“SEPARATING THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF”

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

SEPARATING THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF

It is very possible that you may have heard the expression "separating the wheat from the chaff" without understanding its meaning entirely. In some harvest-ready grains, the hull is thin and it is easy to remove. Little or no threshing is required, as the hull is already loose. Traditionally, however, farmers would toss this kind of grain into the air, from big flat baskets, letting the thin hulls – called chaff – blow away in the wind, or fall through the chinks in the basket. This wind-assisted process for separating the wheat from the chaff is called winnowing and the grains with almost no hull are called "naked" grains.

In the holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew 3:12, we read: "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather the wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire". These were the words of Saint the Baptist and Forerunner who baptized people in the river Jordan, who had "confessed their sins." The figure of "winnowing" the threshed grain from the "chaff" is a metaphor for Divine Judgment, which always separates good from evil. "Whose winnowing fan is in His hand" [Luke 3:17) means "Just because He will baptize you, do not think that you are not liable to condemnation.  If, after baptism, you do not lead a blameless life, He will burn you with unquenchable fire."  For indeed a man is like chaff, if he has a mind which has not produced any good fruit and is only a heap of the husks and sweepings of worldly life, "And "with many other exhortations did he bring good tidings to the people." [Saint Theophylact]

"Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, ‘Let no fruit grow on you ever again’ Immediately the fig tree withered away" [Matthew 21:18-19]. The fig tree is a symbol of prosperity and peace, withered because of its fruitlessness. This is a prophetic act, for after three years of preaching, teaching and healing, the Jews are destitute of spiritual fruit, therefore, He withers them with His reproach. He curses the tree to warn of the curse on those who will crucify Him. It is a warning to all of His followers to make certain that their life here on earth is fruitful of good acts.

Jesus offers another Parable of the fig tree. "He also spoke this parable: ‘A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. Then he said to the keeper of his vineyard, ‘Look, for three years Ihave come seeking fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down; why does it use up the ground?’ But he answered and said to him, Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it. And if it bears fruit, well. But if not, after that you can cut it down" [Luke 13:6-9]. Here Saint Luke gives his account of the FRUITLESS FIG TREE. It is spared from the curse, at least for a time. The fig tree symbolizes Israel, which receives God’s loving care in the expectation of a fruitful harvest. "Three years" represents the three-year Ministry of our Lord Christ. Because of the pleading of an unknown vineyard "keeper", the Master allows additional time for true repentance and fruitfulness before judgment occurs.

For those who may not understand the purpose of Parables allow me to explain. Parables are stories in word-pictures, revealing truth. Aramaic words for parable also mean "allegory," "riddle," or "proverb." The Greek word is παραβολή, ή (παραβάλλω) which means comparison or illustration. The Holy Scripture, especially the Holy Gospels, are filled with Parables–images drawn from daily life in the world to represent and communicate the deep things of God. Parables give us glimpses of Him whose thoughts ARE NOT OUR THOUGHTS AND WHOSE WAYS ARE NOT OUR WAYS (Isaih, 55:8-9).

The Truth communicated by Our Savior God Jesus’ Parables, however, is not evident to all who hear them. One must have SPIRITUAL EYES TO SEE AND SPIRITUAL EARS TO HEAR, and even then there are degrees of understanding of the Parables. Parables challenge the hearer and call FOR FAITH TO PERCEIVE THE MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM. Insight into God’s Kingdom DOES NOT COME SIMPLY THROUGH AN INTELLECTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE PARABLES. SPIRITUAL ENLIGHTENMENT IS COMMUNICATED THROUGH FAITH IN THE PERSON, WORDS, AND DEEDS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.

In opening the door to the Kingdom of Heaven, THE PARABLES HELP US TO LOVE GOD AND TO KNOW HIM, TO UNDERSTAND AND BELIEVE HIS GRACE, MERCY AND FORGIVENESS, AND TO ORDER OUR LIVES ACCORDING TO HIS HOLY WORD.

Our Divine Messiah Jesus Christ used Parables knowing the lack of understanding and knowledge of the people and to enlighten His hearers or listeners. Divine Truths are not easy to comprehend by human beings. Remember He is the Creator and we are His creatures. Divine Truths are extremely profound and one must listen to them with faith, humility, and with one’s heart. All the Holy Prophets and Holy Fathers and Mothers of the Church depended on the grace of the Holy Spirit to undertand God’s teachings and commandments. The Holy Gospel is not to be grasped from the observable facts (those we receive with our five outer senses) alone. No, it is known and received WITHIN OUR HEARTS ONLY BY FAITH, BY SPIRITUAL EXPERIENCE. What we receive by faith is most truly grasped of all, for "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" [John 4:24].

Unlike Protestantism, in the Holy Orthodox Church God’s REVELATION is preserved, and therefore the Holy Church is the proper and primary INTERPRETER OF THAT REVELATION. The testimony of God the Holy Spirit takes the written words and reveals their meaning. By this we mean that by the PERMANENT PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE CHURCH. He gives her aid and guidance, for she is "THE CHURCH OF THE LIVING GOD, THE PILLAR AND GROUND OF THE TRUTH" (1 Timothy 3:15).

Salvation is not simply proclaimed in and by the Holy Church, IT IS CONSTANTLY LIVED BY HER MEMBERS, WHO ARE CONTINUALLY BEING SAVED AND BY NEW MEMBERS WHO ARE ALSO BEING SAVED. The Great Works of God are NOT just something of the past, recorded in the Holy Scripture, for His work goes on continually in the Holy Church, and through the Church, in the world. Only in Our Holy Church is the New Testament really alive, for she is thes CONTINUATION OF THAT MESSAGE, CARRYING ITS TRUTH THROUGH THE CENTURIES. Thus, the very history of the Holy Church IS A CONTINUING STORY OF REDEMPTION (Colossians 1:1-14).

Speaking to disciples our Lord Christ said: "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand’." [Luke 8:10] The "mysteries of the Kingdom of God" are revealed to the FAITHFUL, BUT HIDDEN FROM THOSE WITH UNRESPONSIVE HEARTS. The explanation of a Parable is easily grasped. But ONLY WITH THE EYES OF FAITH DOES ONE SEE AND KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF IS TRULY THE SAVIOR.

The Orthodox Christian understands that if he or she is leading a truly spiritual life he or she will produce the desired spiritual fruits to go with it. But what are the spiritual fruits? They are of course the fruits of the Holy Spirit. In our Holy Orthodox Church and spirituality the fruit of the Spirit is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit’s work of RENEWALs in the lives of Christians. "But the fruit of the Spirit is LOVE, JOY, PEACE, FORBEARANCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, GENTLENESS AND SELF-CONTROL. Wherever such fruits exist, we can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit.

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George