Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Translation ~ Relics of the Venerable Theodore the Studite
2nd Vespers of a Theologian: Wisdom 6:12-16 Apostle: Acts 9:32-42 Gospel: St. Mark 10:11-16
St. Mark 10:11-16, especially vs. 15: "...whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a
little child will by no means enter it." In this verse, the Lord declares what is required to have life in Him: if we would
have Him take us in His arms, lay His hands on us, and bless us (vs. 16), we must, before all else, convert and "become as
little children" (Mt. 18:3). In today's Gospel, the Lord reveals how one may be transformed into such an untainted child
within, so as to be handed over to Him (vs. 13). It is necessary to strip away all that prevents us from coming in innocence
to Him (vs. 14), for what could be of greater worth than to receive His blessing and the laying on of His hands (vs. 16)!
St. John Chrysostom points out that "the soul of a little child is pure from all the passions." Though we show "him the
queen with a diadem, he prefers her not to his mother clad in rags...and nothing more than necessary things doth he seek."
Furthermore, "The young child is not grieved at what we are grieved, as at the loss of money and such things as that, and he
doth not rejoice again at what we rejoice, namely, at these temporal things." The Lord's injunction to become as little
children is given so that we "by choice should practice these things, which young children have naturally." The secret of
being little children lies in recovering our natural virtues.
Notice that the Gospel clearly states that children did not come to the Lord "on their own account." They were "brought to
Him" (vs. 13). To be "brought to Him" one needs "good" parents who can bring us to Christ. Thus, if we are not borne in
the arms of our Mother the Church, then we shall pursue the virtues of the world - which are not virtues. Instead, we shall
depend on our imperfect, rational minds, and we shall be led astray. To have good Fathers - which we require - St. Nil
Sorsky declares that the Holy Fathers who followed the Apostles must be the "main guide for those who wish to be saved
and...attain Christian perfection."
The Lord sharply corrected His as-yet-unillumined disciples when they prevented children from coming to Him (vs. 13).
Following His example, let us countermand in ourselves whatever prevents our coming to Him in innocence (vs. 14).
Acquiring godly virtues requires diligent work directed against all that arises from the sinful self, the world, and the devils -
whatever suggests that we should indulge ourselves. As Metropolitan Hierotheos Vlachos reminds us: "when a person
struggles to subject his body to his soul and his soul to God, the virtues of body and soul are produced." Let us begin this
work, of restraining and retraining.
Consider: the Lord's desire that "little children" come to Him (vs. 14) is also a positive prompting to cultivate those godly
virtues which the Church reveals. Metropolitan Hierotheos provides us with some obvious starting points: "Self-control
and love rid us of impassioned thoughts. By controlling anger and desire we quickly do away with evil thoughts. Vigils
also contribute a great deal.…Let us receive everything with a good thought. Even if everything is ugly, let us receive it
with equanimity, and then God will right the anomalies of things."
Every newly awakened Christian who addresses the negative and positive work spoken of above, discovers a monumental
task before him. Let us not imagine that we can accomplish purity of life and holiness in our own strength. That would be
a fatal delusion and would eventually plunge us into certain despair. Rather, let us be dependent upon the Church to bring
us to Christ, and there learn how to receive the touch of the Lord's hand, His healing, and His blessing (vs. 16). Thus,
truly, may we become little children. St. Gregory Palamas says, "the deified saints...are engendered by God, God gave
them the power to become children of God."
Burn Thou the thorns of all my transgressions, cleanse my soul, and hallow my thoughts.
