CHRISTIAN RECONCILIATION FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST

Posted byFather GeorgePosted inUncategorized

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.

CHRISTIAN RECONCILIATION FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST

“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember
that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there
before the altar, and go your way. FIRST BE RECONCILED TO
YOUR BROTHER, AND THEN COME AND OFFER YOUR GIFT”
[Matthew 5:23-24).

 
   Peace with other believers takes primacy over duties of worship as we are clearly instructed.  In early Church worship the liturgical “kiss of peace” at the beginning of the Communion prayers–not after–was a sign of reconciliation and forgiveness, preparing the Church to offer and receive the Holy Eucharist (1 Corinthians 16:20; 1 Peter 5:14).
 
   What unites believers with our Lord Christ and with one another is agape (love).  Saint Peter the Holy Apostle’s advice to us is “Greet one another with a kiss of love” (1 Peter 5:14).  How else are we to be “in Christ Jesus” if we have no love for one another?  The holy Apostle John writes, “He who does not love does NOT know God, FOR GOD IS LOVE” [1 John 4:8).  “God is agape” is not a definition of Who God is, but rather a description of His relationship to us as our Father.  As the “only begotten Son” sacrificially gave Himself out of love “that we might live through Him”, so we are to give ourselves to Him and to one another.”
 
   “If someone 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?  And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God MUST love his brother also” [1 John 4:20-21).  How can we know God lives in us?  The Holy Apostle gives a fourfold answer (1) if “we love one another” (2) if we have been given “His Spirit”; (3) if we can confess “Jesus is the Son of God”; and (4) if we abide in the “love of God.” (1 John 4:12-16).  Who is it that truly “believes that Jesus is the Christ?”  Those who live in the way Christ commanded, who love others [1 John 5:1, 2).  How is it that God’s “commandments are not burdensome?”  We live commandments by faith and in God’s love, which makes them light on our fallen nature.  They are hard and rough only to those who are living a sinful life.  That the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who suffer makes even suffering sweet [1 John 5:3].

Our Lord Christ says, “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” (Matthew 5:44). Here is the Divine command of Jesus: to “love” our “enemies” as a true expression of the life of the Kingdom. Having freed us from hate, sadness, and anger, He offers the greatest possession of all-perfect love. That is a gift which can only be possessed by the one who, by the grace of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit, manifests God’s love for all. Such love calls us to “bless” “do good”, and “pray” –even for enemies. Love of neighbor is the sign of having become a true child of God. Agape (love) is not simply an emotion. It is a divine grace–an uncreated divine energy–which inflames the soul and unites it to God and to other people.

Therefore, it is not possible for one filled with hate, anger, malice and spite to be united with Christ and/or to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. “For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore shall you be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:46-48). This verse summarizes Jesus’ teaching on God’s standards. The Christian should grow into the perfection of the “Father.” (Ephesians 4:13). Our Lord Jesus Christ is our Guide, and He is able to bring us to participate in the very life of God, which is agape (love). [Resources: The New Testament)

___________
“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

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