Monday, April 18, 2005 Lenten Fast
Cosmas the Confessor, Bishop of Chalcedon
6th Hour: Isaiah 48:17-49:4 1st Vespers: Genesis 27:1-41 2nd Vespers: Proverbs 19:16-25
Genesis 27:1-42 LXX, especially vs. 28: "And may God give thee of the dew of heaven, and of the
fatness of the earth, and abundance of corn and wine." In this last week of Great Lent, the Genesis readings focus on
Abraham's grandson, Jacob, the younger of fraternal twins begotten to Abraham's son Isaac and his wife Rebekah (Gen
25:21-23). In personality these twins were very different: in Esau, the elder, the Holy Fathers perceived a tendency to
sensual wickedness, but in Jacob they found a man growing in his relationship with God. These two sons provide us with
rich insight into spiritual growth: Esau teaches us to "trample down all carnal desires," and Jacob reveals how to "enter
upon a spiritual manner of living," and to spend "the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance."
Reading the present lesson in isolation from the entire history of Jacob and Esau, one might well conclude that a gross
injustice was worked against Esau because of the plot of Rebekah and Jacob. The Holy Fathers, however, read this passage
in the context of all the historical evidence concerning the two. Hence, Origen observed that "the plot of Esau against
Jacob has its apparent occasion in taking away the blessing. But before this, Esau's soul had 'roots' of his being immoral
and irreligious." Evidence for this assertion of Origen appears in today's reading. Esau brooded angrily, and finally
decided upon murder (Gen. 27:41,42).
The Apostle Paul, referring to Esau, warns the Faithful to look "carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any
root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any...profane person like Esau"
(Heb. 12:15,16). After all, our Lord requires us to "trample down all carnal desires." And the Apostle says: "Let all
bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice" (Eph. 4:31).
The Holy Fathers, reflecting on Rebekah's and Jacob's plot, found a type of spiritual growth. Just as Esau and Jacob came
from the single womb of Rebekah, so also both evil and good come from the same source - our souls. Hence St. Ambrose
teaches that, like Rebekah, we should repudiate the evil offspring of our hearts and see that "...goodness is fostered and
strengthened." Similarly, two prayers in the Liturgy are like these fraternal twins: in one we pray that we may "trample
down all carnal desires," and positively, in the other, we are to seek growth in the Spirit by "entering upon a spiritual
manner of living." Let us pursue the virtues actively, then, as Nikitas Stithatos says, we shall be "in [God's] likeness if we
possess virtue and understanding; for His virtue covered the heavens" (see Hab. 3:3).
There is a two-sided effort required for spiritual growth: to rid ourselves of the sinful passions, and to acquire the virtues.
In the Great Canon, St. Andrew of Crete teaches us to speak to ourselves: "O my soul, you have given away the birthright
and lost your Father's blessing, and in your wretchedness been twice supplanted in action and knowledge." By our sins we
give away the likeness of God impressed upon us; yet, through God's grace received in the Holy Mysteries of Confession
and Communion, we may regain that inestimable treasure of Divine likeness.
Again, we lose the heritage of our Heavenly Father by our sins: thus, St. Andrew says, "Therefore, repent now." Let us
"spend the remaining time of our life in peace and repentance," and be restored to our original and intended state. After the
blessing was gone, Esau came pleading because he wanted to inherit the blessing; but he was rejected. As the Apostle
teaches, he "found not place for repentance though he sought it with tears" (Heb. 12:17). However, in Christ, genuine
repentance, the cleansing of our sins, and restoration to God are possible again.
O Lord, accept the dust of our repentance, and grant us the heaven of Thy grace.
