My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
The question posed to the holy Apostle Peter by our Lord also applies to every one of us two thousand years later. His question was, "Do you love Me?" This is asked of every Christian today and for always. The Greek word for LOVE that He used was "αγάπη." Αgape is not your typical imperfect human love, but rather Divine Love, Love which is UNCONDITIONAL. God’s love for the human race is unconditional. GOD IS AGAPE! All His actions reveal God’s, unconditional love, beginning with the creation, the fashioning of man with His own hands, sending us His Only-Begotten Son to save us, and the Son’s unconditional love for mankind. "He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death on the Cross" (Philippians 2:8). He emptied Himself by voluntarily taking on our human nature. By His obedience to the death which has enslaved humanity, He showed His absolute agape for all of mankind. His death and His Sacrifice on the Cross bring life to all who are joined to Him.
Are we able to answer Him as Saint Peter did? "Lord You know all things, You know that I love You" (John 21:17). Is our agape for Him unconditional? Or, do we offer Him empty and meaningless words? Are we willing to lay our lives down on account of it? According to Saint Theophylact, "When questioned the third time, Peter began to fear that perhaps he did not really love Christ, although he thought he did." Having, however, assured Peter that He also loved him, the Lord then foretells the Apostle’s martyrdom. By doing so, He shows that He had not asked Peter if he loved Him, because He doubted Peter’s love. On the contrary, He knew well that Peter loved Him, for his willingness to undergo martyrdom was the proof of the Apotle’s love for Him. In fact, the Lord questioned Peter in this manner to point out Peter’s love for Him, and to teach us all that if we say we love the Lord, we should prove this love by being the first in taking care of our brothers and sisters. Saint John the Evangelist says that Peter’s death is unto "the glory of God." In truth, steadfast endurance unto death for Christ’s sake does glorify God. Unless a man is certain that Christ is the True God, he will never embrace death for His sake. Therefore, the death of the saints IS A CONFIRMATION OF THE GLORY OF GOD." (St. Theophylact)
It is the most appropriate message of this Holy Lenten season for everyone to adhere to. Agape should be the basis of all of our words and actions, not only during Lent but also throughout our life. Christianity is an APOCALYPSE (REVELATION) OF GOD’S AGAPE FOR ALL OF HUMANITY and is not one of the thousands of man-made religions in the world. Christ’s earthly Ministry was, is, and ever shall be A MINISTRY OF AGAPE. His whole Life-Giving Diakonia on earth has revealed His Divine Mission: "The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them" (Matthew 11:5) all are acts of agape, mercy, and compassion.
In our Lenten divine services we hear "O Lord and Master of my life! The spirit of love give to me, Thy servant! We petition for agape, which is the fulfilment of the law; "for if we do not have agape," then, as the holy Apostle Paul states, "we are as sounding brass, or tinkling cymbol" (1 Corinthians 13:1). We were created by our Creator God to be creatures of agape and not hate. The goal of all Christian believers is the aquisition of AGAPE, for only then are we able to be united with the God and Founder of agape. The only means of attaining "theosis," the perfection and the grace of God. Our example par excellence are: the Theotokos, Apostles, Fathers, Martyrs, Confessors, Physicians, and Prophets.
Mankind is seeking the Truth in the wrong places. Saint Ephraim the Syrian, whose prayer is recited at the divine services during Holy Lent, petitiones the Savior, "O Lord and Master of my life! Grant me to see my own faults and not condemn my borther, for blessed are You unto the ages of ages!" The holy Apostle Paul exhorts the Christians: "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (Romans 12:9-10). Also, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law." (Romans 13:8). Our Savior God exhorts His disciples and followers, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another as I have loved you, that you also love one another, BY THIS (LOVE) ALL WILL KNOW THAT YOU ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YOU HAVE LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER" (John 13:34-35). In the Law of Moses, the command was to love your neighbor "as yourself." In Christ’s command, we LOVE ONE ANOTHER "AS I HAVE LOVED YOU." This means Christ’s love for us is the True Measure, for we are to love one another. Christ’s agape is ABSOLUTE and UNCONDITIONAL and transforms us ABSOLUTELY!
Salvation is NOT meritted by anyone. It cannot be earned or deserved, not even if one is a Saint. SALVATION IS A GIFT OF GOD, A GIFT OF AGAPE. Avoid judging anyone, condeming others, envying your neighbor, or even harboring hatred for your enemies. Why? Because our Lord commands: "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO SPITEFULLY USE YOU AND PERSECUTE YOU…FOR IF YOU LOVE THOSE WHO LOVE YOU, WHAT REWARD HAVE YOU? DO NOT EVEN TAX COLLECTORS DO THE SAME?" (Matthew 5:43-46). Having freed us from hate, sadness and anger, our Lord Christ offers us the greatest gift of all–PERFECT AGAPE (LOVE).
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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy serant of God
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 