Tuesday, May 31, 2005
CHRIST IS RISEN!
The Martyrs Hermias and Eusebios
Kellia: Deuteronomy 4:25-31 Apostle: Acts 12:25-13:12 Gospel: St. John 8:51-59
St. John 8:51-59, especially vs. 54: "...If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father Who honors
Me, of Whom you say that He is your God." St. John of the Ladder, speaking of the craving to receive honors and
adulation from others, said, vainglory "...abounds till the very grave in clothes, oils, servants, perfumes and...beams on all
activities." In the present day, we have a curious and deadly inversion: true humility and self-denial are typically despised
while self-esteem is exalted as the great salve for the psyche. Beloved, as Christians, we do well to reflect prayerfully on
the dialogue recorded in today's reading. Unimaginable as it may seem, the Lord's opponents accused Him of evincing the
sin of unholy self-esteem (vs. 52,53). Let us pray that embracing our Savior's self-denying and self-giving grace, we may
learn something of the ways to overcome the dread, ubiquitous, and soul-destroying sin of vainglory.
The Lord prefaces His remarks with the expression: "Amen, Amen" (vs. 51). The solemn double Amen is a speech form
peculiar to Christ, used to arrest attention and awaken His hearers to truth. Vital life-saving truths follow His double
Amens. In addition, the Amens themselves remind us that there must be no dissimulation or coloring of truth in the
struggle to attain self-denial, to reach true humility, and to defeat vainglory. We must consciously forsake all efforts to
"look good." St. John of the Ladder says, "Vainglory...though full of pride...feigns humility. It checks manner and voice,
and keeps an eye on the hands of visitors in order to receive something." Instead, one's inner intent needs to be truthful, for
only a pure heart can rightly shape behavior and live openly within the blazing light of the Lord's truth - truth about any
and everything, who we are and what we are in the eyes of God and not in the eyes of men.
Following the Amens, the Lord declares the importance of "keeping His word" (vs. 51). The declaration contains a second
essential truth for defeating vainglory: obedience. This phrase of the Lord has two dimensions: first to believe in Him, and,
following from such faith, to obey Him. For Christians, obedience arises from a deep, inner trust in the Lord. Life in
Christ begins and flowers only when we commit ourselves to Him: "I believe in Him as King and God." This surrender of
self to the Lord must be with all the heart and soul and mind (Mt. 22:37), for only thereby do we become united to Christ.
As we are truly joined to Him, He gives us grace to obey Him. Let us strive for personal unity with the Lord Jesus, like
that union He has with His Father, in which He knows His Father and keeps "His word" (vs. 55).
Next, the Lord teaches us to shun honors from men and to seek only honor from God: "If I honor Myself, My honor is
nothing. It is My Father Who honors Me" (vs. 54). Only honor from God is worth attaining, for such honor defeats
vainglory, while honor from men often makes us the prey of vainglory. Listen to St. John of the Ladder again, "There is a
glory that comes from the Lord, for He says: Those who glorify Me, I will glorify (1 Kngs. 2:30 LXX). And there is a glory
that hunts us down through diabolic intrigue, for it is said: Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you" (Lk. 6:26).
Whenever we do anything, however trifling, if we do it to be observed of men, vainglory conquers us, and we are instantly
separated from the Lord.
The Lord concludes with an allusion to Abraham, who "rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad" (vs. 56).
Abraham saw the promises in Christ long beforehand and he confessed that he was a stranger and pilgrim on earth (Heb.
11:13). Ardent seeking after well being from on high defeats vainglory and receives the genuine glory of God. As St. John
of the Ladder says of the glory from above: "he who has tasted that will despise all earthly glory."
Preserve me from every word or deed that corrupts the soul and save me, O Savior.
