From: The Fellowship Of His Suffering
By Archpriest Michael Boroudy
Word Magazine, April 1959
[…] During the Lenten season, we are to concern ourselves with Christ’s suffering in order that we might become fellow-sufferers with Him, learn more of the Christian way of life and so become mature Christians, growing into a full stature of godliness. St. Paul expressed it beautifully when, speaking of his Savior and ours, said, “That I might know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His suffering.”
Taking the above statement as the basis for our sermon, we discover that it contains the central message of our holy religion, a declaration unexcelled by any of the other disciples for depth of meaning and significance. Paul here declares that, a full and mature knowledge of Jesus as Savior had two very essential requirements, a fellowship in Jesus’ suffering and the power of His resurrection.
Here we have the blueprint or the pattern toward which all who would be Christians must strive, and it is no easy pattern. As a matter of fact, it is the perfect pattern of Jesus which He revealed by His life and death. First, we have the fellowship of His suffering. How can one share in Christ’s suffering? Christ lived nearly two thousand years ago. Is it possible for one after the lapse of twenty centuries to have a taste of that? The answer is yes, for vicarious suffering, that is, to endure suffering for the sake of others is one of life’s essential principles. As a matter of fact, we begin to mature mentally and spiritually as we make it our business to bear the burden of others, either by lending a helping hand or by expressing a word of sympathy. To have a fellowship in Christ’s suffering is to identify one’s self with all humanity everywhere, the sick, the afflicted, those who are in ill health, the mentally deranged, the hungry and ill-treated. The great heart of the Father and that of our Elder Brother, Jesus Christ, were big enough and compassionate enough to include all men. And so when you have the faith in God’s goodness, mercy and love, you will discover that you are in sympathy with all men, whether they are of our race and religion or not; you would love all whether friend or foe, and you would also become aware that you are in perfect accord with the principle implanted in the heart of the universe, and living becomes meaningful, zestful, beautiful and thrilling!
For a long time, the world has seemed to be coming apart. It is this fact, and not the atomic bomb, that inspires fear. People see that they are in danger because they are divided by distrust and hate. If men were to come together in permanent friendship, nobody would use the bomb and that would end our fear.
The hope for a safe and peaceful world, depends on more and more people being brought together and bound to one another by strong, permanent loyalty. The loyalty must obviously be above the level of self-interest. Therefore, it must be a loyalty to no less a program than Jesus expressed in His great teaching of the Kingdom of God. Jesus said the time would come when people would come together from all directions. Northward from the place where Jesus spoke those words lies Russia; southward, Africa; eastward, China, India, Japan, and westward are the Americas. And Christians the world over are to draw closer together in the belief that we are members of one another, all of us being the creatures of God who is the Father of all and whose love includes all of us.
Then St. Paul tells us that the knowledge of Jesus invokes “The power of His resurrection.” That, of course, means creative living, striving toward maturity, mature thinking, constructive living, making progress in our Christian experiences. That, too, means forgetting past failures, disappointments, getting over our petty, selfish grudges, doing with our might what our hands find to do without complaint. The power of Christ’s resurrection could only be had by an abiding, unfaltering faith coupled with obedience to the high calling of God in Christ, seeking constantly to honor Him by life and lips.
Power for living victoriously will be supplied by the Master providing we are always ready to meet the conditions for such worthy attainments. To give Him the right-of-way in every way, to realize His presence in human affairs, to lean on Him when the storms of life blow us off our course. To witness before men that He is a God to be trusted, a Savior worthy of our loyalty, are some of the conditions for victorious living. A Christian whom God had called and whose life is concerned to recognize His leadership and lordship will always seek to glory in no material or personal attainments; he has one set purpose, to glory in God’s power, and render the homage and the loyalty to Him who died that we might live. “For me to live is Christ,” said St. Paul. What a worthy life motto that is! To make Christ the center of your life, the central aim of every endeavor, and the motivating force of your personal desires would indeed be living a life at its best. […]
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Hieromartyr Antipas of Pergamos, April 11
Troparion of St Antipas Tone l
Let us honour myrrh-giving Antipas, Martyr and Hierarch of Pergamos, the healer of toothache. Let us cry to him: Glory to Christ Who has glorified thee; glory to Him Who has crowned thee; glory to Him Who through thee works healings for all.
Kontakion of St Antipas Tone 2
With hymns and praises on this day let us all acclaim Antipas, light of the world and famous Hierarch, champion of truth and teacher of Pergamos. He intercedes with Christ our God that we may be saved.
