Thursday, February 10, 2005
Hieromartyr Haralampos of Magnesia
Kellia: 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 3:1-4:1 Epistle: 2 Timothy 2:1-10 Gospel: St. John 15:17-16:2
St. John 15:17-16:2, especially vs. 19: "If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because
you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." Here is a reminder from our
Lord Jesus Christ: if you count yourself as a Christian, as a follower of Jesus Christ, it is primarily because Christ Himself
chose you out of the world. What does that mean? Do you recall in school when two captains were appointed by the
teacher and, in turn, they chose up sides? At first, you stood in the midst of all the other children. Which one would pick
you? Who would choose you to be on his or her team? You waited and waited until one of the selecting captains pointed
to you and called your name. At that point, you left the group and you became a member of the team. You had been
chosen out of the undifferentiated body of candidates and turned into a team member.
Apply that experience to your membership in Christ. He chose you; and though you were still in the world - at your same
job, part of your same natural family, a citizen of your same native land, the same gender as the day you were born - but
now there is something distinctive about you. You are a member of Christ. Recall St. Paul's words: "For as many of you
as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is
neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Gal. 3:27-28). Hereafter, your actions and responses will be
determined by your being someone who was chosen out from all other identities to belong to Christ first and foremost.
Being chosen out by Christ comes with definite consequences. These are what our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, speaks of
in this Gospel. There are five results of being chosen by Christ: 1) We are to love our fellow Christians. 2) Whenever we
experience hatred, it is because our Lord is the primary target, and the same is true when we find fellow supporters. 3) It is
among our fellow members in the Church that we find the Holy Spirit as our Helper. 5) As one chosen out by Christ, you
will find many opportunities to act and speak for Him, come what may.
See how our Lord begins? "These things I command you, that you love one another" (Jn. 15:17). It may be difficult to
love some of them, but they are striving to live up to being chosen out, just as we are. Let us remember always to let other
Christians know that we love them.
You may very well experience hatred because Christ chose you out; but be reassured. Those who hate you, hate Him more
than you. He is the primary target (vss. 18-20).
However, when we find people who are keeping Jesus' commandments (vs. 20), they also will be keeping the Church's
teaching; for Church is the name of those who have been chosen out by Christ to the be Body of Christ.
In the Church, we find "the Helper" (vs. 26), the Spirit of Truth Who proceeds from our Father in Heaven. He helps those
who are chosen out to make the critical choices by testifying to us about Christ our Savior and Lord.
As those who have been chosen out, we may always expect to find many opportunities to stand up for Christ our God, to
"bear witness" (vs. 27) to Him Who chose us out to be His own. Remember, He chose us out because He does not want us
to stumble, to sin, and to make serious mistakes. He is putting trust in us by explaining all of this to us in advance. "Yes,
the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service" (vs. 16:2), but no matter how rough it gets,
remember that most important of all, you were chosen out by Christ Himself!
Ye who have trod the narrow way most sad; all ye who in life have taken upon you the Cross as a yoke, and have followed
Me: enjoy ye the honors which I have prepared for you.
