-15 Gospel: St. Luke 21:28-33
28-33, especially vss. 32, 33: "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means
pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away." By
many means, the world promotes preparation for "great futures:" secure retirement, good education for the children, or
protection of valuables against all risks. Notice: every one of these promotional plans is for time-limited hereafters, for a
set period that looms before us in the days, months, or years ahead.
Better still, hear the Lord's words about the future: "Heaven and earth will pass away...." How does one prepare for the
demise of the universe - space, time, the whole physical creation? Today's reading asks a question of us: "Into what
should we pour our energy, into what future? What should preoccupy our attention in this life: some probable near or
eventual time within the present existence, or the everlasting and unending Kingdom of Heaven?"
More to the point: Whom should we believe? The world and its options, or the Lord and His promise of eternity? The
world prefers to ignore what the Lord says. Secular man calls it "pious talk" or "religious jargon." He discounts eternity as
a vague, spiritual prospect far removed from a meaningful future with no bearing on any present or foreseeable events.
However, Beloved, dismissing concern about the ultimate end of "all things" is sorely contrary to the Lord Jesus' advice.
He is firm and definite. He desires us to be alert and "watch" for the signs of the final conclusion of "all things" (Lk.
21:28-31). He repeats the admonition twice, as if to say, "Such a perspective is really important. Are you listening?" (vss.
28,31).
The Blessed Theophylact of Ochrid reiterates the Lord's admonition. He enjoins us to believe our God and Savior, not to
be drawn off by the world with its immediate, short-term concerns. Listen: "Here He shows that He holds the Church in
greater honor than all creation, for if all creation is changed, then no part of it outlives or is superior to His words and the
Church of the faithful, which shall not pass away." Come then, let us examine this passage and consider carefully, "Whom
should we believe? Where should we invest our energy?"
Notice first: the Lord emphasizes looking and watching, "look up, lift up your heads" (vs. 28), "Look at the fig tree, and all
the trees" (vs. 29), "When they are already budding you see and know..." (vs. 30), "So you also, when you see these things
happening, know..." (vs. 31).
What is Christ's meaning in these remarks? In Gethsemane He said to His first disciples, who kept falling asleep, "Watch
and pray, lest you enter into temptation" (Mt. 26:41). Especially He is directing us to watch our hearts. Let us labor to free
our hearts from degrading passions and worldly thoughts, for "When Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said
to them, 'Why are you reasoning in your hearts?'" (Lk. 5:22). He emphasizes watching within, as Blessed Theophylact
explains: "the first coming of the Lord was for the re-fashioning and rebirth of our souls, so the second coming will be for
the rebirth of our bodies." Let us look within to meet the Spirit Who can help us cleanse our souls. "Watch out for your
souls" (Heb. 13:17).
Therefore, let us now concentrate on the cleansing of our inner life. Then, when the Lord does come, we shall be found
worthy of His perfect liberation - for both soul and body. Let us be alert for the return of the Lord, focusing on those inner
movements that cause us to sin, for sin alone keeps us from Him. As we struggle to please Him, fear of the Lord grows
within us to reveal what yet remains to separate us from Him. "Glory to Thee Who hast shown us the light!"
O Christ, our God, multiply Thy mercy upon us that we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things
Eternal.
