My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God and Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
"And the King will answer, and sasy to them,
‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it
to TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN,
YOU DID IT TO ME" [Matthew 25:40].
During the holy season of the Nativity Fast and along with prayer and fasting there is another essential element to our spirituality, as Orthodox Christians, to seriously consider charity or philanthropy. Our Lord Christ teaches us the significance and how necessary it is to be charitable to all who are in great need when He says, "AS YOU DID IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE BRETHREN, YOU DID IT TO ME" [v. 40]. Our Savior clearly identifies Himself with the poor, the suffering, the outcast and invites to brotherhood all who are kindled with agape for others. Another passage that reinforces the above is, "If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?" [1 John 4:20].
The servants of God who are truly compassionate are the "Blessed of My Father", says Christ, "INHERIT THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD: for I was hungry and you gave Me food, I was thirsty and you gave Me drink, I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was in prison and you came to Me" [Matthew 25:34-36]. Our Lord is very clear and specific who are those worthy for our charity and concern. However, He is very severe and condemns all those who are heartless and indifferent to those who suffer. He says, "Depart from Me, you cursed, INTO THE EVERLASTING FIRE PREPARED FOR THE DEVIL AND HIS ANGELS: for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was hungry and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me… Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did NOT DO IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE , YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ME" [Matthew 25:42-46].
A devout and conscientious Christian understands that the Lord expects much more than prayer and fasting from His followers and disciples. The Christian must implement and translate his/her faith into works of love, a living faith. Saint James the Holy Apostles explains the Christians responsibility to those in need. He says, "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith BUT NOT HAVE WORKS? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, WHAT DOES IT PROFIT? Thus also FAITH BY ITSELF, IF IT DOES NOT HAVE WORKS, IS DEAD. But if someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without works, and I will show you my faith by my works" [James 2:14-18]. The faith that saves IS A COMPLETE FAITH: not just the mind believing and the tongue confessing, but THE WHOLE MAN TRUSTING IN THE LIVING GOD. This means our faith and our relationship with God–our justification–are dynamic and living. Our faith grows and affects our actions, or it dies. "Faith alone" (by itself), static faith, inert faith, DOES NOT SAVE. We must nurture our faith in God and love for Him through our works of love.
Christians must neve part of so-called ‘selective’ of what things they agree upon, like, or approve, or which of the teachings they desire to practice as followers of Christ. One is either a 100% Christian or not at all. The Holy Gospel is not up for discussion or debate. The Christian must be willingly to be totally obedient to the Teaching of Jesus Christ and without any conditions. All the Divine Teachings of our Savior are connected and just as imperative and essential. It is good to pray but also good to fast. It is good to pray, to fast, but also to be philanthropic. One cannot be only a person of prayer and at the same time to ignore all other God-given virtues and commandments. The Christians conform to Christ and NOT Christ to the Christian! "Because you are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I WILL VOMIT YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH" [Revelation 3:16]. The Laodiceans are lukewarm in spiritual fervor and good works, their lack of commitment is revolting to the Lord, Who would have them go one way or the other. Christians ought to be always truthful and honest with their relationship to God and avoid being elusive and mysterious. The Lord says to all of us, "But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No.’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one" [Matthew 5:37].
Let us pray to the Lord
Kyrie eleison
+In the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Grant to us, O Master, as we prepare for sleep,
Rest of body and soul;
Protect us from the dark sleep of sin
And from every sinful and nocturnal pleasure.
Calm the impulses of the passions,
Quench the fiery darts of the evil one
hurled treacherously against us.
Subdue the rebellion of our flesh
And suppress every earthly and material sentiment.
Grant to us, O God, a vigilant mind, a sober heart, prudent reasoning,
And a sleep that is free from every satanic fantasy.
And at the time of prayer, raise us up again,
Strengthened in the observance of Your judgments.
Grant that we may glorify You throughout the night,
Praising, blessing and glorifying Your Most-Honored
and Majestic Name,
The Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
Now and forever and to the age of ages. Amen.
_________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +
With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 