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.
SAINT GREGORY PALAMAS’ VICTORY OVER HERESY
Since 1368 the Second Sunday of Holy and Great Lent has been dedicated to the memory of one of the Great Holy Fathers of the Church, Saint Gregory Palamas, Archbishop of Thessaloniki (1296-1359 A.D. Saint Gregory’s victory over Barlaam, Akindynos and the other heretics is seen as a renewed Triumph of Orthodoxy.
The following is a homily of Saint Gregory given on the Second Sunday of Holy and Great Lent on the subject of the Paralysed Man Healed. The holy Gospel reading is taken from Saint Mark 2:1-12. Speaking about the paralytic, Saint Gregory says, "There are times when illness is better for sinners than good health, because it helps them towards salvation and blunts their inborn evil impulses.
"Inasmuch as it repays the debt of sins by means of suffering, it makes them able to receive healing of their souls in the first instance, then healing of their bodies. This happens most of all when the sick person, understanding that the affliction is a remedy from God, bears it courageously, falls down before God with faith and asks for forgiveness, through whatever works he can manage. This was shown by the paralyzed man who did what he could, and proved by the Lord’s own words and actions. The Pharisees, however, were incapable of comprehending, and blasphemed and murmured among themselves (Mark 2:6-7). "When Jesus", it says, "saw their faith", the faith, that is, OF THE BED-RIDDEN MAN who had been lowered, and of those who had let him down from the roof," "He said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee" (Mark 2:5).
"What a blessed way to be addressed! He hears himself called "son" and IS ADOPTED AS THE CHILD OF THE HEAVENLY FATHER. He is joined to God Who is without sin, having immediately become sinless himself THROUGH THE FORGIVENESS OF HIS SINS. In order that his body can subsequently BE RENEWED, HIS SOUL FIRST RECEIVES DELIVERANCE FROM SIN from the Lord, Who knows that in the beginning when the soul fell INTO THE SNARES OF SIN, physical illness and death followed, in accordance with His Righteous Judgment.
"But when the scribes heard, "They reasoned", it says, "in their hearts, Why doth this man thus speak blasphemes? Who can forgive sins but God only?" (Mark 2:6-7). As the Creator OF MEN’S HEARTS, THE LORD KNEW THE SECRET THOUGHTS, the Lord KNEW THE SECRET THOUGHTS IN THE SCRIBES’ HEARTS, and said to them, "Why reason ye these things in your hearts? Whether it is easier to say to the sick of the palsy, "Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?" (Mark 2:8-9). It seemed to the scribes that the Lord was unable to heal the paralyzed man, so He had resorted to something obscure, forging him his sins. Just to pronounce words of forgiveness, especially in such an authoritative and commanding way, was blasphemy; but it was also something easy that anyone could do. That is why the Lord said to them, "If I wanted to utter empty words without any practical outcome, it would be just as easy to declare that the paralyzed man should rise from his bed as that his sins are forgiven, both statements being of no effect. "But so that you may know that My word is not ineffectual, and that I did not resort to forgiving his sins because I was incapable of granting him healing of his illness, but that I have Divine power on earth as the Son Who IS OF ONE SUBSTANCE WITH THE FATHER IN HEAVEN, ALTHOUGH, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH, I HAVE BECOME OF ONE SUBSTANCE WITH YOUR UNGRATEFUL SELVES," He then says to paralyzed man, "I SAY UNTO THEE, ARISE, AND TAKE UP THEY BED, AND GO THY WAY INTO THINE HOUSE. AND IMMEDIATELY HE AROSE, TOOK UP HIS BED, AND WENT FORTH BEFORE THEM ALL" (Mark 2:11-12).
"Although Christ’s words and the miracle were at odds with the scribes’ reasoning, in some way they agreed with it. They show that no human being is able in his own right to forgive sins. They also show, however, that the Pharisees’ opinion that Christ was merely a man, not almighty God, was fasle and devoid of understanding. Something that no one had ever seen or heard of had now come to light. CHRIST WAS BOTH GOD AND MAN, TWOFOLD IN NATURE AND ENERGY. On the one hand He spoke as a man like us, on the other hand AS GOD HE ACCOMPLISHED WHATEVER HE PLEASED THROUGH HIS WORD AND COMMAND ALONE… Often men can bring about by a word the forgiveness of the sin of someone who offends against them. BUT ONLY GOD CAN PUT TO FLIGHT SUCH AN ILLNESS AS THIS MERELY BY A WORD OF COMMAND.
"…Let us then, brethren glorify Him now by our actions, regarding this miracle anagogically as a pattern for virtue. Anyone ADDICTED TO SENSUAL PLEASURES IS PARALYZED IN HIS SOUL, AND IS LYING SICK ON THE BED OF VOLUPTUOUSNESS WITH ITS DECEPTIVE BODILY EASE. Once, however, he has been won over the exhortations in the Gospel, he confesses his sins and triumphs over them and the paralysis they have brought upon his soul. He is taken up and brought to the Lord by these four: SELF-CONDEMNATION, CONFESSION OF FORMER SINS, PROMISING TO RENOUNCE EVIL WAY FROM NOW ON, AND PRAYER TO GOD. They cannot, however, bring him to God without uncovering the roof scattering the tiles, earth and other building material. OUR ROOF IS THE REASONING PART OF THE SOUL, WHICH IS SET ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE WITHIN US. But it has lying on top of it, like a large quantity of building material, its connection with the passions and earthly matters. Once this connetion has been loosed and shaken off by means of the four things we have mentioned, then we can really be let down, that is, humbled, fall down before the Lord, draw to Him and ask and receive His healing.
"… As many as received Him, to them gave the power to become sons of God, even to them that believe in His name" (John 1"11-12). So when we fall down before Him with such faith, our paralyzed mind immediately hears Him saying, "Son", and receives forgiveness and healing. In addition it receives strength to lift up and carry the bedon which it is lying on. THE BED IS TO BE UNDERSTOOD AS THE BODY TO WHICH THE MIND WHICH PURSUES FLESHLY DESIRES CLINGS, AND THROUGH WHICH IT APPLIES TO SINFUL ACTIONS.
"…After being healed, our mind has our body under control and leads and carries it about. Through it our mind brings to light the fruits and works of repentance, so that lal who see them glorify God… Let us stir up all who see us to glorify God as they recognize that this house has Christ within it, Who gives strength to those whose souls are paralyzed and command them to lift up and offer up to Him, WITH A SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING PLEASING TO GOD, THEIR PHYSICAL SENSES AND PERCEPTIONS, INSTEAD OF BEING MINDLESSLY CARRIED AWAY AND BROUGHT DOWN BY THEM. In this way they will go into the house that is really ours, by which sI mean the country in and above the heavens, where Christ now is, the Heir and Bestower of our inheritance.
To Whom belong glory, might honor and worship, with His Father without begenning and the Holy, Good, and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. [Resources: Saint Gregory Palamas, HOMILIES]
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LENTEN PRAYER OF SAINT EPHRAIM
Lord and Master of my life, cast away
from me the spirit of laziness, idle
curiosity, love of power and vain talk.
But grant me, Your servant, the spirit of
moderation, humility, patience and love.
Yes, Lord and King, grant me to see my
own faults and not to judge my brothers
and sisters.
For You are Blessed forever. Amen
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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
The Eastern Orthodox Christian Ethos 