Saturday, April 2, 2005 Lenten Fast
Venerable Titos the Wonderworker
Kellia: Isaiah 43:9-14 Epistle: Hebrews 10:32-38 Gospel: St. Mark 2:14-17
St. Mark 2:14-17, especially vs. 15: "Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi's house,
that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; for there were many, and they followed
Him." Tomorrow, at Mid-Lent, we will bow down before the life-giving Cross, that ensign which looms above the whole
of the Great Fast. In tomorrow's Gospel (Mk 8:34-9:1), the Lord lays down the essential requirement demanded of all who
would think to follow Him, the One Who was Crucified (Mk. 8:34). Today's Gospel asks if we have met even His entry-level requirements. What are they? The Lord requires that we be called by Him, that we follow Him, and, as sinners, be
truly willing to struggle in repentance.
Notice: the desire to be a disciple of Christ does not arise first of all from us. The call of the Lord is prior. When He calls,
we are free to say "yes" or "no," but He calls first. The Lord even calls infants? Yes! The first action of the Baptismal
Mystery refers to the call of every candidate. The Priest lays his hand upon the one to be Baptized and says, "In Thy Name,
O Lord God of truth, and in the Name of Thine Only-begotten Son, and of Thy Holy Spirit, I lay my hand upon Thy
servant, who hath been found worthy to flee unto Thy Holy Name."
Acting in the Lord's Name, the Priest declares that the one on whom he lays his hand has "been found worthy." By whom?
By the Lord Who calls all candidates to the waters of Baptism. Mediated by the Holy Spirit, the Church has the mind of
Christ Who is its Head (1 Cor 2:16). Therefore, the Church knows those whom the Lord has called, those worthy to flee
the world and to follow Christ. Children of Orthodox families are apt to mature in the Church and are worthy of the grace
of Baptism, by which they should come to hear the Shepherd's voice (Jn. 10:4, ).
Following Christ is the second, entry-level requirement for Christians. To be Christian means to follow. It is an action,
not a label. Neither saying one is, nor being called a Christian, makes one a follower of Christ. To follow Him, one has to
do something, not just speak pious words. As Shakespeare said, "...'tis a kind of good deed to say well: and yet words are
not deeds." Beloved, our Lord contends that "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Mt. 7:21).
Hence, disciples are those who act when the Lord Jesus calls (Jn. 14:15). Look at today's reading: the Lord said to Levi,
"Follow me" (Mk. 2:14). How do we know Levi obeyed? Because St. Mark adds that "He arose and followed Him" (Mk.
2:14). What is more, Levi continued to follow Him, for the first Gospel was written by Levi using his other name,
"Matthew." Listen to St. John of the Ladder: "By true servants of God we mean all those who tirelessly and unremittingly
do and have done His will." Persistent action is necessary!
Finally, it is a given: God loves sinners, for He drew His disciples from their ranks. Look at the last verse of today's
reading: "I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" (Mk. 2:17). There is room for us!
The wonder of Christ our God is manifested in this, that He is forgiving of all the failures and sins of mankind: our fraud,
intimidation, fear, failure to trust Him, falling asleep, running away, losing hope, petty jealousy, adultery, theft, murder,
every sort of trespasses. But reread verse 17. Although He loves sinners and forgives, His call specifically directs us to the
life of repentance. Godly sorrow produces diligence to clear oneself (2 Cor 7:11). Speaking of repentance, St. John of the
Ladder says, "The falls that occur after our call are hard to bear [but] certainly we do not return by the way we went astray,
but by another shorter route."
O Christ our God, grant us the gift of true repentance that we may follow Thee worthily
