Wed., May 11, 2005
CHRIST IS RISEN!
Cyril & Methodios, Equals-to-the-Apostles
12th Vigil of Pascha: 4 Kings 4:8-37 Apostle: Acts 4:13-22 Gospel: St. John 5:17-24
St. John 5:17-24, especially vs. 24: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, 'He that heareth My word,
and believeth on Him that sent Me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death
unto life.'" In this final verse from today's reading, the Lord describes the spiritual state of a person who will not be
condemned on the Day of Judgment. The one of whom He speaks is not consigned to death. Why? He already has
attained everlasting life. Notice therefore that this "life" of which the Lord speaks is a present reality. The one who
believes "hath everlasting life." The "life" of the believer is not reserved solely to the future in eternity. It is a state within
which one may live now. "Life" results from moving out of a former mode of existence, one called "death," into a
qualitatively different state called "life." What is the character of this "life?" Let us explore the Lord's words and see.
"Life" is a gift. Christ, the Son of God, is the Giver of the gift of Life, a function of His Divine nature, since God has the
power to give "life" to the "dead." "For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to
whom He will" (vs. 21). However, the Son observes two conditions in giving "life" to mortal men. One must "hear" the
word of the Son, and he must "believe in" the Father Who sent the Son (vs. 24). Notice, however, that most of today's
passage is devoted to revealing the invariable unity that exists between the Father and the Son (vss. 17-23). Hence, the
Son's capacity to give "life to whom He will" (vs. 21) is shown to arise directly from His unity with the Father. The Jewish
authorities who opposed the Lord did not miss the implication in Jesus' emphasis upon His unity with the Father (vs. 18).
Since hearing is a condition of "life," let us understand the sort of listening that is required. Holy Scripture consistently
speaks of hearing not as mere audition. Much more it is "obedient action." One who "hears" God, obeys what he hears
from God (Eccl. 5:1; Lk. 8:15). The often repeated remark of the Lord Jesus, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear,"
contains this imperative (Mt. 11:15; 13:43). Many behavioral ramifications flow from "hearing."
When one reads the word of God, let him do it with longing and deliberate attentiveness, with intent to heed and to apply
what God says. Urgency to listen to the Lord also encompasses the Divine Liturgy and the other Mysteries of the Church.
Likewise, constancy in prayer may be measured by consistent action. As St. Gregory Palamas teaches: "impassibility does
not consist in mortifying the passionate part of the soul, but in...directing its energies to divine things."
In verse 17 the Lord speaks both of His work and of the Father's. To heed God is to enter into the work of the Holy Trinity
as we are able. The Son watches the Father and does nothing of Himself. We in turn must watch the Son and do "...what
He does...in like manner" (vs. 19). Then God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit will show us greater works, that we
may marvel (vs. 20). How is this ? God the Father would have us believe in Him and honor Him. Thus by believing in
Him Who sent Jesus into the world to save us, we gain life (vss. 23,24).
As with "hearing," the true mode of "believing in" God always impels one to obedient action. While believing in God is an
act of the heart and soul, invariably belief in Christ leads to action, to behavior that is in concert and harmony with the
Father and the Son in Their loving work. Once one crosses the line into pro-active hearing and obedient belief in God, he
has "passed from death into life" (vs. 24). This transition is possible even for us who are mortal, as the Apostles and the
Fathers have amply taught. By God's grace, let us hear and believe.
O Thou Who hast given unto us, Thy servants, remission of sins, and a life of regeneration, illumine our hearts with the
light of Thy countenance, that we may maintain our faith unassailed.
