My beloved brothers and sisters in Our Risen Lord, God, and Savior,
CHRIST IS RISEN! TRULY HE IS RISEN! ΧΡΙΣΤΟΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ! ΑΛΗΘΩΣ ΑΝΕΣΤΗ!
The Lord said, "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The
spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak" [Matthew 26:41].
"Watch and pray" is a key to Orthodox Christian spirituality and our individual struggle against wicked temptations. The Lord is praying in Gethsemane. "He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and reply distressed. Then He said to them, ‘My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. STAY HERE AND WATCH WITH ME." He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if it is possible this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.’ Then He came to the disciples and FOUND THEM SLEEPING, AND SAID TO PETER, ‘WHAT? COULD YOU NOT WATCH WITH ME ONE HOUR?" [26:37-40].
"Watch," said the Lord, "and pray not to enter into temptation." We see how our Savior is again teaching His disciples not to be self-confident, but contrite in mind, and to be humble, and to refer all things to God. It is evident that man is still spiritually very weak and filled with arrogance, self-conceit and self-confidence. All that is reflected in the attitude of His disciples and while He was praying knowing "that the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners" [Matthew 26:45]. The "spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak" [Matthew 26:41]. In contrast to Jesus’ VIGILANCE, His disciples sleep. Since body and soul are united, the "spirit" is paralyzed by a lethargic body. A "willing" spirit, recognizing the weakness of the "flesh" knows it needs God’s presence and power. True prayer is nourished by ardent, VIGILANT PRAYERS.
"Pray, lest you enter not into temptation" [v. 41]. Our Lord’s admonition to His disciples was to expose and to free them from their spiritual infirmities and weaknesses. Our Lord has no fear of death but in His Divine nature He must drink the cup. As a man He wishes the chalice to pass, for it is a mark of humanity to abhor death and struggle against it. He prays, "if…possible" the suffering be taken from Him. Thus He gives abundant proof that His flesh is true flesh BUT WITHOUT SIN.
Our Lord Who is All-knowing knew that His disciples were drowning in despondence, as not to have any sense even of His presence. He did not however reprove them, but stood apart from them a little, showing their unspeakable weakness and fragile faith. "Sleep on now," He said to them, "and take your rest; behold the hour is near, and the Son of Man is BETRAYED into the hands of sinners." Because of his weak faith and belief in the Almighty God, man suffers from despondency or hopelessness. Man is known to be ruled by fear and despair. Psalm 27 itself is a confirmation of FAITH in the midst of adversity. We read, "The Lord is my Light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? …Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord" [Psalm 27: 1-2, 14].
The powerful and tyrants in the history of the world and especially inside the great empires, the emperors ruled and enslaved their citizens through fear of imprisonment, confiscating their wealth, selling them and their wives and children in slave markets, torture, and death. The people became their "subjects." In other words those who were under severe punishment submitted to the will of the dictator. This kind of fear still exists today throughout the world. The Christians were known for their great faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, were not afraid, and were willing to be tortured or to die, rather than to submit to the enemies of Christ and Faith. Proof of this over the centuries of persecutions against Christianity, are the countless martyrs who gladly gave their life for and to the glory of God.
Orthodox Christians have shown their courage and faith in Christ under some very horrific conditions such as the Roman Empire and the 500 years of enslavement, torture and death under the Ottoman Turks, the millions who were imprisoned in Syberia and elsewhere in the Communist Soviet Union who was determine to systematically eradicate and exterminate Christianity and all faith in God. Yet, not only did this attempt fail miserably but Communism collapsed and the Russian and Eastern European nations were freed from this oppression and Christianity flourished and continues to flourish once again.
Even in the most adverse, and hard times, the Christian’s faith in God must remain true and steadfast till the end. Hopelessness is faithlessness. We, as Christians, faithfully follow the Divine example of our Savior that at the time of danger we must always remain vigilant and alert and to turn to Him in prayer, seeking the grace of the Holy Spirit, strength, guidance, courage, and illumination from above. The faithful Christian has fortitude and is never willing to give in to temptation. We supplicate Jesus when we recite "And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil one." Jesus says. "Now is the judgment of the world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out" [John 12:31]. "Lift up" is a reference to the lifting up of Christ on the Cross, which is His Glorification and will lead to the salvation of the human race. At the same time this Great Event is a "judgment" on the UNBELIEVING WORLD OF DARKNESS AND THE ABOLITION OF THE POWER OF "the ruler of this world, Satan.
The great example of vigilance and watchfulness are the Saints of our Holy Orthodox Church. They were constantly vigilant, watchfull, fasted, and practiced unceasing prayer. Christ’s first word, like that of Saint John the Baptist, is "REPENT" because repentance is necessary to enter and continue in His New Way of Life. Repentance (METANOIA) is man’s turning from himself to God. A Christian must also look within himself, his behavior, one’s words, feelings, his life, his priorities, his soul, his heart and to assess and evaluate himself sincerely using the Lord’s teachings and commandments as a rule. "Darkness" means ungodliness which leads to death. Having been given FREE WILL by our Merciful God, man is totally responsible for how he thinks, feels, and acts in this earthly life. We believe that nothing, but nothing, is forced upon a person, not even salvation.
Why is it crucial that we remain always on the alert? Because we have a ferocious and deadly enemy that wants our demise, Satan. Saint Maximus the Confessor says, "The rewards for the tolls of virtue are dispassion and spiritual knowledge. For these are the mediators of the Kingdom of Heaven, just as passions and ignorance are the mediators of Eternal punishment." The vigilant and careful Christian always seeks guidance from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is to be actively present in the life of the Church. But there is a constant need of DISCERNMENT and TESTING so as to avoid being deceived and misled. It is always possible to get "carried away," and "led" into error. For not all gifts are from the Holy Spirit. Demons lurk behind "dumb idols" speaking evil."
Spiritually the average Christian is spiritually naive, immature and an easy target. Man, without the help and guidance of our Savior Christ is no match for the evil one who is cunning and the archdeiver. The Holy Apostle Peter warns us and says, "Be sober, BE VIGILANT, because your adversary (enemy) the devil walks about like a roaring lion, SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR" (1 Peter 5:8]. There should be no doubt at all that the devil and his angels explore us individually, looking for our weaknesses. The enemy offers appealing visions to our eyes, music to our ears, to each of our senses setting forth whatever might tempt us to sin. No one should ever underestimate the enemy, his deviousness, hatred and wickedness he has for us because he is committed to destroy us. However, everyone must understand that our Merciful and Loving God will never surrender us to him. We are His children, and He will continue to protect and guide each, and everyone of us, if we allow Him to do so.
___________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things1"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Glorious and Divine Resurrection,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 